Nairobi – In a groundbreaking move, the Twende Digital Project is set to pave the way for thousands of young digital content creators to secure direct job opportunities, ushering in a new era of employment prospects in Kenya.
The initiative, a dynamic collaboration between Twiva and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), has garnered support from the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE). With a keen focus on Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, and Mombasa, among other locations, the project aims to facilitate the connection between digital content creators and employment opportunities, while also bolstering the digital capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Through the support of CFYE, selected businesses will receive invaluable digitization services and tools at no cost for the next 12 months. These offerings include influencer marketing service credits, content creation credits, access to business digital coaches, and the facilitation of connections with influencers or resellers to aid in the promotion and sale of SMEs’ products.
Paul Ngugi, Deputy Country Lead of the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment, emphasized the pivotal role of supporting the private sector in measuring the impact of youth employment initiatives. “We have also learned that it is very crucial to support the private sector, especially in measuring the impact of youth employment initiatives,” stated Ngugi, underlining the multifaceted benefits of digitizing SMEs. “This is why digitizing the SMEs will not only help expand these businesses, but also ensure the creation of jobs.”
Kenya has grappled with the formidable challenge of minimal job opportunities, with reports indicating that over 2.97 million Kenyans are currently unemployed, with 50 percent of this demographic falling within the ages of 18 and 29. Addressing this pressing issue, Ehud Gachugu, Director of Youth and Jobs at KEPSA, emphasized the transformative potential of digitization for enterprises. “Enterprises stand to have a great chance of unlocking the wealth of opportunities and building a global competitive advantage through adoption and prioritizing digitization,” Gachugu remarked.
As the benefits of digitization continue to manifest for businesses, encompassing wider market access, streamlined processes, heightened productivity, improved stock management, and cost reduction, the imperative of digitization becomes increasingly evident. By embracing digitization, businesses can anticipate a transformative journey, transcending perceived limitations and harnessing the full spectrum of opportunities it affords.
The Twende Digital Project stands as a beacon of hope, poised to herald a new chapter in Kenya’s economic landscape, bridging the divide between digital content creators and employment opportunities while bolstering the capacity of SMEs to thrive in the digital age. In a world that is increasingly reliant on digital platforms, this project promises to ignite a wave of transformation, unlocking new pathways to economic prosperity for the nation’s youth and businesses alike.
