According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data released by December 2022, More than half of Kenyans without jobs, or 1.54 million people, were between 20 and 29 years old, underscoring the growing crisis of youth unemployment. Young people below the age of 29, mainly secondary school and college graduates, were the hardest hit by joblessness in an economic setting that is plagued by reduced hiring on the back of sluggish corporate earnings.
The Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2022 report associates poverty with higher rates of adolescent pregnancy, as about 4 in 10 women aged 15-19 years who have no education have ever been pregnant. Adolescent pregnancies are also more likely to occur among poor communities, as 21% of women aged 15-19 in the lowest wealth quintile reported to have been pregnant, as compared to 8% in the highest wealth quintile.
The links between economic insecurity and gender-based violence (GBV) are complex and operate at an individual, interpersonal, and societal level. Those who live in chronic poverty may find themselves more likely to experience acute stress and resort to risky coping strategies that increase the risk of violence; for example, an adolescent girl may exchange sex for material resources to meet her basic needs. In addition, financially insecure individuals may also live in locations that are prone to conflict, have fewer support services, and offer weaker legal protections for the most vulnerable.
HEDSO recognizes that a lack of economic assets is a barrier to translating Sexual Reproductive Health knowledge into behavior change, a contributor to Gender Based Violence and unintended pregnancy. There is evidence that adding a financial education component to life skills interventions has a greater impact on changing sexual behavior. HEDSO will work together with communities, key decision makers, Civil Society Organizations and social protection service providers to implement interventions aimed at economic strengthening of adolescent girls, young women, and youths while integrating it with other programs on Sexual Reproductive Health, Prevention and Response to all forms of GBV and discrimination against AGYW and youth, and HIV prevention and response. We target reaching 100,000 AGYW and youth, community gatekeepers, and county policymakers.
| Goal: Enhance a stronger ecosystem for AGYW and youths employment and entrepreneurship | |
|---|---|
| OBJECTIVES | EXPECTED OUTCOMES |
| Strengthen financial literacy and management capacity of AGYW and youths. | Ability to make informed financial decisions.
AGYW and youth have Increased number of business enterprise models with sound financial management. |
| Enhance entrepreneurial soft skills capacity among AGYW and youths. | Improved self employability and soft skills ability to gain job opportunities. |
| Facilitate social protection services linkages among AGYW and youths. | State and Non-State actors develop and implement gender-responsive and budgeting policies that ensure access to justice for AGYW and youths. |
| Enhance knowledge on Gender Based Violence. | Increased access to social protection services opportunities. |
| Improve agribusiness skills of AGYW and youth through training, mentorship and support. | Increased production and income among agribusiness enterprises run by AGYW and youth. |
| Strengthening Income Generating Activities (IGAs) for AGYW and youth, i.e village saving and loaning. | Sustainable IGAs have been established and are effectively and successfully operating. |