Twende Digital Project Launches Its 2nd Cohort To Address Youth Unemployment

By ABN Staff October 10, 2024

Twende Digital Project Launches Its 2nd Cohort To Address Youth Unemployment

The Twende Digital Project, a groundbreaking initiative by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in collaboration with Twiva, has officially launched its second cohort aimed at addressing youth unemployment and enhancing the digital capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through social commerce.

The launch event, held in Nairobi, marks a significant step in transforming the employment landscape for Kenya’s youth and local businesses.

This new cohort builds on the achievements of its predecessor, which concluded in July 2024, creating and improving over 1,000 jobs. The current program aims to generate an additional 2,000 jobs, contributing to a target of 3,000 by mid-2025.

Participants will receive crucial support, including linkages to finance, health, and pension benefits, alongside a commitment to enhancing workplace productivity.

The program’s holistic approach facilitates a cross-value ecosystem that benefits both SMEs and the youth. Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Acting Deputy CEO and Global Director of Youth & Jobs at KEPSA, emphasized the synergy created by the initiative: “Twende Digital creates a powerful synergy where SMEs and young people grow together. While SMEs gain critical digital expertise and market access, young people earn meaningful, decent jobs as resellers through social and influencer marketing strategies. This win-win model fosters economic development and resilience and contributes to closing the unemployment gap in Kenya.”

Paul Ngugi, Deputy Country Lead at the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE), expressed the project’s broader vision, stating, “We are committed to creating approximately 230,000 jobs for young people globally by 2026.Twende Digital is one of our key partnerships, and through this initiative, we are seeing tangible outcomes; not just in the number of jobs created but in how they improve lives and transform businesses.”

Recent statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reveal a pressing issue: over 50 percent of the 2.97 million unemployed Kenyans are aged 18 to 29.

This statistic underscores the urgent need for innovative job-creation strategies. The Twende Digital Project directly addresses this challenge by providing young people with opportunities to engage in Kenya’s burgeoning digital economy, while simultaneously equipping SMEs with the digital tools necessary for success in a tech-driven market.

The initiative leverages modern strategies such as social commerce and influencer marketing to not only provide dignified work for youth but also give SMEs a competitive edge. “By empowering youth as influencers and digital marketers, we are providing them with dignified work while giving SMEs a competitive edge in this digital age,” noted a project spokesperson.

With the backing of KEPSA, participating SMEs will enjoy exclusive benefits, including access to finance and market opportunities, which are vital for business development and growth.

Harrison Ngatia, Chief SME and Enterprise Development Officer at KEPSA, highlighted the advantages for SMEs joining the alliance: “As members of KEPSA, SMEs benefit from critical business resources, training, and policy support. The Twende Digital initiative equips these businesses with cutting-edge digital tools, enabling them to boost sales and reach wider markets.”

The Twende Digital Project is expanding its reach to various counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, and Machakos. This expansion ensures that the program’s impact resonates across all regions, particularly in marginalized and underserved communities.

The collaboration between KEPSA and Twiva, supported by CFYE, showcases the power of partnership and innovation in creating sustainable economic opportunities for Kenya’s youth and businesses. With a focus on job creation and digital empowerment, the Twende Digital Project is poised to make a lasting impact on the country’s economy.