SisTech 2.0

Low skills and under representation in the economy mostly experienced by girls and young women from low income backgrounds is mainly attributed to poor education, a result of the myriad of challenges that they face. Socio-cultural orientations such as early marriages, gender based violence, early pregnancies and lack of adequate resources limits the access to education opportunities that is required to successfully get ahead in life. NairoBits SisTech program, aims to raise the skills level of these young women by providing quality digital skills training in a safe and conducive environment through a holistic model that incorporates GRASP Life Skills and SRHR. It also introduces blended learning that includes e-learning through mobile phones providing skills that are essential to improve productivity, incomes and access to employment opportunities for these young women. The shift towards demand for practical skills is growing and as such an opportunity for young women.

Young women living in underserved communities are reported as working in indecent work environments, employed in low paying positions, traditional occupations including domestic and casual work in poorly paid and unregulated informal sector. Furthermore, a majority of these young women are low skilled or poorly educated a result of their challenging backgrounds. In Kenya, it is reported that the enrolment to school for girls falls as they progress to higher levels of learning. The gap is at 37% by age 18 and by age 20 at 43% revealing the disparity in secondary school and tertiary level education. Girls out of school and with minimal education face the highest risk of getting married at an early age, domestic violence or early unplanned pregnancies further compounding their ability to access gainful opportunities. UNESCO estimated that more than 7 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa will never enter a classroom. COVID-19 has further exacerbated the situation. In Kenya, it was reported that during the period cases of sexual offences now comprise 35.8% of the total criminal matters reported since the onset of the pandemic. Breaking the cycle of poverty is about creating a new cycle of opportunities for young women to thrive. 

SisTech 2.0 is an extension of the existing girls only programme incorporating blended learning and use of mobile phones to widen the reach to more girls/young women. It also includes Safe Spaces for learning accessed through existing NairoBits satellite centres and others to be set up. 

Through a comprehensive e-learning platform, learners go through a digital skills training program that progressively builds computing knowledge from basic computer skills to professional web design, product development and coding in three different learning levels. We GET CONNECTED, go to DIGITAL GARAGE and finalize on MEDIA LAB. After the completion of the trainees graduate and are linked to internship and employment opportunities through partnership with various companies and organisations. 

The online system hosts a network of entrepreneurs, employers, mentors and service providers providing the young graduates with a platform for networking and access to opportunities and resources such as markets for their services and products, job and mentorship opportunities and access to financial services.

In the long run, this network plays a key role in the sustainability of this project as it continues to support the needs of the young women even long after involvement in the project itself has ended.

The design of SisTech 2.0 draws heavily from the feedback we have received from the young women who have gone through our training program over the years through a comprehensive evaluation and needs assessment. This feedback gives a strong indication for the need to expand and cater to more women and girls in the urban slums and reaching out to more young people that would otherwise not be reached by such programs. In the wake of COVID-19 we conducted an assessment that has also informed this initiative. Setting up the current training on WhatsApp and use of social media has led to the continued engagement of girls and young women providing them a safe space to communicate their challenges, needs and ambitions. 

This program aims to support young women aged between 17-24 years who reside in informal urban settlements in selected counties in Kenya with the highest rate of urbanisation. By empowering these young women, the intervention will directly improve the incomes of most households in Kenya. By implementing the blended method of learning, we have seen increased participation, increased confidence levels and resilience. 

Their comfortable use of technology has allowed them to explore opportunities in the Gig economy.

Transition to employment is a challenge for many girls and young women, more so those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Their active participation in the labour market and opportunity to earn decent wages is impeded by their limited access to quality education and further quality skills training required to access decent employment. NairoBits’ work in urban informal settlements for the last 20 years has witnessed how girls and young women continue to miss out on the benefits brought by technology due to the stereotypical perspective that careers/courses in technology are not for women.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Girls and young women from informal settlements and low income backgrounds are a difficult to reach group with many initiatives designed to cover basic level skills training.

SisTech 2.0 is anchored on the Bits Model which is designed to ensure that the aspects that make it difficult to reach these girls are addressed. It employs a 3 level multi-pronged approach that includes;

Partnerships and coalition building - with Community Based Organisations, Business Partners, Donors and Government. Partnership with CBOs includes hosting of safe training spaces, follow up and support, community ownership and sustainability. Business partners provide employment, feedback to curriculum and mentorship. Donors provide financial and technical support while the government ensures policies address the needs of girls/young women. 

