The State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy has intensified efforts to establish a structured volunteerism framework aimed at empowering young people and enhancing their contribution to national development.
During a sensitisation meeting on the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY2026), stakeholders underscored the need for strong policies and legal frameworks to transform volunteerism into a recognised avenue for skills development, employment and civic engagement.
Principal Secretary (PS) for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, Fikirini Jacobs, said the Department had made significant progress in formulating policies to support youth development, including the Kenya Youth Development Policy 2019 and the proposed Youth Bill, which is awaiting enactment.
The PS said the government is now prioritising structured volunteerism alongside the emerging creative economy framework, to ensure young people volunteer in safe, regulated and career-building environments.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by the Department’s Secretary for Youth Development, Dr. Josephine Etenyi, Jacobs said the government was developing a national volunteerism policy that would formalise, recognise and protect the contribution of volunteers across the country.
He noted that the proposed policy would provide a clear legal framework to guide volunteer programmes, safeguard the rights of volunteers and create pathways for skills development, innovation and employment.
Jacobs observed that a strong legal and policy foundation was essential for regulating youth development programmes, protecting intellectual property rights and improving access to financing and economic opportunities, particularly within the creative economy.
He said collaboration among government ministries, development partners and other stakeholders would help address long-standing gaps that have limited the growth of volunteerism and youth empowerment initiatives.
“By working closely with inter-departmental representatives, line ministries and international partners, we aim to transform volunteerism from an informal activity into a recognised pillar of national development,” he said.
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme commended Kenya for positioning itself as a regional leader in advancing structured volunteerism as preparations gather pace for the International Year of Volunteers.
IVY East and Regional Coordinator, Frank Gisha, said Kenya’s decision to co-sponsor the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 78/127, demonstrated its commitment to recognising volunteerism as a key driver of sustainable development.
He noted that Kenya had joined a select group of African countries, working to measure volunteer contributions and integrate them into national development planning.
Gisha cited the President’s Award programme as one of the country’s successful volunteer initiatives, saying it provides a model for recognising and documenting volunteer service, while promoting youth leadership and community engagement.
He added that efforts were underway, to establish mechanisms for tracking both formal and informal volunteer hours, to ensure the social and economic value of volunteer work is properly documented.
The UNV programme and the State Department are also strengthening partnerships with civil society organisations, academic institutions and the private sector to enhance volunteer programmes across the country.
The collaboration will include public awareness campaigns, improved reporting by Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) and participation in regional forums such as the forthcoming Africa Volunteer Conference in Botswana.
Stakeholders said the partnerships would help showcase Kenya’s achievements in volunteerism while creating opportunities for young people to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development at both national and international levels.
By Michael Omondi
