Don’t waste away new youth jobs creation project

The recently launched Sh15 billion World Bank youth employment project has given the government the impetus to create the ever-elusive jobs and must be integrated in all programmes with similar objectives for effective results.

Unemployment is a major burden for the government as seven out of 10 jobless Kenyans are young people, making the programme a timely intervention.

The project is aimed at improving labour markets, social protection and creation of sound labour policies and systems.

It is designed to help address the question of training for labour markets, something that successive governments have not given serious consideration. The programme will go a long way in addressing the deficiency in our education system which focuses on exams as opposed to practical skills.

The number of jobless youth has been rising with the government appearing helpless to tackle unemployment. Over one million youth enter the job market annually and only 20 per cent get formal jobs.

The huge number of youth seeking employment has overwhelmed government initiatives to create enough jobs. 

Designers of the project knew that what the country lacks is not just funds to finance youth businesses but also a supportive environment to nurture skills and to access markets.

This change of focus is plausible. The proposed project seeks to provide youth with training and work experience that would enhance their prospects for employment.

The 8-4-4 education system, which the government plans to review, puts a lot of emphasis on theory and churns out graduates who are not able to meet skills needed to grow the economy. A key innovation in the new initiative is support of graduates through internships in collaboration with the private sector.

This will not only ensure that job seekers acquire relevant skills but will also create structures for internship programmes which we lack despite their importance in preparing graduates for the labour market.

Provide incentives

Lack of experience has been a major hindrance for those seeking jobs and providing internship will help employers identify special skills that can be nurtured to fit various jobs requirements.

The partnership with the private sector will also create room for mentorship. The government should provide incentives to the private sector to provide internships and training to young people.

If proper incentives are introduced, such as revised taxation for firms engaging the youth, the private sector could hire more young people.

Robust accountability and transparency mechanisms will go a long way in curbing corruption and improving funds mismanagement. Virtually all government projects meant for youth empowerment have been tainted by corruption scandals, denting their impact and relevance. There is need for adopting punitive measures to ensure that officials who misuse funds meant for youth development are punished.

The World Bank initiative should be strengthened through creation of an oversight team to include representatives of the bank, government, youth organisations and the civil society among other special interest groups.

It must be insulated from the politics of the day. With such an environment, it will be easy to circumvent the many challenges it is likely to face as it is rolled out.

The project must also strengthen the capacity of the ministry in charge of youth affairs to make it responsive to their needs.

Since the Jubilee government came to power, youth affairs have been tucked in other overwhelmed ministries making it difficult to accord the issue the needed attention.

Most importantly, the project should not operate in isolation. It should complement others such as the Youth Development Enterprise Fund and Uwezo Fund.