KCDF Empowers AJWS with Local Resource Mobilisation Skills
April 25, 2025
KCDF Newsletter, April 2025
May 9, 2025In February 2025, KCDF conducted a routine partner visit to The Youth Agenda—a youth-led organisation at the forefront of civic engagement and policy advocacy in Nairobi, Kenya. This visit provided a comprehensive snapshot of the progress made under the “Towards Open Contracting” programme, funded by KCDF and Wilde Ganzen through the Giving for Change Programme.
The visit affirmed the effectiveness of the programme’s implementation and highlighted the power of strategic partnerships in enabling youth-led institutions to drive sustainable impact across communities.
Below are some remarkable achievements that Youth Agenda highlighted thanks to their partnership with KCDF and Wilde Ganzen.
- Driving Government Transparency and Youth Inclusion
The Towards Open Contracting initiative is now in its third quarter of implementation and continues to champion accountability and transparency in government procurement. Its special focus is ensuring access for AGPO-registered groups—youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
At the national level, the Youth Agenda has contributed significantly to developing a new Open Government Partnership (OGP) Action Plan, led by the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
The plan prioritises:
- Access to information,
- Public Participation, Legislative and Fiscal Openness,
- Open Contracting, under which the government has rolled out the E-Government Procurement System, a platform that enables real-time procurement process tracking, improves access, availability, and use of up-to-date accurate procurement data, including a feature that sends tender alerts to AGPO members.
The organisation has played a pivotal role at the county level in the Nairobi County OGP Action Plan, launched in March 2025. This milestone directly results from Youth Agenda’s strong collaboration with the Nairobi County procurement department, showcasing their ability to influence governance structures. The Action Plan outlines four commitments, namely:
- Open Contracting to reform public procurement processes by increasing transparency and accountability.
- Open Data for Integrated Nairobi City County Development; to develop a comprehensive and accessible database to guide developmental efforts across the county.
- Public Participation and Civic Engagement to enhance public engagement in policy formulation. It also promotes civic education to ensure citizens are informed and involved in governance.
- Building Open Government Resilience by ensuring the sustainability of open government efforts across different political administrations is a key aspect of the action plan.
To enhance citizen-driven demand for transparency and accountability in public procurement, 645 Youths have been sensitised about Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO), and 23 Youth-Led Organisations Have Been equipped with knowledge in Open Contracting programming and advocacy.
- Meaningful Engagement Through Dialogue and Data
One of the most impactful initiatives highlighted during the visit was the “Bonga Nasi” youth-government dialogue, which attracted over 180 youth participants, 14 Members of the County Assembly and six county government officials.
This dialogue provided a rare but vital opportunity for youth to directly address issues such as unemployment, climate change, and youth representation in policymaking.
The event illustrated a growing culture of participatory governance and was lauded by KCDF as a model for future civic engagement efforts.
Meanwhile, Youth Agenda’s leadership in shaping the National Youth Policy continues to progress. The draft Nairobi County Youth Policy, enriched with input from members of the Community of Practice (CoP), is ready for public validation. The organisation is also actively contributing to the review of a newly proposed Youth Bill, advocating for inclusive frameworks that respect and empower youth-led organisations.
Additionally, the Youth Agenda is pioneering the development of a Youth Development Index (YDI), with the support of Wilde Ganzen. This innovative tool will assess county performance in skills development, youth employment and civic engagement.
The partnership between KCDF, Wilde Ganzen and Youth Agenda has created a solid foundation for continued progress, demonstrating that youth-led organisations can reshape governance narratives and inspire civic renewal when resourced, mentored, and trusted.
#GivingforChange #Advocacy #YouthEmpowerment #NairobiCounty #YouthAgenda
