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Author: Peter Mwania

Author: Peter Mwania

MArket Assessment Women and Youth IOMe
Marketing

Bridging the Gap: A Market Assessment of Economic Opportunities for Youth and Women in Mombasa

An ICHA team drawn from Policy & Advocacy, Climate, Data and CVA units conducted a thorough market assessment activity supported by the FSPI (French Solidarity Fund Project Initiative project) in Mombasa to identify employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people and women in the industrial, informal, and formal sectors. This assessment was necessary due to the limited access to capital and education often faced by these groups, which hinders their economic growth and development.   The team focused on evaluating existing industries and identifying opportunities for new industries, assessing micro-enterprises and small businesses, and identifying job opportunities in established industries. The team identified a range of opportunities in all three sectors that could be tapped to promote economic growth and development in the region.     They also identified several challenges that must be addressed. These include limited access to finance and markets, inadequate knowledge, and a lack of business and professional skills among young people and women. To address these challenges, the Kenya Red Cross Society’s Innovation Unit plans to continue and upscale training and support programs that will help young people and women develop the necessary skills to succeed in business.   The training programs will focus on financial management, marketing, and business planning, which will be designed to enable participants to access capital and markets. Additionally, the Society plans to work with local partners to establish business incubation centres, providing mentorship and coaching to young people and women entrepreneurs.   The market assessment report will guide the steps needed to create economic opportunities for young people and women in the region. With the support of local partners and the community, the Kenya Red Cross Society aims to create a sustainable environment for economic growth and development. This effort is expected to improve the lives of young people and women in the area, promoting financial independence and gender equality.   In conclusion, the market assessment report generated from this activity provides insights into the economic opportunities available to young people and women in Mombasa. The report also highlights the challenges that must be addressed to enable them to take advantage of these opportunities.      

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KRCS and Airbus Foundation IOMe
Development

KRCS and Airbus Foundation Projects Transforming Communities in Nairobi and Mombasa Counties

ICHA’s Innovation team had the pleasure of hosting the Airbus Foundation Response Coordinator, Ms. Sophie, in Nairobi and Mombasa Counties, where they took her to visit different project implementation sites. This visit aimed to showcase the progress and impact of various projects and to strategize on the partnership engagement.  In Nairobi, the team visited three schools that had the Plasma water units installed; St. Catherine Primary, Nairobi South Primary, and Gatoto Primary. During the visit, the headteachers of the schools gave their timely feedback on their experiences using the water purification systems and gave some recommendations on how the project could be sustainable moving forward. The WASH department and Plasma Waters technician were also present during the visit, providing technical support and addressing any issues that arose.  In Mombasa County, Ms. Sophie was updated on the Airbus Foundation Discovery Space (AFDS) project and the Mombasa county branch projects focusing on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), such as the URCBP project. The teams discussed overall partnership engagements, geared towards environmental conservation and capacity building within specific thematic areas such as Knowledge Management, Blue, and Green Economies.  During the URCBP site visit, the project team and the Community Disaster Management Committee had further discussions on how to rehabilitate and enhance overall mangrove conservation and restoration efforts. The mangroves play a crucial role in coastal protection, and their conservation and restoration are critical for the well-being of communities living in the area.  The partnership between KRCS and Airbus Foundation has had a huge impact, with several projects being implemented to address various challenges facing communities in Nairobi and Mombasa counties. The Plasma Water units in schools have provided clean and safe drinking water to school-going children, reducing waterborne diseases. The Airbus Foundation Discovery Space has provided a platform for students to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), contributing to the development of future leaders and innovators. The DRR projects in Mombasa County have enhanced the resilience of communities to disasters, reducing the impact of disasters on their livelihoods.  Moving forward, the partnership between KRCS and Airbus Foundation will focus on sustainability and capacity building within specific thematic areas such as Knowledge Management, Blue, and Green Economies. This approach will ensure that projects are implemented sustainably, enhancing the well-being of communities while protecting the environment. 

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Development

KRCS and the French Embassy partner to promote youth empowerment in Mombasa County

Empowering youth with practical skills has become a vital component in the efforts to address the high rate of unemployment and poverty in many African communities. In Mombasa County, the Kenya Red Cross Society’s Innovation Unit, under the FSPI project and in partnership with the French Embassy, organized an Artistic Wednesday Session at the I.O.Me 001 Innovation hub, with a focus on beadwork. The workshop aimed to provide the youth with practical skills in beadwork, a craft that has a rich cultural heritage in many African communities, and can provide economic opportunities while helping to preserve traditional cultural practices.   The workshop brought together a group of enthusiastic youths who were eager to learn and improve their skills. The facilitators for the session were two experienced beadwork artists within Mombasa County who have worked on past projects and are currently monetizing their skills.   The workshop began with an introduction by the facilitators, who explained the significance of beadwork in their community. The participants were then shown a range of beadwork tools and materials, including threads and beads of various colours and sizes. The facilitators enlightened the participants on how to identify the right beads for a particular design, how to thread the beads, and how to create patterns and shapes using different stitching techniques.   As the workshop progressed, the participants grew more confident in their abilities and began to experiment with different beadwork designs. They also encouraged the participants to explore their unique styles and to find inspiration in their cultural heritage.   At the end of the session, the participants displayed their finished beadwork pieces, especially bracelets. They also shared their experiences and the challenges they had overcome in the process. The workshop also provided them with practical skills in beadwork, as well as an appreciation for the cultural and artistic significance of the craft.   The participants will go through a second session and get linked to hotels and resorts in Mombasa County, where they will be allocated platforms to showcase their products for sale. This will be a good opportunity for them to boost their self-employability.   With more workshops like this, the youth can become more self-reliant, contribute to the growth of their communities, and improve their overall well-being. 

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