World Youth Skills Day 2025: How Kenya’s Youth are Leading in the Blue Economy

By Olivia Sakai

This World Youth Skills Day, learn how young entrepreneurs in Kenya are gaining the leadership skills they need to thrive in the Blue Economy with support from TechnoServe.

Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about creating space for others to grow, contribute, and thrive. It’s about transforming ideas into action and inspiring others to believe in the change that’s possible.” — Mariam Kupi, young entrepreneur, Kenya

World Youth Skills Day, celebrated annually on July 15, emphasizes the importance of supporting young people in developing essential skills for formal employment or entrepreneurship. 

What is World Youth Skills Day?

The United Nations General Assembly established World Youth Skills Day in 2014 to raise awareness of the crucial role that young people play in driving economic growth, contributing to sustainable development, and building inclusive societies worldwide.

Many young people face significant challenges in finding employment or starting their own businesses. Globally, almost 65 million young people are unemployed. World Youth Skills Day serves as a reminder of the challenges that youth face and the importance of equipping them with the skills they need to succeed. 

TechnoServe Supports Youth Skills Development 

Despite improved access to education over the past several decades, many young people still need to acquire additional skills that are vital in securing or creating productive employment. The main categories of skills are: 

• Technical skills: The specific knowledge and abilities required to perform particular tasks.
• Soft skills: The behaviors and personal qualities that enable people to navigate their environment, relate well to others, perform effectively, and achieve their goals.

While technical skills often take center stage, soft skills serve as the crucial foundation that enables young people to effectively apply their technical expertise in real-world settings. Skills such as emotional intelligence, social awareness, and cognitive flexibility complement technical abilities. TechnoServe works with young people around the world to develop these skills, enabling them to pursue meaningful livelihoods through entrepreneurship or employment. 

Empowering Young People in the Blue Economy

In Kenya, TechnoServe’s BlueBiz program is building the next generation of business leaders by equipping young women and men with practical business skills, entrepreneurship support, and access to market and finance opportunities in the Blue Economy. A partnership between TechnoServe and the Mastercard Foundation, BlueBiz focuses on creating dignified and fulfilling work for young people in Kenya’s coastal counties.

The program offers structured training in soft skills, financial literacy, digital enablement, market access, and business development. It enables youth to grow sustainable enterprises across key Blue Economy value chains, including fisheries, aquaculture, mariculture, coconut farming, waste management, and eco-tourism. BlueBiz is fostering inclusive economic growth and resilience in coastal communities by supporting both individual entrepreneurs and local enterprises.

A key component is the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a diverse group of 20 members selected from the five coastal counties. The YAC plays a pivotal role by providing youth-centered feedback to ensure the program upholds the voices and agency of youth while guaranteeing their meaningful participation in program design and community engagement.

“I want to see more youth-led initiatives shaping the future of our oceans and coasts,” explained Mariam Kupi, a member of the council. “Success would be seeing the voices of youth, especially from coastal communities, centered in national and regional Blue Economy policies.”

Training to Benefit all Leaders

The program is intentionally designed and delivered to ensure that young women and men can benefit equally. Women and men develop and apply skills differently, shaped by how they are socialized. TechnoServe creates safe spaces for them to build their confidence in using their voices, expand their understanding of market systems, and learn how to effectively navigate power dynamics to influence their communities.

Personal reflection exercises and participatory activities like role-playing help young women explore responses to challenging scenarios like being interrupted in meetings, having their ideas dismissed, or facing resistance when assuming leadership roles. These exercises help them strengthen their soft skills to navigate these challenges and achieve their goals.

Soft Skills Needed for Success 

The YAC’s training framework addresses three critical categories of soft skills: emotional, social, and problem-solving. Through four targeted modules covering each of these categories, young women and men build emotional intelligence, develop strategic communication skills, explore leadership opportunities, and learn to work collaboratively toward shared goals.

The Foundation for Self-Awareness 

Emotional skills such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empathy are crucial for building strong relationships, navigating complex power dynamics, and leading with confidence. These abilities help young leaders understand their own strengths and leadership potential while also connecting with others. Empathy, in particular, enables young business owners to better understand their customers’ needs, build trust with suppliers and community members, and design solutions that answer real market demands.

Together, these skills form the foundation of strategic communication and influence, empowering young entrepreneurs to be heard, respected, and lead with both clarity and compassion.

“Resilience, empathy, and courage are vital in the Blue Economy,” Mariam shared. “Working in this space requires heart; it is not just about innovation, but about impact. You have to care deeply about people and the planet.”

Building Bridges Through Communication

Social skills are the interpersonal abilities that enable young entrepreneurs to build relationships, collaborate effectively, negotiate, and earn trust within their communities. In the leadership training context, these skills are particularly important for strengthening young leaders’ ability to communicate effectively across a diverse range of individuals, including peers and fellow youth, as well as powerholders such as elders, local officials, and private sector actors.

Young leaders apply strategic communication skills to amplify the voices of young people whose ideas are often underrepresented. Whether pitching a business idea, engaging with suppliers, or presenting to government officials, strong social skills help young entrepreneurs navigate complex dynamics with confidence and clarity.

“Collaboration is essential,” Mariam explained. “We cannot solve environmental problems singularly. We need to work together, share knowledge, and develop strong partnerships to bring real change.” 

Strategizing in a Complex World

Problem-solving skills equip young entrepreneurs with the mental agility to identify opportunities, navigate constraints, and innovate in challenging environments. Critical thinking helps them assess risks, weigh strategies, and make informed decisions.

In the context of leadership training, these skills are crucial for helping young people organize and lead effectively. They enable young leaders to plan and run stakeholder meetings, represent peers, and push for solutions. Skills such as stakeholder mapping, message prioritization, and anticipating counterarguments demonstrate a strong cognitive capacity.

Practically, this involves teaching youth how to set agendas, gather group input, present data persuasively, and engage decision-makers to elevate youth voices. Problem-solving skills foster confidence, ensuring that youth advocacy is strategic and results-driven. Building these skills through leadership training means developing youth who think critically, collaborate, and lead with purpose.

Looking Ahead: The Ongoing Importance of Youth Skills

For young people like Mariam, possessing the soft skills necessary to succeed in the Blue Economy is a critical foundation for the future. 

“I hope to influence the Blue Economy by proving that grassroots innovation and youth leadership can drive real environmental change,” she shared. “My goal is to help shape a future where marine ecosystems are cleaner and youth have access to dignified green jobs. I want to see policies that are more inclusive of the informal sector and truly driven by community needs.”

World Youth Skills Day underscores the importance of sustained investment in youth skills development. The challenges facing young women and men today, including climate change and economic instability, demand a highly skilled, adaptable, and globally conscious workforce. By championing youth skills, we promote a future where every young person has the opportunity to unlock their full potential, secure decent work, and contribute to a prosperous and sustainable world.