KAMPALA, (UG):- The Embassy of Iceland in Kampala and UNICEF have Today (November 29th ) signed an agreement worth US$1 million to empower vulnerable adolescent mothers in Western Uganda, providing them with essential services in social protection, early childhood development, and parenting support.
This 18-month partnership will enable UNICEF to connect teenage mothers with services across multiple sectors, including health, education, childcare, and skills development. The program will offer mentorship, life skills training, and support for low-cost early childhood education (ECD) models in the targeted communities. Additionally, mobile ECD units and disability-inclusive ECD kits will be introduced to offer early learning opportunities to children in hard-to-reach areas.
During the signing ceremony, Hildigunnur Engilbertsdóttir, the Head of Mission at the Embassy of Iceland to Uganda, emphasized that the program would provide monthly financial support to each beneficiary child. “We believe these cash transfers will ease the burden on young mothers, enabling them to access childcare services, return to school, or seek employment,” Engilbertsdóttir explained. She also highlighted that the conditional cash transfers are designed to promote adolescent mothers’ participation in learning, while also supporting their children’s early development.
Dr. Robin Nandy, UNICEF Representative to Uganda, underscored the significance of the partnership: “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to addressing the needs of children and communities in Uganda. With Iceland’s generous contribution, we can scale our efforts to overcome critical challenges, strengthen systems, and create lasting changes for adolescent mothers and their children. Every child deserves a brighter future, and this partnership brings us closer to realizing that vision.”
The funding will focus on vulnerable adolescent mothers (ages 12-19) and their children (ages 0-5) in Kyegegwa and Kikuube districts in Western Uganda. It aims to provide access to inclusive social protection, early childhood development, and parenting support services. Through this initiative, up to 1,000 adolescent mothers will be supported to return to school or gain vocational skills, while 2,000 of their children will benefit from early childhood care and education services in both formal and informal settings. Additionally, these children will receive mentorship and referrals to other critical social services.
The program will also train 1,200 adolescent mothers in parenting skills, screen 7,000 children for disabilities and developmental delays, and ensure the registration of 1,000 children’s births in Uganda.
This initiative aims to offer holistic solutions to the challenges faced by teenage mothers by linking them to essential services across protection, health, education, childcare, and skills training. The focus will be on innovative, low-cost early childhood development models and equipping caregivers with skills to promote positive parenting and child development, ultimately strengthening family and community resilience.
Through this partnership, UNICEF and the Iceland government seek to empower local communities by providing the resources and tools needed to create a better future for children in Uganda. The investment in community-driven solutions supports Uganda’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Since 2019, the Embassy of Iceland in Kampala and UNICEF have collaborated on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene access in schools and health facilities within refugee-hosting districts like Arua and Yumbe, benefiting both host and refugee communities.
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