The International Labour Organization (ILO), supported by the Government of the Netherlands under the PROSPECTS Partnership, has launched a digital skills and employment programme in Kenya with Power Learn Project Africa, Microsoft and the Turkana County Government, targeting refugee and host community youth in Turkana and Garissa counties.
The programme was launched on 1 July 2026 in Kakuma, Turkana County, according to a joint press release by the partners. It aims to equip participants with digital skills, professional certifications and transition support into employment, entrepreneurship and remote work opportunities.
Under a 25-week blended learning model, the initiative will reach 1,700 learners across Turkana and Garissa. Training will be delivered by Power Learn Project in partnership with local digital hubs, community-based organisations, refugee-led organisations and local implementation partners, the statement said. The programme will also provide up to 1,000 Microsoft certification vouchers to enable participants to earn globally recognised credentials.
The launch comes as stakeholders push to broaden access to digital skills beyond major urban centres, amid rising demand for job-ready talent in technology and digitally enabled roles. The press release cited projections that Kenya’s digital economy will contribute KES 662.3 billion (US$5.1 billion) to GDP by 2028, while noting that skills mismatches remain a barrier to inclusive growth.
In the statement, the partners also linked the programme to wider labour market challenges. “Each year, more than one million young people enter the labour market with the potential to fill these gaps,” the press release said, adding that without formal skills, participation in the digital economy is limited and that “more than two thirds of Kenyan youth remain unemployed.” The release did not cite a specific source for the unemployment estimate.
Caroline Khamati Mugalla, Director, ILO Country Office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, said digital transformation is changing labour markets rapidly and could deepen exclusion in refugee-hosting communities if access to skills is not expanded. “The ILO is committed to ensuring that technological change advances decent work, rights at work, and inclusive labour market participation,” Mugalla said. She added that investing in “market-relevant, internationally recognised digital skills for these communities is a sound labour market investment.”
The curriculum is structured in two tracks, according to the press release. An intermediate track focuses on foundational digital and workplace skills, while an advanced track supports specialisation in areas including cloud computing, artificial intelligence and data analytics aligned to Microsoft certification pathways.
Winnie Karanu, AI Skills Director, Microsoft Elevate, said the partnership is intended to link training to recognised credentials and employment outcomes. “Digital skills are the foundation for inclusive growth, but access remains uneven, particularly in underserved communities,” Karanu said, adding that the initiative aims to connect learners “not just to training, but to globally recognised certification and real pathways into employment.”
Mumbi Ndung’u, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Power Learn Project Africa, said the programme is designed to extend access to digital opportunity for refugee and host community youth. “This partnership speaks directly to our mission,” Ndung’u said, adding that it is aimed at ensuring Kenya’s digital transformation is “inclusive by design.”
Beyond training, the partners said employment transition is a core outcome. Graduates will receive career readiness support and linkages to employers and other opportunities facilitated by Power Learn Project and its partners, according to the statement.
For Kenya’s business landscape, the initiative underscores growing interest in county-based digital talent pipelines, particularly in regions that have limited access to training infrastructure. If implemented at scale, such programmes could support local innovation ecosystems, expand the pool of entry-level digital workers and improve employability for communities around major refugee settlements.
The partners did not disclose the programme budget or timelines for certification issuance and placement outcomes. They said implementation will be delivered through a network of local hubs and organisations, with training and transition support continuing through the programme cycle.