Challenge Fund for Youth Employment

?? When youth have access to the right tools and resources, they can thrive. These testimonials showcase the tangible impact of the zero-interest device-lending program implemented by Shortlist Futures and supported by CFYE in improving career prospects and economic opportunities. Curious to know more? Watch the video, visit their page and share it with your network! #ShortlistFutures (Participation is only open to youth backed by a partner participating in Shortlist’s Device-Lending Facility)

???How are Agribusinesses in Africa leveraging Green & Digital Technologies to create Decent Jobs for Youth??? In collaboration with INCLUDE Knowledge Platform, and through the invaluable insights shared by our Implementing Partners, we explored the best practices to engaging and employing youth in the agricultural sector and overcoming barriers to unlocking green and digital solutions. ? Through interviews and focus group discussions, this brief highlights the key aspects drawn from this research, including: ? ?????The first-hand experiences of youth agripreneurs and agribusinesses on how they overcome barriers. ??? The potential opportunities to unlock green and digital solutions. ???The best practices used by agribusinesses to actively engage youth and drive decent employment. ? ??Swipe through the slides for more! ? A special thank you to our partners SOWIT | AgriTech and AgriFinance, ThriveAgric, Auxfin Burundi, and Hello Tractor for their participation in the research.

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni Limited “Money does something for a woman. It makes her empowered.” - Nkem Okocha, Founder & CEO at Mamamoni Nkem has witnessed this firsthand, both through her own experience and through women she supports at her own company, Mamamoni. Mamamoni, is a FinTech Social Enterprise that offers financial solutions for underserved Nigerian women.????? ?? What once started as a young girl’s dream, has now blossomed into an impactful business that continues to uplift women through financial inclusion across Nigeria. ?? We are proud to share their story in our latest case study, written in recognition of their well-earned victory in CFYE’s Youth Business Heroes competition for Most Jobs Created for Women. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eJrRsWuv

"The need for healthcare is massive. 20% of African households borrow monthly for health bills, while there are 20,000 underemployed nurses in Kenya. The healthcare sector should be one of the largest employers in Africa, but jobs are not being created."?- Dr. Moka Lantum, CEO and Co-Founder of CheckUps. ?? Through their innovative financing model and a network of young nurses, CheckUps is on a mission to transform Kenya’s healthcare sector by addressing two critical challenges: limited healthcare access and high underemployment among nurses. CheckUps is delivering affordable, quality healthcare to underserved Kenyans while creating flexible, decent job opportunities for youth. ???? ?? We are proud to share their story in our latest case study, written in recognition of their well-earned victory in CFYE’s Youth Business Heroes-competition for Most Innovative Business Model. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/e5TvSNCU

Beyond Jobs: Generation Kenya’s Mission to Sustainable Youth Employment "Talent is globally distributed, but opportunities are not."?– Alvin Mukabwa, COO, Generation Kenya Every year, nearly 1 million young Kenyans enter the job market, yet far too many struggle to find meaningful work. Generation Kenya is changing that. Since 2015, this non-profit has been bridging the gap between job seekers and businesses - equipping young people, especially those facing the highest systemic barriers, with the skills and connections they need to thrive. The impact speaks for itself: ? 84% of graduates secure dignified employment within six months, earning 3-4 times more than before. ? 74% remain employed two to five years later, proving the lasting value of their approach. Generation Kenya isn’t just creating jobs - it’s unlocking potential and shaping brighter futures. We’re proud to share their story in our latest case study, written in recognition of their well-earned victory in CFYE’s Youth Business Heroes-competition for empowering the most youth toward decent employment. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eKxfWRfF

?? Introducing the Youth-Centred Methodologies Toolkit! ? Young people are not just key drivers of the future of agriculture in Ethiopia - they are the innovators shaping the sector's transformation today. But how can we ensure their voices drive meaningful change? ? After an insightful journey with VSO Youth Experts, where we explored the youth perspective on how to make agriculture more attractive to young people through the intersection of #Agrijobs, #technology, and #youthledresearch, we’re excited to officially launch our Youth-Centred Methodologies Toolkit! ? This toolkit, already implemented within our Kenya and Ethiopia portfolios, is designed for organisations, researchers, and policymakers looking to: ? ? Effectively engage and empower young people in research and decision-making. ? Develop participatory approaches that capture youth perspectives. ? Co-create solutions that reflect real challenges and opportunities. ? By amplifying youth voices, we can drive sustainable impact, create inclusive policies, and build a future where young people are at the forefront of innovation and their own futures. ? Check out the full toolkit here!??https://lnkd.in/e-zRfAwG

