The Nkabom Collaborative-UESD is shifting its focus in Year 3 from programme development and training participation to measurable youth employment, enterprise development and livelihood outcomes. The Project Investigator(PI) and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, announced this on Day Two of the three-day Year 2 Performance Evaluation and Year 3 Strategic Implementation Retreat in Koforidua.
The Day Two discussions centred on the Year 3 Project Implementation Plan (PIP), strategic objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs) and annual targets; implementation priorities across the three pillars; integration of Year 2 lessons; quarter-by-quarter work planning and responsibility mapping; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, including tracer studies and Youth in Work outcome tracking.
The PI said the focus for Year 3 should go beyond activities and participation to what would be delivered, who would be responsible, how implementation would be undertaken, and how results would be measured.
He indicated that the Year 3 Project Implementation Plan (PIP), covering September 2026 to August 2027, represents a transition from programme development to delivery, entrepreneurship training to enterprise incubation, and participation figures to measurable Youth in Work outcomes.
The plan seeks to strengthen youth employment and entrepreneurship through quality education, practical skills training, innovation, business incubation and industry partnerships in agro-waste management and aquaculture technology.
Under Education and Skills Development, the Collaborative targets four operational academic programmes, 10 certificate and short courses, 120 students enrolled in academic programmes and 500 participants in short-course training. Prof. Nyarko-Sampson stressed that success should be measured not only by certificates issued but by practical competencies acquired and applied. The targets include at least 90 per cent training completion, 80 per cent competency improvement and 85 per cent participant satisfaction.
Strengthening the pathway from training to work
The Access and Success pillar will focus on creating stronger pathways from training to employment through mentorship, career development, internships, apprenticeships, workplace learning and the Inclusive Job Matching Platform.
The plan targets at least 50 per cent female participation, 30 persons with disabilities and 150 rural and underserved youth. It also targets 300 beneficiaris for mentorship and career coaching, 500 registrations on the Job Matching Platform, 100 internship and apprenticeship placements and at least 200 beneficiaries linked to employment or enterprise opportunities.
From entrepreneurship training to enterprise creation
Under Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Collaborative will move beyond entrepreneurship education to enterprise incubation, formalisation, financing and market access.
The UESD Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub will support incubation, mentoring, business development, market linkages and investment readiness.
The plan targets 20 youth- and women-led enterprises for incubation, mentorship for 50 enterprises, 40 business mentors and advisors, formal registration of 20 enterprises, finance or investment linkages for at least 15 enterprises and market or value-chain linkages for 20 enterprises.
Supported enterprises are expected to contribute to 150 jobs, achieve an 80 per cent survival rate after 12 months and record average revenue growth of at least 30 per cent after incubation.
200 youth in employment or self-employment
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson identified the target of 200 youth employed or self-employed as a key measure of the Collaborative’s Youth in Work agenda. Other Year 3 targets include 20 industry partnerships, two demonstration facilities, one policy dialogue, one major innovation showcase, two graduate tracer studies and outreach to more than 20 districts. He urged the team to continually assess how each activity contributes to a young person’s pathway into work.
“If there is one number that should keep us focused throughout Year 3, it is this,” he said, referring to the target of 200 youth employed or self-employed.
Quarterly Implementation
The Year 3 PIP provides a quarterly implementation roadmap. Quarter One will prioritise academic programme launch, flagship short courses, inclusive recruitment, mentorship and piloting of the Inclusive Job Matching Platform. Quarter Two will focus on expanded training, enterprise incubation, business development, financial literacy and industry internships. Quarter Three will emphasise district expansion, enterprise mentorship, market and investor linkages and policy engagement, while Quarter Four will focus on tracer studies, enterprise performance monitoring, the Annual Innovation and Enterprise Showcase and the annual performance review.
The PI called for stronger coordination among Education, Access and Success, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Finance, Procurement, Research, Communications, ICT and Partnerships.
He said successful implementation would depend on timely accreditation, availability of funds, procurement of equipment, industry partnerships, qualified trainers and mentors, and effective operation of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub and Inclusive Job Matching Platform.
He challenged participants to leave the retreat with a practical roadmap identifying deliverables, timelines, responsible persons, resources, risks and evidence required to demonstrate results.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson said by August 2027, the Collaborative should be able to demonstrate not only that activities had been undertaken, but that young people had acquired skills, entered employment, established enterprises, created jobs and improved their livelihoods.