The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project is a landmark initiative by the Government of Kenya, funded by the World Bank, aimed at transforming the lives of vulnerable youth. Over five years, NYOTA will create employment opportunities, enhance income generation, and promote savings among the youth population.
Project Overview
NYOTA is a multi-agency project involving State departments of Youth, Labor, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development. The State Department of MSMEs Development leads the components on entrepreneurship development and hosts an end-to-end system—a one-stop marketplace—to facilitate linkages to various opportunities for scalability and sustainability of the project to increase youth employment.
Also Read
Core Components
- Employment and Apprenticeship Opportunities: NYOTA focuses on providing apprenticeship and employment opportunities for youth across various trades, enhancing their employability through skills transfer and on-the-job experience.
- Entrepreneurship Development: The project aims to nurture entrepreneurial spirit by supporting 100,000 youth with business ideas. Each aspiring entrepreneur will receive a start-up capital grant of Ksh50,000 to either launch or expand their businesses.
- Capacity Building: NYOTA conducts capacity building of youth on catalytic funds like the Women Enterprise Fund, Youth Enterprise Fund, Hustler Fund, and Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) to increase uptake of more than 5% provision on tenders.
Integration with the Hustler Fund
The Hustler Fund, officially known as the Financial Inclusion Fund, is a government-led loan project providing instant loans to Kenyan citizens. Launched in late 2022, the fund aims to offer at least $420 million in loans, targeting personal finance, microloans, small and medium enterprise loans, and start-up loans.
NYOTA integrates with the Hustler Fund platform to facilitate access to financial resources for youth entrepreneurs. Youth can apply for business support through the Hustler Fund by dialing *254# and selecting option 3. This integration simplifies the application process, making it more accessible for youth across all constituencies in Kenya.
Target Beneficiaries
The project is expected to impact 800,000 vulnerable youth aged 18-29 across all 47 counties of Kenya, including 10,000 refugees and 10,000 vulnerable host community members. The targeted youths are those with little or no education, who are unemployed, underemployed, or in low-tier employment with very low earnings. The project reserves 50% of slots for female beneficiaries and 5% for people with disabilities.
Conclusion
The NYOTA project represents a significant step towards empowering Kenyan youth by providing them with the necessary skills, financial support, and opportunities to start and grow their businesses. By integrating with platforms like the Hustler Fund, the government aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for youth entrepreneurship, fostering economic growth and reducing unemployment across the country.