There is a need to involve youth in the development of education policy reforms aimed at addressing unemployment in the country. This need is even more urgent as the country’s population continues to grow annually, a situation that should be viewed as a demographic dividend.

Dr. Anthony Mveyange, Program Director at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), stated that Kenya and Africa as a whole cannot develop policies affecting young people without their active participation in the process.

“The reality Africa is facing right now is that the demographic dividend is a reality, and I implore our policymakers to appreciate that reality. Africa is currently home to approximately 1.5 billion people, 70 percent of whom are young, with 60 percent unemployed,” Dr Mveyange said.

“There is no way to create policies on this continent without considering young people. For whom are these policies being made if 70 percent of your population is young, and those policies will directly affect them?” He posed.

Dr Mveyange also pointed out that young people often feel excluded from decision-making, as ministries responsible for youth affairs are typically led by older individuals.

These points were discussed during the panel on the first day of the three-day Kenya Population and Development Conference, which started on Tuesday at the University of Nairobi. The theme of the conference was Navigating the Future: Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development in Kenya. The conference provided an opportunity for policymakers, program implementers, academia, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss contemporary population issues.

Dr Mohamed Sheikh, Director General of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), noted that the insights and resolutions from the conference are expected to influence the upcoming 58th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) conference, scheduled for April.

A demographic dividend refers to the economic growth potential that can arise from shifts in a population’s age structure, especially when a larger share of the population is of working age compared to those who are not.

In Kenya, however, the majority of the working population is not yet youth, according to a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The report projects that Kenya’s population will grow from 47.6 million in 2019 to 53.3 million this year, 57.8 million by 2030, and 82.8 million by 2050, with 70 percent of the population under 35 years of age.

The government has also been criticized for rolling out education policy reforms that are not evidence-based, often arising from political declarations rather than research. This has been attributed to a lack of collaboration between researchers and policymakers in formulating effective policy reforms.

“Researchers often focus more on the theoretical side of the equation, which doesn’t necessarily respond to the practical challenges policymakers face. One way to address this is to engage policymakers in a co-creation process, in an inclusive way,” Dr Mveyange said.

He added that three factors are key to achieving strong human capital: knowledge, skills, and good health.

Dr Sheikh mentioned that the NCPD is planning to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in population and development, which will serve as a critical platform for leveraging innovations, research, knowledge-sharing, and showcasing best practices.

“The CoE will harness digital technologies and the creative economy to address population challenges, promote inclusive development, and drive economic growth. It will also provide an avenue to share the NCPD’s achievements with other developing countries in population and development, showcasing successful experiences,” Dr Sheikh explained.

For Kenya to benefit from a demographic dividend, it is necessary to address the skills mismatch in educational institutions. This involves not only focusing on theory but also integrating practical learning into university curriculums to equip graduates with soft skills and prepare them for the evolving job market. Foreign employers are seeking youth with practical skills, which many job seekers lack.

“There is definitely a skills mismatch, but we need a deeper investment and a turnaround to align what our institutions offer with the demands of the industry,” said Adan Mohamed, Director of Research, Capacity, and Data Management at the National Employment Authority (NEA).

He continued, “We need to assess the industry’s demands and the emerging labor markets and adjust our programs and curriculums to match what jobs are currently in demand. For example, many current jobs are in digital fields and require specific skills.”

Unlike universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions emphasize practical skills, giving them an advantage in job absorption.

“There is a need to bridge the gap between the skills provided by training institutions and what the industry requires. These are part of the reforms in the TVET space that have been ongoing since the 2014 TVET Act was introduced,” said Michael Ambuli, Assistant Director of Research and Development at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) Kenya.

He added, “We have been working closely with industries to understand their needs before designing curriculums, ensuring that our training remains relevant to the industry’s requirements.”

Boaz Munga, a policy analyst at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), stated that Kenya has failed to invest adequately in early childhood development, which has now become a devolved function managed by counties.

“The early years are crucial for education. One area that needs more focus is addressing malnutrition, which leads to poor cognitive abilities later in life, affecting productivity,” he said during a virtual presentation.

Dr Mveyange emphasized that Kenyans and Africans with knowledge need 21st-century skills, including critical thinking.

Dr Sheikh concluded that the NCPD has developed four sessional policies on population, including the 1984 Sessional Paper No. 4 on Population Policy Guidelines, the 1994 National Population Policy for Sustainable Development, the 2012 Sessional Paper No. 3 on Population Policy for National Development, and the 2023 Sessional Paper No. 1 on the Kenya Population Policy for Sustainable Development.