The government has launched the NYOTA AGPO Digital Training Programme, a new initiative designed to equip young entrepreneurs, women and persons with disabilities with the skills needed to access government procurement opportunities.
The programme, which is the fourth component of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project, is expected to benefit more than 600,000 entrepreneurs and expand the project’s overall reach to over 820,000 beneficiaries.
It builds on the ongoing NYOTA components, which include Business Support, On-the-Job Experience (OJE) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
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According to the government, NYOTA project applicants and the targeted AGPO groups are eligible for the training regardless of their age or educational qualifications.
The initiative seeks to address barriers that have limited participation in the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) programme, including low awareness, complicated application procedures, inadequate business formalisation and limited preparedness to undertake government contracts.
Government targets increased participation in public tenders
Under Section 53(6) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, at least 30 per cent of government procurement opportunities are reserved for enterprises owned by youth, women and persons with disabilities.
The government estimates that the current financial year's national budget stands at KSh4.8 trillion, with procurable opportunities valued at not less than KSh1 trillion.
It says the 30 per cent AGPO reservation represents opportunities worth at least KSh300 billion.
However, uptake of the opportunities has remained low, with many eligible businesses facing challenges in meeting the requirements and navigating public procurement systems.
The new training programme is intended to help beneficiaries understand the procurement process, prepare competitive bids and build the capacity required to execute government contracts.
It will also provide linkages to financing, markets and digital platforms to support the growth of participating enterprises.
Five modules to be covered over 10 weeks
The training is free and will be delivered through five self-paced modules over a 10-week period.
Each module will take two weeks, with the first week dedicated to coursework and the second to practical sessions.
The modules will cover:
AGPO foundations and business readiness: Understanding the 30 per cent procurement reservation, eligibility requirements and AGPO certification.
Public procurement and tender preparation: Learning how to prepare bids and complete tender documentation.
Digital procurement systems: Registering and submitting bids through the government's Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) platforms.
Contract execution and financing: Understanding contract delivery, cash-flow management and procurement financing.
Governance and business sustainability: Strengthening record keeping, governance and long-term enterprise management.
The practical component will include webinars led by subject matter experts and industry leaders, as well as live interactive sessions.
The training materials will be available in both English and Kiswahili.
How to register for NYOTA AGPO training
Eligible applicants can enrol by following these steps:
Dial the zero-rated USSD short code *254#.
Select NYOTA AGPO from the available options.
Complete the registration process as instructed.
Wait for an SMS containing a link to the training platform.
The government, in partnership with Safaricom, is also arranging a subsidised data bundle to support successful applicants undertaking the digital training.
Upon completing the course, participants will receive proficiency certificates intended to strengthen their ability to pursue government procurement opportunities.
Beneficiaries who do not have registered businesses or AGPO certificates will be linked to the Business Registration Service (BRS) to facilitate registration of sole proprietorships. The government says it is working on waivers to reduce the cost of that process.
Government plans financing and faster payments for suppliers
Beyond training, the government says it is developing additional measures to help AGPO beneficiaries participate effectively in public procurement.
One proposed intervention is a debt-offsetting mechanism that would allow eligible tenderers to discount invoices within 60 days after delivering goods or services.
The government also points to a recent Cabinet directive prioritising the settlement of pending bills valued at KSh50 million and below.
The measures are intended to ease cash-flow pressures faced by small businesses supplying government entities and encourage more enterprises owned by youth, women and persons with disabilities to participate in public procurement.
The government further says it plans to strengthen the 30 per cent procurement reservation by public entities and repurpose catalytic funds to develop structured trade-financing products for young entrepreneurs.
The NYOTA AGPO programme is therefore being presented as a broader support system linking business training, registration, financing and access to government tenders through the e-GP platform.
The government has urged eligible youth, women and persons with disabilities across the country to take advantage of the free training and improve their readiness to compete for public procurement opportunities.