By Aggrey Twesigye
Bouwe-Jan Smeding.
The Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda, Bouwe-Jan Smedling, has called on development partners to shift from short-term humanitarian assistance towards sustainable investment in communities, entrepreneurship and job creation.
Smeddling says development interventions should focus on empowering communities to become economically independent rather than relying on continued aid.
He made the remarks during the learning and close-out event for 1,700 refugee and host-community youths who benefited from a 25-month livelihood and skills development project in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro District.
The project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by AVSI Foundation, started in 2024 and targeted unemployed youths, as well as secondary school students aged between 15 and 18.
Smeddling commended the project’s achievements but challenged development partners to do more to transform beneficiaries from small-scale farmers into independent entrepreneurs capable of taking calculated business risks, accessing credit and developing a culture of financial responsibility.
The initiative adopted a multi-sectoral approach, combining technical training, entrepreneurship, life skills and financial literacy. Beneficiaries were equipped with skills in poultry farming, piggery, horticulture, bakery, juice making, printing, matooke trading and goat rearing.
AVSI Foundation Country Representative John Makoha said skills development alone may not deliver substantial results without financial support and mentorship.
He said 1,099 out-of-school youths received start-up capital in cash, while 300 students still in school were supported with start-up kits in kind.
Other beneficiaries were linked to private-sector providers for business development services, including access to financial services, agricultural inputs, animal health and pest management, licensing, packaging, branding and market opportunities.
The Acting Isingiro District Agriculture Officer, Julius Mulumba, commended AVSI Foundation for complementing government efforts to address youth unemployment through skills development.
One of the beneficiaries, Anita Nyinamweza, thanked AVSI Foundation and the Government of the Netherlands, saying the skills and knowledge acquired had equipped young people with lasting abilities to improve their livelihoods and pursue sustainable income-generating activities.
