- The free 10-week NYOTA AGPO digital training programme targets more than 1.2 million Kenyans.
- Successful learners will benefit from waived business registration fees and guidance on obtaining AGPO certification.
- Participants will receive subsidised internet bundles as the government seeks to expand access to public procurement opportunities.
The government has launched a free digital training programme targeting more than 1.2 million Kenyans, in a move aimed at helping young entrepreneurs, women and persons with disabilities tap into lucrative government procurement opportunities.
The 10-week National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) Digital Training Programme, launched by the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, seeks to equip participants with the skills needed to apply for, secure and successfully execute government tenders.
The initiative comes amid concerns that many eligible businesses continue to miss out on public procurement opportunities due to limited awareness of the AGPO programme, complicated application processes and inadequate business preparedness.
Under Section 53(6) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, public entities are required to allocate at least 30 per cent of their annual procurement budgets to enterprises owned by youth, women and persons with disabilities.
However, findings from a national assessment conducted under the NYOTA Project revealed that many potential beneficiaries lack the knowledge and business capacity required to take advantage of the affirmative action provision.
The new training seeks to bridge this gap through practical lessons covering AGPO certification, business registration, tender preparation, electronic procurement systems and contract management.
Participants will also be trained on cash flow management, access to procurement financing, proper record keeping and business governance to help them establish and sustain competitive enterprises.
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The programme will be delivered in both English and Kiswahili and is open to all Kenyans who meet AGPO eligibility requirements, with particular attention given to young people and entrepreneurs in rural and marginalised communities.
Interested applicants can enrol by dialling *254#, selecting NYOTA AGPO and completing the registration process. Successful applicants will then receive an SMS containing a link to the digital learning platform.
To make participation affordable, learners will receive subsidised internet bundles worth Ksh 250, with the government contributing Ksh 150, Safaricom Ksh 50 and participants paying the remaining Ksh 50.
The government has also introduced additional incentives for those who successfully complete the course. Their sole proprietorship business registration fees through the Business Registration Service (BRS) on eCitizen will be waived, while they will receive guidance on obtaining AGPO certification to enable them to participate in reserved government tenders.
The training is part of the five-year NYOTA Project, a government initiative funded by the World Bank to address youth unemployment, strengthen entrepreneurship and expand income generating opportunities.
Beyond skills development, the government intends to establish a direct link between training, enterprise financing and access to public procurement markets.
IN CASE YOU MISSED:
Through the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, public entities are expected to implement the mandatory 30 per cent procurement reservation, creating more opportunities for eligible small businesses.
The State Department is also exploring a debt offsetting arrangement aimed at ensuring AGPO suppliers receive payments within 60 days, addressing prolonged payment delays that often leave small businesses struggling with working capital.
Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni urged eligible Kenyans to take advantage of the opportunity, while calling on county governments, elected leaders, youth organisations and development partners to help mobilise potential beneficiaries.
The department cautioned the public against fraudulent advertisements and unofficial registration links.
By Lizzy Aluga
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