Stephen Muchiri

Coordinating modernization of the public employment services through digitalization of National Employment Authority and training of employment services officers on employment services including digital jobs in Turkana, Garissa and Nairobi Counties focusing on refugee and host communities. Implementing Job Search Clubs for refugees and host communities providing peer to peer job search support to job seekers. Institutionalizing the job search clubs through Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Youth and National Youth council structures to support employment services in Kenya Coordinating partnerships for job intermediation services both locally and overseas to transition skilled youth to decent jobs, work-based learning and apprenticeship program, focusing on job placements, one-to-one mentorship program, and human skills development. Identify entry points for implementing market-driven digital skills training approaches and build partnerships with organizations working on digital jobs and skills to boost youth employment in the digital economy. Support evaluation of policies, digital labor market trends, and employment priorities in refugee hosting countries to inform and design project interventions. Developed a Community of Practice on digital Skills and Jobs in Kenya in collaboration with Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy, and Ministry of Labour and Social Protection focusing of lessons sharing, thematic and regulatory discussions and peer support of stakeholders to promote decent digital jobs. Supporting the development of a national career guidance manual, to support the implementation of the Career Guidance Policy and M&E framework in Kenya. Representing the ILO in forums related to the project, other related meetings with UN agencies and donors, field visits, and thematic donor meetings, as well as leveraging the ILO's leading role in the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth. Managing a budget of over $2.9M

Provides leadership and technical backstopping to a consortium of 5 partners in the implementation of job creation and skills development for unemployed youth focusing on green growth jobs. This includes; technical and vocational institutional partnerships and other training pathways to promote skills development for youth; managing the enterprise development and business incubation programs, youth business forums, private sector partnerships through trade and employers associations to link youth to jobs placements and apprenticeships; and linkages to Kenya Nordic Green Hub actors for green jobs skills and opportunities Coordinate 3 Technical Working Groups for drawing representative of Departments of Education, Youth Affairs, Trade, Agriculture, & Directorate of ICT and e-government of Nakuru, Nyandarua and West Pokot County Governments to drive skills development and job creation to present a blue print for job creation for youth in Kenya. Facilitated the signing of MoU for the project with Nakuru and Nyandarua Counties Governments. Led in Labor and Market Assessments (LMA) that identified priority sectors, sub-sectors and cross cutting skills with the potential of creating jobs now and in future. Led in developing online content on digital literacy, career guidance, life skills, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, work readiness and online job courses and uploaded them on the DCA e-learning platform (fabo.org). Also developed Chatbot content and e-mentorship platform that is currently at piloting stage. Lead in project design, proposal development, budget management, donor level reporting and related compliance. Lead in ensuring the M&E system and plans are properly in place and operational for the project. Directly supervise 3 technical staff and partners teams to deliver on the jobs creation for youth.

Designed and rolled out youth empowerment projects for DCA Kenya Country Office focusing on Turkana West (Kakuma and Kalobeyei) including designing and rolling out blended learning approach to business skills training, online business and digital job linkage social enterprises initiatives, the innovative DCA Enterprise Fund in Kakuma, and executive leadership and business training for young business leaders under World Economic Forum (WEF)/Young Global Leaders portfolio to promote start-ups and growth of youth-owned enterprises. Provide leadership in the design and implementation of all country program livelihoods efforts that enhance access to financial services and products directly implemented by DCA and by funded partners in Kakuma and Lodwar. Drove innovations in the sector of financial inclusion and cash-based interventions including saving groups (VSLAs), multipurpose cash transfer, revolving fund, innovation hub, and relevant digitization in refugee context. Managed four (4) innovative projects in the Livelihoods unit including the DCA Youth enterprise Fund – a revolving fund offering micro-credit to entrepreneurs in refugee and host communities, VSLA Simulation Game App project, Chatbot for enterprise development, and work readiness program for youth. Managed the DCA digital learning platform. Facilitate collaboration and cross-learning among staff & partners through information sharing using webinars and meetings, exposure visits including active partner engagements. Participated in and support the baseline data establishment, midterm review, and terminal evaluation for projects. Facilitate partnership building initiatives relevant to financial inclusion at the field level including the operational partnership with other operational I/NGOs, UN Agencies, Local Government Agencies, and the Private Sector. Represent DCA in coordination Groups and national and regional technical working groups like Kenya Cash Working Group (KCWG), Smart Community Coalition (SCC), and Regional Economic Inclusion Exchange working group.

Recruited and provided introduction sessions to apprenticeship clients and apprenticeship host employers, match apprentices to a potential employer, as well as providing job counseling sessions. Conducted outreaches to community organizations, private sector partners, and other stakeholders through community events, forums, workshops, and training to promote technical and vocational training and apprenticeship program to link youth to skills and on-the-job training opportunities Organized training on Enterprise Development and financial education as the main trainer/facilitator ensuring all beneficiaries (youth and women) receive training sessions. Guided the youth in business proposal development, reviews business proposals, and facilitates awarding of start-up and business growth grants to catalyze the start-up and growth of youth owned enterprises. Additionally, provided business coaching and mentorship for the youth in business to form VSLAs Supported the roll out of financial inclusion programming in Dadaab Refugee Complex. Coordinated closely with logistics, grants, and finance departments for payments, budget lines management, and updates ensuring compliance and quality of activities. Assisted in context and stakeholder mapping and analysis to contribute to the proposal development, and conceptual development of livelihood resource centers to promote the livelihoods vision of IRC. Coordinated targeting, data collection, data, and information management systems. Participated in developing case management platform on CommCare.

Profiled groups to be trained, organized for training venues, trained and produced training M&E reports. Effectively trained UWEZO fund beneficiaries on business plan development, table banking, procurement process (AGPO/YAGPO), financial management, and saving group formation. Helped 15 youths and women groups to successfully apply and secure business capital through the UWEZO Fund kitty through the development of a viable business plan that attracted 100% business capital financing.

Organized all business training and regional business pitching and competition events to support start-ups owned and operated by youth and women Conducted outreaches to community-based organizations for mobilization partnerships serving as the entry point to the community. Created partnership with 14 community center Diligently mobilized and equipped more than 500 youths and women with start-up formation, financial education, life skills, and ICT skills through training, facilitation, coaching, and mentoring. Devotedly conducted youth’s targeted investment and financial linkages, for the beneficiaries, to microfinance and other business funding plans (e.g. KIVA Zip).