Despite billions in resources invested in Kenyan youth empowerment initiatives, youth still face significant rates of unemployment, limited social and economic opportunities, and major challenges surrounding their livelihoods and well-being. This is due to micro and macro-level challenges that render youth empowerment initiatives ineffective.

Appreciating these challenges and acknowledging the strategic role played by youth in development informed the need for interventions targeted at connecting youth through social and economic opportunities.

$15M USAID Investment
5 Year Programme
26 Counties Reached
18-24 Primary Age Group

Strategic Partnership

Led by Michigan State University (MSU), the Program is implemented in collaboration with Egerton University (through CoELIB), United States International University-Africa (USIU), and NCBA-CLUSA. Together, they bring robust expertise in youth engagement, gender equality, education, innovation, and workforce development.

Implementing Partners

Michigan State University (MSU)

Lead implementer bringing global expertise in international development and youth programming

Egerton University (CoELIB)

Business incubation, training, and agricultural value chain development

USIU-Africa

Higher education capacity building and youth engagement strategies

NCBA-CLUSA

Cooperative development and economic empowerment initiatives

Three Programme Focus Areas

1

Economic Prospects

Connecting youth to integrated skills training, job placements, and entrepreneurship support in high-growth sectors.

2

Higher Education Capacity

Building the capacity of Kenyan HEIs to link training with real-world youth economic opportunities.

3

Youth-Serving Systems

Increasing county-level investments and partnerships that serve and include youth in decision-making.

Target Beneficiaries

The USAID Empowered Youth Program targets youth between ages 18-24 and adolescent girls (aged 15-19) in the 5-year Program as the primary focus of empowerment initiatives aimed at connecting them with social and economic opportunities.

Geographic Coverage

The programme is executed in 26 Counties in Kenya with a strategic focus across six regional hubs:

26 Counties Across Kenya

Isiolo Hub

  • Isiolo
  • Garissa
  • Marsabit
  • Samburu
  • Mandera

Kakamega Hub

  • Kakamega
  • Bungoma
  • Turkana
  • West Pokot

Kisumu Hub

  • Kisumu
  • Homabay
  • Kisii
  • Busia

Nakuru Hub

  • Nakuru
  • Uasin Gishu
  • Nyeri

Kiambu Hub

  • Kiambu
  • Nairobi
  • Kitui
  • Kajiado

Mombasa Hub

  • Mombasa
  • Kwale
  • Makueni
  • Taita Taveta
  • Machakos

CoELIB's Implementation Strategy

Through the successful training model employed at the African Dairy Academy, CoELIB offers apprenticeships to farmers within the dairy value chains. The Centre also trains and mentors youth through CoELIB Incubar and CoELIB Media units on sustainable business models and best practices.

African Dairy Academy Apprenticeships

Practical training and apprenticeship opportunities for youth in dairy value chains, combining technical skills with business acumen.

CoELIB Incubar Business Training

Incubation support and entrepreneurship mentorship focusing on sustainable business models and market-oriented approaches.

CoELIB Media Skills Development

Media and communications training empowering youth to leverage digital platforms for business and advocacy.

Talent and Sports Program

Training for youth in sports and creative industries on creating diverse revenue streams and monetizing their talents.

Higher Education Institution Capacity Building

Egerton University strengthens the capacity of Kenyan HEIs to:

HEI Capacity Building Objectives

  • Link training to youth economic opportunities
  • Develop meaningful collaborative partnerships among key actors in youth development
  • Effectively communicate across institutions
  • Take collective action to innovate, demonstrate, test, and scale new or improved ideas and practices that address the needs of youth
  • Develop workforce capacity to ensure sustainability of interventions

Strengthening Youth-Serving Systems

To strengthen youth-serving systems, USAID Empowered Youth ensures:

  • Increased investments in youth programs in select counties
  • Enhanced partnerships with youth organizations, the private sector, and HEIs that train and support youth
  • Regular involvement of youth in key county-level decisions
  • Improved coordination among stakeholders serving youth

Quadruple Helix Innovation Platform (QHIP)

The Empowered Youth Program leverages a Quadruple Helix Innovation Platform (QHIP) and a Collaborating, Learning & Adapting (CLA) approach to foster partnerships among HEIs, private sector, county governments, and youth networks. This ensures local ownership, continuous learning, and evidence-based scale-up across both high- and low-touch counties.

Higher Education Institutions
Private Sector
County Governments
Youth Networks

Strategic and Technical Approaches

For success and long-term sustainability, the 5-year Program uses a mix of strategic and technical approaches including:

Key Approaches

  • Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Cycle: Continuous improvement through systematic learning and adaptation
  • Quadruple Helix Innovation Platform (QHIP): Multi-stakeholder collaboration framework
  • Evidence-Based Programming: Data-driven decision making and intervention design
  • Gender-Responsive Approaches: Special focus on adolescent girls and gender equality
  • Private Sector Engagement: Leveraging business partnerships for job creation

Expected Results

As a result of the programme interventions:

  • Youth will be mobilized and engaged in economic and social opportunities
  • The private sector will be engaged in youth employment creation
  • Evidence-based scaling up will occur in low-touch counties
  • Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) penetration will increase
  • Long-term sustainability will be attained through inspiring a culture of learning, continuous improvement, and local ownership

Legacy and Impact

The Empowered Youth Program represents a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach to youth development that addresses the systemic challenges facing Kenyan youth. By combining economic opportunities, higher education capacity building, and strengthened youth-serving systems, the programme creates pathways for sustainable youth empowerment and economic transformation.

Through CoELIB's implementation, the programme leverages proven training models, business incubation expertise, and strategic partnerships to ensure that youth not only gain skills but also have the support systems needed to translate those skills into meaningful employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.