Today’s youthful population represents the largest share of the global population, with approximately 1.8 billion individuals aged between 10 to 24 years. According to the recently released Uganda Bureau of Statistics National Population and Housing Census Report, persons aged 18 – 30 years constitute 22.7 percent of Uganda’s population while those under 30 years of age are 73.2 percent. This demography is a vital national asset for future growth and development – a reservoir for future industry leaders, local innovators, cutting age researchers, academics and champions in sports and arts.

We therefore have to determine how to create an enabling environment for youth to contribute to national development through skilling them for the current context for example through harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly to revolutionize digital skilling for youth and prepare them for 21st-century jobs.

The 2025 Human Development Report encourages us to collaborate with AI rather than compete against it. This can be achieved by designing economies where AI augments human labour, adopting a human-centered approach that embeds ethics and agency from design to deployment, and modernizing systems to reimagine education and healthcare in the AI era. But do we really have a choice? AI is already transforming how we live, learn, and work. It’s up to us to recognize its potential as a powerful support tool—especially for empowering our youth to innovate and acquire essential digital skills.

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day to recognize the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development. This year, we join Uganda in commemorating World Youth Skills Day under the theme "Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills”. Supporting youth to access education and the right skills, especially rural youth and those living far from cities, goes beyond improving access to sustainable sources of incomes but also using AI to evolve Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). By personalizing learning through intelligent tutoring systems, supporting immersive training using virtual reality (VR), streamlining certification and career guidance, modernising curricula and aligning training with labour market needs, we will be closing the digital skills gap especially for marginalized youth.

Skills have always been pivotal to human progress, enabling individuals to adapt, innovate, and contribute to their societies. As part of its broader strategy for economic development and poverty reduction, the Government of Uganda has prioritized youth skilling. Through strategic policy, regulatory measures and skilling initiatives, the Government has focused on equipping young people with relevant digital skills and tools to enhance productivity, promote economic development, and improve livelihoods across the country. The Uganda Digital Transformation Roadmap and other related strategies have established mechanisms through which to incorporate digital solutions in areas ranging from governance and education to health, agriculture, trade and others. These require a digital ready labour force for their effective implementation. 

For instance, AI and machine learning (ML) technologies are being used for crop disease detection, soil health monitoring, predictive analytics for weather patterns, and optimizing agricultural practices. AI has revolutionised healthcare in Uganda following its use in image analysis and diagnostics; transformed financial inclusion by expanding access to financial services through digital banking solutions and mobile payment platforms; and been adopted to advance wildlife conservation efforts and monitoring deforestation. Young people with enhanced skills in these areas can increasingly contribute to these sectors if they are effectively empowered with skills for the future.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has also been at the forefront of promoting digital skills development as a crucial component of sustainable development. In collaboration with the Government and several partners, UNDP has implemented initiatives to empower young people both in the cities and vulnerable communities with the digital skills needed to enable them, especially women and girls, to respond collectively to achieve their valued shared outcomes of economic empowerment while also addressing the social stresses they face on a day-to-day basis. 

UNDP’s partnership with Refactory Academy, is equipping over 150 young people from diverse backgrounds with advanced digital skills and competencies necessary to build sustainable careers or launch entrepreneurial ventures in the growing digital economy. Programme participants will receive mentorship from industry experts and guidance on career development, personal growth, and professional networking. The initiative also includes an apprenticeship programme that offers hands-on experience, enabling participants to work on real-world projects with leading tech companies. This ensures that young people are not only technically skilled but also well-prepared to navigate the professional landscape of the tech industry.

In collaboration with the Makerere University Innovation Pod (UniPod) and Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), UNDP is equipping students with cutting-edge skills in e-mobility technologies. This initiative also includes training on navigating workplace dynamics that may pose challenges for women and girls in engineering, with the goal of bridging the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). 

On a separate partnership with Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak-UniPod) and Lwera Electronics and Semiconductors Limited, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced the industry 4.0 Enterprise Development Programme—an initiative designed to empower young people to build a dynamic ecosystem for electronics manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship within and beyond Makerere University. UNDP also established and refurbished technical spaces to foster innovation, mentorship and networking.

