Green Finance for Youth Employment (GFYE) Project

About this project

While the Kenyan economy has grown at a steady pace over the past few decades, youth unemployment remains a persistent challenge. According to the 2019 National Census, approximately 75% of Kenyans are under the age of 35. Among youth aged 18 to 34, the unemployment rate stands at 39%, compared to 10% in the general population. Notably, 80% of all unemployed individuals in Kenya are under 35. Young women face even steeper barriers, with an unemployment rate of 50%, compared to 30% among young men. Additionally, youth aged 18–25 experience the lowest levels of financial inclusion in the country, and rural-to-urban migration among young people is on the rise. To absorb this growing “youth bulge,” Kenya must create an estimated 900,000 new jobs annually. However, the potential demographic dividend remains largely untapped. These challenges are compounded by the growing impacts of climate change, which are disproportionately affecting the agriculture sector—Kenya’s largest employer, supporting over 70% of the workforce. Climate-related hazards such as floods and droughts are projected to increase in frequency and intensity. Rising temperatures are expected to persist in the coming decades, further threatening rural livelihoods, reducing income-generating opportunities, and undermining the capacity of rural populations to repay loans—particularly those tied to agricultural activities. The green economy offers a promising, yet underutilized, solution to address youth unemployment.…

Published by

Cordaid · International NGO

Countries

Kenya

Sectors

Agricultural developmentAgricultural education/trainingAgricultural financial services

Funded by

International Fund for Agricultural Development

Implemented by

Cordaid Kenya

Accountable

Cordaid Global Office

Published by Cordaid to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), last updated 18 Aug 2026 and imported automatically. IATI identifier: NL-KVK-41160054-201437.

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