The 15^th of February 2023 marked a great milestone as KEPSA welcomed the newest Business Membership Organization (BMO) in the Outsourcing industry referred to as the Business Process Outsourcing Association of Kenya (BPOAK). The association is very critical in providing BPO solutions across all the economic sectors while at the same time providing dignified and sustainable work opportunities for young people in Kenya. Some of the services available through the BPOs include inbound and outbound services for sales and other contact centers support, data transcription for businesses, back office processing services related to finance, accounting, debt collection and HR administration, software development, creative services, data science among others.

Over 12 BPOs convened in this event held at KEPSA offices to draw a one-year road map for the Kenya outsourcing industry and discuss activities that will help them realize their goal of making Kenya a choice labour destination. Kenya was ranked 35^th in the 2021 Global Services Location Index and 2^nd in Africa after Egypt. It is home to an educated and skilled workforce with close to 100,000 university graduates every year and the digitally skilled through Ajira Digital Program. Kenya has a large availability of highly skilled, English-speaking talent who speak with a more neutral accent compared to those in India, the Philippines, and other locations. All these advantages including the strong ICT infrastructure and affordable human capital make the country very competitive in both local and global outsourcing markets.

Together with the 12 BPOs, also present was Dr. Ehud Gachugu, Director of Ajira Digital Program and Youth Employment at KEPSA, as well as the Ajira Digital Program Private Sector Engagement team. Moderating the event was BPOAK chairperson, Roselyn Maundu, CEO of Acorns Investment, a Kenya-based collection, and Customer Experience (CX) BPO.

The formation of BPOAK has been made possible by the Ajira Digital Program in its quest to create and increase sustainable work opportunities for young people in Kenya. BPO is one way the Program has identified that has a high chance of becoming a leading export and work-creating mechanism.

The members present agreed on the following:

1. The need to carry out a membership drive to onboard more BPOs to the association who are offering diverse services as they all unpack the tasks ahead and build a solid plan for BPOAK.
2. Enhance BPOAK recognition and competitiveness in new markets and emerging technologies by identifying strategic ways of attracting domestic and international demand.
3. Prepare a launch of the association.