Training Approach - ICT is often viewed as difficult and challenging for girls which discourages most of them from taking up STEM related subjects/training. Providing safe spaces for learning, a curriculum tailored to their needs and supporting structures, the trainees successfully go through 3 levels of progressive training that starts by an introduction to computers and progresses to advanced design and programming. 

Post Training placement - After completion of the training we provide comprehensive placement opportunities in partnership with the business partners. 

Our competitors are mostly Training institutions that offer short term training/courses. Most of the girls opt to enrol to these institutions as they find our training difficult and engaging. However, the success stories from the alumni and close collaboration with the community, we are progressively reaching more young women.  

Computers - Desktops and Laptops and Softwares - These are used to deliver the training 

Digital Design tools such as Wacoms - which have been instrumental in ensuring we reach students with disabilities 

Online collaboration tools also used extensively in the training, collaboration among trainers and staff, and collaboration with our partners 

Cloud storage for hosting students projects, portfolios and data 

Mobile phones and mobile applications 

Social Media Networks most particularly WhatsApp - Widely used for communication both social and business. The ability to form groups and reach a wide audience has seen the use of these networks grow both locally and globally. In our case, and from the onset of COVID 19 Pandemic, we have used the networks as platforms for learning. 

Bots and USSD - These have gained popularity and most recently used by companies to communicate to their clients. They are interactive, easy and fun to use. 

Softwares such as Adobe Suite are used in design world over 

Online collaboration tools such as G-Suite, Figma, Trello and Slack are also used world over enabling people in different locations to easily collaborate and work together. 

Cloud storage - 

Currently serving - 153 

This is the number that is the first cohort of training for this year. We were to recruit 2 more cohorts during the year to reach 450 young women. 

1 year - 450 

5 years - 10000 

Our goal is to scale to other counties in Kenya and we have so far identified 5 counties with a fast growing economy and rising urbanisation. We will also scale to other countries in Africa through the WeAreBits an organisation that brings together Bits Schools in Nigeria, Uganda, Somali land and Pakistan. We will also expand this model to other countries. 

Short-Term 1-2 years

Scale the SisTech project by introducing blended learning method incorporating virtual and physical training. Currently, NairoBits accommodates less than 30% of the total applications received. 

Target girls and young women with disabilities, young mothers and those under rehabilitation or juvenile systems. This is to be implemented under the inclusion and diversity program. Our goal is to have at least 30% of the trainees recruited from these groups. 

Expand to other counties in Kenya by setting up Bits satellite areas reaching young women in both urban and rural areas. We have experience setting up Bits schools in other African countries. Our goal is to incrementally reach more than 1000 girls/young women yearly. 

Long-Term 2-5 years

Setting up of the NairoBits Tech Den - This is a space envisioned to exclusively serve youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. It will have a physical space and a virtual hub bringing together NairoBits alumni from all the world and a network of partners. The space will also cater for girls and young women providing a platform for innovating and incubating ideas, projects and businesses. 

Set up a network of trainers skilled to work with marginalised communities. Through the existing Bits Academy provide co-creation platform for collaboration and ToT 

Strengthen ongoing Advocacy initiatives to address systemic challenges and ensure that girls rights are addressed at a higher level

Scale the project to other existing Bits Schools in Nigeria, Uganda, Somali-land and Pakistan 

Limited access to quality human resources in particular skilled trainers - Given that the training is located in the informal settlements it is not an attractive place to work. This makes it hard for us to recruit qualified people. 

Limited financial resources to cater for all the program requirements necessary for successful implementation. 

Lack of up to date equipment and resources limits the training opportunities that we could venture in such as 3D Animation, Visual Effects and Mobile applications. 

Access to laptops and/or quality smart phones for the trainees that would enable them to learn from home

Setting up physical centres which involves equipping the facilities requires adequate financial resources which most times is limited. 

The labour market is fast paced and requires one to keep abreast of the changes and advancements. Capacity and resources to conduct frequent market analysis and actively engage the stakeholders is limited. 

Systemic, structural and cultural barriers that still exist in our country and communities especially towards girls and women. To fully achieve our goals these barriers have to be dismantled. 

Prohibitive costs of accessing technology from computers to internet. This makes them unaffordable hence limiting the access for poor communities.  

Limited access to internet 

Limited access to quality human resources - We have a wide pool of NairoBits alumni who are passionate about working in the community. Most of them are willing to give back and currently 70% of the trainers are NairoBits alumni 

Limited access to financial resources - Through income generated from our  Income Generating Ventures we are able to supplement the budget  

High costs of setting up and equipping the centres - Through partnerships we are able to reduce these costs significantly. 

