Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports CS Salim Mvurya [PHOTO: NYOTA/X]The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) has opened the window for applications for the project’s first cycle that seeks to empower youth engaged in business.
In a notice, NYOTA announced that the business program was a government initiative designed to address unemployment and boost income by providing skills training, business support and promoting savings among the youthful population.
The World Bank-funded program is a five-year project that aims to offer support to vulnerable youth across the country by creating systems that sustain long-term opportunities for financial inclusion.
“Are you a Kenyan youth aged 18 – 29 years or a youth living with disability aged 18 – 35 years? Do you aspire to start or expand your business in Kenya?” read part of the notice.
“Call for Youth Applications for cycle 1, countrywide, interested in business support is out.”
The qualifications require the applicants to be Kenyan citizens, youth aged 18-29 or up to 35 years for persons living with disabilities, not have gone beyond form 4 level of education, be in possession of a National Identity Card and have a sim card registered in your name.
The notice, however, stated that members of the Kenya Youth Employment Opportunities Project (KYEOP) were not eligible.
The eligibility criteria also require one’s employment status to be either unemployed, underemployed or in low-tier employment to qualify.
The apprenticeship will last 5 months, combining on-the-job training with mentorship from industry experts upon which a successful completion will see participants receive formal recognition of their skills through certifications such as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) from NITA.
The program aims to place participants into formal employment or help them establish themselves as independent artisans.
Applications should be submitted to USD code *254# then select the NYOTA project option to proceed.
To obtain more information or for enquiries, applicants are urged to visit their website www.nyotaproject.go.ke
Applications will be closed on April 30, 2025.
Last year, Former Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen had said that the government was keen in championing policy reforms to place youth at the center of national development citing that NYOTA Project would be looking to reach an estimated 810,000 vulnerable youth including those that are up to 35 years old with disabilities.
“This initiative targets those with Form four level education and below, who are at the bottom of the economic and social pyramid due to limited access to government programs,” he said.
Additionally, incumbent Youth Affairs CS Salim Mvurya earlier this year reiterated ongoing discussions within the government in partnership with the World Bank on the project which was set to bring opportunities for career advancement and enhance youth employment.
The CS has since encouraged young people to take advantage of the ongoing applications.
"Youth are encouraged to apply," he posted on his social media handle.
