Youth Economic Empowerment Skills Training SUMMARY 
Unemployment and underemployment have been identified as Kenya's most difficult and persistent problems. In both rural and urban areas, young women account for large numbers of the unemployed. This can be attributed to the fact that most communities in Kenya prefer to educate boys over girls.

This project (August 2018 - August 2021) and focuses on improving economic empowerment of adolescent girls and young women. It especially aims to increase access to gainful employment opportunities for vulnerable adolescent girls and young women. Another goal is better protection of vulnerable girls from child marriages and commercial sexual exploitation. Implementation of this project is in Kisumu County.
This project is linked to Plan International Kenya's GAA programme, and provides direct access to vocational and life skills training, followed by job placement. Plan works together with vocational training institutes and private sector to offer market driven vocational training opportunities. Despite an overall improved legal and policy landscape in favour of women, Kenyan women and girls continue to experience both structural and systemic discrimination. Structural discrimination refers to the rules, norms, patterns of attitudes and behavior in institutions and other societal structures that present obstacles, to girls, women and other marginalized or vulnerable groups, in achieving the same rights and opportunities that are available. There are a number of reasons for this: lack of knowledge b duty-bearers ad the general public about the risks involved in child marriage, child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, a patriarchal culture, corruption, lack of political will and a series of conflicting laws/legislation complicated by the existence of customary law, commonly practices in rural areas as well as limited engagement with the private sector in addressing gender-based violence. 

Unemployment and underemployment have been identified as Kenýa's most difficult and persistent problems. 12.7% of the working age population is unemployed. About 67% of Kenya's unemployed are youth between 15 and 34 years of age. The highest unemployment rates are for people around 15 to 24 years old at 45%. In the rural areas of Kenya, young women account for large numbers of the unemployed and the situation is the same in the urban areas where females have the highest rates of unemployment as well. This trend can be attributed to the fact that most communities in Kenya prefer to educate the boy child as compared to the girl child. Some organizations and companies also prefer the male employees to the female ones due to ther biological dispensation especially in high ranking positions and positions that require much energy and this automatically puts the females at a disadvantage. Women face various structural constraints on their effective participation in economic activities. If young women receive market driven vocational training opportunities and life- and employability skills, it will increase their confidence and motivation, and prepare them for the job market. 

It will provide them with a better position for the labor market and diminish their vulnerability for sexual abuse. The graduated young women will become part of an alumni network and become champions of change in their community and motivate other young women to engage in employment. The project is linked to Plan International Kenya's GAA program, and results will create an evidence base for lobby and advocacy interventions under GAA.  The project will work with the same key stake holders in Kisumu, such as vocational training institututes, private sector and communities. The project targets 32 adolescent girls and young women (16 - 24 years old). - conduct a market scan
- conduct 2 days mentorshop and coaching forum targeting 50 girls, 7 polytechnic and TVET heads to enable girls select the courses to undertake in different colleges in Kisumu sub-counties.
- Conduct 2 days meeting with polytechnic heads incorporating 8 private sectors to tailor make the curriculum to fit all the girls i.e. time schedule and duration, and to map out skills that are required for employability purposes.
- enroll 32 girls for 6 months in a market driven vocational training in Kisumu county
- Place the 32 trained girls in jobs
- Conduct 2 half-day mentorship and lifeskills trainings and forums monthly, targeting 50 girls to strengthen the group to champion for other girls in the community/villages in Kisumu sub counties. Technical social and institutional: beneficiaries are equiped with market-driven skills and life/employability skills to become employed.