?? On February 26-27, Sankalp Forum's 2025 Summit is bringing together the most innovative entrepreneurs across Africa face-to-face with global investors ready to scale their visions, serving as a powerful platform to foster collaboration and drive sustainable solutions.?? ? We're proud to have Niek van Dijk, our Scaling and Investment Readiness Manager, and Beatrice Gichohi, our Country Lead for Kenya, represent CFYE in the session 'Results That Matter: Scaling Youth Employment Through Outcome-Based Financing'. Niek brings key expertise and passion for acquiring, setting up, and managing large-scale programs that support entrepreneurship, with a special focus on agribusiness, while Beatrice's experience as a development professional brings crucial insights to program management, SME's capacity building, access to finance, and more. ? We're excited to see what discussions arise during the event as we engage with over 1800 stakeholders. Don’t miss out! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gq6_ypGn ??

?? In today's rapidly evolving job market, education alone is no longer enough as 75% of young people in 92 countries lack the skills needed to secure employment. So, how can we bridge this growing gap? ? In our latest episode of the Future Economies Start with Youth Podcast, our host Kevin Eustatia - Palm guides a compelling discussion on the global skills mismatch among job-seeking youth with Paul Njuguna, CFYE's Senior Portfolio Associate for Kenya, who shares first-hand insights from working with young people and various businesses across Africa, and Emily Waters, CFYE's MEL Manager, who reveals how data-driven training programs and approaches are transforming employment outcomes.?? ? From VR welding in #Kenya to innovative hospitality training in #Egypt, this episode highlights practical solutions and success stories that are redefining how we prepare the next generation for the workforce. Tune in for the full episode via the links below!?? ? ?? https://lnkd.in/eV45hKqg ?? https://lnkd.in/e4_C_xdm ?

?? Youth-led innovation is transforming agriculture in #Ethiopia!??? ? Last year, we partnered with VSO Youth Experts to better understand the youth perspective on how to make agriculture more attractive to young people by blending agri-jobs, technology, and youth-led research. Through a dynamic three-day workshop and field research—including focus groups, interviews, and surveys—the Youth Experts identified both the challenges young farmers face and the opportunities that could revolutionise the sector and their livelihoods.? ? What did they find? ? Young farmers struggle with several barriers relating to: ? ?? Limited access to capital and essential materials to grow their businesses.? ?? Reliance on outdated, labour-intensive farming methods due to lack of modern tools.? ?? Poor infrastructure, unreliable market access, and persistent social stigma around farming careers.? ? But despite these hurdles, young farmers are driving opportunities for growth by:? ? ?? Embracing tech tools—like mobile apps, digital marketing, and online training—to boost efficiency and income.? ?? Forming youth associations to pool resources, share knowledge, and tackle challenges together.? ?? Leveraging modern agricultural practices to improve yields, promote sustainability, and shift community perceptions.? ? These findings reveal a clear path forward: with the right support, resources, and recognition, young people can lead the way in building a thriving, modern agricultural sector.?For more detailed conclusions, check out the full report here!???https://lnkd.in/e5g3GyXa ? ?? What’s next?? ? For a more holistic overview, we're also now working with INCLUDE Knowledge Platform to understand the business perspective of this intersection between youth employment, agri-jobs, and new technologies. ? And stay tuned for our Youth-Centred Methodologies Toolkit—a comprehensive guide to empowering youth voices, transforming sector research, and creating a space for #youth to have a say in their futures!?

???Introducing Happy Cow Dairy??? Happy Cow, a rapidly growing dairy producer from Nakuru, Kenya, is on a mission to break barriers to youth participation in the dairy value chain. By scaling its business, the company aims to reach over 1,200 youth, with more than half being women. In partnership with CFYE, this initiative is enhancing market access, providing access to capital and knowledge, and offering comprehensive training to youth. Through inclusion and innovation, Happy Cow is empowering the next generation of dairy farmers in Kenya! ???? Eager to know more? Watch the video below or visit their dedicated page here: https://lnkd.in/egguAyxB