GDI-Africa CEO Alice Gugelev ( second left) with Labor PS Shadrack Mwadime and other officials during the signing of the agreement/HANDOUTThe Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kenya and Global Development Incubator (GDI-Africa) in Nairobi is set to ensure the industry-led committees align skills supply with skills demand.
Labour and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime, who presided over the signing of the agreement, noted that the partnership will help enhance youth employability and economic growth.
“It will enable the industry-led committees to address the skills mismatch that has contributed to high youth unemployment in Kenya and hence drive sustainable economic growth,” he said.
According to the PS, the skills currently available do not adequately meet industry needs, creating a significant barrier to productivity and competitiveness in the economy.
“The skills mismatch is a top policy concern, particularly in light of the rapidly changing labour market dynamics. There is a growing consensus in both the industry and education sectors on the importance of aligning the supply of skills with demand to address this mismatch,” he noted.
The establishment of committees is anchored in the National Skills Development Policy of 2023 and Executive Order No. 2 of 2023.
Its primary goals are to enhance productivity and competitiveness by identifying skill gaps, setting occupational standards, and promoting relevant training.
He appreciated the support from GDI-Africa, noting the partnership will empower the committees to foster a demand-driven, skilled and employable youth workforce.
Statistics indicate that the total proportion of unemployed youth (aged 20–34) was standing at 24.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022, while the proportion of unemployed youth (aged 20–34), encompassing both inactive jobseekers and potential jobseekers, was alarmingly high at 57.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022.
“Employers have, therefore, called for curricula to be reviewed and aligned with industry needs.”
Mwadime said it was in response to these factors that the State Department which is mandated to establish and manage the institutional framework linking industry and skills development, created NSSC to align skills supply to demand.
These industry-led committees span various sectors, including agriculture, environment, engineering, manufacturing, construction, health, tourism, hospitality, creative industries, sports, ICT, business, administration, law, education, humanities, sciences, and services.
GDI-Africa CEO Alice Gugelev on her part said they would support the NSSCs through resource mobilisation, innovation, incubation, and linkages.
“Through this support of GDI-Africa, Kenya is set to join a list of countries that have operational Sector Skills Bodies, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Denmark, India, Bangladesh, and South Africa,” she noted.
GDI-Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to driving transformational change across Africa. Their mission is to bring together ideas, leaders, and capital to build and scale the next generation of social solutions.
