We must build strong and deliberate partnerships to unlock decent jobs

Judy Njogu and Lavender Birike, two innovators I met at the timbuktoo GreenTech Hub, in Konza Technopolis, told me that they have almost all the pieces in place to take their start-ups to the next level; they just need partners who value their potential. Investors welcome, they said.

They are not the only ones seeking partners to unlock opportunities.

Their generation is Africa’s future, and they are building it with ideas and ambition. From mobile hospital units for remote communities to platforms connecting farmers and buyers to smart mobility apps powering electric buses and vans, the talent is here.

Across Kenya, and indeed Africa, young people are demanding a fair share of opportunity. In Kenya, where 70 percent of the population is under the age of 35, harnessing the demographic dividend is not optional.

Unlocking access to decent jobs requires strong, deliberate partnerships between governments, the private sector, and institutions that can convene, de-risk, and deliver with speed, trust, and agility.

UNDP Kenya is, for example, proposing a Next-Gen Offer to offer an integrated, industry-driven approach to tackling youth unemployment.

It does so by linking new graduates to 12-month paid placements with leading private sector firms, and connecting young people in left-behind counties to public works programmes that expand basic service infrastructure.

This offer will blend government development financing with private sector investment and development assistance in a way that reflects the future of UNDP’s financing approach.

This was the foundation of my recent discussion with Kenya’s private sector leaders in Nairobi. CEOs and industry leaders, who are members of Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), have bold and scalable solutions for youth employment with a strategic investment in Kenya’s economic competitiveness, innovation ecosystem, and inclusive growth.

They hold the key and we can be the connector. My visit to the Eburu Forest offered another powerful example of how locally led solutions can have a global impact.

There, I saw firsthand how indigenous Ogiek communities are leading environmental restoration efforts by drawing on generations of ecological knowledge.

These communities are stewards of climate action. The Ogiek have restored landscapes while ensuring sustainable food production and supporting local livelihoods is a moving reminder that solutions are emerging, even as global challenges intensify.

Again, partners welcome. When their knowledge is reinforced with science, technology, and supportive policy, they stand at the frontlines of protecting global public goods. Environmental action cannot succeed in isolation. It must be tied to economic opportunity, especially in counties and communities that bear the brunt of climate change despite having contributed the least to its causes.

As official development assistance declines, the development community must pivot toward new financing models, particularly those that expand fiscal space for governments. In Kenya, UNDP is supporting efforts to move toward an investment-grade credit rating, a step that would unlock access to more affordable capital.

Lower borrowing costs can free up critical public resources for investment in economic diversification, social protection, and resilient infrastructure, investments that drive long-term development and stability.

Equally important is strengthening public policy and institutions. Digital solutions can dramatically improve the efficiency, transparency, and reach of public service delivery, helping governments do more with less.

Africa must therefore be seen not as a recipient of solutions, but as a co-architect of global responses, from climate resilience to digital transformation and inclusive growth. The innovation, ambition, and leadership I witnessed in Kenya reaffirm that the pathway to sustainable development lies in partnership and trust in people’s potential.

In an era of constrained resources, the choice is clear: we must work differently, finance differently, and partner differently. The future of development depends on it.

Alexander De Croo is UNDP Administrator and the former Prime Minister of Belgium