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Published on October 3, 2024

What you need to know about the Digital Platforms Kenya initiative


Digital Platforms Kenya (DigiKen) will be officially launched on 7 October 2024 at Villa Rose Kempinski in Nairobi. The event will include an inception workshop for the UN Joint SDG Fund programme with Team Europe partners. Here is what you need to know about the DigiKen initiative.

What is DigiKen?

DigiKen, short for Digital Platforms Kenya, is a transformative 36-month initiative led by the UN and a consortium of partners. Its primary goal is to support the development of homegrown digital platforms that can contribute to Kenya's sustainable social and economic development, particularly benefiting vulnerable groups like women, youth, and communities in arid and semi-arid regions as well as urban informal settlements.

Why is the digital platform economy so important?

Globally, the digital platform economy is growing rapidly, and it is estimated that by 2030, digital platforms and networks will mediate over 30% of global economic activity—roughly US$ 60 trillion. Platforms like Amazon, M-PESA, Uber, and Facebook are playing an increasingly critical role in social, economic, and political processes. DigiKen seeks to tap into this potential to foster inclusive growth in Kenya. 

What are the main objectives of the DigiKen initiative?

DigiKen has several ambitious goals:

  • The programme will support 150 Kenyan Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in accessing financing to develop digital platform businesses.
  • It will provide capacity-building opportunities for over 20,000 government officials to lead Kenya's digital transformation.
  • It will establish 15 Digital Innovation Hubs to deliver training in areas like digital skills, media literacy, and sustainable AI technologies.

By 2027, it aims to create approximately 4,500 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs. It plans to impact over two million Kenyan users of digital platforms.

How will DigiKen contribute to Kenya's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

The programme aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Kenya, and its primary goal is to fast-track Kenya’s progress toward achieving its SDGs. DigiKen will expand partnerships across the public and private sectors, strengthening Kenya’s digital ecosystem and ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation reach the most underserved communities.

Who are the key players involved in DigiKen?

DigiKen is led by the UN Resident Coordinator and implemented by a consortium of UN agencies, including UNESCO as the lead agency, UNCDFUN Women, and UNEP, alongside the Kenya Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy. Key partners include Team Europe, in particular the GIZ Digital Transformation Center Kenya and the Estonian Centre for International Development.

What specific support will DigiKen provide to Kenyan businesses and government officials?

DigiKen will support 150 Kenyan MSMEs in accessing new financial opportunities to develop local digital platforms. It will also train over 20,000 government officials and civil servants to lead inclusive and sustainable digital transformations while ensuring the protection of human rights in digital spaces.

What kind of training will the Digital Innovation Hubs offer?

The 15 Digital Innovation Hubs will offer training on various topics, including Media and Information Literacy, digital skills development, digital platform entrepreneurship, and the use of sustainable AI technologies. The aim is to empower communities, especially those at risk of being left behind in the digital revolution.

What are the expected long-term impacts of DigiKen?

DigiKen aims to foster a robust, homegrown digital platforms ecosystem that drives Kenya’s sustainable development. By 2027, it hopes to have a lasting impact on job creation, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and equitable access to digital tools and services, transforming both Kenya’s economy and the lives of its most vulnerable populations.

What are the key objectives of the launch event?

The launch event has three main objectives:

  1. Officially introduce the Joint Programme and its overarching goals.
  2. Consolidate partnerships and establish cooperation frameworks between key stakeholders.
  3. Engage stakeholders in developing a detailed work plan for the next 36 months, breaking it down into short-term (3 months), medium-term (9 months), and long-term (21 months) phases of implementation.

 

Originally published by UNESCO: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/what-you-need-know-about-digital-platforms-kenya-initiative 

 

 

Note:

All joint programs of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.