The USAID Kijana Nahodha Project is a four-year (2022-2026) initiative aimed atincreasing the empowerment, productivity, and community engagement of
youth, in particular, out-of-school youth aged 15-25 (unemployed youth, youthwith disabilities, young women, and those living in urban, peri-urban, and rural
districts) through an integrated cross-sectoral program following Positive YouthDevelopment (PYD) principles.
The project leverages USAID/Tanzania`s investments in employment, education, agriculture, governance and health into one youth-centered project that builds
the capacities of young people aged 15-25 and ultimately connects them to opportunities.
The overall goal of USAID Kijana Nahodha is to have a Healthy, Productive, and engaged Youth with more priority given to marginalized groups, including HIV+
youth, adolescent girls, youth in rural areas and urban slums, and orphans
This comprehensive youth focused project will ensure that its beneficiaries are not only economically empowered but also empowered to become leaders in
their communities by connecting youth to spaces where critical development decisions are made and employing strategies that ensure youth become vital stakeholders and drivers of change at the local, regional, and national level. Additionally, KN beneficiaries will be equipped with skills and knowledge to access health (sexual and reproductive health, mental health, psychosocial support, nutritional support, HIV care and treatment) services and practice
healthy behavior.
Implemented in the Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Zanzibar regions, the Kijana Nahodha activity collaborates with the Government, the private sector, TVETs, civil society organizations, Health facilities, Learning centers and young people themselves to connects youth to opportunities across its three objectives
Objective One: Increase access to educational, life and entrepreneurial skills among youth
Objective Two: Increase youth participation in activities that foster physical and mental well-being
Objective Three: Establish and strengthen existing networks that support youth development and
community engagement
To achieve these objectives, Kijana Nahodha uses a demand-driven approach adapted to meet the most pressing needs within the private sector, government, and workforce.
Kijana Nahodha will build on existing structures to increase the availability, access and quality of accelerated education, including remedial skills, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), life, health and leadership skills, mentorship, and financial inclusion. By the end of the Activity, a total number of 45,000 youth will be reached directly with technical and vocational trainings, life, mentorship and leadership skills, mental and psychosocial health services, and financial inclusion services
