African Youth Development Link (AYDL - Uganda)

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Bukoto, Uganda

Send an email

[email protected]

Call us

+256 393 516937

AYDL's Mission

Empowering Youth Voices in Governance

AYDL champions youth participation in governance, empowering young voices to create impactful change at local and national levels.

AYDL's Mission

Building Sustainable Livelihoods for Youth

AYDL equips young people with the skills and support they need to thrive economically, fostering resilience and empowerment within diverse communities.

AYDL's Mission

Gender Equality and Human Rights

AYDL promotes gender equality and advocates for the rights and well-being of adolescent mothers and marginalized youth, ensuring they have access to essential resources and opportunities.

AYDL's Evolution

Pioneering Youth Development Since 2009

African Youth Development Link (AYDL) is the leading youth-focused not-for-profit Non-Governmental Organization in Uganda on a mission to empower young people and youth to participate in governance and development decision-making processes at all levels. Established July 2009, AYDL advocates implementation and reform of laws and policies for increased youth participation in leadership and democratic governance processes at local and national levels for progress and change in Uganda and beyond.

Our Mission

Empowerment of youth to participate in governance and development through advocacy.

Our Vision

An empowered youth movement building better lives for young people through their engagement in development and governance processes.

AYDL Internships

AYDL periodically recruits Arts & Humanities Graduate Trainees to work with the secretariat for six months. These trainees provide valuable support to AYDL’s operations and advocacy agenda. Every year, we also provide opportunities for university students to intern with us for up to three months so as to gain skills, experience, and enthusiasm from a broad range of tasks within the organization.

Building Tomorrow, Together

Igniting Change with Every Youth Interaction

AYDL coordinates the Youth Coalition on Electoral Democracy in Uganda (YCED) which has a membership of over 80 organizations spread across the country. The Coalition spearheads the National Youth Manifesto (NYM) initiative – an innovative framework for continuous advocacy and engagement on nationally agreed mutual policy and program priorities of youth to government and other actors during each five-year political term of office.
Through diverse programs, AYDL offers immersive experiences for volunteers and interns, integrating them into the cultural and developmental fabric of Ugandan communities. Our projects span critical areas such as healthcare, environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment, and youth education. Each initiative is a collaborative effort, reflecting our commitment to empowering individuals and fostering sustainable development.

Thematic program pillars

Our work is influenced by four
mutually exclusive program pillars...

AYDL Projects

Showcasing Our Legacy in Youth
Transformation

Youth Voices in the 2011 Electoral Processes & Beyond

Youth Engagement and Empowerment Project (YEEP)

With funding from the European Union, the YEEP was implemented by Oxfam in partnership with International Foundation for Recovery and Development (IFRAD) and African Youth Development Link (AYDL) that reached 1,518 people (71% were female and 29% male).

YOLA

AYDL in numbers

Driving Sustainable Change

AYDL’s goal is to promote and mobilize the young people to proactively participate in development processes together with other similar-minded organizations and stakeholders such as the government, CBOs, FBOs, NGOs and development partners both locally and internationally.

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Young people reached through our programs, with 83% reporting an increase in income and access to markets and finance.

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AYDL facilitated the creation of 5 advocacy platforms to amplify youth voices and drive policy change.

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Collaborated with 20+ organizations, including NGOs, government bodies, and international agencies.

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