Sheria Ya Vijana

The Sheria Ya Vijana Project (SYV) is a youth-focused initiative co-funded by the European Union and implemented by Barnfonden in partnership with WeWorld, Action for Sustainability Initiative (AFOSI), Organization of African Youth (OAY), Stretchers Youth Organization (SYO), and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC). The project seeks to empower, engage, and connect young people to lead Kenya’s green and digital transitions—driving inclusive growth, innovation, and civic participation. Through a consortium of civil society partners, SYV will directly reach 5,875 young people (60% female and 3% persons with disabilities) and indirectly benefit over 1.8 million youth across the country. SYV addresses key challenges that continue to affect young people, including unemployment, underemployment, and limited civic participation. While many youths possess informal skills, more than half report lacking formal training in critical areas such as digital literacy, green economy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Opportunities for mentorship, incubation, and internships also remain scarce, especially for rural youth and persons with disabilities. As the enterprise development partner, the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) invites youth-led organisations, social enterprises, and youth networks based in Nairobi and Kwale counties to apply for enrollment into the program. The call for applications will run from 19th November 2025 to 19th December 2025. Thereafter, evaluation of the calls for applications will be done and status of the applications will be communicated to the applicants. The successful applicants will receive official communication via email, and a letter of agreement will be signed between KCIC and the successful applicants. Consequently, County sensitization and awareness forums will be conducted in the respective counties in addition to the calls for applications. The applications will only be received online through the KCIC website. Twenty (20) youth-led businesses per county will be onboarded to the Sheria ya Vijana program. KCIC will provide training, business advisory and technical assistance to enable youth to gain the requisite skills needed to scale their business enterprises. They will then be able to benefit from entrepreneurship opportunities available within their localities.

Individuals – Youth (Any male or female between the ages of 18 – 29 years and persons with disabilities aged between 18-35 years of age) in Nairobi and Kwale Counties. Individuals who recognise opportunities to either improve their own existing enterprises or launch new enterprises to add-value or provide services in the broad value chains in renewable energy, nature based solutions, circular economy and sustainable agriculture. Community based organization or Self-help group comprises community members who are registered under a Self-Help Group (SHG), Youth led- (Civil Society Organisations)CSOs, or a Community Based Organization CBO carrying out similar commercially viable business activities within the Green and Digital spaces. . Majority of the members (above 80%) must be youth (aged between 18-29 years and persons with disabilities aged between 18-35 years) with the main leadership positions being held by youth. SMEs – Small and Medium Enterprises established with commercially viable business ideas within the renewable energy, nature based solutions, circular economy and sustainable agriculture value chains. The Sheria ya Vijana program is open to all youth led enterprises operating in Kenya, Nairobi and Kwale Counties. Applicants must be engaged in legal business and their enterprise is located within the Republic of Kenya from Nairobi or Kwale Counties. All enterprises must be green and digitally smart. The enterprise can be an early stage or growth stage unregistered/registered entity, with no specific year range of registration. Due Diligence shall be carried out on the Successful Applicants to verify eligibility prior to any potential offer of a placement in the program. Applications that do not meet all or some of the eligibility criteria will not be accepted.

Youth Entrepreneur(s) aged between 18 – 29 years including women, and persons with disabilities aged between 18-35 years. Has an Income Generating Activity in line with Guideline Reference 2 and should have been operational for at least 12 months. Business model Feasibility that shows a clear and compelling mission to grow sustainable and commercially viable enterprises. Entrepreneur or enterprise with potential to adopt and leverage smart approaches to drive the growth of the business Social Impact- Potential to create decent employment opportunities for youth and women. Market Opportunity knowledge and understanding of renewable energy, nature based solutions, circular economy and sustainable agriculture value chains, customers, and competitors for their business ideas. Scoring system detailed in guideline reference 13

All Applications must be submitted online through the Kenya Climate Innovation Center website Application portal on KCIC website between the 19th of November 2025 and 19th December 2025 at 8:00 PM (20:00) EAT (the “Application Window”). The Applicants must complete an application form by answering a series of mandatory questions. Personal information supplied in the application form such as names, addresses and date of birth should be verifiable. The Applicant must provide current correspondence address, email and telephone numbers and inform of any changes. Upon submission of the application form, an email confirming receipt will be sent to the Applicant. Once submitted, applications cannot be altered or amended. Review of applications will commence immediately, and shortlisting of Applicants will take place following the close of the Application Window on 19th December 2025 at 8:00 PM (20:00) EAT. The selection will be carried out by the selection committee through an independent application review process coordinated by the Kenya Climate Innovation Center using specified selection criteria to select the best qualified youth led and women organization. Any unauthorized contact with Kenya Climate Innovation Center outside official channels (website and official telephone contacts stated in the website) as stated in the guidelines regarding applications is forbidden and may be construed as soliciting or canvassing and therefore such applicants are subject to disqualification.

