KCB Group is scaling the 2Jiajiri programme, the youth empowerment and job creation programme in Kenya and extending it to the other markets where the Bank operates in.
This will see the Foundation expand the programme in Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, with entry into South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo planned later this year with a target of benefiting youth to create thousands of new jobs.
Today, the KCB Foundation, in partnership with the German Government—implemented by GIZ— graduated 3,500 graduates in the construction sector at an event that President Dr William Ruto graced.
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“We are deliberate and committed to changing the youth story by creating more jobs working with corporates and other partners. We will incorporate the youth in all government projects, beginning with the housing agenda that seeks to create opportunities for 1 million youth.”
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.
KCB Group Plc Chairman Dr Joseph Kinyua said: “We are giving youths what they deserve, to dignify the informal sector, which we believe will boost their morale 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. We 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 the KCB Foundation.
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. We are giving them meaningful opportunities to start and grow their business.” Mr Russo added.
Locally, the KCB Foundation/GIZ programme has created 1,257 businesses and 7,272 jobs directly and indirectly, supporting over 10,000 households.
“We leverage an integrated approach that includes upskilling to make small and medium-sized businesses more competitive so that they can meet the market’s growing demand for supplies and services. 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 program has created over 119,000 jobs. The programme focuses on formalizing the informal sector and growing micro-enterprises to a place where they can employ an average of 5 other young people. To date, 22,959 youth have received technical and entrepreneurial training, and Kshs 259 million has been disbursed as loans to enable youth to set up their business enterprises through capital provision.
