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The Non-Profit Sector’s Contribution to Kenya’s Economy, and the Creation of Dignified and Fulfilling Work for the Youth

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This literature review examines the non-profit sector’s role in Kenya’s economy, focusing on its contribution to creating dignified and fulfilling employment for youth aged 15 to 35 years. Despite Kenya’s youthful population, high unemployment and underemployment persist, with 77 per cent of employed youth in vulnerable, informal jobs. The non-profit sector, including NGOs and social enterprises, addresses these challenges through direct employment, volunteerism, skills training, entrepreneurship support, and digital advancement. It contributes significantly to GDP, with NGOs alone employing over 76,000 individuals and injecting billions into the economy. However, gaps remain in skills alignment, technology access, gender disparities, and policy advocacy. The review identifies sector-specific opportunities in agriculture, ICT, and MSMEs, while highlighting the need for demand-driven training and inclusive strategies. By synthesising existing literature, this review underscores the sector’s potential to transform youth employment but calls for stronger collaboration, sustainable funding, and culturally sensitive frameworks to enhance impact. The findings aim to inform policymakers, practitioners, and researchers about leveraging the non-profit sector for equitable economic growth.

Xolani Dlamini

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Xolani is a Digital Publisher specialising in academic/scholarly publishing, particularly Open Access journals. He has been involved in managing and publishing various academic journals in different fields of study.

Xolani holds an Honours degree in Information Science Studies from the University of Zululand.

Dabesaki Mac-Ikemenjima

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Dabesaki is a Senior Programme Officer at the West Africa office of the Ford Foundation who has extensive experience working on youth issues from a research, policy and programme perspective across Africa and beyond. He has a Ph.D. in International Development and a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia, and a Bachelor of Education in Educational Psychology from the Rivers State College of Education. Dabesaki has a PhD in International Development and a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia, and a Bachelor of Education in Educational Psychology from the Rivers State College of Education.

Joseph Sobuthongo

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Joseph works with the academic team and provide support for both short and long academic programmes. He holds an Honours Degree in Public Management and Governance (Development and Management) from the North West University.

Dr Dennis Boahene Osei

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Dennis is a Regional Lead Researcher for the Mastercard Foundation project. He is an Applied Economist with years of experience in teaching and conducting research, with exceptional knowledge of economics, applied econometrics and evidence-based research. Dennis holds a PhD in Economics (specialising in African philanthropy and impact investment) from the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, and a Master of Philosophy and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He is also a Chartered Financial Economist obtained from the Association of Certified Chartered Economists, Global Academy of Finance and Management, United States. Dennis’ research interests include but are not limited to development economics, African philanthropy, impact investment, and innovation economics. He has authored several peer-reviewed articles in leading scholarly journals and chapters in books.

George Tweneboah

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George supports CAPSI’s research management, supervision and teaching portfolio. He is a Senior Lecturer at Wits business School, holding a PhD as well as a Doctorate Degree in Finance from Wits University.

Dr Neo Mokone

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Dr Neo Mokone is a lecturer at the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment for the Master of Management in African Philanthropy & Postgraduate Diploma in Philanthropy and Resource Mobilisation programmes at the University of Witwatersrand’s Wits Business School. He is a multi-disciplinary pracademic with formal education and training in Public Policy, Public Administration, Good Governance, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, and Philanthropy. He is the member of the Golden Key International Society, and has over 10 years of experience in Local Government. His research output has gained him many recognitions, with many peer reviewed articles, book and book chapters. He has also attended and presented research papers in academic conferences, and engaged in some academic trainings to gain more knowledge in both academic writing and analytical skills. He is very passionate about research, and has co-authored the book titled: Social Policy in Southern Africa: Prospects and Possibilities.

Susan Maposa

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Susan is a pracademic, with over twenty years of professional work experience supporting international development organisations in Africa and Asia. She delivers technical leadership, research, strategy, and grant fund support to improve the gender equality and social inclusion practices, programmes and outcomes of government and civil society partners. She has a wide range of skills and expertise in the fields of philanthropy and social development, through her work with multilateral and bilateral agencies, non-governmental organisations, research institutes and universities, as well as consultancy firms. Her experience includes programme conceptualisation, design, management, implementation, evaluation and documentation.

Thandi Makhubele

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Thandi is the Centre’s Programme Manager and is responsible for identifying projects that align with the Centre’s goals. She holds a Master’s in Security with a focus on Philanthropy and Women’s Development from Wits School of Governance and is a City University of New York (CUNY) 2022 International Fellow of the Centre on Philanthropy and Civil Society Emerging Leaders Programme. Thandi aspires to bring her passion for human development, human security, and creativity to the Centre. She also volunteers at Hands of Compassion, helping young pregnant and displaced women reintegrate back into society. Thandi is at the forefront of driving the vision of Adɔyɛ Women. Africa. Philanthropy, a groundbreaking initiative that she is passionately advancing. Having successfully established this platform, Thandi is now leading its dynamic progression.

Sfiso Lubisi

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Sfiso is the Centre’s Administrator, with experience in strategic planning, resource management and operational oversight. His proactive approach and problem-solving abilities are instrumental in driving initiatives that streamline processes and enable the objectives of the Centre. Sfiso holds BA Honours in Applied Linguistics and Literature Theory, Postgraduate Diploma in Language Education, Higher Certificate in Law, Postgraduate Certificate in Education and is currently pursuing a MA in Applied Linguistics.

Prof Jacob Mati

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Jacob is the Deputy Director  Academic Programmes at the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment and an Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand’s Wits Business School. He is a multi-disciplinary pracademic with formal education and training in Public Administration, Politics, Economics, Development Studies, Sociology, and Tertiary Teaching. His professional experience spans over twenty years of work in academia, civil society and consulting in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. Jacob has written and published extensively on civil society, volunteerism and philanthropy, and their intersections with development and governance, especially in Africa. Previously he has consulted at United Nations Volunteers and taught sociology at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji, and as an Associate Research Fellow at the Society, Work and Politics (SWOP) Institute. He serves on the board of Grassroots Trust in Kenya, as well as in the Editorial Boards of Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations; The Annual Review of South African Philanthropy; International Review of Philanthropy and Social investments, and the Journal of Nation-building & Policy Studies.

Roland Mwesigwa Banya

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Roland is a development finance specialist who has worked with the Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion, African Centre for a Green Economy, Green Economy Coalition, Africagrowth Institute, the World Bank as well as for Business Unity South Africa. His research interests stem from Development Finance, Public Finance as well as International and Financial Economics. He holds a Bachelors in Economics from the University of Cape Town, an MSc in International Finance and Economic Development from the University of Kent, and a Ph.D. in Development Finance from the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business.