EXPLAINER: Why World Bank Chose Kenya For NYOTA Programme
The World Bank has outlined why it decided to support Kenya through the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) initiative.
Qimiao Fan, World Bank Country Director for Kenya, stated at the initiative’s launch in Malindi, Kilifi County, that the NYOTA programme was a strategic response to Kenya’s high unemployment rate, which remains one of the most important development concerns.
“NYOTA is important because it addresses what I believe is the biggest development challenge Kenya faces today – jobs. This is why we, as the World Bank, decided to support it,” Fan said.
According to the Director, the World Bank wanted to promote employability, and its involvement with Kenya was centered on job development.
He went on, “The World Bank does only three things in Kenya: jobs, jobs jobs.
World Bank Country Director Qimiao Fan has lauded NYOTA as an innovative, inclusive and transparent initiative aimed at tackling Kenya’s biggest development challenge, unemployment.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) February 5, 2026
Speaking during the fund's disbursement at Buntwani Waterfront Park in Malindi, Fan noted that… pic.twitter.com/JgkkvcxlqU
“In addition to supporting you in implementing NYOTA, our entire program is squarely focused on supporting Kenya to create more inclusive jobs.”
Fan reaffirmed that the program’s effectiveness will ultimately be assessed by how successfully it prepares recipients to become employable, establish enterprises, and create jobs for others, rather than simply increasing participation numbers.
Since its launch in July 2025, the NYOTA project has been divided into four components.
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These include paid on-the-job training, entrepreneurship help, and RPL certification.
The project was authorized by the World Bank Board, which financed it with a total investment of around Ksh29.5 billion over the course of five years.
The government has officially begun the final disbursement of the NYOTA project in eight counties, with the procedure anticipated to be completed within two weeks.
Beneficiaries in Mombasa, Kwale, and Taita Taveta will receive the monies on Friday, February 6.
EXPLAINER: Why World Bank Chose Kenya For NYOTA Programme
