AYT has initiated an intervention with the support of USAID through PACT-Kenya, to ensure that the youth are actively involved in the reform process in Kenya. The project, known as Making Agenda Four A Reality for Kenyan Youth (MA4ARKY) is useful in addressing the problem of unemployment since it will ensure that a key stakeholders (i.e. the youth) are involved in the process of reform, it will further ensure that information is constantly availed to the stakeholders for informed advocacy.

The Goal of the project is to attain a just and equitable society through the full participation of the youth in Kenya’s reform and development processes. The project will be implemented with a Purpose to entrench youth participation and engagement in the implementation of the youth-focused reform agenda on employment as outlined in Agenda 4 of the National Accord and Reconciliation Agreement (NARA) through advocacy.

The Specific Objectives is to get a Comprehensive information on the quantity and quality of jobs generated for the youth per year in Kenya from 2008 to 2010 collated, analyzed and presented and Youth advocacy for reforms to address unemployment as provided in Agenda 4 of the National Accord and Reconciliation Agreement NARA increased.

In order to achieve an increased youth engagement in the reform process and Kenya’s economic development, AYT will work with the youth in tracking the effective implementation of youth specific reforms as captured on the issues of unemployment especially among the youth on Agenda 4 of the national accord. AYT will seek to empower the Kenyan youth to contribute to and benefit equally from Kenya’s reform agenda.

This result will be achieved by strengthening youth specific institutions and strengthening of youth capacities to engage in Kenya’s reforms as well as increase youth responsive laws, policies and programming for meaningful youth engagement by the Government of Kenya.

The project will also focus on ensuring that an effective National Youth Council is established since it is envisaged to be a voice and a bridge through which the government and other policy makers will remain informed of the views and aspirations of the youth.

The activities shall be aimed at addressing different targets under the unemployment issue on Agenda 4 of NARA. Activities that will aid AYT in achieving the specific objectives of the project will run for one year starting February 2011.

The activities include a background data collection and literature review, tracking of reforms aimed at increasing youth employability, holding of 16 community assessment forums with specifically targeted groups, holding of advocacy meetings and activities, training and capacity strengthening for the youth and media and advocacy.

The specific targets under the unemployment issue in Agenda 4 of NARA are as follows:

• Generation of an average of 740,000 new jobs each year from 2008-2012
• Revitalization and expansion of youth polytechnics in all districts to facilitate the training of young people in technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial skills to equip them with relevant skills to participate fully in productive activities
• Rehabilitation or establishment of Youth Empowerment Centres in all constituencies
• Development and enactment of a National Youth Council Bill
• Establishment of Youth Enterprise and Employment Programme to promote SMEs and self- employment among the youth
• Increasing Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the establishment of mechanisms for easy access to credit and collateral