Swiss-Backed Propela Program Rolls out in Mombasa to Tackle Youth Unemployment
By Harrison Kivisu
Email,thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
A Swiss-backed skills development programme has been launched in Mombasa County aimed at tackling youth unemployment through linking them directly to jobs in the industrial sector.
The programme, known as PROPEL-A and implemented by Swisscontact, adopts an industry-led dual apprenticeship model that combines 75 per cent workplace learning with 25 per cent classroom instruction.
Speaking during the launch, Jimmy Delyon, head of programmes at Swisscontact, said PROPEL-A is designed to bridge the skills gap and create direct pathways to employment for young people.
According to him the current cohort comprises 280 apprentices aged between 18 and 25 years with a minimum KCSE grade of D minus.
Most of them, he added, were fresh high school graduates with no skills nor experience.
Delyon explained that under the model, apprentices spend three weeks in a month gaining practical experience in companies and one week in class for structured technical training.
The curriculum, he explains, is aligned to industry needs to ensure graduates are work-ready.
The Mombasa rollout is being implemented in partnership with the National Industrial Training Authority through the NITA Mombasa Training Centre and Don Bosco Boys Town.
It targets key growth sectors in the region including construction, energy, logistics, tourism and manufacturing.
According to Swisscontact, the programme has already posted strong results in Nairobi where graduate employment rates have reached 80 per cent.
Employers there have also reported up to 30 per cent return on their training investment.
Carolyne Kanja, general manager at Jupiter Energy Solutions Ltd, said the expansion to Mombasa was a major milestone for the programme.
She noted that the private sector has a critical role to play in absorbing skilled youth into meaningful employment.
“The programme has now expanded to Mombasa targeting the private sector. It is an important milestone. It has already trained 400 youth in Mombasa,” she said.
Country director Sharon Mosin said the approach seeks to bridge the gap between education and employment by ensuring the youths graduate with practical skills and industrial experience.
Industry players in Mombasa have consistently raised concerns over shortages of skilled technicians, workforce readiness gaps and safety challenges on project sites.
With major infrastructure and real estate projects ongoing in the county, the demand for skilled labour continues to grow.
The launch of PROPEL-A in Mombasa is expected to strengthen the talent pipeline for industry while giving young people an opportunity to acquire skills that match employer needs.
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