What are the Key Factors Contributing to Employment Service Uptake by Women Supported by Save the Children International’s LEEP/PVH Project?

The PVH Foundation phase two project has been implemented from July 2020 to November 2022, whereas, the Young Women’s Leadership & Economic Empowerment Program (LEEP) Academies has been implemented since February 2020. The two projects have been implemented in eight projects areas in Sidama region aiming to create enabling conditions and opportunities for youth including women in their engagement in social and economic activities and to generate their own livelihoods, empower young people on leadership, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and other activities at families and community level. The current assessment was conducted for both projects with the overall objective of generating evidence and identifying lessons from the implementation of LEEP and PVH project interventions.

As a result of the intervention, young women and men were equally enrolled and currently undertaking different business. Most of the interviewed beneficiaries witnessed that outcome of the business is positive and making earnings that enable young women cover personal expenses, which they hardly found before. Interviewed beneficiaries stressed that running a business is rescuing oneself from dependency on others and created confidence that can make more earnings and expand current small business in to sustained big undertaking that even open job opportunities for others.