Program Thematic Areas 2023-2025
Strategic program interventions based on PESTEL, SWOT analysis and stakeholder recommendations, targeting young people aged 15-29 as defined by Ethiopia's national youth policy.
Target Groups
Primary Focus: Young People
Based on stakeholder consultations and organizational experience, Young People remain our main target group. This strategic focus aligns with Ethiopia's National Youth Policy (2004).
Why Focus on Youth?
- High unemployment rates among youth
- Potential for driving economic transformation
- Critical role in peace and development
- Demographic dividend opportunity
Thematic Area 1: Young People Economic Empowerment
Economic empowerment teaches entrepreneurial skills, asset ownership, and income security. It addresses the critical youth unemployment challenge in Debre Birhan and Ethiopia, where 29 industries have created 14,000 jobs, yet many young people in informal sectors remain vulnerable to exploitation.
Result Area 1.1
Young People Access to Decent Employment and Fair Wage Increased
Context & Challenge
Debre Birhan serves as a corridor for youth transitioning from rural areas to Addis Ababa. Many young people in informal sectors face labor exploitation, GBV, and child trafficking. With CSSP2 support, GEfADO advocates for decent work conditions in industrial parks and aims to expand this intervention across economic sectors.
Implementation Strategies
Capacity Building for Workers Associations
Build capacities of workers associations and support establishment of new associations in informal sectors including house workers, construction, and street vendors.
Research & Assessment
Conduct comprehensive research to assess working conditions, wage rates, and socio-economic conditions of young people in informal sectors.
Rights Education
Educate young people about their economic rights and entitlements through targeted awareness programs and workshops.
Strategic Networking
Network and build collaboration with relevant stakeholders including government agencies, employers, and development partners.
Advocacy & Lobbying
Conduct advocacy and lobby activities to improve working conditions and wage structures across various economic sectors.
Result Area 1.2
Entrepreneur and Business Skills of Young People Improved
Context & Challenge
Entrepreneurship training is crucial for young people to start and run successful businesses. During strategic planning, we identified significant knowledge and skill gaps among youth in identifying profitable business ideas, managing finances from microfinance or government funds, and efficiently managing and growing their businesses. This contributes to the failure of many self-employment ventures.
Key Skills Taught:
Implementation Strategies
Entrepreneurship Capacity Building
Comprehensive entrepreneurship and business skill capacity building programs covering business planning, financial management, and market analysis.
Incubation Centers
Establish and run incubation centers providing mentorship, workspace, and technical support for young entrepreneurs.
Rights Education
Educate young people about their economic and social rights as business owners and entrepreneurs.
Business Development Services
Provide ongoing business development services for self-employed youth including mentorship, market linkages, and technical assistance.
Financial Inclusion Advocacy
Advocate for financial inclusion and accountability, improving access to microfinance and business development funds.
Thematic Area 2: Young People Participation and Engagement
Meaningful Youth Participation (MYP) ensures young people are involved in decision-making processes on policies, strategies, and programmes that affect them. Youth participation improves governance through fresh insights and contemporary knowledge of society, technology, and cultures.
Result Area 2.1
Increase Youth Participation in Local Governance
Youth participation can improve and increase good governance. Their fresh insight and contemporary knowledge of society, technology and cultures can bring effectiveness and efficiency to local governance structures.
Implementation Strategies
Rights and Entitlements Education
Educate young people about their rights and entitlements as citizens and their role in democratic governance.
Leadership Skill Development
Comprehensive leadership skill development programs to prepare youth for active participation in governance.
Governance Education
Teach young people about local government structures, roles and responsibilities, and principles of good governance.
Social Accountability Tools
Educate young people about social accountability tools and support their practical application in local governance.
Consultation Platforms
Work with local government structures to create and expand platforms for youth consultations and participation in Community Committees and Action Groups.
Result Area 2.2
Increase Civic Engagement of Young People
Strengthening civic engagement among young people, especially those living in poverty, is critical both as an end and because it contributes to human and social development. Youth civic engagement is a driving force behind broader development, be it economic, social or political.
Implementation Strategies
Youth Mobilization
Mobilize young people as active members of GEfADO to participate in organizational activities and community development initiatives.
Leadership and Volunteerism
Teach young people about leadership, volunteerism, and community impact to foster a culture of civic responsibility.
Community Transformation Projects
Support young people to research and design community transformation projects and actions in their communities.
Technical and Financial Support
Provide technical and financial support for the implementation of youth initiatives and community development projects.
Result Area 2.3
Increase Participation of Young People in Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
There is a need to generate a culture of peace and conflict-free environment, particularly among the youth. Young people, as products of their communities, are key agents of peacebuilding, especially those who have experienced conflict firsthand. They have key roles to play in peace processes with clear vision of what peace could look like in their countries and communities.
Implementation Strategies
Peace Education
Educate young people about peacebuilding and conflict resolution mechanisms, fostering a culture of peace.
Dialogue Platforms
Facilitate platforms where young people can converse and share experiences on peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
Community Conflict Studies
Support young people to conduct studies of their communities and identify conflicting issues for targeted interventions.
Peace Initiative Support
Provide technical and financial support for youth-led peacebuilding initiatives and conflict resolution projects.
National Dialogue Participation
In collaboration with relevant government structures, work for meaningful participation of young people in national dialogues.
Expected Impact 2023-2025
Economic Empowerment Outcomes
- Increased access to decent employment and fair wages
- Enhanced entrepreneurial skills and business management
- Strengthened worker associations and labor rights
- Improved financial inclusion and business development
Participation & Engagement Outcomes
- Enhanced youth participation in local governance
- Strengthened civic engagement and volunteerism
- Improved conflict resolution and peace building
- Increased youth leadership and community impact