Through the UN-EU Spotlight Initiative, over 443 out-of-school girls and boys—including refugees across 12 targeted districts, are enhancing their employability skills and reducing their vulnerability to violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse. These learners are being trained in a wide range of trades, including solar PV technology installation, driving, motor vehicle and motorcycle mechanics, carpentry and joinery, borehole maintenance, plumbing, welding, electrical installation, building and construction (including interlocking brick making), basic electronics and appliance repair, tailoring, fashion and design, hairdressing, and catering. In addition to vocational skills, the learners have also accessed essential Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services such as family planning, HIV screening and testing, and the provision of reusable sanitary pads, among others. More still needs to be done on enhancing AI usage into their skills acquisition.

Challenges

While progress has been made in youth empowerment through skilling including in AI and other digital skills, we must remain mindful of the significant challenges that AI can present. These include bias and inequality—where AI systems may reinforce gender and geographic disparities—low educator readiness, limited infrastructure, high costs, ethical and privacy concerns, digital misinformation, underrepresentation, and a growing sense of human disconnection. 

Additionally, the global economy is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by technological advancements, demographic shifts, changing market demands, and global challenges such as climate change. These forces are reshaping the world of work and transforming employment opportunities for youth. While foundational skills like literacy and numeracy remain essential, today’s world demands a broader set of competencies, highlighting the urgent need to shift how we approach youth skilling. Unfortunately, these shifts have been slow and unevenly distributed across different demographics. However, the current environment presents numerous opportunities to accelerate and deepen these changes particularly with Uganda’s rapidly expanding internet and computing infrastructure, supported by the National Digitalisation Roadmap.

Looking Ahead

The emergence of disruptive technology and evolving economic landscapes, compounded by geopolitical and sociocultural disruptions, has revolutionized industries and transformed businesses resulting in profound labour-market transformations. Technological breakthroughs such as the coming-of-age of generative artificial intelligence (AI), Cloud and Blockchain, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) have created new avenues of growth – reshaping the way firms operate. Digital transformation has also created boundless opportunities and demand for new skills paving the way for innovative careers and entrepreneurial ventures in emerging sectors such as cybersecurity, data science, renewable energy, and creative arts. 

The proliferation of digital media and online platforms has also increased demand for content creators, digital marketers, UX/UI designers, and multimedia specialists. Digital technologies have enabled remote work and freelance opportunities, allowing youth to work for global companies or start their own business from anywhere in the world. A 2023 report by the World Economic Forum posits that AI, machine learning (ML), big data analytics, climate solutions and environmental management technologies, as well as encryption and cybersecurity, are expected to be the biggest drivers of job growth[1]. Equipping youth with these digital competencies not only enhances their employability but also empowers them to contribute meaningfully to fostering peace and inclusive development.

The creative economy has also emerged as a transformative force, offering youth avenues for economic empowerment, cultural expression, and societal enrichment. For instance, Nigeria's film industry – Nollywood - stands as a beacon of creativity, storytelling prowess and economic opportunity contributing an estimated USD $600 million to the Nigerian economy annually and employing 300,000 people directly and up to 1 million indirectly[2]. Integrating the creative economy into youth skilling initiatives can play a vital role in fostering innovation, promoting cultural diversity, providing economic opportunities, and strengthening social cohesion.

Call to Action

The landscape of youth skilling is rich with emerging opportunities that promise to shape the future of work and economic prosperity globally. We must empower young people with ever-evolving abilities to seize these opportunities. This includes integrating emerging technologies into skills development programs and promoting skills development programs that embrace diversity and inclusivity. We invite governments, educators, youth, policymakers, and tech developers to come together to advocate for ethical, inclusive, and human-centred AI especially in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); collaborate globally to share best practices and fund digital skills training; support grassroots innovations that enhance youth employability; and amplify youth voices in shaping decisions about the future of work. Together, we can build an inclusive, ethical, and empowering future for all youth through AI and digital skills.

A special appreciation to all our partners who are making our skilling work possible, including the Government of Uganda, the European Union, Refactory Academy, the Makerere Unipod, Kiira Motors Cooperation, Lwera electronics and the UNDP CORE partners.

Happy World Youth Skills Day 2025.

Nwanne Vwede Obahor

Resident Representative

United Nations Development Programme