What does upskilling your workforce mean and how does a BMUG-MCF partnership accelerate it?
Upskilling your workforce means empowering employees and youth with the skills they need today and tomorrow digital literacy, data fluency, inclusive work practices, job-search readiness. Thanks to the partnership between BrighterMonday Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation, this isn’t just theory but real-world impact: thousands of young Ugandans trained, events delivered, and direct employer links made.
TL;DR
– BrighterMonday Uganda & Mastercard Foundation are partnering under the #TakeControl campaign to reach Uganda’s youth, job-seekers and SME workforce.
– To date: over 1,500 youth engaged at the Eastern Career Fair in Mbale.
– Free courses, certifications and job-support services delivered via the partnership.
– This approach helps organisations build talent pipelines, close skills gaps, and access a more capable workforce.
The urgency of skills, the youth challenge & our partnership response
The youth & skills context
In Uganda, a large share of the population is young. The Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda targets enabling 4.3 million young people (ages 18-35) to access dignified work by 2030. (source)
At an Eastern Uganda event organised by BrighterMonday Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation, over 70% of youth attending indicated they lacked meaningful employment opportunities. “Eastern Career Fair Mbale” report (source)
How BMUG + MCF are responding
Under the #TakeControl campaign, BrighterMonday Uganda, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, offers free training, certifications and job-support to youth, women and persons with disabilities (PWDs). (learn more)
Example: The Eastern Career Fair in Mbale (17-18 Oct 2025) engaged 1,500+ youth with career clinics, tech demos, job match opportunities and inclusive access for women and PWDs. (event details)
Why this matters for employers
As skills gaps grow, organisations can either hire externally at higher cost or develop internally using such partnerships as pipeline generators.
Youth trained via the BMUG-MCF pipeline become more job-ready and can plug into employer needs in sectors such as digital economy, green jobs and inclusive employment.
Strategic benefit for your organisation from this partnership
Boost your talent pipeline
By aligning with the BMUG-MCF partnership, your organisation gains access to candidates who:
- Have received career readiness training (CV writing, interview prep, digital tools)
- Are part of talent-pool events (e.g., the Mbale fair)
- Come via supported programmes aimed at inclusion (women & PWDs)
Drive engagement & retention
Employers who recruit candidates from these programmes demonstrate social responsibility and access more motivated hires. The training plus support increases job-readiness and reduces time-to-productivity.
Future-proof your workforce
Skills developed through the partnership include digital tools, remote-working capabilities and inclusive hiring practices that align with modern work realities.
How to leverage the BMUG–MCF upskilling pipeline in practice
Step 1: Connect with the training ecosystem
Visit the free training page on BrighterMonday Uganda’s website (in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation) to understand the programmes available: #TakeControl Campaign
Step 2: Participate in the live events & fairs
Attend and/or sponsor regional events like the Eastern Career Fair in Mbale (17-18 Oct 2025). Over 1,500 youth were engaged. Event report
Step 3: Integrate training with your workforce plan
Identify gaps in your workforce (digital skills, inclusive practices, remote readiness), then use the training pipeline to fill those gaps—inviting candidates into your workforce development programmes and upskilling current employees.
Step 4: Measure impact and iterate
Track metrics: number of hires from the pipeline, time-to-productivity, retention rate, diversity (women, PWDs). Use evaluation to refine your sourcing strategy and further integrate with future BMUG-MCF initiatives.
Case study & impact snapshot
Event: Eastern Career Fair, Mbale (17-18 Oct 2025)
Organisers: BrighterMonday Uganda & Mastercard Foundation (news coverage)
Impact Highlights:
– 1,500 + youth from Eastern Uganda attended. (report)
– Event included: career clinics (CV writing, interview skills), digital job-tools, dedicated PWD tracks. (report)
– Focus on green jobs, tech/digital economy roles, inclusive employment for young women and PWDs. (report)
Training Pipeline:
– Through the “#TakeControl” campaign: Free courses, certification and job-support for youth. (campaign page)
– The Mastercard Foundation strategy in Uganda: enabling 4.3 million young people to access dignified work by 2030. (MCF Uganda page)
Conclusion
The partnership between BrighterMonday Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation isn’t just a philanthropic initiative it is a strategic talent pipeline and skills engine for organisations seeking future-ready workforce, inclusive growth and stronger talent sourcing.
By tapping into this ecosystem, your organisation can bridge skills gaps, access motivated youth, and contribute to social impact all in one integrated strategy.
FAQ
Q1: How can my organisation participate in the BMUG–MCF training pipeline? A1: Connect with BrighterMonday Uganda’s training page (#TakeControl Campaign), align your hiring needs with youth cohorts, and engage in events like the Eastern Career Fair.
Q2: What types of skills are youth receiving through this partnership? A2: Youth are trained in job-readiness (CVs, interviews), digital skills, inclusive employment practices, green-jobs awareness, career support tools (such as BMUG’s AI Career Tool demo). (event report)
Q3: What measurable impact has the partnership achieved so far? A3: At the Eastern Career Fair alone, over 1,500 youth were directly engaged. The Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda targets 4.3 million youth by 2030. (MCF Uganda page)
Q4: Is this opportunity inclusive for women and persons with disabilities? A4: Yes. The Mbale fair had dedicated tracks for young women and PWDs, including accessibility provisions. (event report)
