Kenya to lead Africa’s Jobs for Youth initiative after Rwanda

NAIF RASHID-KNA

Kenya has taken over the chairmanship of the Jobs for Youth in Africa (JfYA) Community of Practice from Rwanda, a move expected to strengthen the country’s role in advancing youth employment and economic inclusion across the continent.

Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, received the mandate during the Jobs for Youth in Africa Knowledge Exchange Summit held in Nairobi.

The summit brought together African governments, development partners, private sector leaders, and youth representatives to discuss practical strategies for addressing youth unemployment.

“On behalf of the Government of Kenya, I am deeply honoured to formally accept the Chairmanship of the Jobs for Youth in Africa Community of Practice.

"Kenya assumes this responsibility with humility, clarity of purpose, and unwavering commitment. We pledge to shift our collective focus firmly toward delivery, accountability, and results,” the CS expressed.

The CoP, supported by the World Bank and other development partners, provides a platform for 20 African Member States to share knowledge, promote peer learning, and scale evidence-based solutions to youth underemployment.

Mvurya highlighted the continent’s urgent demographic challenge, noting that over 60 percent of Africa’s population is under 25, with an annual youth employment gap exceeding 10 million jobs.

“This demographic reality presents both an immense opportunity and a profound responsibility for African governments to create decent, dignified, and sustainable employment pathways,” he highlighted.

The CS added that investment in young people is central to economic growth and stability.

“Investment in Africa’s young people is not merely a social programme; it is economic growth, stability, and cohesion across our continent. When we empower youth with skills, enterprise support, and access to markets, we transform Africa’s demographic dividend into productive capital,” Mvurya noted.

Notably, Kenya’s experience offers a practical model for scaling youth employment solutions across the continent.

National initiatives, including the NYOTA program, the Digital Jobs Agenda (Kazi Mtandaoni), Affordable Housing, and Climate X, are equipping thousands of young people with skills and linking them to opportunities in online work, business process outsourcing, and digital entrepreneurship.

These interventions have contributed to approximately 1.8 million jobs through public sector expansion and flagship programs.

As Chair, Kenya has pledged to enhance peer learning, promote transparency, and ensure that data-driven approaches guide policy and implementation across member states.

Mvurya emphasized that the forum must move beyond dialogue to deliver measurable results for young people.

The summit was attended by Mr. Ndiame Diop, Regional Vice President of the World Bank for Eastern and Southern Africa, Fikirini Jacobs, Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy; representatives from participating Member States; private sector leaders; and youth delegates.