The Youth Agenda

What The Youth Agenda does

The Youth Agenda (YAA) is a Kenyan non-governmental organization established in 1996 that advances youth inclusion in governance, economic opportunity, and civic participation. Its work is structured around three core pillars: Youth Economic Empowerment, Youth Participation/Engagement/Representation, and Strengthened Youth-Led Organizations (YLOs). Signature offerings include the Top 35 Under 35 Awards and Youth Agenda Leadership Academy (YALeA) mentorship program, the Strengthening Youth-led Organization Program (SYLOP), the Young Africa Works program in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and BrighterMonday Kenya (targeting 310,000 youth across four counties), and proprietary research tools such as the Kenya Youth Development Index (KYDI) and the Open Contracting Monitoring Tool. YAA also convenes the Nairobi Community of Practice (N-COP), a multi-stakeholder platform with 30+ member organizations, and has launched a national youth manifesto (Manifesto Yetu, December 2025).

YAA operates on a grant-funded, professional services model. Revenue is derived entirely from institutional donors and foundations, including Ford Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, UNFPA-Kenya, UN Women, UNDP-Kenya, US Embassy, Trocaire, Uraia Trust, and government partnerships. Programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries (Kenyan youth aged 18-35, with explicit focus on vulnerable populations including young women, persons with disabilities, and IDPs). The go-to-market motion is community-led: YAA mobilizes youth through convenings, capacity-building, policy advocacy, and direct program delivery, leveraging a small secretariat team (Executive Director Victor Nyongesa, Programs Officer Brian Sengeli, and supporting staff) headquartered on Ndemi Road, Off Ngong Road, Nairobi.

Technically, YAA operates digital platforms for youth engagement and data-driven research tools, most notably the KYDI, which was developed in collaboration with the Center for Transformational Leadership and aligned with the SDGs, Kenya Vision 2030, and the Constitution of Kenya 2010. The organization does not expose APIs, developer SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities in the available data, and is positioned primarily as an advocacy and program-delivery entity rather than a technology builder.

Name

The Youth Agenda

Legal name

Youth Agenda

Website

https://youthagenda.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Youth Agenda is a Kenyan NGO founded in 1996 that champions youth inclusion in governance, economic empowerment, and civic engagement through grant-funded programs, convening platforms, and research tools like the Kenya Youth Development Index.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Civic engagement advocacy
• Capacity building services
• Policy research tools
• Community mobilization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary funding from institutional donors and foundations including Ford Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, UNFPA-Kenya, and government partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Youth Agenda is a Kenyan nonprofit organization that delivers youth empowerment programs in three core pillars: Youth Economic Empowerment (skills, certifications, entrepreneurship, gig economy engagement), Youth Participation, Engagement and Representation (civic and governance engagement), and Strengthened Youth-Led Organizations (institutional capacity, funding access, governance support). It also convenes community platforms such as the Nairobi Community of Practice, the YLO Summit, and the Top 35 Under 35 Awards, and produces research tools such as the Kenya Youth Development Index (KYDI) and the Open Contracting Monitoring Tool.

Product overview

The Youth Agenda (YAA) is a Kenyan NGO established in 1996 that operates as a multi-program platform focused on youth empowerment in governance, economic participation, and civic engagement. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including the Youth Economic Empowerment Program, Youth Participation and Representation initiatives, and Strengthened Youth-Led Organizations support. Key named offerings include the Top 35 Under 35 Awards with the Youth Agenda Leadership Academy (YALeA) mentorship component, the Kenya Youth Development Index (KYDI) research tool, the Open Contracting Monitoring Tool, the Young Africa Works partnership program with Mastercard Foundation, SYLOP institutional development program, and the Nairobi County Community of Practice (N-COP) platform. The Elevate Program provides volunteer opportunities, and the annual Youth Employment Conference addresses employment challenges. These programs work together to advance YAA's mission of making the youth factor count in Kenyan political, social, and economic spheres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Top 35 Under 35 Awards: Annual youth awards program recognizing exemplary youth across various sectors in Kenya, part of the Youth Agenda Leadership Academy (YALeA) mentorship program
• Youth Agenda Leadership Academy (YALeA)
• Nairobi Community of Practice (N-COP)
• Strengthening Youth-led Organization Program (SYLOP)

