The government has launched a free digital training programme targeting young entrepreneurs, women and persons with disabilities to help them access government tenders worth billions of shillings.
The NYOTA AGPO Digital Training Programme, launched on Wednesday, November 4, is the fourth component of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project.
Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Susan Mang’eni said the programme aims to equip more than 600,000 young entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in public procurement. The training is expected to expand the overall reach of the NYOTA project to more than 820,000 beneficiaries, building on its existing components, which include Business Support, On-Job Experience (OJE) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
According to Mang’eni, the programme seeks to address barriers that have prevented eligible groups from benefiting from the government’s Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) initiative. Under Section 53(6) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, at least 30% of government procurement opportunities are reserved for enterprises owned by young people, women and persons with disabilities.
The government estimates that its KSh 4.8 trillion budget for the current financial year presents procurement opportunities worth at least KSh 1 trillion. The 30% AGPO allocation therefore translates to approximately KSh 300 billion. However, uptake of the opportunities has remained low due to limited awareness of AGPO, complicated application procedures, low levels of business formalisation and inadequate preparation among potential beneficiaries.
“The AGPO training is therefore designed to close these gaps, and catalyse AGPO uptake among the youth to help them not only expand their markets, but also gain the necessary competency for performing government tenders,” Mang’eni stated.
How to enrol for the free NYOTA AGPO training
The government said the programme will be offered free of charge through five self-paced modules spread over 10 weeks. Each module will take two weeks, with the first week dedicated to coursework and the second to practical sessions. The training will cover AGPO eligibility and certification, business readiness, public procurement procedures, preparation of tender documents and registration on government electronic procurement platforms.
Participants will also learn how to use the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system to register and bid for government tenders. Other areas of training include contract execution, cash-flow management, procurement financing, business governance and record keeping.
Practical sessions will involve webinars led by industry experts, interactive discussions and live sessions. The learning materials will be available in both English and Kiswahili.
To register, interested applicants are required to dial the USSD code *254#, select NYOTA AGPO and follow the registration instructions. Successful applicants will receive an SMS containing a link to the online training platform. The government, in partnership with Safaricom, is also arranging subsidised data bundles to support participants during the training. Government announces additional benefits for NYOTA AGPO trainees
Upon completing the programme, participants will receive proficiency certificates to demonstrate their understanding of government procurement processes. Those without registered businesses or AGPO certificates will be linked to the Business Registration Service (BRS) to register sole proprietorships under reduced fees and waivers that the government is working to introduce. The government is also developing a debt-offsetting mechanism that will allow AGPO contractors to discount their invoices within 60 days after delivering goods or services.
Mang’eni said the intervention would complement a recent Cabinet directive prioritising the settlement of pending bills valued at KSh 50 million and below. The measures are intended to ease cash-flow challenges among small businesses supplying government institutions, allowing more young entrepreneurs to participate in public procurement. The government further plans to strengthen the 30% procurement reservation across public entities and develop structured trade-financing products to help beneficiaries secure and utilise tender opportunities.
Mang’eni urged eligible young people, women and persons with disabilities across the country to take advantage of the programme, saying it provides a pathway towards accessing government contracts, financing and wider markets.
