Giving Youth Employment Programs a New Edge
The Vukisha Empowerment Programme (VEP) was passionate about equipping young people with employable skills, but job placement rates remained stuck at just 35%. Donors were growing impatient, and the program risked losing credibility despite its good intentions.
Agian stepped in to establish a robust research, monitoring, and learning framework, underpinned by technology-driven solutions. We introduced digital tools for data collection, dashboards for real-time tracking, and mobile-based feedback systems that captured graduate experiences and employer perspectives. Tracer studies tracked employment outcomes, while interactive learning sessions with employers highlighted a critical gap: the training curriculum didn’t align with actual market needs.
Armed with this evidence-backed insight, VEP was able to revamp its curriculum, strengthen private-sector linkages, and adapt its training model to be more demand-driven. Within a year, job placement rates surged to 52%. Donors renewed their confidence, additional funding was secured, and — most importantly — young people finally saw their training translate into meaningful jobs.
By embedding technology in monitoring and evaluation, VEP not only improved accountability but also created a real-time learning culture that continues to shape smarter decisions and sustainable outcomes.
