It is a Blue-Economy focused project that has been established to provide youths from the Kenyan coastal counties with market-relevant skills in selected blue value chains to improve their economic and employment opportunities.
The Blue-Economy Value chains selected by the Jumuiya ya Kauti za Pwani (JKP) are:
To provide a total of 2,740 youths with market relevant skills in the predetermined blue economy value chains: 2,520 through Centers of Excellences and 220 people through the Agricultural Demonstration Farm
To match the skilled youths to employment opportunities: 60% in wage employment and 20% in entrepreneurship development
As of December 2022, 2,694(1,194 Female and 1,500 Male) have benefitted from the program in 9 Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) across the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta.
Approximately 1,377 (571 Female and 806 Male) beneficiaries have already been placed in employment (1,006) and entrepreneurship (368). At least 60 young farmers have received extension support in Good Agricultural Practices.
So far, 51 VTCs in the 6 Coastal counties received Capacity Building while 162 (68 Female and 94 Male) of their instructors have received trainings in Digital literacy, Work Readiness, Entrepreneurship and Employability skills based on Competency based Education and Training (CBET) framework of the Government of Kenya.
Additionally, 141 (44 Female and 97 Male) Beach Management Unit members across the six counties have received various form of capacity building.
