POWER - Promoting Opportunities for Decent Work, Empowerment, and Resilience

Photo: A participant explaining how being economically empowered has given her a voice and making choices

The project's main goal is to support young people who are often left behind, including those who are not working or studying (NEETs) and people with disabilities, find better work and economic opportunities in Kenya. This supports the global goal of Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8). By focusing on women and girls and addressing the challenges they face, the project also helps achieve Gender Equality (SDG 5).

• Direct Participants: 200 young people (aged 18–35), NEETs, and people with disabilities (70% women/girls)
• Stakeholders: 40 individuals will be engaged (20 political decision-makers and 20 representatives from public and private sectors)

Kenya faces serious youth unemployment, especially for disadvantaged young women and people with disabilities. In the target districts of Murang'a and Nyandarua, opportunities are constrained by limited investment, poor access to finance, and weak community support. GROOTS Kenya addresses this by building local capacity, promoting youth enterprises, and strengthening women’s rights.

• Skills and Groups: Form and mentor 10 self-help groups (SHGs) for support and collective enterprise. Provide vocational training in market-relevant skills (e.g., agriculture, ICT, tailoring, welding) to 40 individuals.
• Entrepreneurship: Deliver capacity building in business development, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy to 200 participants. Connect them to government funds (e.g., Youth Enterprise Development Fund) and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs).
• Advocacy: Engage 40 policymakers/stakeholders through Technical Working Groups and policy dialogue to promote inclusive economic policies. Run public awareness campaigns via radio and social media on Gender Equality and decent work.