This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
On July 10, 2019, the Kenyan government, in partnership with the World Bank, launched the MbeleNaBiz Business Plan Competition to address the challenge of youth unemployment in the country.
The competition aims to support young entrepreneurs by providing grants of either Sh900,000 or Sh3,600,000 to 750 successful applicants.
Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Peter Munya, said the competition will contribute to the development of an inclusive economy that provides opportunities for as many Kenyans as possible.
The MbeleNaBiz Business Plan Competition is an initiative of the Government of Kenya under the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP), which is supported by the World Bank.
Young people are a vital driver of Kenya's economy, and the competition aims to support them in creating and growing their businesses, which will further create jobs for other youth, according to Dr. Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Country Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda.
Applications to the competition will be subject to screening and will be evaluated based on the potential impact, viability, and sustainability of the proposed business idea, particularly in terms of potential for job creation among youth.
The application portal opened on June 24, 2019, and will continue receiving applications until September 2, 2019.
