UNICEF Uganda 224d ago

i-UPSHIFT, a joint initiative by UNICEF and the International Labour Organization, with funding from the Canadian National Committee for UNICEF launched in 2022 is changing the lives of many youth and young people. I-UPSHIFT is about more than skills. It’s about social entrepreneurship – empowering young people to identify challenges in their communities and design solutions that not only solve problems but also generate income. I-UPSHIFT does not stand alone. It can potentially link with complementary initiatives, including Iceland-funded cash transfers for teen mothers and their children under five, creating a pathway where innovation meets opportunity and support. This integration would ensure that young innovators have both the skills and the resources to sustain their initiatives and make lasting impacts in their communities. During a joint visit to Kikuube Disctrict by Palina B Matthiasdottir, Director Bilateral Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iceland, Hildigunnur Engilbertsdóttir, Head of Mission & Sveinn H. Gudmarsson, Head of Cooperation at the Iceland Embassy in Kampala, UNICEF and partners, the delegation reviewed progress on ongoing programmes funded by the government of Iceland, observed how interventions are benefiting communities, and highlighted integrated approaches that connect social protection, early childhood development and youth empowerment, among them initiatives like I-UPSHIFT.