Lack of up to date equipment and resources and access to laptops and mobile phones- Through initiatives such as Techsoup we are able to access some of these technology at discounted costs. We also utilise those which are available for free and have established partnerships with companies to access some of their technology at no or low costs. We wish to get into more such partnerships

Market analysis and engaging of stakeholders - Setting up of an online system including a virtual hub will ensure that there is continues engagement with the relevant parties. 

Prohibitive costs of accessing technology from computers to internet - a great barrier to learning, we set aside a percentage of our yearly budget to purchase equipment and facilities. We have implemented programs through partnerships with organisations such as Computer Aid, where our students purchase refurbished laptops at a low cost and flexible payment method. 

Structural, cultural and systemic barriers - Partnerships with key stakeholders including government and implementing a vibrant advocacy program 

Full time - 13

Volunteers - 2

NairoBits team is well positioned to successfully implement this project. 

NairoBits has strong systems and structures with a Board of Trustees that provides oversight. It is headed by an Executive Director who has vast experience in the development sector. She has led the team where NairoBits has won and been shortlisted for prestigious awards such as the Google Impact Challenge, Equals for Tech and Transforming Lives Awards. In 2019 she was among 9 women leaders from Africa selected to the Female Tech Business Africa Training Program in Berlin, Germany for leaders and founders working with girls and women in technology. 

The training team is led by a training coordinator and creative lead who is skilled in curriculum design and development. He leads the consultancy arm of NairoBits and has managed design projects for AMREF, AgaKhan Foundation, Edukans, Action Network for Persons with Disabilities. He has also led the setting up of Bits schools in Nigeria, Somali land and Pakistan. 

A vibrant team of trainers, including 4 skilled female trainers with experience in design and programming. 

A programs team to support the training team to ensure that we provide a holistic program. They include the SRHR coordinator who is responsible for Life skills and SRHR training and Advocacy and CBO liaison Officer and the Linkages and Partnerships coordinator. This team has established strong working relations with the beneficiaries and partners and communities. 

Community Based Organisations -  CBOs working in the informal settlements are vital partners to reach the youth since they have the experience, history, community trust, and cultural competence.  There is also sustainability through capacity building for the local CBO. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), guides the partnership spelling out the roles and expectations of the relationship.

Business Organization Partnership - ICT business organizations at all levels, continuously keep the team updated on new skills demands and ICT labour market trends. As potential employers, they guide the students on critical technical and social skills that any prospective employee should possess.

Government Agencies at the national level and local level are necessary to ensure advocacy for policy issues that emanate from the project

Donor Relations - NairoBits is a non-profit making organization; the organization secures funding from donorswho are interested in ICT and youth empowerment.

SisTech 2.0 aims to give concrete possibility of social and economic empowerment to young women. On completing the training, the participants will have their knowledge, skills and abilities improved for economic engagement and productivity enabling them to join a pool of highly employable people countrywide.

This program shall adopt a placements strategy that delivers employment opportunities. The skills envisaged will bring real time value by enabling access to appropriate information for business; marketing strategies; coordination and communication; managing customers; creating linkages with other resources such as legal information and capital. They will benefit from linkages, resources and opportunities on business start-up and expansion.

A network of entrepreneurs, employers and mentors will be formed to provide the trainees with a platform for networking and access to opportunities and resources such as markets, job and mentorship opportunities and access to financial services. This network will play a key role in the sustainability of this project as it will continue to support the needs of the trainees after involvement in project itself has ended. The network is expected to grow incrementally over time.  

The trainees will be encouraged to generate business ideas and initiatives that will be incubated under the NairoBits Innovation and Incubation program for launch into the market and scale. This will provide opportunities to generate income while gaining insights from the NairoBits team and a pool of experienced alumni.

The students will contribute a small fee commonly known as commitment fee, that will contribute 10% of the total training costs.

NairoBits goal is to generate internally more than 50 % of its annual income. To achieve this we have set up the Innovation and Incubation program where we will work closely with our alumni, business partners and stakeholders to design and launch products to the market.

As we work on improving and institutionalizing our business model the following are current and planned income raising opportunities;

The NairoBits Master Classes - The master classes consist of training in comprehensive short courses in Creative Design (UX/UI design, Product Design and Graphic Design) and Code Master (Front end and Back end development). These courses are suitable for any individual at the intermediate level of their career and is willing to pay a higher fee.

