Our New IT Scholarship Program And The Gift Of Opportunity
Technological innovation is rapidly shaping the global dynamic. Along with drastic demographic changes, the economy is already making a turn in the way we live and work, not only shifting the labor market demand-supply relation but also opening the path to new development opportunities.
Africa, in contrast with other regions, is the only continent expecting to have a major demographic explosion in the following years, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the annual population growth is expected to double by 2050 and the working-age population to even quadruple by 2100[1]. However, the economic growth pace has not been able to keep up with the rapid changes in the regional population, exacerbating the large trend of informality, underemployment, and vulnerable employment. Hence, holding a potential threat to worsening the conditions of those already in vulnerable positions. Moreover, according to the European Commission, by 2030, more than half of the nearly 2 billion youth worldwide will not have the necessary skills and qualifications to participate in the emerging global workforce.[2]
Thus far, it is crucial to consider three key factors: Firstly, technology is fundamentally altering the job market, causing certain positions to become obsolete while also creating new opportunities. Secondly, Africa is anticipating a significant increase in its youth population, which will help decrease the dependency ratio stress, in contrast to other regions where the opposite is projected. Finally, these young individuals will lack the necessary expertise to assume emerging technology-based roles. Despite a massive workforce, the lack of qualifications implies not only a scarcity in supply but also a substantial risk of unemployment and its associated repercussions.
This being said, Groundbreaker Talents seeks to bridge the skills gap between the sought-after skilled labor force and youth full of potential by enhancing access to high-quality training in the Information Technology (IT) sector. All with the objective of providing an opportunity to improve their life quality by providing an entry to dignifying living wage and sustainable employment in the context of a dynamic digital era.
By providing a residential, hands-on technical training program, Groundbreaker Talents aims to ensure access to education by providing the necessary means to overcome the daily structural constraints for young students to focus on successfully completing their study program. Hence, the ultimate goal is to get young people from underprivileged backgrounds into high-paid jobs and financial security.
Uganda was chosen as the first target area as it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the United Nations (UN), the country is ranked 166 out of 191 nations on the Human Development Index, indicating low indicators of socioeconomic development[3]. In addition, Uganda has one of the largest populations of young people globally, with 69% of the total population under the age of 25 and 47% within the working-age group. However, due to inadequate educational attainment and the prevalence of the informal sector, only 10% of young workers are registered under the formal sector[4], and approximately 60% of the employed population is engaged in vulnerable employment, particularly affecting women (71%)[5]. Moreover, women face a higher unemployment rate than men, 11.7% versus 8.4%, respectively, and even when employed, a larger proportion remains below the international poverty line[6].
As with the general regional trend, low-productivity services have been the driving force behind the economy, and low-wage agriculture remains the largest source of employment[7]. Considering that Uganda is projected to have approximately 13 million individuals entering the job market by 2030[8], it is crucial to tackling the complex challenges stemming from the interplay between the expanding digital labor market, limited economic growth, high poverty rates, and gender disparities. Therefore, Groundbreaker Talents’ approach involves recruiting, evaluating, and training talented young women from underserved communities and establishing a talent pool to ensure their successful integration into the IT labor market. This holds significant potential for securing a decent income and improving their overall well-being.
In an ever-evolving world, it is imperative to adjust to changing environments and circumstances. To construct a fair and dignifying world where young individuals can participate and flourish without hindrance, it is crucial to identify potential avenues for change. In this regard, providing technical training in the field of IT to improve access to education and decent employment is essential to equip young women with the necessary tools to attain the highest possible standard of well-being.
[1]Lam, D., Leibbrandt, M. & Allen, J. (2019) The Demography of the Labor Force in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Growth and Labour Markets in Low Income Countries Synthesis Paper, 10.
[2] Youth for Technology Foundation (n/a) Skills for their Future. Source: https://www.youthfortechnology.org/programs/skills-for-their-future/?lang=es
[3] United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Insights. Source: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks
[4] Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA) Labour Market Profile Uganda – 2022/2023. Source: https://www.ulandssekretariatet.dk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LMP-Uganda-2022-final.pdf
[5] Guloba, M., Kakuru, M., Ssewanyanaa, S. & Rauschendorfer, J. (2021) Employment creation potential, labor skills requirements and skill gaps for young people. A Uganda case study. Economic Policy Research Centre.
[6] UN Women (n/a) Country Fact Sheet: Uganda. Source: https://data.unwomen.org/country/uganda
[7] Guloba, M., Kakuru, M., Ssewanyanaa, S. & Rauschendorfer, J. (2021) Employment creation potential, labor skills requirements and skill gaps for young people. A Uganda case study. Economic Policy Research Centre.
[8] The World Bank (2020) Uganda: Jobs Strategy for Inclusive Growth.
