Kenya

Projects

Enhancing the Resilience and Adaptive Capacity of refugees and host communities in Turkana County (CP WASH)

The CP WASH project enhances access to sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Turkana County, empowering refugees and host communities to become more resilient, economically self-reliant, and climate- adaptive. Through private-sector-led, market-based solutions, the project transforms WASH challenges into economic opportunities by integrating entrepreneurship, scalable business models, and circular economy approaches.

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Building skills for young plumbers and electricians through dual apprenticeship training (PropelA)

The PropelA project seeks to introduce a dual apprenticeship model driven by employers for the construction industry in Kenya and beyond, starting with plumbers and electricians.

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News

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09.05.2025

CEO Networking Event: The Business Value of Investing in Apprenticeship

As the PropelA Programme prepares to recruit the fourth cohort of apprentices, the event provided a valuable platform for business leaders to explore how apprenticeships can be a strategic asset—not just for youth empowerment, but for long-term business growth

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25.03.2025

Women Breaking Barriers #AcceleratingAction Across Central, East and Southern Africa

Did you know that women make up over 50% of the agricultural workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet they own less than 20% of the land? Or that in Kenya, only 29% of senior management positions are held by women, despite them accounting for nearly half of the labor force? Across Tanzania, Rwanda, and Mozambique, similar gaps persist — in access to credit, education, and leadership opportunities. But change is happening. This International Women’s month, Swisscontact celebrates the unstoppable momentum of women breaking barriers and accelerating action. Under the theme #AccelerateAction, we spotlight the powerful stories of women transforming industries, building sustainable futures, and reshaping the landscape of inclusion and equality.

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10.03.2025

Strengthening Kenya’s Industry-Driven Apprenticeships: National Industrial Training Authority’s (NITA) Impact

From PropelA's inception, the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) has played a crucial role in shaping the PropelA program, ensuring that apprenticeship curricula align with national standards and industry needs. As the regulatory body for industrial training, NITA provides quality assurance, oversees curriculum development, and manages accreditation. Additionally, it facilitates the collection and reimbursement of the Training Levy Fund for PropelA’s private sector partners, reinforcing employer participation.

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Interventions

Swisscontact works in Kenya to reduce unemployment and improve the livelihoods of refugees, smallholders, MSMEs and the youth. Swisscontact strengthens their prospects of gainful employment by facilitating technical skills training, promoting financial literacy, and offering linkages to formal financial institutions.

For over a decade, Swisscontact has played a role in alleviating poverty through implementing interventions that increase access to financial products and services. Through Inclusive Finance Programmes micro-enterprises, subsistence farmers and low-income households have increased their economic activities.

In the Kakuma Refugee Camp Swisscontact supports refugees and the host community to move from humanitarian support to a lasting development pathway. Activities include income-generating capabilities and employability by facilitating technical skills training in addition to literacy, numeracy, financial and life skills, combining theoretical and hands-on techniques.

Inclusive Finance Programme - 14 Years of Financial Services in East Africa

Although the 2018 IMF Financial Access Survey confirms a positive trend in access to financial products and services in Sub-Saharan Africa, many people are still excluded from the formal financial market system. Sub-Saharan Africa comprises 48 countries and 47% of the people live on less than $ 1.9 a day (World Bank 2018). To a considerable extent...

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Skills for Life - project journey

The Promoting Life Skills and Livelihoods project commonly referred to as Skills for Life (S4L) was designed to strengthen the income-generating capabilities of youth (both refugee and from the host community) in Kakuma by enhancing their technical, financial, life and literacy skills to improve their chances of an enriched livelihood.

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Microleasing

Transforming the lives of entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers through innovative financial solutions.

The Journey of Microleasing in Eastern Africa 2006 – 2017.

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Jobs

Motivated and productive employees with initiative constitute the most important success factor in all areas of our work. We count on individuals who are looking to the future, impact- and team-oriented, and want to work in international development cooperation.

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