The overall outcome of the Woman Adolescents and Young People (WAY) programme is to enhance utilization of SRHR and GBV services among the women and young people in northern Uganda, including refugees, in order to realise their right to live healthy and productive lives.

Background

In 2016/2017, UNFPA in partnership with Outbox with support from UKAID started the Up Accelerate initiative - one that was focused on supporting young people that are addressing challenges in Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights with business incubation, mentorship, technical guidance and seed funding. Each team was supported with UGX 36 Million to work on their idea. The teams went on to raise up-to $50,000 in follow-on funding and reach up-to 200 health workers. 

Given that most of the participants in the first edition were mostly urban youth from key cities of Kampala and Mbarara, we embarked on an initiative to be more inclusive by reaching out to a broader category of youth.

Up Accelerate Participants 2016/2017
Some of the participants/winners in the previous Up Accelerate Edition 2016/2017

It is against this backdrop that the Up Accelerate WAY edition was born with a focus on Northern Uganda and West Nile regions with support from the DANISH Embassy.

With support from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark/DANIDA, Outbox, The Government and UNFPA are implementing the Women, Adolescents, Youth Rights and Empowerment Programme (WAY) in Acholi and West Nile regions.

It will target host and refugeee women and young people as primary beneficiaries accross 5 refugee and 3 non-refugee host districts. These are Adjumani, Agago, Amuru, Arua, Kitgum, Lamwo, Moyo, Yumbe, Obongi, and Madi-Okollo.

Some of the Youths participating in the Up Accelerate WAY Edition
Some of the Youths participating in the Up Accelerate WAY Edition

The Up Accelerate WAY Edition

The Way programme has an objective to identify and nurture young innovators and leaders to develop and implement breakthrough solutions for the improvement of SRHR and GBV outcomes.

Up Accelerate WAY Edition is a social innovation incubator that seeks to support up-to eighty (80) youth (Refugees and Non-refugees) who will be nurtured to develop and implement break-through entrepreneurial solutions/businesses for the improvement of SRHR and GBV outcomes. The incubation process will provide mentorship, seed funding, business training and linkages to markets so as to enable the beneficiaries build self-sustaining solutions.

 

#80

Number of young people to be supported through the program

#16

Number of teams of young people to be incubated