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Uganda Browser Extension
Inspiration
Although I am not a Ugandan (from the United Kingdom), I do have some connections to the country. In 2010, I represented the country at the Model United Nations Conference on the theme of Afghanistan's problem with drugs. I also come from a background in development economics, having degrees from Cardiff University and King's College London, and so the economy of Uganda is of interest to me.
Unemployment and youth unemployment, strictly speaking, are not considerably worse in Uganda than comparable countries or, indeed, even the world average. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), youth unemployment stood at 4.1% in 2021. However, this figure is likely to be an underestimate because Uganda suffers with underemployment, which is defined as the situation where a worker's skills and/or knowledge are not fully utilised. Therefore, finding a solution to this requires understanding the breakdown of unemployment in the country between those who are long-term unemployed, short-term unemployed as well as underemployed.
I decided to take part in this hackathon because of my experience in development economics and wanting to put my coding knowledge to good use.
What it does
This is a browser extension that works across the major internet browsers - Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox. The browser extension lives on the user's browser and informs the user about local job opportunities in the area they live in in Uganda. The browser extension also provides tips on enhancing their desirability in the job market. Although users from around the world can download the browser, it is tailored specifically for a Ugandan experience.
How we built it
As with all browser extensions, this extension was built using HTML, JavaScript, CSS and JSON.
Challenges we ran into
The main challenge in building this browser extension was finding out the source of Uganda's economic issues with regards to employment, particularly for young people.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
I'm really glad I was able to learn more about Uganda and its economy during this hackathon. I'm also delighted to know the European Union (EU) maintains vital connections with the country.
What we learned
I'm really proud to have learned more about Uganda as well as the work that IFRAD and Oxfam do in the country.
What's next for Ugandan Jobs Opportunities Browser Extension
In the event of winning, the browser extension will be published on Github and distributed through official channels so that Ugandan youth can use it to enhance their career prospects. It would also be nice to visit the country one day ;) .
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