African Development Fund Approves $73 Million to Empower Kenyan Youth through Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship
The African Development Fund, the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank Group, has approved a loan of 73.31 million US dollars to strengthen higher education and promote innovation in Kenya. The new investment will modernise public universities, enhance science and technology training, and foster entrepreneurship among young people.
Implemented under the second phase of the Support to Higher Education, Science and Technology Project (HEST II), the funding will upgrade 19 public universities with state-of-the-art laboratories, digital learning tools, and modern teaching facilities. It will also establish three centres of excellence in engineering and a science and technology park to help students and researchers translate innovative ideas into market-ready products and industrial solutions.
The project will provide scholarships for 103 university lecturers, retrain teaching staff to align with emerging technology trends, and introduce a competency-based curriculum. Additionally, more than 100 youth-led start-ups will receive support through new incubation hubs offering mentorship, training, and business development resources.
“For many, education remains the surest path to a better life,” said Hendrina Doroba, Division Manager for Education and Skills Development at the African Development Bank Group. “We are helping Kenya’s young people gain the skills that employers need today and the confidence to create their own jobs tomorrow.”
By 2030, the HEST II project is expected to benefit over 20,000 students, including 8,000 young women, and create approximately 5,000 direct and indirect jobs. It builds upon the success of the first phase, which upgraded facilities at eight universities and strengthened engineering programmes nationwide. The second phase will ensure equitable development, supporting a more resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven higher education system across Kenya.
