The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with Power Learn Project Africa, Microsoft and the Turkana County Government, has launched a new digital skills and employment programme targeting refugee and host community youth in Kenya.
The programme, launched in Kakuma, Turkana County, will equip 1,700 young people across Turkana and Garissa counties with market-relevant digital skills, professional certifications and support to transition into employment and entrepreneurship.
The initiative is being delivered under the ILO PROSPECTS Partnership, with support from the Government of the Netherlands. It will run through a 25-week blended learning model implemented by Power Learn Project in collaboration with local digital hubs, community-based organisations, refugee-led organisations and other local partners.
As part of the programme, up to 1,000 Microsoft certification vouchers will be made available to participants, allowing learners to earn globally recognised credentials aligned with emerging labour market needs.
The training will be delivered in two tracks. The intermediate track will focus on foundational digital and workplace skills, while the advanced track will support learners to specialise in high-demand areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and data analytics.
ILO Country Office Director for Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, Caroline Khamati Mugalla, said the programme comes at a critical time when digital transformation is reshaping labour markets.
“Digital transformation is reshaping labour markets at a pace that demands deliberate policy action. For young people in refugee-hosting communities, the risk is not simply being left behind – it is being excluded from opportunities that are increasingly defining economic participation across every sector,” she said.
She added that investing in internationally recognised digital skills would help ensure that refugee and host community youth are not locked out of opportunities created by Kenya’s growing digital economy.
According to the partners, Kenya’s digital economy is projected to contribute USD 5.1 billion to the country’s GDP by 2028. However, access to practical digital skills remains a major barrier for many young people, especially in underserved communities.
The programme also seeks to address the skills mismatch in the labour market, where employers continue to report gaps between available talent and the skills required by rapidly evolving technologies.
Winnie Karanu, AI Skills Director at Microsoft Elevate, said digital skills are now central to inclusive economic growth.
“Digital skills are the foundation for inclusive growth, but access remains uneven, particularly in underserved communities. Through initiatives such as these, we’re working to close that gap by connecting learners not just to training, but to globally recognised certification and real pathways into employment,” she said.
Power Learn Project Africa Co-Founder and Executive Director Mumbi Ndung’u said the partnership would bring digital opportunities closer to young people who have often been excluded from formal skills development systems.
“Across the country, we have seen what happens when young people are given access to practical digital skills and pathways into work. They do not just learn; they build, earn, solve, and transform their communities,” she said.
Beyond training, the programme will support graduates to access employment, entrepreneurship, remote work and other income-generating opportunities through career readiness support, employer engagement and ecosystem linkages.
The initiative is expected to contribute to Kenya’s broader digital transformation agenda, youth employment efforts, refugee inclusion and equitable regional development.