Kenya

DEVELOPING THE YOUTH THROUGH INCULCATION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

BUSINESS SKILLS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

The world is challenged by the youth phenomena and Kenya is by no means alone. Of the 6 billion people in the world today, 1 billion comprise young people between the ages of 15-24. What is worrisome however is that of this number, 850 million live in developing countries and it is estimated that in the next 30 years, this number will have grown to 1.2 billion - mostly in developing countries. It is against this backdrop that UNDP/ Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Trade, will be offering a skills training in three districts.

Background

The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Trade with financial and technical support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is rolling out a youth training initiative to empower the youth and catalyze competitive growth of trade by enhancing self-employment, and injecting a new breed of productive labour force into the country's economy in micro and small enterprises adversely affected by the post election violence.

As a result of the post election violence, the YES-MSE programme, (now being implemented under the Kenya National Youth Development and Training Programme) whose initial focus is on the millennium districts viz; Bungoma, Siaya, Suba, Bondo, Murang'a, Kilifi, Garissa, Meru South and Turkana, shall, under an early recovery strategy focus on the larger Uasin Gishu, Kisumu and Nakuru districts. Later, this programme will be expanded to cover other districts.

STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMME

Phase 1: Business Skills and Entrepreneurship Development (BS&ED) Course
The main aim of this phase is to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset and develop business skills amongst the participants. Administered in two parts, part I shall be a 3 week intensive training that will provide an opportunity for trainees to reflect upon and explore their own potential, behaviour, business skills and attitudes towards potential economic activities in their communities. Part II of this phase shall be a 3 week business experiencing attachment (BEA) whose objective is to expose trainees to best business practices.

Phase 2: Enterprise Development Agents' (EDA) Course
Using a set criterion, the programme will identify and select potential (EDAs) from the BS&ED graduates and train them to offer tailored business advisory services relevant to the communities needs within the regions of focus. This phase shall consist of a 2 week intensive training followed by a 4 weeks district business profiling task.

ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS
Under the YES-MSE Programme, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Trade are looking for highly motivated and qualified youth who are seeking to either start up their own businesses or become business development agents/consultants with the view to seeking income generating opportunities within the larger Uasin Gishu, Nakuru and Kisumu districts. In addition, the applicants should be youth who are below 35 years, holders of Bachelors Degrees, completed within the past 3 years, currently unemployed yet actively seeking self-employment, have exceptional drive to start up a business and/or interested in the field of business consultancy and possess a passion for learning and innovation besides being highly committed to the development of the stated regions of focus. Holders of Masters Degrees will have an added advantage. Youth from the larger Kisumu, Nakuru and Uasin Gishu districts; and especially women and youth with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Proof of residence is required.

OTHER STORIES

37 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TRAINED ON 24 NOVEMBER 2006

Out of the YES-MSE has come the YES-EA, an association that is made up of University Graduates from diverse professional backgrounds who have undergone an intensive training in Entrepreneurship and Business Skills Development under the YES - MSE Programme. It was initiated by the candidates themselves but supported by the UNDP Kenya, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Click here for the speech by Ms Elizabeth Lwanga, UNDP-Resident Representative

Business as usual as UNDP/Ministry of Youth Affairs support Kenyan Youth

Youth employment scheme on micro and small enterprises initiative is a global initiative, which can only be localised through media intervention in Kenya. The intention of this YES MSE initiative is to introduce entrepreneurship into formal schooling at foundation stages, enable the introduction of youth in business policies by government. Also to strengthen the indigenous capacities, networking of business skills and increase delivery of education on the subject to the youth. The youth have been relegated to the passive position of standers by.

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SUMMIT SEPTEMBER 2006

The Government of Kenya, through its Ministry of State For Youth Affairs, in partnership with Youth Employment Summit Campaign, Education Development Center-USA hosted the global Youth Employment Summit, YES Kenya 2006. The third global summit of the YES Campaign was held from 13-16 September 2006 at Kenyatta International Conference Center, Nairobi. His Excellency, Hon. Mwai Kibaki, the President of the Republic of Kenya chaired "YES Kenya 2006". The event, supported by a variety of development partners including the UNDP-Kenya.

Click here to read Kenya Times article on UNDP-Kenya's involvement.

Click here to read more

Finance Minister Announces YES-MSE programme through the Budget Speech

YES-MSE is the Youth Employment Scheme on Micro and Small Enterprises. On June 15 2006, Mr. Amos Kimunya the Minister for Finance read out the budget speech at parliament building. Although termed as "populist" by some, the Budget Kimunya read in Parliament on Thursday was revolutionary as it sets up a Sh1 billion kitty for youth entrepreneurship, hitherto undone by any Finance minister since independence. click here to access the story in the standard newspaper.