Expanding Economic Opportunities for Rural Women and Youth Through Digital Skills

Across rural villages in Kisumu County, a quiet digital revolution is taking shape. Young people who once viewed technology as a distant opportunity are now harnessing digital skills to build businesses, create jobs, champion safer online spaces and transform their communities. Through the Digital  Platforms Kenya  programme (DigiKen), youth are proving that access to digital knowledge can unlock economic opportunity regardless of where one lives.

Kenya's digital economy continues to expand rapidly, but many young women and men in rural areas remain excluded by limited access to digital skills, infrastructure, technology and innovation ecosystems. Bridging this gap, UN Women Kenya, through the DigiKen programme, is working with innovation hubs across the country to equip young people with practical digital competencies, entrepreneurship skills, online safety knowledge and leadership training. 

In Kisumu County, Wise Hub is among the innovation hubs implementing the programme, helping youth navigate the fast-changing digital landscape while creating pathways to employment and enterprise.

For James Akello, a statistician, entrepreneur and environmental mentor from Kisumu West, joining DigiKen became an opportunity to prepare for a future where digital skills are no longer optional.

"I joined because it was a free platform where I could learn at my own pace and earn a certificate that could open up job opportunities while helping me gain practical skills," he says.

The training introduced him to online safety, digital marketing, artificial intelligence and content creation, skills he now applies in his entrepreneurial ventures.

"The world is becoming increasingly digital. Learning how to use AI to market my business and create content is something new that has been extremely helpful," says Akello.

Beyond business growth, he says the programme has changed how he approaches the internet.

"I now understand cyberbullying, phishing and online scams. More importantly, I know how to protect myself and use digital platforms responsibly."

Akello believes the online safety component is particularly timely as more Kenyans embrace digital platforms.

"The training helps young people understand what is appropriate to post online, what their rights are and how to respond when they encounter harmful online behaviour. Those are skills every young person needs today," he says.

His advice to fellow youth is simple: seize the opportunity.

"This platform is free. All you need is internet access. Instead of spending all your time scrolling through social media, invest some of that time in gaining skills that can help you secure employment or grow your business."

The programme has also transformed the work of Lucy Otieno, Director of Tujiunge na Tujijenge Youth Organization, a community initiative supporting teenage mothers through agriculture in Kisumu West.

As a social worker, Otieno wanted to empower vulnerable young mothers to earn a living while caring for their children. When she discovered DigiKen, she not only enrolled but also mobilized more than 100 young people to join the training.

"I realised that digital skills make work much easier. We used to do everything manually, but now we can work from anywhere using digital tools," she says.

The impact has been immediate.

Her youth group, which grows tomatoes as an agribusiness venture, has shifted from handwritten record-keeping to digital spreadsheets.

"We no longer record everything in books. I now use spreadsheets on my phone to track our records. Even creating documents has become easy. I only go to a cybercafé to print."

Perhaps the biggest transformation has been in how the group markets its produce.

"Before, we had to go physically to the market. Today we market our products online, connect directly with customers and save both time and transport costs," she explains.

Otieno believes digital platforms will help expand the group's business far beyond Kisumu.

"My dream is that in the next five years our organisation will have its own office, a wider market and greater visibility. The digital skills we have gained will help us reach more customers and increase our sales."

She encourages young people not to wait for opportunities to find them.

"DigiKen is self-paced, free and accessible. You do not need to pay for expensive Information and communications technology courses. As long as you have internet, you can learn valuable skills that can change your future."

The stories of Akello and Otieno reflect the broader impact of DigiKen, jointly implemented by UN Women, UNEP, UNESCO and UNCDF. The programme  also is strengthening Kenya's digital ecosystem by ensuring young women and men and Persons with Disabilities are not left behind. 

Through partnerships with innovation hubs such as Wise Hub and implementation support from the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), UN Women is expanding access to digital skills, entrepreneurship training, online safety awareness and innovation. By investing in community-based digital learning, the programme is empowering a new generation of rural innovators who are using technology not only to improve their own livelihoods but also to drive inclusive and sustainable development within their communities.