Ajira Digital Program is an initiative of the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy (MoICDE) and with strategic partnership of Mastercard Foundation is being implemented by Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and eMobilis Technology Training Institute (eMobilis). Ajira Digital encourages the creation of digital and digitally-enabled work by accelerating the digitization of processes and services within the private and public sectors, enhancing the importance of digital outsourcing as well as positioning Kenya as a choice labour destination for multinational employers. All these are to help curb the growing youth unemployment crisis in the country.

Mastercard Foundation under the Young Africa Works strategy is the program’s principal investment partner. The Project’s mission is to enable one million young women and men to access digital and digitally-enabled work opportunities annually. eMobilis is charged with the operationalization of Ajira Youth Empowerment Centers, the institutionalization of Ajira Clubs in Universities, and Technical & Vocational Educational Trainings (TVETs) as well as the implementation of training and mentorship across the country. On the other hand, KEPSA supports catalyzing digitization for the private sector and e-government to create demand for the digital and digitally-enabled work skills offered by the Program.

But why focus on the youth? In Kenya, there's a notable emphasis on the youth due to the country's striking demographic profile. The median age of Kenyans remains remarkably low at 19 years, underscoring its vibrant and youthful economic landscape. However, this demographic dividend also brings forth significant challenges, particularly in the realm of youth unemployment. Furthermore, every year, close to one million young people graduate from institutions of higher learning and transition into the labor market. However, this influx of graduates far exceeds the number of available work opportunities. Hence, addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment is not only vital for sustainable economic growth but also for ensuring social stability and inclusivity within the country.

Ensuring that this substantial cohort of youth can access meaningful and productive employment opportunities is paramount for national development. Hence, the significance of promoting digital and digitally-enabled work as viable alternatives becomes evident. Embracing digital platforms and technology-driven solutions not only expands the scope of available employment avenues but also fosters innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth while creating globally competitive solutions for local businesses.

Young people can be accessing the Project FREE of CHARGE by registering through www.ajiradigital.go.ke and access Free training, mentorship, and online work linkages. Currently, there are over 400,000 young people registered on the Portal and over 100 Ajira Youth Empowerment Centres across the country. Following the Project’s efforts in the country, it is projected that over 2.4 million young people are earning online as of the year 2023, a fourfold increase from the year 2019 where 638,400 were working online.

Besides this growth in digital and digitally-enabled work, the Ajira Digital program advocates on diversity, equity, and inclusion focus for marginalized groups including women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and the displaced populations. Out of the 1 million program’s annual target to empower young people to digital and digitally-enabled work, 70% of them should be young women and 10% should be PWDs and displaced populations.

Skilling and Mentorship: The project targets to make the youth work ready through a one to two weeks trainings available virtually through the Portal or at the Ajira Centres. The Project has a curriculum with 27 cross-cutting modules from basic to advanced levels to equip young people with skills needed in today’s job market. Emerging demand for skilled workforce in software development, cyber security analysis, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, digital marketing, and content writing will enable young people to navigate uncertainties, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions to drive business growth and encourage entrepreneurship simultaneously. Upon successful completion of the training, the youth are transitioned to one-month mentorship through handholding by the experienced freelancers and Centre Managers.

Upon acquiring the free digital skills and mentorship, one gets to access the numerous work opportunities posted on the Portal by KEPSA and other digital work partners. Additionally, the young people are also empowered to explore other work opportunities available through local and international platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, iBuild, Kuhustle, iWriter, Jumia, and Range Africa among others.

Additionally, Ajira Digital has played a crucial role in creating digital job opportunities within Kenya's public sector while improving service delivery within these institutions. A flagship initiative in this journey has been the Judiciary Digitization Pilot, launched in 2020 through a collaborative effort involving Ajira Digital, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), the Judiciary, the Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy, and the Mastercard Foundation. This program was specifically designed to digitize the operations of the Judiciary, transitioning from traditional paper-based systems to an integrated digital platform. The introduction of the Case Tracking System (CTS) marked a significant milestone, facilitating the electronic management of case files through transcription, data entry, and scanning processes. This initiative has successfully digitized 482 courts across the country, leading to enhanced operational efficiency and improved access to justice for all Kenyans.

To reach out for digital talents or workforce, email ajira@kepsa.or.ke.

Visit the link bellow for our success stories

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYqWFnUZyxWFsL3wNz0bnzA