Project description
Youth unemployment remains one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most urgent challenges. With populations growing and economies under pressure, the need for meaningful, sustainable employment has never been greater. At the same time, clean energy is expanding rapidly across the region, creating demand for a workforce that does not yet fully exist. This project is building that workforce.
CLASP is running two skills training projects in Kenya, each targeting a sector with proven potential to generate jobs and improve lives. The first, the Stainless Steel Welding pilot, trains young people in welding and fabrication skills needed to manufacture improved cookstoves — cleaner, safer alternatives to biomass options used in institutions and homes across the country. The second, the Jobs in Solar Powered Irrigation Systems pilot, equips young people to sell, install, operate, and service solar-powered irrigation systems that help farmers increase yields and income. Both projects are designed in close partnership with industry, training institutions, development partners, and the government to ensure that the skills being taught reflect what employers actually need.
The pilots also engage employers to identify labour needs, provide hands-on work experience, and connect graduates to opportunities. The vision extends beyond the trainees. By strengthening the pipeline of skilled workers in these sectors, these projects support the expansion of clean cooking and productive appliance markets in Kenya. This means stronger local market ecosystems, more accessible technologies, and more resilient supply chains. The result is more inclusive green economic growth in Kenya that reaches those who need it most.