Unemployment has been a perennial problem in developing countries and Kenya is no exception. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Since 2016 the unemployment rate in Kenya has been increasing every year.

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There is a need to act to break the spiral of unemployment. This problem has been exacerbated by the advent of the COVID-19 crisis which led to a massive disruption of the economy and labour market in Kenya. The unemployment rate in Kenya stood at 6.6% in the first quarter of 2021 as reported by the World Bank. This reflects the dire situation of young people in securing employment in Kenya. Young people experience job disruptions, disruptions in education and training, and difficulties transitioning from school to the job market and moving between jobs. Despite improved educational accessibility for young people, there is a mismatch between the skills that youth possess and the skills that employers seek.

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The world of work is changing, and it means that 1 in 16 people may be forced to switch occupations by 2030, according to the McKinsey Global Institute. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies like automation and AI, which will continue to shape work. Job growth will be more concentrated in high-skill jobs, while middle- and low-skill jobs will decline.

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This VET project is curated to help young people in Kenya navigate the process of securing work in a safe environment that helps to cultivate their soft and hard skills by joint initiatives that foster VET cooperation across Africa and the European Union.

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The envisaged project action also intends to increase the capacity of VET providers in Kenya by supporting College management, governance, inclusion and quality assurance, to ensure that they are better equipped to engage with the business sector.

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The proposed international partnership will contribute to improving the quality of VET in Kenya by reinforcing the capacities of VET staff and teachers as well as by strengthening the link between VET providers and the labour market.

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The project activities will be an important resource for VET schools where we would bring various community organisations together for networking purposes as well as to collectively focus their expertise and resources on helping youth secure employment in Kenya.

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The project will create a structured internet-based environment with local adaptability as a place for networking and meeting place for the young people and VET institutions in order to create productive relationships.

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Throughout the project we will identify gaps, with the support of the Chamber of Commerce partner, and provide young people with the skills, assets, and support they need to compete and succeed in the workplace. Another key role is to create for young people partnerships between Kenyan young people, local industries, and the government to enhance employment opportunities and overall youth workforce competitiveness through skills and vocational training.

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The project will leverage and strengthen institutional VET resources and capacities with the aim of providing tailored skills, training, and employment services by engaging employers and worker's organizations on inclusive workplaces, policies, and practices to support the employment of excluded young people. Through this we will create career pathways that will propel Kenyan young people to success.

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Project Partners 

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