By SDSN Youth Kenya
On Thursday, 29th May 2025, over 50 young leaders drawn from various youth-led organizations graduated from the Capacity Building Program for Youth-Led Organizations, an initiative aimed at equipping youth with skills in governance, data management, and policy advocacy. The program hosted by SDSN Youth Kenya targeted youth-led organizations working towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering them tools that strengthen their impact and sustainability. The virtual graduation marked not only the end of the program but the beginning of a movement in Kenya that aims to foster a sustainable future for all.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), youth (aged 18-35) constitute over 75% of the country’s population. Despite this, many youth-led organizations struggle to navigate policy landscapes, access financial opportunities, and implement impactful projects due to limited technical expertise. Kenya as a developing country, faces many challenges that tend to cripple the achievement of the 2030 agenda. To bridge this gap, this program aligns with Kenya's Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals by fostering youth participation in national development.
Through its program, SDSN Youth Kenya trained 51 young people on the following topics: Governance, leadership, and strategic planning; Data Collection Methods, Sampling & Analysis Techniques; Monitoring and Evaluation; and Policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability strategies. These topics were designed to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of organizations, equipping them with critical skills to scale their impact and sustainability.
The Sessions: What The Youth Gained.
The sessions kicked off with training on governance, leadership, and strategic planning facilitated by Mr. Tonny Olela, a governance expert and youth development practitioner. Mr. Olela laid the foundation for the entire program. His experience in working with grassroots organizations, the United Nations, and the government made the session transformative for many emerging leaders. The second session was facilitated by Mr. John Linus, Chairperson of the UNESCO Youth Forum Kenya. He focused on Policy Advocacy, Stakeholder Engagement, and Sustainability Strategies. He guided participants through real-world examples of how youth-led organizations can influence policy and build strategic relationships with government, donors, and civil society actors. His main focus was that the youth are not just beneficiaries but they are also builders of systems and policies.
The session on data monitoring and evaluation was facilitated by Mr. Joseph Katsala (M&E Officer, CorpsAfrica Malawi) and Mr. Johnnie Hayford (Network Coordinator, SDSN Youth Ghana), who offered participants tangible skills for evidence-based programming and reporting. These sessions provided frameworks, tools, and mentorship that participants could apply in the work that they do in their organizations.
The Graduation: Not Just A Graduation, But The Beginning of A New Movement In Kenya.
During the graduation webinar held on May 29, 2025, the session brought together a lineup of speakers, each contributing insights and motivation to the graduates. Among the guests were Raquel Armendariz, SDSN Youth Coordinator at SDSN; Lara Mugala, African Focal Point for SDSN Youth; Mr. Ibtisam Babar, CEO of Zindigi Prize; and Dr. Stella, Network Manager at SDSN Kenya.. In her speech, Raquel Armendariz, SDSN Youth Coordinator, emphasized that young people have the potential and power to build a sustainable future. She added that there are four billion solutions to problems of now and the future.
SDSN Youth Kenya reaffirms its commitment to walk with these young leaders beyond the classroom. The alumni will soon be invited to participate in mentorship, new opportunities, and national collaborations through the Zindigi Prize and more. The graduation marked not just the end of a program, but the start of a powerful youth-led movement in Kenya.
Watch the graduation ceremony here.