Youth Employment And Social Protection Linkages Training Course

Introduction

Addressing the pressing challenge of Youth Unemployment requires comprehensive and integrated strategies that extend beyond traditional interventions, crucially incorporating robust Social Protection Linkages to facilitate a smoother and more secure transition from education to decent work. This essential training course is meticulously designed to equip policymakers, youth development specialists, labor market experts, and social protection practitioners with the specialized knowledge and practical skills required to design and implement programs that bridge these critical sectors. Participants will gain a robust understanding of active labor market policies, cash transfers for youth, skills development, entrepreneurship support, and digital solutions, enabling them to create holistic pathways that empower young people for productive and fulfilling livelihoods. Our comprehensive curriculum emphasizes hands-on application, best practices, and real-world case studies pertinent to the dynamic youth demographic and employment landscape in Nairobi, Kenya, and across the African continent, empowering you to unlock the potential of the youth bulge.

This youth empowerment social protection course is crucial for individuals and organizations in Kenya and across Africa striving to capitalize on the demographic dividend, reduce youth vulnerability, and foster inclusive economic growth. Mastering youth-focused social safety nets, implementing integrated employment and social protection programs, and understanding strategies for youth transition to decent work are indispensable for addressing issues like skill mismatches, precarious employment, and lack of access to opportunities. This program offers an unparalleled opportunity to elevate your expertise in youth development strategies and innovative social protection solutions for young people, positioning your organization at the forefront of building a resilient, skilled, and engaged youth workforce and driving significant human development across the region.

Target Audience

• Youth Development Program Managers
• Social Protection Policy Makers
• Labor Market Specialists
• Vocational Training & Education Professionals
• Government Officials (Youth Affairs, Labor, Social Protection)
• NGO and UN Agency Program Staff
• Researchers in Youth & Development Studies

Course Objectives

• Understand the dynamics of youth unemployment and underemployment in developing contexts.
• Learn the conceptual framework for linking social protection with youth employment initiatives.
• Master various social protection instruments relevant to facilitating youth transitions.
• Develop proficiency in designing active labor market policies (ALMPs) with a youth focus.
• Explore strategies for integrating skills development and vocational training with social protection.
• Understand how to leverage cash transfers to support youth education, training, and job search.
• Learn to promote youth entrepreneurship and self-employment through integrated programs.
• Identify barriers to decent work for young people and how social protection can mitigate them.
• Develop effective coordination mechanisms between social protection, education, and labor sectors.
• Understand the role of digital solutions in connecting youth to opportunities and social support.
• Explore data collection and monitoring strategies for youth employment and social protection outcomes.
• Drive enhanced youth employability, reduced vulnerability, and smoother transitions to decent work.
• Position yourself as a leader in designing and implementing comprehensive youth empowerment programs.

Duration

5 Days

Course Content

Module 1: Understanding Youth Unemployment & Vulnerabilities

• Defining youth unemployment, underemployment, and NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training)
• Key drivers of youth unemployment in Kenya and similar contexts (skill mismatch, informal sector, lack of opportunities)
• Specific vulnerabilities of young people (e.g., gender, disability, rural-urban divide, precarious work)
• The economic and social costs of youth unemployment
• Overview of existing youth employment initiatives and social protection gaps

Module 2: The Social Protection - Youth Employment Nexus

• Conceptual framework for linking social protection with youth employment outcomes
• How social protection can mitigate risks during youth transitions
• Social protection as an investment in human capital for young people
• Pathways from social transfers to enhanced employability and decent work
• Global evidence and case studies of successful linkages

Module 3: Social Protection Instruments for Youth

• Cash transfers for youth: supporting education, training, job search, and basic needs
• Public works programs: providing temporary employment and skills development
• Unemployment benefits and social insurance for young formal sector workers
• Disability benefits for young persons with disabilities to access vocational training
• Child benefits and their role in improving youth human capital formation

Module 4: Active Labor Market Policies (ALMPs) for Youth

• Overview of ALMPs: employment services, training, wage subsidies, entrepreneurship support
• Designing youth-focused ALMPs tailored to different segments of young people
• Integrating ALMPs with social protection delivery mechanisms
• Bridging the gap between education systems and labor market demands
• The role of internships, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs

Module 5: Skills Development, Education & Entrepreneurship Support

• Identifying in-demand skills for current and future labor markets
• Linking social protection beneficiaries to vocational training and technical education
• Supporting youth entrepreneurship: business training, access to finance, incubation
• Promoting digital literacy and 21st-century skills among young people
• Creating an enabling environment for youth start-ups

Module 6: Digital Solutions and Innovation in Youth Employment

• Leveraging digital platforms for job matching and employment services
• Online learning platforms for skills acquisition and certification
• Mobile money for flexible social protection payments and financial literacy
• Digital mentorship and peer support networks for young entrepreneurs
• Data analytics for identifying youth employment trends and program effectiveness

Module 7: Coordination, Policy & Future Directions

• Multi-sectoral coordination: ministries of youth, labor, social protection, education
• Developing integrated national youth employment and social protection strategies
• Legal and policy reforms to support youth transitions to decent work
• Financing integrated programs for youth empowerment
• Lessons learned from youth employment and social protection interventions in Kenya and Africa

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre.

We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.