Country: Kenya
Sector: Employment, Urban Development
Background:
Our partner aimed to design a youth empowerment program targeting Nairobi’s informal settlements. However, there was limited data on what skills young people desired, what employers required, and what barriers existed. We were commissioned to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to inform program design and stakeholder engagement.
Approach:
The study used a multi-pronged approach involving 800 youth respondents across Kibera, Mathare, and Mukuru. We also conducted 30 key informant interviews with employers, local government officers, and training institutions.
FGDs explored perceptions of opportunity, constraints, and trust in current service providers. Special attention was paid to the intersection of gender, education level, and digital inclusion
Findings:
The most demanded skills were digital literacy, plumbing, catering, and salon work. However, 67% of youth said cost and lack of information blocked access to training. Employers expressed concern over poor soft skills such as punctuality and communication. Only 22% of young women felt safe traveling to training centers after 5 p.m., and very few had consistent internet access.
Impact:
The findings guided the partner to establish mobile training units within settlements and introduce evening classes with safety escorts. The program also included life skills coaching and subsidized childcare. Our needs assessment became the foundation of the donor proposal, which secured funding for a three-year urban livelihoods program targeting over 5,000 youth.
