Nairobi:An initiative led by Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) in collaboration with Nailab and supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) organized a Youth Innovation Hubs and Stakeholder Engagement Forum in Nairobi. The event aimed to strengthen connections between innovation hubs and key players in the innovation and enterprise ecosystem.
According to Kenya News Agency, the program seeks to enhance the capacity of innovation hubs to identify, nurture, and support emerging innovators, especially young people and women from marginalized communities. This is achieved through providing technical support, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration.
Beatrice Wambui, Programs Coordinator at Empower and Serve Kenya (EmpServe Kenya), highlighted that the initiative has equipped participating organizations with skills to strengthen their operations and build strategic partnerships. This enables them to better support young innovators.
Ms. Wambui praised the platform as a valuable opportunity for institutional growth, knowledge exchange, and engagement in areas needing improvement within the innovation ecosystem. She noted that the initiative had provided capacity-building sessions for participating hubs to share experiences, discuss operational challenges, and exchange ideas on improving their services.
EmpServe Kenya is among the innovation hubs selected to be part of the UN Joint Programme Cohort for the year. Ms. Wambui emphasized the importance of learning to identify and approach potential partners, develop compelling program proposals, and strategically position the organization for partnerships and collaborations.
She also mentioned that the organization looks forward to the next phase of the program, which will involve incubating innovators identified through the UN Joint Programme and referred to participating hubs for further development.
Additionally, the UN Joint Programme is providing infrastructure support, including additional digital devices, which will enable the organization to expand its training capacity and accommodate more young people in its programs. The Nairobi engagement is expected to strengthen linkages and networking, allowing innovators to connect with key stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.
The forum in Nairobi forms part of the four-year UN Joint Programme on Youth Skills, Employability, and Civic Engagement, supported by the Government of Canada. It aims to improve access to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, particularly for young women and marginalized youth.
EmpServe Kenya, marking its 10th anniversary, has operations in 10 counties, with a major focus on Nairobi and Kajiado. The organization is also establishing an innovation eco-village in Kajiado County as a self-sustaining community facility for young people to acquire practical skills and apply them within their communities.
Ms. Wambui stressed the importance of ensuring that young people and women from marginalized communities benefit from innovation opportunities, particularly those living in informal settlements and rural areas. Strengthening innovation hubs is seen as an effective way of extending opportunities to underserved communities.
EmpServe Kenya is preparing to host the South Eastern and Metropolitan Innovation Week from November 15 to 20, bringing together young innovators from Nairobi, Machakos, Kitui, and Kajiado counties to showcase their innovations and engage with potential partners. Through such engagements and collaborations, Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) continues to empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to shape their futures and improve their socio-economic well-being.
