Empowering Youth: KEPSA Partners With Twiva To Link Kenyan Content Creators To Jobs

• KEPSA joined Twiva to launch the Twende Digital Project set to create work opportunities for thousands of young digital content creators
• The project will also assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in embracing digital technology to grow their businesses
• Digitising SMEs will help expand these businesses and ensure the creation of jobs for youths in Kenya

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, leverages more than three years of expertise in financial, business, and technology research, providing profound insights into both Kenyan and global economic trends.

In a groundbreaking initiative to tackle youth unemployment in Kenya, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has joined Twiva to launch the Twende Digital Project.

Funded by the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE), this project is set to create work opportunities for thousands of young digital content creators while assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in embracing digital technology.

CFYE’s and KEPSA's vision aligns perfectly with what we've focused on over the years: creating dignified and meaningful work for the youth," said Peter Kironji, CEO and co-founder of Twiva.

Response to youth unemployment

The Twende Digital Project comes in response to alarming statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, indicating that over 50% of the 2.97 million jobless individuals in Kenya fall within the age range of 18 to 29 years.

“The anticipated impact of the TwendeDigital project is not just a statistic; it's a transformation. As we aim to elevate the average income of employed youth from less than KSh 10,000 to approximately KSh 25,000, the project becomes a catalyst for change, injecting vitality into the lives of young individuals.

Job satisfaction rates among the youth are not merely a metric; they represent a shift in the narrative of what it means to find meaningful work,” said Kironji in a press release.

Creating 230,000 jobs for youths

The CFYE has a mission to create 230,000 jobs for young people in Africa by 2026, hence the emphasis on the importance of meaningful youth participation in employment initiatives.

Paul Ngugi, the deputy country lead of the CFYE, highlighted that digitising SMEs will help expand these businesses and create jobs for youths in Kenya.

Free support for SMEs

The Twende Digital Project provides a comprehensive package of benefits to selected businesses free of charge for the next 12 months.

These benefits include influencer marketing service credits, content creation credits, access to business digital coaches, connections to influencers or resellers for SMEs, linkage to logistics and fulfilment partners, digital marketing training, and digital marketing advisory services.

Social media influencers

Twiva, a social commerce platform facilitating digital access to markets for MSMEs, will play a crucial role in the project by providing experienced social media influencers and resellers to increase.

“Businesses need to involve influencers who can ensure improved visibility to their potential clients while they concentrate on other core functions of the business,” said Philip Karanja, the CEO of PhilItTV and a content creator.

Kironji noted that the future of work is evolving, and the gig economy, remote work, and digital entrepreneurship are becoming increasingly prevailing.

"Twiva, a Social Commerce startup, aligns with these trends, providing a flexible and accessible avenue for young people to engage in meaningful work opportunities without traditional constraints," noted Kironji

KCB 2Jiajiri programme creates 130k jobs

In other related stories, the KCB 2Jiajiri programme has significantly contributed to reducing unemployment rates among youths in Kenya.

Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, KCB Foundation director Mendi Njonjo said they offer scholarships for technical skills to out-of-school youth aged 18-35, focusing on upskilling, as well as providing skill enhancement opportunities for existing micro-entrepreneurs.

"2Jiajiri is our flagship employment and entrepreneurship programme. It is an initiative that is dedicated to catalysing change in terms of how employment and enterprise development happen in the country," said Njonjo.