3,500  2JIAJIRI BENEFICIARIES GRADUATE  AS THE  PROGRAMME  IS SCALED

KCB  Foundation  is scaling  2Jiajiri, a  youth empowerment and job creation programme in Kenya and extending it to the other markets where it has a presence.  This will see the foundation expand the programme in Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda with entry in South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo planned later this year. The  target  is  to  benefit   youth  in order  to  create thousands of new jobs.

Recently, the KCB Foundation, in partnership with the German Government—implemented by GIZ— graduated 3,500 graduates in the construction sector at an event that was graced by the President Dr. William Ruto.  2Jiajiri aims to create at least 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs while helping to set up 30,000 businesses over the next five years.

Access to skills

According  to  KCB Group   Chairman Dr. Joseph Kinyua : “We are giving youths what they deserve, to dignify the informal sector; which we believe will boost their morale in in contributing to East Africa’s growth agenda. Access to skills and finances will help them buy tools and acquire knowledge that will give them dignity in their work. “   He  further  said  that they   are looking at raising the next generation of highly skilled and reliable masons, electricians, carpenters, hairdressers and mechanics among other trades.

The graduating youth were trained in the building and construction sector courtesy of a three-year regional partnership between GIZ’s Employment for Skills Development in Africa (E4D) programme  and KCB Foundation.   In view  of  this development,  KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said: “We are seeing a growing crop of bright-eyed young entrepreneurs whose passion is contagious and whose perspective of the world and the future is always exciting.”  He added : “  We are giving them meaningful opportunities to start and grow their business.”

Integrated approach

Locally, the KCB Foundation/GIZ programme has resulted in the creation of 1,257 businesses as well as  7,272 jobs directly and indirectly. Additionally, it has  supported  over 10,000 households.  “We leverage an integrated approach that includes upskilling to make small and medium-sized businesses more competitive, so they can meet the growing demand for supplies and services in the market. Ultimately, our goal is to generate more decent and sustainable employment in East Africa,” said GIZ E4D Kenya team  leader, Mr. Thomas Jaeschke.

Launched in 2016, the 2jiajiri programme  has created over 119,000 jobs.  It   focuses on formalizing the informal sector and growing micro-enterprises to a place where they can employ an average of  five  other young people. To date, 22,959 youth have received technical and entrepreneurial training . Additionally,  Kshs.  259 million has been  disbursed as loans to enable youth to set up their business enterprises through provision of capital.