Video Impact Storytelling – This is a videography program that sees companies contract the NairoBit Media Team to tell its stories for marketing through use of videos and vlog

Consultancies and Technical support in developing branding materials and development & management of websites to companies and organisations.

Consultancies and training for other organisations who are setting up a Bits school which is borrowed from the NairoBits model

The online training platform will include different categories which can be accessed at different costs.  

Partnerships with local businesses to provide scholarships and bursaries for the students – to support a pipeline of skilled and talented employees

NairoBits is looking to gain more than just financial benefits from Solve. 

Financial Resources - would ensure that NairoBits is committed to develop skills that will drive innovation enabling our beneficiaries to not only access gainful employment but to be creators in ICT innovation. NairoBits would invest in improving this model to deliver training that is dynamic and adapts to the frequently changing technology

Financial Resources would help improve the model where the trainees apply what they learn through the innovation and incubation programme, a platform designed to give an opportunity to the vulnerable youth to get involved in the process of designing and creating solutions that benefit them and the communities they come from 

Being part of the Solve community would create and avenue for us to access key people and institutions including corporations and investors who are established and can work with us to develop our capacity. This includes in areas such as strategy, business models, capacity building of staff, equipment and facilities. 

Capacity building is essential especially in the technology sector and more so when working with a young team. The staff at NairoBits especially the training team is at the core of what we do. Access to advanced skills for the staff could ensure quality in our programming including the training. This includes program design, implementation, M&E and sustainability

Strategy and Business development would enable us venture into new fields strengthening our sustainability. Our goal is to enhance our adaptability to current and future market trends.

Sustainability is paramount to NairoBits to enable us scale, continue and advance our work. We are working towards resource diversification and developing mechanisms towards increased revenue generation for organisational sustainability and resilience. Our goal for the next 5 years is to have the capacity to generate 70% of our total income internally providing us with flexible and secure resources to enable us achieve our objectives and goals. We have started the process but we are hindered by various challenges key among them capacity, lack of a business model and personnel. The structure we envision is one that could enhance our sustainability while also meeting the needs of our beneficiaries. Joining the Solve community would give us access to platforms, tools and people that could support us in the journey that we have already started on innovation, information and knowledge management for adaptation to relevance and sustainability.  

As we work towards sustainability our goals is to strengthen our capacity to better serve our constituents. The courses offered by the MIT faculty on business and innovation would be a great resources to the NairoBits team to for learning and building their capacity. 

The girls and women agenda is one that still has a long way to go before achieving the desired results. The situation is even more dire for girls/young women from underserved communities. NairoBits has a strong presence in the community. 

NairoBits is seeking resources to advance the work and reach more girls and young women in disadvantaged communities.

NairoBits target of girls and young women from disadvantaged communities will ensure that their needs are recognised and get them the much needed support. Our goal is to ensure that these girls and young women capacity and talent is identified and natured providing them the same platform with those from advantaged backgrounds to create and innovate. 

Winning the prize will enable us advance this program further to provide better skills training. We believe that these girls and young women have the capacity to follow in the footsteps of other NairoBits alumni who have made a mark in technology sector at a national and international level. 

The prize funding will go towards investing in the much needed facilities and equipment including softwares that support blended learning and safe spaces. The funding will also go towards scaling the program to reach other marginalised groups in 5 counties in Kenya both urban and rural. 

We are also keen on including girls and young women with disabilities, those in juvenille institutions and young mothers. A blended learning platforms will ensure that we cater to all these groups. 

The trainees will have access to hackathons, innovation and incubation centres and mentorship opportunities 

NairoBits target of girls and young women from disadvantaged communities will ensure that their needs are recognised and get them the much needed support. Our goal is to ensure that these girls and young women capacity and talent is identified and natured providing them the same platform with those from advantaged backgrounds to create and innovate. 

Winning the prize will enable us advance this program further to provide better skills training. We believe that these girls and young women have the capacity to follow in the footsteps of other NairoBits alumni who have made a mark in technology sector at a national and international level. 

The prize funding will go towards investing in the much needed facilities and equipment including softwares that support blended learning and safe spaces. The funding will also go towards scaling the program to reach other marginalised groups in 5 counties in Kenya both urban and rural. 

We are also keen on including girls and young women with disabilities, those in juvenille institutions and young mothers. A blended learning platforms will ensure that we cater to all these groups. 

The trainees will have access to hackathons, innovation and incubation centres and mentorship opportunities