The 2024 theme of World Youth Skills Day, ‘Youth Skills for Peace and Development’ presents an excellent opportunity for KEPSA to reaffirm its commitment in tackling pressing issues of youth unemployment in Kenya. KEPSA focuses on provision of relevant market-led skills, accelerating and scaling small youth-led enterprises, creating work opportunities while providing globally competitive solutions for businesses. Towards this, KEPSA is participating at the ongoing Skill-Up Africa Conference and Expo organized by the Nation Media Group in partnership with International Labour Organisation, World Skills Kenya, UNESCO and the Ministry of Education in celebrating the World Youth Skills Day 2024; happening at the KICC Courtyard from Monday, 15^th and Wednesday, 17^th July 2024.

The Conference that was officially opened on Monday by Shadrack Mwadime, the Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Labour and Skills Development in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, presents a crucial platform for young people, private sector and policymakers to discuss on necessary skills and steps to foster peace and sustainable development. As the world faces technological advancements, economic disparities, social inequalities, evolving labour markers, sustainability and climate issues, then youth skills development is essential for building resilient societies and achieving inclusive growth. Among the issues being addressed at the conference include advancing youth employment, skill migration and future of work, technical skills required in spurring industrial growth, promoting green skills and practices and transformative youth leadership. Additionally, the Conference will have engaging sessions such world skills competition and awards.

"During these times that are defining for our young generation, it is their visionary spirit that must be celebrated.  On this day, we should carry with us the task of ensuring that young people are empowered, included and not left behind," said Mwadime during the official opening. He added that the State Department for Labour and Skills Development has embarked on several initiatives to alleviate youth unemployment including the optimizing safe and orderly labour migration, providing career guidance to help informed decisions among the youth, and promoting integrated work-based learning for enhanced employability.

In attendance were also representatives from different organizations including the International Labour Organization, Federation of Kenya Employers, Central Organization of Trade Unions, National Youth Council and Nation Media, among others.

In a panel session on advancing youth employment, Gracemary Muchiri, the Project Lead, Ajira Digital at KEPSA, highlighted some of the emerging opportunities led by technology that are facilitating young entrepreneurs’ to easily access credit facilities. The digital transactions such as payments to suppliers and from customers along with with establishing an online business presence have helped qualify most entrepreneurs for credit facilities. With the young people being digital natives and globally connected, they are able to leverage on technology to enjoy benefits such as right skills to navigate social commerce and e-commerce platforms for wider markets, reduce operational costs, embrace new trends and identify emerging opportunities.

KEPSA through strategic partnerships has managed to champion innovation, entrepreneurship and youth employment uniting diverse sectors to speak with one voice on vital policy issues. The youth projects within the Kenya Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (K-YEEAP), a program championed by KEPSA on youth and jobs, prioritizes catalyzing, accelerating and scaling small enterprises, placing a primary focus on youth employment and creation of more work opportunities. K-YEEAP aims to achieve this by providing vital support mechanisms such as financing, business coaching, and mentorship.

Giving a keynote speech during the panel session, Jacqueline Mugo, Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), explained that the gravity of skills-industry mismatch and the youth bulge where median age in Sub-saharan Africa is 24 years has resulted in the drop witnessed today in new formal jobs. Additionally, there is a shrinking demand on formal jobs and hence the need to collectively think through solutions in advancing entrepreneurship and youth employment. Jacqueline highlighted the need for additional skills such as cognitive and soft skills that are predicted to be key requirements for the future work and a blend of these two abilities opens up more work opportunities helping individuals to thrive in diverse professional settings.

Caroline Njuki, the Chief Technical Adviser, ILO Kenya, while addressing the challenges affecting employment and the roles of entrepreneurship in addressing youth unemployment highlighted the growing low demand of opportunities in Kenya compared to the supply of skilled youth. Caroline explained that among the solutions includes identifying sectors that are job rich and that can absorb youth in large numbers while having partners like KEPSA, KAM, KNCCI and others advocating for an enabling environment for doing business to encourage young entrepreneurs.

Daniel Apollo, a student at Mount Kenya University while responding to how as a student they feel on the quality of skills offered in school to preparing learners for the real world and industries pointed out that there is a need to integrate curriculum with the industry needs and synchronize what is taught to ensure its applicable in the current market. He urged the different players to get involved in shaping the education offered in universities and TVETs to ensure they are competitive enough once they join the labour market.

Patrick Nyangweso, CEO Kenya National Chamber of Commerce (KNCCI), explained to the participants that there is a need to refer to youth as leaders of today unlike leaders of tomorrow. This means collective responsibility and commitment on diverse youth driven investment initiatives such as incentives for youth-led enterprises and also upskilling programs to close the industry-skills mismatch. Citing a recent barometer by KNCCI, it showed that over regulations, unpredictable tax and barriers to affordable financing is what is killing small entrepreneurs and requires addressing.

Joyce Njogu, Head of Kenya Association of Manufacturing (KAM) Consulting and Business Development congratulated the young people that had spared time to participate at the Conference stating that it is through such forums that they can networking, gain and share insights that might not be available to them directly or elsewhere. She added that manufacturing industry works hand in hand with trade and finance sectors and has provided over 300,000 direct job opportunities. She also urged investors to change their appetite and invest on young people more.