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In the face of growing youth unemployment across the continent, Africa’s future depends on innovative, youth-driven solutions that create decent, meaningful work. The African YMCA movement, through its alignment with the Global YMCA’s Vision 2030, is rising to meet this challenge—most recently through strategic collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO).
The ILO, a specialized UN agency dedicated to promoting social justice and labor rights, continues to drive global initiatives focused on job creation, social protection, and workplace equity. A key area of focus for the ILO is supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)—which play a vital role in local economies, particularly when led by young entrepreneurs.
Strengthening Youth Entrepreneurship through SIYB
At the heart of this partnership is the ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Programme—one of the world’s largest business management training initiatives. SIYB supports both aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to start, manage, and scale sustainable enterprises. The programme’s dual focus includes:
Empowering Local Business Development Actors: Enabling public and private organizations to deliver SIYB-based training effectively.
Supporting MSMEs: Helping small businesses grow in viability and profitability, thereby creating more meaningful job opportunities.
These goals are tightly aligned with the YMCA Vision 2030 pillar of Meaningful Work, which seeks to ensure young people have access to dignified, fulfilling livelihoods.
African YMCA Engagement in Mombasa Training
In a significant step toward expanding this impact, a 10-day SIYB Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop was held from March 17–27, 2025, in Mombasa, Kenya, facilitated by ILO Master Trainers from ELIMU HUB. The workshop brought together participants from across sectors—including Osborne Wanyama, representing the African YMCA movement.
This TOT workshop marked a critical moment in enhancing the YMCA’s institutional capacity to deliver entrepreneurship training to youth across Africa. By equipping YMCA representatives with the SIYB methodology, the movement is positioning itself as a key player in grassroots economic transformation.
A Path Toward Sustainable Impact
This collaboration paves the way for further training of YMCA-based facilitators and Master Trainers, ensuring a multiplier effect as the knowledge is passed on to youth across YMCA member countries. With the YMCA's vast continental network, this initiative has the potential to reach thousands of young people—empowering them to build businesses, access new markets, and contribute to Africa’s broader development goals.
Advancing Vision 2030 through Youth-Led Innovation
Through strategic partnerships like this, the African YMCA continues to embody its commitment to Vision 2030, placing youth at the center of economic resilience and innovation. By embracing tools like the SIYB Programme, the movement is not just responding to unemployment—it is building ecosystems of opportunity where young people lead the way in job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth.
