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USAID boosts skilled labour in Kenyan apparel sector

02 Sep '17
1 min read

USAID’s East Africa Trade and Investment Hub has started an initiative to train 2,000 Kenyan youth for full-time sewing machine operator jobs. The trained youth will help tackle the problem of skilled labour that hinders Kenya’s apparel industry growth. Large apparel firms, such as Mombasa Apparel and Africa Apparel EPZ, are hosting the training centres.

The initiative is being implemented by USAID grantee Career Readiness Social Initiative Limited, a local subsidiary of the McKinsey Social Initiative, according to a USAID press release. It will help sustain Kenya's apparel exports to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which was renewed recently till 2025.

The first groups started the eight-week training in Mombasa and Kilifi counties on August 21 and in Nairobi on August 28. More training centres will come online soon.

The curriculum focuses on technical skills and soft skills, such as effective communication and time management. The workforce training program will be rolled out to other countries in East Africa. (DS)

ALCHEMPro News Desk – India

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