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Ongoing Implementation report

Youth Productivity Network

Enterprise Skills and Business Mentorship

Practical business coaching that helps young entrepreneurs understand their numbers, serve customers, and make stronger day-to-day decisions.

Period
March 2023 – ongoing
Location
Busia County · Kakamega County
A retailer presenting a handbag beside her shop display.

Progress at a glance

160 youth-owned enterprises enrolled
120 enterprises using regular sales and expense records
47 additional paid work opportunities reported

Intervention overview

The case for this work

01

Context

Many young people begin trading or service businesses with strong initiative but limited access to reliable business guidance. Weak records, uncertain pricing, inconsistent stock management, and separation of household and business money can prevent promising enterprises from stabilising.

02

Our response

The intervention combines short practical workshops with repeated one-to-one business visits. Participants apply simple tools to their own enterprises, review progress with a mentor, and meet peers and market actors who can help them improve products, purchasing, and customer relationships.

Beneficiaries

Who the intervention serves

Young people running early-stage and informal enterprises

Objectives

  1. 01

    Improve basic financial, stock, pricing, and customer-management practices.

  2. 02

    Increase the stability and decision-making confidence of youth-owned enterprises.

  3. 03

    Connect participants to responsible market, registration, and financial-service referrals.

Delivery

Activities and implementation

  • Enterprise diagnostic and individual improvement plan
  • Practical record-keeping, costing, and pricing workshops
  • Monthly on-site business mentoring
  • Peer enterprise review sessions
  • Market, registration, and finance referral clinics
01

Mar–Dec 2023

Pilot enterprise cohort

The first cohort completed diagnostics, core business sessions, and six months of mentoring.

02

2024–2025

Cohort expansion

Delivery expanded through local mentor visits and stronger peer-learning groups.

03

2026

Market linkage and consolidation

Current work focuses on buyer relationships, participant graduation, and longer-term business tracking.

Measurement

Results and targets

Result Indicator Baseline Target Verification
Participants use reliable business records. Enterprises with current weekly sales and expense records 18% 75% Mentor-verified record books or digital records
Enterprises improve operating stability. Enterprises trading continuously for twelve months after enrolment 52% 78% Follow-up visits and participant business records
Supported enterprises contribute to local work opportunities. New paid full-time or part-time roles reported and verified 0 60 Enterprise visits and worker confirmation

Inclusion and safeguarding

Participation by design

  • At least half of each cohort is reserved for enterprises led by young women.
  • Mentoring schedules and tools accommodate care responsibilities, varying literacy levels, and disability-related access needs.

Risk management

Risks addressed in delivery

Training is mistaken for a promise of grants or loans
Explain the offer during recruitment and document any external finance referral separately.
Participants share incomplete or inconsistent business records
Use simple tools, confidential mentor review, and multiple data sources rather than one self-reported figure.

Sustainability

What continues beyond delivery

  • Graduate experienced participants into a peer-mentor and supplier-referral network.
  • Leave enterprises with low-cost record and planning tools they can continue without AYCP facilitation.
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Build practical opportunities with young people

AYCP works with institutions, community actors, and aligned partners who can strengthen programme learning, reach, and long-term value.

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