Aim of this study

The aim of this project is to develop an evidence base and platform for action around how violence in childhood and adolescence affects child labour, participation in skills programmes and employment outcomes in Uganda. 

This study is a collaboration between LSHTM, UCL and Makerere University, Uganda. 

This study involves: 

• Conducting a systematic review of longitudinal studies internationally to explore how violence in childhood and adolescence relates to later work outcomes
• Undertaking a mapping of existing skills training programmes in Uganda 
• Exploring how violence in childhood and adolescence relates to child labour and other work outcomes internationally 
• Exploring experiences of violence among trafficked adolescents in Uganda 
• Describing associations between prior experience of violence and work outcomes in adolescents in Luwero district (using data from the CoVAC study) 
• Conducting a new qualitative study to understand young people's experiences of participation in skills training programmes. 

We also created a network of stakeholders in Uganda to assist in shaping the research questions and developing policy recommendations. This included academics, NGOs in labour, skills or violence prevention sectors, government members and young people. We have held four meetings throughout the project with the network members to guide research activities, and discuss findings and implications for policy and interventions. 

We held an open dissemination meeting at Makerere University in March 2022, where we presented project findings and hosted a panel discussion with six network members, including representatives from skills training organisations, government, civil society organisations and youth. Study findings were featured across several Ugandan broadcasting platforms, including NBS, Uganda Radio Network and Chimp Reports, and news articles have been published on Ug Standard and the Makerere University website.