Call for expression of interest for Engaging Youth to Develop Innovative Business Solutions Through (HCD)

1. About Aga Khan Foundation

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), was established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1967. AKF is a private, not-for-profit international development agency that seeks to provide long-term solutions to society’s problems. AKF has a special focus on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity, and improving the overall quality of life, especially for women and girls. AKF works closely with civil society groups in programme levels in all its thematic areas, with a range of synergistic initiatives that both support civil society actors and benefit from their reach and experience. AKF’s primary areas of focus are Education; Early Childhood Development (ECD); Health and Nutrition; Civil Society; Agriculture and Food Security; and Economic Inclusion.

1. Contextual programme background.

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified many of the challenges already faced by youth in Kenya, as many are now at risk of being left behind in education, economic opportunities and health and wellbeing during a crucial stage of their life. A survey conducted in May 2020 in Kenya indicates that since the beginning of the pandemic, 95% of youth earned less than $3 a week, up from 40% in a similar survey in 2019, while 74% went to bed hungry for at least one day in a week, up from 15% in 2019. Many of these youth are now more likely to be left unemployed or in precarious job contracts and working arrangements without social protection. Moreover, underprivileged youth in rural areas of Kenya are disproportionally affected due to the lack of access to remote learning tools. Additionally, a market needs assessment finalized in April 2022 in Lamu, Kilifi , Mombasa and Kwale with the main objectives to provide realistic and relevant recommendations that inform the project to enable and prepare vulnerable youths 18- 34 years in Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, and Mombasa for decent and market-driven job opportunities showed that 1) there is an ongoing shift in the economies of Mombasa and Kilifi county that are creating demands for medium- and high-skilled workers 2) a key contributor to high unemployment across most of the coastal counties is the slow economic growth in the region 3)there are skills gaps in the labour market and a broad undersupply of workers across sectors and skill levels and 4) the digital economy is opening new opportunities for young people but most of them are not adequately prepared.

1. Description of the Initiative (HCD)

HCD is an innovative approach to problem solving that incorporates insights about human needs and behavior into project design and delivery that will stimulate actionable ideation. This interactive training provides a framework for creative problem-solving that drives collaboration across multiple sectors, and a variety of tools and methods that innovators and their communities can customize to serve their needs while considering desirability, feasibility and flexibility.

AKF will deliver in-person HCD sessions that will engage young people in developing innovative business solutions that will meet the medium-term and long-term needs of communities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in the coastal counties of Lamu, Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale.

This activity will also facilitate spaces for networking, partnership building and learning to reduce barriers to innovators, investors and social entrepreneurship based on the local environment.

Furthermore, AKF in partnership with youth friendly local business development support and innovations partners will support competitively identified youth from the larger group, particularly in marginalised areas where services are limited, with personalized and tailored business training and mentorship opportunities based on identified needs, alongside incubation support to take their innovations to scale. Key sectors of interest will include agriculture, health, water and sanitation, and access to energy, among other economic inclusion activities. Priority will be given to ideas in the sector with both an economic and social impact focus, a viable business model and delivery modality, the ability to generate employment, be rapidly deployed and impact communities on a wide scale to access Flexible Responsive Innovation Funds.

1. Proposed duration for HCD Sessions

June – July 2022

2 Weeks

In All counties

1. What we are seeking

AKF is providing an interactive learning space for eligible youth meeting the following criteria to take part in the HCD sessions.

• Kenyan youth aged 18- 34 years
• Minimum level of education – form IV level
• Be a small scale business owner or have a business idea that is able to generate employment, be rapidly deployed and impact communities on a wide scale. (Illustrate clearly in the application form, Section B, Q1).
• Proposed innovation must be feasible and should be implemented within a maximum of 6 months.
• Proficiency in verbal and written English and Swahili.
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Basic ICT skills Microsoft software skills
• High level of commitment to initiate and complete the HCD sessions