Goals and/or objectives of the programme

The Emerging Markets skills Initiative look to will address empower our youth by addressing two main challenges that look to challenge youth trying to transition to the Digital ecosystem: Skills Mismatch between Youth and labor market: One of the leading challenges to youth unemployment in Kenya is the glaring mismatch between the skills youth possess and the demand in the labor market resulting in frustration from youth and employers who cannot meet their labor demand. The EMI program will look to deliver on a quality demand-driven technical and digital skills program coupled with soft skills both in and out of school which have been proven overtime to be the most important tools in equipping youth with skills they need to improve their employment outcomes. The project will also endeavor to introduce youth to opportunities in the digital ecosystem including non-traditional jobs such as online work, freelancing and developing business solutions Unclear Career pathways and access to employment services.: Another key challenge contributing to youth unemployment is that most young people go through education and training without really knowing what the future holds for them in terms of available job opportunities in their field. With the digital economy more recent, the lack of clarity regarding the type of digital skills needed and the available digital job opportunities is more pronounced. The African Center for Women and ICT has developed a mentorship program linking youth in training with those working in the digital economy which will be revamped with input from stakeholders. There is strong evidence of the power of mentorship in successful completion and transition of youth especially young women in the digital space. Lack of labor information services will be addressed by building partnerships with Job matching and placing platforms for visibility of jobs posted as well as requirements. The program will create awareness to the youth during training regarding these platforms and train them on their use and access.