Kenya assumes Chairmanship of Africa’s Youth Jobs Community of Practice

Kenya has officially taken over the chairmanship of the Jobs for Youth in Africa (JfYA) Community of Practice (CoP) from the Republic of Rwanda, marking a new phase in continental efforts to tackle youth unemployment and expand economic opportunities for young people.

The transition took place during the Jobs for Youth in Africa Community of Practice Knowledge Exchange Summit held in Nairobi.

Speaking at the event, Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said Kenya would prioritise implementation and measurable outcomes during its one-year tenure at the helm of the 20-member platform

“Kenya assumes this responsibility with humility and clarity of purpose. We intend to shift our collective focus firmly toward delivery, accountability and results,” he said.

The Community of Practice, supported by the World Bank and other development partners, brings together 20 African Member States to share knowledge, scale evidence-based solutions and strengthen peer learning on youth employment policies.

Africa faces mounting pressure to create jobs for its fast-growing youth population. According to figures cited at the summit, more than 60 per cent of the continent’s population is under the age of 25, with an estimated annual youth employment gap exceeding 10 million jobs.

Mvurya said the demographic trend presents both an opportunity and a challenge for African governments.

“Investment in Africa’s young people is not merely a social intervention; it is the engine of economic growth and stability,” he said, noting that coordinated action across countries would be critical to closing the employment gap.

During its chairmanship, Kenya plans to steer the Community of Practice around three priorities: Market-responsive skills development, Enterprise growth as a driver of job creation and Stronger data-driven accountability systems.

The Cabinet Secretary pointed to several ongoing national programmes as examples of Kenya’s approach, including the NYOTA initiative, the Digital Jobs Agenda (Kazi Mtandaoni), Affordable Housing projects and climate-focused initiatives. He said these and other public sector interventions have collectively contributed to an estimated 1.8 million jobs.

Kenya also committed to strengthening peer learning among Member States, harmonising standards and scaling up interventions that have demonstrated impact.

The high-level summit was attended by Ndiamé Diop, Regional Vice President of the World Bank for Eastern and Southern Africa, Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs, representatives from participating Member States, development partners, private sector leaders and youth delegates.

As chair, Kenya is expected to coordinate knowledge exchange and policy alignment efforts over the next year, with a focus on translating commitments into tangible employment opportunities for young people across the continent.