Products and services

• Youth Economic Empowerment Program Program improving access to quality education, skilling and certifications, promoting youth-responsive policy and financing for entrepreneurial growth, and supporting meaningful youth engagement in the gig economy. Targets young Kenyans aged 18-35 seeking economic opportunities.
• Youth Participation, Engagement and Representation Program Program strengthening youth capacity to meaningfully participate, engage, and represent themselves in governance and decision-making processes through civic platforms such as the National Youth Council, Youth Sounding Boards, and the YSO Consortium.
• Strengthened Youth-Led Organizations Program Program promoting quality funding, leadership capacity, and programming on decent employment and meaningful youth engagement for youth-led organizations in Kenya, including technical support in legal compliance, financial and HR management, and resource mobilization.
• Top 35 Under 35 Awards Annual awards program recognizing exemplary youth across categories including Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Agribusiness, ICT, Environment Conservation, Health, Sports, Media, and Creative Arts, paired with a six-month mentorship program through the Youth Agenda Leadership Academy (YALeA).
• Young Africa Works (YAW) Program Partnership program implemented with BrighterMonday Kenya and funded by Mastercard Foundation, targeting 310,000 youth in Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia, and Nairobi County with soft skills training for employment and entrepreneurship, with 70% targeting young women.
• Kenya Youth Development Index (KYDI) Data-driven research tool co-developed with the Center for Transformational Leadership to track key indicators across education, employment, and civic participation, aligned with the SDGs, Kenya Vision 2030, and the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
• Open Contracting Monitoring Tool Toolkit developed through the Wajibika project with UNDP-Kenya funding to promote open contracting in the administration of COVID-19 response funds and citizen engagement in procurement transparency for Nairobi County.
• Elevate Program Volunteer and capacity building program providing opportunities for youth engagement, internships, and professional development within Youth Agenda's programmatic work.
• Youth Employment Conference Annual conference bringing together government, private sector, and youth leaders to address youth employment challenges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3 million youth reached through programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Light for the WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2025Partnership for disability inclusion awareness training with Nairobi Community of Practice (NCOP), providing technical expertise on inclusive development practices for persons with disabilities.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting women's empowerment and gender equality initiatives within youth programming.
• NDI (National Democratic Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for democratic governance and civic engagement programming.
• NYC (National Youth Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency partnership for youth development and KYDI validation.
• Nairobi City CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Open Government Partnership action plan and county-level youth programming.
• Mzalendo TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for open government and civic accountability initiatives.
• KCDF (Kenya Community Development Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for YLO Summit and community development programming.
• ILO (International Labour Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partnership for youth employment research and KYDI validation workshop.
• ELOG (Elections Observation Group)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for electoral reform advocacy and democratic monitoring.
• Plan KenyamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for youth programming and child welfare initiatives.
• Government of Kenya (State Department for Youth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for Top 35 Under 35 Awards and youth policy engagement.
• FIDA KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for legal and gender programming.
• CMD KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil society partnership for governance initiatives.
• WYLDEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for youth empowerment programming.
• CRECOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for constitutional and governance monitoring.
• BrighterMonday KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for Young Africa Works program providing job placement and employment platform support.
• East African Philanthropy NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for YLO Summit 2025 focusing on philanthropy and sustainable funding for youth organizations.
• Center for Transformational LeadershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Kenya Youth Development Index (KYDI) framework.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Restless Development: Global youth-led development agency working across Africa and Asia on youth empowerment, civic participation, and economic inclusion. Directly comparable as a peer youth-focused civil society organization with similar advocacy + direct program delivery model.
• ActionAid Kenya: Kenyan affiliate of ActionAid International focused on women's rights, youth empowerment, and governance accountability. Comparable as a national NGO delivering rights-based youth programming with similar donor base (institutional foundations, multilaterals).
• Uraia Trust: Kenyan civic education and constitutional literacy NGO focused on citizen empowerment, devolution, and inclusive governance. Comparable as a Kenya-based civic space intermediary that is also a YAA funder and partner, serving overlapping youth and citizen constituencies.
• National Youth Council of Kenya: Statutory Kenyan government body coordinating youth development and civic participation. Comparable as the national apex body for youth policy engagement—a key partner and validation partner of YAA's KYDI.
• Africa Youth Trust: East African intermediary focused on resourcing and strengthening youth-led organizations across the region. Directly comparable as a YLO-focused capacity builder, addressing the same downstream ecosystem YAA's SYLOP targets.
• Plan International Kenya: Kenyan arm of Plan International focused on children's and youth rights, education, and economic empowerment. Comparable as a large international NGO operating a country-level youth portfolio with similar programmatic pillars (skills, civic engagement, leadership).
• Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF): Kenyan community foundation providing grants and capacity building to community-based organizations. Comparable as a partner on YLO Summit 2025 and a fellow Kenyan intermediary working on local civil society sustainability.
• Mzalendo Trust: Kenyan parliamentary monitoring and civic accountability NGO. Comparable as a fellow civic space organization working on open government, legislative accountability, and citizen participation—also a YAA partner.

Emerging players

• BrighterMonday Kenya: Kenyan online employment marketplace and youth employability platform. Comparable as a co-implementing partner on Young Africa Works and a major Kenyan youth-focused intermediary for job placement and skills.

Broad incumbents

• Mastercard Foundation (Young Africa Works): Major foundation funding the $1.5B Young Africa Works initiative across Africa. Comparable as the principal funder behind YAA's largest current program and a defining player in the youth economic empowerment ecosystem YAA operates within.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/youthagenda254
• Facebookfacebook.com/YouthAgenda254
• Instagraminstagram.com/youthagenda254

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Youth Agenda