Youth training
The youth skilling program aims at empowering young adults with industry-relevant skills, improving their employability and ensuring vocational training meets evolving industry needs.
Introduction
In Africa, 1 in 5 young people lack access to employment or education, with high rates of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Youth unemployment and underemployment remain persistent challenges, with many engaged in low-quality or vulnerable jobs, primarily in the informal sector. In countries such as Kenya, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions play a crucial role in equipping youth with industry-relevant skills, producing approximately 300,000 graduates annually. However, technical skills alone are not enough for meaningful employment. Young people also need soft skills, career guidance, and mentorship to navigate today’s labor market effectively.
Solution
Drawing from its experience in scaling vocational programs in India, Pratham aims to share its youth training interventions with stakeholders across the Global South, strengthening efforts to enhance employability and economic opportunities for young people.
Pratham seeks to collaboratively strengthen the vocational training ecosystem in a context by sharing practical methodologies, equipping trainers with digitally enabled teaching methods, and connecting youth with job opportunities. To bridge the gap between training and employment, we foster industry partnerships to link students and TVET institutions with opportunities for attachments, internships, and jobs, while also encouraging industry involvement in providing feedback and expertise. We aim to build strong relationships with the government, industry, and civil society to enable sustainable programs.
Key Components of the approach
Training of Trainers
The Training of Trainers initiative aims to improve the capacity of vocational educators by equipping them with effective teaching methodologies and sharing digital learning resources. Expert trainers conduct in-depth, online and hands-on workshops focused on interactive techniques, peer learning, and practical application. Designed as a scalable model, the training empowers trainers to create engaging learning environments. To ensure lasting impact, they receive ongoing support to integrate new methods and participate in online and in-person soft skills training to enhance youth employability.
Bridging Equipment Gaps
A critical challenge identified during our assessment was the lack of essential tools for practical learning. By piloting a model lab, we aim to create a replicable framework that, with industry support, can be expanded to other centers. This initiative ensures that trainees gain hands-on experience in well-equipped environments, bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements.
Industry Partnerships and Job Linkages
To bridge the gap between vocational training and industry needs, we actively collaborate with industries across various sectors to align training with industry needs.Through industry partnerships, we aim to facilitate youth attachments and employment opportunities, ensuring practical exposure and career advancement. Building on this momentum, we are now focusing on securing long-term, sustainable employment for youth. Additionally, we are launching a digital placement platform to connect trained youth with potential employers, creating a seamless job-matching system.
Partnerships
At Pratham International, we believe in the power of collaboration to create meaningful change. Our partnerships across Kenya are a testament to this belief, as we join hands with local governments and organizations to enhance vocational training, employment opportunities, and community service.
For our Youth Training programmes, we seek to partner with multilateral organisations, public institutions, and governments where possible from the perspective of funds and grants. Additionally, we foster local partnerships to ensure effective program delivery.