Enos Kitambo
Department of Public Administration and Management, Gulu University
Abstract
Youth entrepreneurship and employment depend on the availability and use of resources. This study explored how young people viewed and deployed ‘land’ ‘funds’ and ‘youth themselves’ as resources offering opportunity for youth engagement in income generating activities and self-employment. Qualitative studies were conducted with youth interest groups (YIGs) funded under a government-oriented youth livelihood programme in Gulu district. Overall, the analysis suggests that land and financing have the potential to foster youth entrepreneurship and employment, but can do so only if youth use themselves as resources through active participation. The minimal amount of youth engagement in self-employment and the failure of most YIGs are due to institutional voids, limited commitment, and lack of preparation to utilise the ‘resources’ productively. The study recommends intensive entrepreneurial training for mindset change, and appreciation of personal resources. Institutional support should go beyond financing to include training and supportive supervision in order to build a competitive and self-sustaining young generation.
Keywords: Youth entrepreneurship, livelihoods, resource, youth interest groups, post-conflict
Introduction
‘People become house builders by building houses, harp players by playing the harp. We grow to be just by doing things that are just’ (Aristotle in Benard 1990: 6). In the same way, youth become entrepreneurs by practicing entrepreneurship. At least, that is the assumption of many youth-oriented projects. World over, youth entrepreneurship is gaining attention as a force for building youth assets and action, often as a remedy for ever increasing youth unemployment. In these efforts, resources play a necessary role. This article examines the resources used by members of youth schemes such as Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP). The significant resources for them are apparently money and land. We shall argue, however, that another resource is equally necessary. Policymakers and youth themselves perceive personal resources as key to utilising these material resources. In order to make use of material resources, subjective intangible assets are necessary such as determination, self-discipline, competence, and persistence. This distinction is recognised by Hobfoll (2002:6), who suggests that resources are entities that are either centrally valued in their own right (e.g. self-esteem, close attachment, health, and inner peace) or act as means to obtain centrally valued ends (e.g. money, social support, and credit). We take personal resources as means to ends just like the concrete resources of funds and land. Most studies associate African youth entrepreneurship with access to capital and land; youth character has yet to be robustly researched. It remains a puzzle if youth have the motivations and competence to leverage these two resources to create jobs for themselves. This article aims to fill the gap by exploring how youth in a livelihood promotion programme utilise available resources.