Influence of integrated intervention on the success of youth projects: a case of Nakuru municipality, Kenya

Abstract

Youth Enterprise Development Fund Integrated Intervention is concerned with the provision of funds, entrepreneurial training, local and international market linkages and networking skills to youths. It is an initiative by the Kenyan government to empower youths through economic opportunities in terms of self employment. The main aim of the initiative was to address the problem of youth unemployment in Kenya. YEDF applied an integrated intervention where training, funding and marketing were seen as key components that are critical to the success of youth projects. However it has not been empirically assessed to determine what extent the use of this integrated approach has influenced the success of youth projects. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of integrated intervention on the success of youth projects in Nakuru Municipality.

The objectives of the study were to: investigate the extent to which the provision of entrepreneurial training, funding and marketing influenced the success of youth projects. The study was significant toﾷ academic/researchers, micro, small and medium enterprises in Kenya, governmental policy makers, District youth officers, youth group leaders and youths. The study adopted a descriptive survey design in which fifty nine youth groups who were the beneficiaries of the initiative were involved as the target population. Simple random sampling was used as the sampling technique to select respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires, descriptive statistics mainly percentages and frequencies was used to analyze data with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences computer programme. Findings of the study were presented in form of figures and tables.

The findings of the study demonstrated that YEDF initiative was responsible for the increased youth gainful employment through training, funding and marketing. Entrepreneurial training on the other hand positively influenced the success of youth projects with a correlation test value of 0.272. The findings demonstrated that there was need for more training on entrepreneurial skills. YEDF financing was highlighted to have positively influenced the success of youth projects with a correlation test value of 0.244. However inadequate initial capital amount implied that the YEDF initiative should revise their policies in order to increase the loan amount with time. Findings further demonstrated that the marketing strategies provided by YEDF positively contributed towards the: competitive advantage of the youths businesses with a correlation test value of 0.210, through increase in number of customers, identification of new business opportunities, price negotiation and product/service delivery.

However, findings showed that the marketing strategies were inadequate and there were suggestions for more marketing strategies especially international market linkages. As a remedy to sustainable success of youth projects, this study recommends, additional YEDF funding, more training sessions on entrepreneurial skills, more marketing strategies, review of YEDF policies on application requirements and quick processing of loans. The study, farther recommends collective responsibility in youth support initiatives not only by YEDF but by local and foreign agencies, NODs, and arms of the United Nations such as UNICEF, UNDP, and UNESCO as well.