Article supplied by ADEC Innovations
Kenya’s youthful population, with over 75% of citizens under the age of 35¹ represents immense potential for economic growth and innovation. However, many young Kenyans struggle to find stable employment opportunities. Impact sourcing – a workforce model that brings employment to underserved communities, and offered by purpose-driven outsourcing and global BPO providers, like ADEC Innovations – offers a transformative solution for youth unemployment.
Despite being eager to work and contribute, young Kenyans (18-35 year olds) experience the highest unemployment rate of any demographic and, with limited access to the formal economy, can become reliant on the State, family members or other sources of support. When we invested in our BPO delivery centre in Kenya some ten years ago, we did so with the intention of making a meaningful contribution to job creation and youth upliftment through Impact Sourcing.
We positioned this centre, our Impact Sourcing Hub – so named because of its strong Impact Sourcing proposition – just outside Nairobi for better access to a youth talent pool which might otherwise go overlooked. As of 2024, we’re happy to report that youth workers² (18-32 years old) represent 83% of our workforce at this Hub.
Let’s unpack some of the benefits Impact Sourcing is bringing these young workers:
Youth Unemployment Challenges in Kenya
Impact Sourcing creates structured, meaningful work opportunities that fosters financial independence.
The formal job market in Kenya struggles to keep pace with the growing influx of job seekers. A mismatch between educational preparation and market demands further compounds the problem, leaving many young people without the necessary skills for available roles. Limited access to formal employment thus drives many youth into Kenya’s vast informal economy, where they work in casual, short-term, low-wage jobs that provide immediate income but little stability or opportunity for growth or advancement.
We’re helping address the Kenya youth unemployment crisis by:
- Purposefully positioning our Impact Sourcing Hub in an economically disadvantaged, peri-urban area of Nairobi to bring jobs closer to potential Impact workers (traditionally, these areas have fewer office-based employment opportunities)
- Creating permanent employment opportunities with decent remuneration
- Actively recruiting recent college graduates.
The Informal vs. Formal Economy: Why Formal Employment Is Essential
Kenya’s informal sector employs about 83.5% of the country’s workforce , primarily through small trade, agriculture, and other casual labour. While the informal economy can provide short-term income, it often lacks benefits, protections, and pathways to advancement that formal employment offers. For young people, formal employment provides not only financial security but also professional growth opportunities, skills development, and access to structured work environments that are critical for career progression. Impact Sourcing bridges the gap, bringing stable jobs to Kenya’s young workforce and empowering them with the resources they need to thrive, professionally and personally.
We’re playing our part in upskilling and facilitating opportunities by…
- Providing on-the-job skills development to address skills gaps
- Recruiting from within the local team for senior and team leadership roles
- Helping Impact workers access benefits like transport and healthcare.
How Impact Sourcing Creates Financial Independence and Stability
Impact Sourcing is a business practice where organisations intentionally hire and develop talent from marginalised communities – often in areas of high unemployment – creating meaningful roles in fields like customer service, data management, and IT support. Such jobs offer young Kenyans a steady income, job stability, and financial independence, which are crucial to building self-reliance and personal agency. For many, this steady income allows them to support their families, save for future goals, and invest in their education and personal development.
Merci’s story is a testament to how Impact Sourcing provides not just a job, but a means for individuals to break free from instability and insecurity, and build sustainable, stable lives. She tells how she secured a job at our Impact Sourcing Hub straight from college – and how getting the opportunity has relieved the immense pressure on her, the eldest child who is expected to support her parents and her siblings:
“I applied for the job, and I got it! It has changed my life. I had so much on my shoulders. Now, I can make decisions, I can plan. I can pay school fees. I can live in on my own, in my own house; and not with my parents.”
Removing Barriers to Employment and Developing In-Demand Skills
Impact sourcing allows us to break down barriers to formal employment by providing comprehensive training and skills-building programs. By focusing on skills that are in high demand – such as digital literacy, customer service expertise, and IT support – we enable young people to build their competencies and confidence. This approach equips young Kenyans with abilities that align with the needs of global markets. Through on-the-job mentorship and career development opportunities, Impact Sourcing helps young people establish long-term careers and integrate successfully into the formal economy.
We’re tackling skills gaps by…
- Providing on-going training in hard skills such as digital literacy
- Developing soft skills such as office etiquette
- Coaching life skills such as financial literacy.
Nurturing a New Generation of Leaders and Role Models
Beyond providing financial security and job skills, Impact Sourcing empowers young people to become role models within their communities. With their new skills and stable employment, young professionals serve as examples of success, inspiring others to seek out similar opportunities. The positive influence they bring to their families and communities creates a ripple effect, showing others that long-term, formal employment is achievable. This shift in perspective fosters hope and ambition, reinforcing the value of education, skills training, and career goals.
We’re facilitating self-empowerment and a spirit of togetherness through:
- Fielding a soccer team in the local leagues
- Community outreach and engagement activities
- Team building and social outings.
Developing A High-Quality, Socially Responsible Workforce
For businesses looking to balance operational excellence with social responsibility, Impact Sourcing offers a way to meet both objectives effectively.
When companies engage in Impact Sourcing, they support corporate responsibility initiatives and align with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, boosting their brand’s social impact. And they benefit from access to talent at lower costs. But clients also find that Impact Sourcing teams bring a unique resilience to their work. This motivation and dedication translates into longer tenure and lower attrition. Clients are assured of reliability, high quality outcomes, and top-notch service – all while making a positive social impact and helping Impact workers become self-reliant.
“Absolutely excellent job, Team Kenya!”
-Operations Senior Manager, Global Financial Institution
About ADEC Innovations
ADEC is a recognized Impact Sourcing specialist, listed among Impact Sourcing Specialists in Impact Sourcing State of the Market Report 2024 , Everest Group, 2024
As an established service provider in the Impact Sourcing space, we support the Everest Group and Clinton Global Initiative’s vision to scale Impact Sourcing to one million jobs by 2030.
We provide high quality BPO, CX, and outsourced GBS solutions. Learn more about our outsourcing and Impact Sourcing solutions or contact us to find out more.
Sources:
¹ Youth Bulge in Kenya: A Blessing or a Curse, Kenya National Council for Population and Development, Policy Brief No.56, June 2017
² ADEC Innovations
³ Informal sector employment in Kenya 2023, by activity, Natalie Cowling, Statista, 2024
