PROJECT
Kenya: Tap and Reposition Youth (TRY) Livelihoods Project for Girls and Young Women

Since 1998 the Population Council and K-Rep Development Agency (KDA) have been implementing an innovative savings, microcredit, and social support program for young Kenyans in Nairobi and rural Kiambu. Tap and Reposition Youth (TRY) is an adaptation of a group-based adult microfinance model for young women. It includes specialized business training; an integrated mentoring program that provides ongoing social support, counseling, and referral for vulnerable young women; and a voluntary saving program.

The program model has evolved considerably. Initially credit was emphasized. Now the project offers a more-nuanced approach that takes into account the levels of financial literacy and preparedness of girls at different ages, as well as the importance of savings, especially for the most vulnerable young women living through an HIV epidemic. In fact, experience gained during the project has shown that the demand for a safe place to save money for emergencies was perhaps greater than the demand for credit. Most recently, specialized Young Savers Clubs have been established to provide safe savings outlets for girls who may not be interested in or ready for credit.

In all, over 500 young women have participated in the project, through either savings-only or savings and credit activities.

The project was evaluated using baseline and endline surveys among girls who were participating in TRY and a comparison group who were not TRY members. The evaluation demonstrated improved economic outcomes among TRY participants compared to those who didn't participate, including increases in income levels, greater savings, and greater use of banking services to store savings. There was some indication that TRY girls were more likely to have liberal gender attitudes and greater ability to negotiate safer sex than nonparticipants. However, these results are inconclusive owing to modest sample sizes and low response rates.

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Location

Nairobi and Kiambu, Kenya

Duration

1998–2005

Population Council researchers

Annabel Erulkar, Erica Chong

Non-Council collaborators

Aleke Dondo (K-Rep Development Agency)

Donors

The Ford Foundation

The Turner Foundation, Inc.

UK Department for International Development

Publications/Resources on this project

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See Also

• Kenya

• Transitions to Adulthood
  • Creating Safe Spaces
  • Child Marriage/Married Adolescents
  • Livelihoods
  • Schooling
  • Very Young Adolescents

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