NYOTA Project Launches Nationwide to Empower Youths
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 17 – The Government has Commenced nationwide roll out of the NYOTA project a five-year initiative launched in partnership with World Bank targets more than 800,000 youths in nationwide with the overall goal of increasing employment, enhancing earnings and promoting savings for vulnerable youth nationwide.
The project is designed to create strong foundations and systems for sustainable youth economic empowerment across all 1450 wards in Kenya targeting over 800,000 vulnerable youth aged 18–29, and up to 35 years for Persons with Disabilities.
The interventions primarily focus on youth with limited formal education and access to economic opportunities, who remain disproportionately disadvantaged in accessing employment and enterprise opportunities.
NYOTA project impact is expected to create 110,000 youth entrepreneurs;20,000 certified artisans under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative; 90,000 youth skilled and connected to employment opportunities, and 600,000 youth trained on access to Government procurement opportunities and promotion of a culture of savings.
NYOTA unites multiple government agencies, drawn from the Ministry of Youth, Labour, and Ministry of Cooperatives & MSMEs Development implementing agencies include:Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) under the State Department for MSMEs Development.
National Employment Authority (NEA), National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) under the State Department of Labour and Skills Development, with the State Department of Youth Affairs & Creative Economyproviding overall coordination.
NYOTA project’s interventions are structured around four components:COMPONENT 1: Improving youth employability through skills development, apprenticeships, certification, and work placement.
The component is implemented by the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy (SDYACE), National Employment Authority (NEA), National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and the State Department for Labour and Skills Development (SDL&SD).
COMPONENT 2: Expanding employment opportunities through training, business development services, and the provision of start-up capital of KSh. 50,000 to 70 youth in every ward in Kenya over the course of the project This is implemented by the State Department of MSMEs Development, through the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA).
COMPONENT 3: Promoting a culture of savings via the Haba Haba scheme managed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and
COMPONENT 4: Enhancing systems and capacity through digital skills training, enabling youth to access financial and market linkages, access catalytic funds and Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).
This component is carried out by the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy and the State Department for MSMEs Development.
Additionally, Business Support component Rollout plan youth entrepreneurship training under Component 2 has been organised in three cohorts with Cohort 1: 54,000 youths, Cohort 2: 30,000 and Cohort 3: 16,000 youths which will be rolled out quickly across the country.
The implementation of the component has been organised into eight clusters nationwide as follows. Cluster 1: Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia counties.Cluster 2: Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, and Nyamira counties.
Cluster 3: Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, Laikipiacounties. Cluster 4: Nakuru, Kericho, Nandi, Bomet, Narok, and Kajiado counties, Cluster 5: Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Samburu, and Garissa counties.
Cluster 6: Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Nairobi counties. Cluster 7: Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Isiolo, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni counties. Cluster 8: Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, and Taita Taveta counties. Entrepreneurship training class for the cluster (Western region counties): Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia already started.
Cabinet Secretary Coperatives and MSMEs Development Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya while addressing media on NYOTA project said the week-long event is focused in the constituency and will be followed by two months of comprehensive business mentorship to equip the youth with essential skills to start and run their businesses.
“We expect to roll out training rapidly across the country for Lot 1 in the remaining seven clusters After successfully completing classroom training in each cluster, the phased disbursement of the business Start-up Capital will follow to the respective beneficiaries to enable them to launch their business ideas”, said CS Oparanya.
Subsequently, they will receive hands-on support from business development experts to incubate their ideas.
The formal launch of the NYOTA project is scheduled to coincide with the commencement of disbursing start-up capital to the trained beneficiaries in cluster 1 and will be presided over by H.E. President William Ruto in the coming weeks.
“We encourage Kenyans to follow our official communication channels to stay updated on the progress of the NYOTA Project”.
