Theme 10
Women Youth Development 18–34
Project Y-RISE — Youth Women’s Resilience, Innovation, and Socio-Economic Empowerment
To cultivate a pipeline of 10,000 economically independent, civically engaged, and holistically supported young women (18–34) who drive innovation and inclusive governance in Kenya. Project Y-RISE addresses the “transition cliff” facing young women through four outcome areas: economic empowerment and future-ready skills; leadership, civic participation, and governance; health, well-being, and protection; and digital inclusion, mentorship, and networks treating young women not as beneficiaries, but as co-creators of Kenya’s socio-economic future.
Core Project Components
“She-Innovates & Earns” (Economic Empowerment)
- Future-Skills Bootcamps: 8-week intensive cohorts in Data Analytics, Prompt Engineering (AI), Digital Marketing, and Climate-Tech.
- AGPO & Procurement Masterclasses demystifying the AGPO 30% rule, training young women to register, bid, and win county and national government tenders.
- The Y-RISE Micro-Venture Fund: tiered grants (KES 50,000 to KES 500,000) and low-interest debt via SACCO partnerships for youth-led, women-owned startups.
“She-Governs” (Leadership & Civic Participation)
- The “Shadow-a-Leader” Initiative: pairing 100 high-potential young women with female MPs, County Executives (CECs), and Corporate CEOs for a 3-month shadowing and mentorship experience.
- Youth Board Placement: advocating for “Youth Observer” seats on county and private company boards, filled by trained Y-RISE participants.
- Campaign & Advocacy Labs training young women in policy drafting, public speaking, and digital advocacy to influence county Participatory Budgeting.
“She-Thrives” (Health, Wellness & Rights)
- Digital SRHR Hubs: anonymous, AI-powered WhatsApp chatbots and safe physical spaces providing information on contraceptive access, menstrual health, and maternal care for young mothers.
- Mental Health First Aid: training 500 young women as “Peer Wellness Champions” to identify and refer peers facing burnout, depression, or trauma.
- Young Mothers Re-Integration: flexible, online upskilling and childcare stipends for young mothers (18–24) who dropped out of tertiary institutions.
“She-Connects” (Digital Ecosystem & Mentorship)
- The Y-RISE Intranet & App: a centralized digital platform for job matching, tender alerts, peer-to-peer learning, and mental health resources.
- Intergenerational “Fireside” Dialogues: quarterly virtual and physical meetups bridging Gen Z/Millennial women and veteran feminist leaders to transfer institutional memory and strategy.
Implementation Strategy
- County Pre-Conference Summits (September–October 2026): “Youth Townhalls” within the 47 County Summits to recruit participants and map local economic opportunities and barriers.
- Strategic Partnerships: Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of ICT, County Youth & Gender Departments; Safaricom, Equity Bank, KEPSA; Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) and university student leadership bodies.
- National Showcase (November 2026): the “Y-RISE Innovation Pitch & Policy Hackathon” during the Kenya Women Conference 2026, where young women present solutions to national leaders and investors.
Project Scope
- Target Demographic: Young Women aged 18–34 (university students, early-career professionals, young entrepreneurs, and young mothers)
- Geographic Coverage: 47 counties, with phased implementation
- Direct Beneficiaries: 10,000 young women
- Indirect Beneficiaries: 50,000+ household and community members
Key Performance Indicators
| Young women completing future-skills training | 5,000 |
| Young women appointed to county/corporate boards | 100 |
| Young women accessing SRHR/mental health services | 10,000 |
| Mentor-mentee matches sustained >6 months | Tracked via Y-RISE Intranet CRM |
Sustainability & Exit Strategy
- Institutionalization: transition “She-Governs” training modules into the curriculum of the Kenya School of Government (KSG) and university leadership centers.
- Financial Sustainability: the Y-RISE Micro-Venture Fund operates as a revolving fund, helping youth cooperatives secure long-term B2B contracts for independent cash flow post-grant.
- Digital Permanence: the Y-RISE App and Intranet handed over to a consortium of young women’s networks (e.g. Kenya Young Women’s Network) to manage as a self-sustaining digital cooperative.
Alignment with Continental Frameworks
- ✅ AU Youth Charter & Agenda 2063 (Aspiration 6): active participation of youth, specifically young women, in decision-making and economic transformation
- ✅ NEPAD’s 1/3 Youth Agenda: dedicating resources and space to the continent’s youth demographic
- ✅ Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030): bridging the gender digital divide, from digital consumers to digital creators and innovators
- ✅ AfCFTA: preparing young women entrepreneurs to scale businesses and trade across African borders through cross-border digital commerce and compliance