"We'll be fighting for a billion and more," Ngubeni said at the launch of the youth month programme in Pretoria.
After asking for R1bn in the last financial year the agency was given R320m, despite the treasury having recommended R600m.
Amidst budget constraints, Ngubeni said great progress had been made since the merger between the National Youth Commission and Umsobomvu Youth Fund.
Over R26m in loans had been granted to small and medium enterprises. A total of 16 000 young people had been enrolled in the national youth service programme.
Partnerships had been formed with the human settlements ministry in building 76 houses in the Ivory Park informal settlement in Tembisa. These would be officially handed over on June 4.
"Youth development has been placed central to government work," Ngubeni said, adding that the project would help strengthen young people's skills.
- Sapa