Business Incubation Advisory Sheria ya Vijana selected program beneficiaries will be equipped with technical knowledge, tools and skills that will enable them to identify and develop their business. Based on a gap analysis, it will entail the following support: Entrepreneurship trainings Developing Bankable businesses proposals Technical training and value addition Business modelling to start and run the business including record keeping, statutory requirements and compliance Value Chain and Business Linkages Advisory Financial literacy training and investor readiness programs Provide case studies to foster exchange of learning and inspiration among Value Chain groups. Virtual learning and advisory support via computer platforms or mobile to support program beneficiaries. Onsite learning and advisory support through the Business Incubation Hubs(Kilifi & Nairobi). Mentorship and Coaching Successful applicants will be mentored by experienced agripreneurs, mentors and consultants to develop specific skills and knowledge that will enhance their business and personal growth. The specific activities include: Counselling and guidance by successful businesspersons, peers, and professionals. Sharing of experiences in business forums and associations. Teaming and virtual training. One-on-one coaching Conduct value chain mapping and needs assessment Access to Information Successful applicants will benefit from information sharing and establishing partnerships with business companies and other stakeholders for effective market access through collaborative agreements. The specific activities include: Create youth and women online platforms for information sharing and networking Providing information on contract farming for the youth and women Ensure participation or hosting of youth entrepreneurs to local and international start-up conferences Expose youth entrepreneurs to business expansion opportunities & international investors Link youth entrepreneurs to local and international customers Research and identification of markets as well as establishment of Market linkages. Linkage and facilitation to attend exhibitions, trade fairs and other events

The following definitions shall apply: “Applicant” means an individual, group or enterprise that submits their business information in the Kenya Climate Innovation Center application portal for review and possible selection into the Sheria ya Vijana program. “Application” means the online entry form completed and submitted for the program on the Kenya Climate Innovation Center Website or physical form at the respective county government offices. “Application Window” means the period commencing from 19th November 2025 to 19th December 2025 8:00 PM EAT when Applications can be submitted. “Enterprise” means a proposed business that is attributable to the Applicant and which the Applicant is applying to further develop to a viable venture with the assistance of the Sheria ya Vijana program. “Green and Digital Transition Enterprise” refers to a business that drives sustainability and digital innovation. It contributes to the green economy through renewable energy, carbon emission reduction, blue economy initiatives, sustainable agriculture, circular economy practices, and the protection of biodiversity and natural resources. At the same time, it embraces the digital economy by promoting or adopting technologies such as innovation-driven solutions, data analytics, digital marketing, e-payments, digital skills development, internet connectivity, and smart systems. “Youth led enterprise” – Business or enterprise that has majority shareholding above 80% held by a young person or youth (aged between 18-19 years). “Program” refers to Sheria ya Vijana Program: “Empowering Kenyan youth to lead the twin green and digital transitions.” “Entity” means a company or other legal entity incorporated or registered (CBO,CSO & YLOs)and resident in Kenya together owning directly/indirectly more than 50% of the voting rights in the entity. “Successful Applicants” means Applicants who are selected to participate in the Sheria ya Vijana program.

Successful Applicants shall be subject to the stated terms and conditions, the Letter of Agreement and other rules and guidelines published by Kenya Climate Innovation Center from time to time for the running of the Sheria ya Vijana program. Kenya Climate Innovation Center and its program affiliates reserves the right to cancel or amend all or any part of the Rules without notice. Any changes to the Rules will be posted on the Kenya Climate Innovation Center website. It is the responsibility of Successful Applicants to keep themselves informed as to any changes to the Rules. Kenya Climate Innovation Center shall not be liable for any loss suffered by a Successful Applicant due to any changes to the Rules, including failure to complete some or all tasks under the program due to such change. If for any reason the program is not capable of running as planned for reasons including but not limited to tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, force majeure events or any other causes beyond the control of the Kenya Climate Innovation Center and its funding partners which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this program, Kenya Climate Innovation Center reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the program and disqualify any Successful Applicant. Kenya Climate Innovation Center shall not be liable for any loss arising from modification, suspension, or cancellation of the program.

Kenya Climate Innovation Center is completely against fraud, bribery and corruption. Kenya Climate Innovation Center does not ask for money for applications or proposals. If approached for money or other favours, or if you have any suspicions of attempted fraud, bribery or corruption please report immediately and provide as much detail as possible with any reports. Likewise, if any fraud, bribery, or corruption during the call process is discovered, Kenya Climate Innovation Center reserves the right to terminate the cooperation with the individual or business in question. Report through any of the channels below: Email – ceo@kenyacic.org Telephone – 254 703 034 701/24 Postal Address Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Climate Innovation Center, P.O Box 49162 – 00100, Nairobi. Strathmore Business School,Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka.