[{"bbox": [94, 162, 1159, 589], "category": "Text", "text": "digitization will be vital for the country's economy. For the country to sustainably benefit from digitalisation, it is therefore crucial to provide support to SMEs and start-ups, e.g. through entrepreneurship support organisations (ESOs) like innovation hubs. This means that SMEs will have to be enabled to have enough capital to purchase and invest in digital solutions and technologies. Likewise, ESOs, technology and innovation hubs will need support to provide SMEs and start-ups with the necessary services and skills to diversify their products, in line with the market and as well as compete with global brands. E-business will continue to transform the labour market by eliminating some jobs (e.g. in manual jobs or in banking) and creating others (e.g. online shopping, delivery services, etc.). Significant job creation opportunities also lie in the development of a data-driven economy and rising global demand for 'outsourced' digital services, whether part of the formal or informal economy (e.g. 'freelancing'). This rapid growth of the platform economy in Kenya and the ecosystem of digital work has changed how people live and work. In 2019 the number of gig workers in Kenya was estimated to be more than 35 000 – this number is expected to grow to 100 000 in 2023. While the platform economy is thus contributing to tackling youth unemployment, the practices of digital platforms currently fall far short of offering minimum rights and protections to workers. A minority of digital platforms have institutionalised health and safety protections, communications and due process mechanisms, avenues for worker representation as well as documented policies to ensure minimum labour standards. To drive inclusive and sustainable growth, these shortfalls in labour standards need to be addressed."}, {"bbox": [96, 608, 1140, 664], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Identification of main stakeholders and corresponding institutional and/or organisational issues (mandates, potential roles, and capacities) to be covered by the action:**"}, {"bbox": [96, 687, 1158, 767], "category": "Text", "text": "- **Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs (duty bearers)** is tasked to coordinate the implementation of the National ICT Policy and Digital Economy Blueprint, among others, e-business and digital entrepreneurship but also decent work standards"}, {"bbox": [96, 768, 1158, 822], "category": "Text", "text": "- **State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)** and the **TVET Authority (TVETA)**, mandated to regulate the TVET sector, including institutions and programmes."}, {"bbox": [96, 822, 1159, 902], "category": "Text", "text": "- **Entrepreneurship support organisations (ESOs)** like technology and innovation hubs (e.g. The Association of Kenyan Startup and SME Enablers Kenya) will be important actors in helping SMEs digitise and providing support services to startups for job and business creation."}, {"bbox": [96, 902, 1158, 956], "category": "Text", "text": "- **Digital labour platforms** such as Uber, Jumia or Glovo which take a centre stage when it comes to improving labour standards in Kenya's gig economy."}, {"bbox": [96, 955, 1159, 1058], "category": "Text", "text": "- **Employers and workers representations** like the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) which is the national umbrella body and the voice of employers in Kenya and serves as a platform for the articulation of key concerns of the employers in Kenya in the areas of socio-economic development, as well as the Central Organisation of Trade Unions."}, {"bbox": [96, 1059, 1158, 1141], "category": "Text", "text": "- **Civil society organisations** advocating for labour rights, e.g., the Fairwork Foundation, Quala and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and organisations of persons with disabilities such as United Disabled Persons of Kenya advocating for education and employment rights."}, {"bbox": [96, 1140, 1158, 1273], "category": "Text", "text": "- **Germany (GIZ)**, through the **Digital Transformation Centre (DTC)**, is already supporting ESOs in their service delivery to their SME and start-up communities, especially in the context of COVID-19 and with a special focus on female entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it works towards strengthening gig workers' rights and the regulatory environment for decent work in the digital economy. To support the Action, Germany will scale its support to ESOs and set up a Digital Innovation Hub to help SMEs digitise."}, {"bbox": [96, 1273, 1158, 1379], "category": "Text", "text": "- **Germany (KfW) and France (AFD)**, through a mutual reliance initiative (MRI) arrangement with Germany (KfW) as the lead, in partnership with the EU on a delegation of funds seeks to finance the TVET sector for its digital transition, in order to widen access and strengthen the quality and relevance of the courses offered, with regards to the needs of the job market."}, {"bbox": [96, 1446, 1073, 1475], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Short problem analysis 3: Inefficient government services, corruption and data protection violations**"}, {"bbox": [96, 1497, 1158, 1555], "category": "Text", "text": "**Inefficient government services and corruption⁵**: The Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs is digitalising governmental services aiming at delivering efficiency gains and building citizens' trust in a digital administration."}, {"bbox": [85, 1595, 1125, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ Fight against corruption is an EU priority but it is addressed under the AAP-2021 Action funding the PLEAD 2 programme with UNODC. This Action will not directly engage on addressing corruption."}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1144, 1707], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 9 of 30"}]