NAIROBI, Kenya — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced plans to roll out 500 job placements for young Kenyans under a new initiative designed to address youth unemployment and strengthen links between graduates and the private sector.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, UNDP Kenya Resident Representative Dr Jean-Luc Stalon said the organisation is finalising preparations for a digital platform that will facilitate the recruitment and placement of graduates into participating companies.
The programme, dubbed NextGen, is expected to begin within the next two months, starting with a pilot phase targeting at least 500 placements.
“We are finalising the work on this platform. I believe that in about two months we will be ready to start, at least on the 500 pilot placement,” Stalon said.
According to the UNDP official, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by connecting graduates with firms willing to provide practical workplace experience and mentorship.
Under the programme, graduates will submit applications through a dedicated online platform. Successful candidates will then be selected on merit and matched with participating companies through a placement system being developed in partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).
The selected graduates will undertake one-year placements and receive monthly stipends ranging between Sh20,000 and Sh25,000 during the programme.
Stalon said the stipend model is intended to encourage companies to absorb young professionals while giving graduates an opportunity to acquire hands-on skills, workplace exposure, and experience that can improve their long-term employability.
The programme will be open to participants across different sectors of the economy, with organisers seeking to ensure gender balance and equitable representation of graduates from both urban and rural areas.
Stalon revealed that several chief executives from leading companies have already expressed interest in supporting the initiative by providing placement opportunities within their organisations.
The announcement comes at a time when youth unemployment remains one of Kenya’s most pressing socio-economic challenges despite growing numbers of graduates entering the labour market each year.
According to UNDP, many young people continue to struggle to secure formal employment due to limited work experience and a mismatch between academic qualifications and labour market demands.
Stalon noted that Kenya generated approximately 822,000 jobs last year, but observed that most of those opportunities were created within the informal sector.
He said there is an urgent need for programmes that expand access to formal employment opportunities and enable young people to contribute more effectively to national development.
The NextGen initiative forms part of broader efforts by UNDP and its partners to support youth empowerment, skills development and economic inclusion. By creating pathways from education to employment, the programme is expected to help graduates gain practical experience while addressing employers’ demand for job-ready talent.
As preparations continue, UNDP says the recruitment platform and application process will be unveiled ahead of the programme’s official launch in the coming months.