01
Background
Why Turkana and Garissa
The ILO-E4Impact Youth Leadership Lab will be implemented in Turkana and Garissa counties under the PROSPECTS Kenya framework. The programme will strengthen youth-led organisations developing or scaling initiatives that support young people's transition into decent jobs and decent work, with priority attention to refugees, host-community youth, young women, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
Turkana and Garissa are ASAL and displacement-affected counties linked to the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee-hosting contexts and surrounding host communities. Young people in these areas continue to face barriers to economic inclusion, including limited access to productive work, weak links between skills development and labour market opportunities, constrained enterprise growth, limited youth participation in decision-making, and gaps in labour rights awareness and decent work protections.
02
Objective
What the Innovation Challenge will do
The Innovation Challenge will identify and support credible youth-led organisations with locally grounded initiatives that contribute to decent work, youth leadership, inclusion and livelihood outcomes for refugees and host communities in Turkana and Garissa.
The programme will select 5-10 organisations for further support through a five-day Bootcamp, the Youth Leadership Lab and milestone-based grants, subject to due diligence, proposal refinement, budget validation and grant-readiness.
03
What Are We Looking For?
Three Thematic Tracks
The call seeks practical, locally grounded initiatives that can be implemented in Turkana and/or Garissa and that contribute to one primary thematic track. Proposals should demonstrate a clear problem, a defined target group, a feasible implementation approach, measurable results, and organisational capacity to deliver.
Green transitions and climate-resilient livelihoods
Climate-resilient enterprise models, green value chains, sustainable livelihoods, circular economy approaches, clean energy applications, natural resource management, agriculture, livestock, fisheries and other ASAL-relevant livelihood solutions.
Labour rights and youth voice
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, occupational safety and health, non-discrimination, worker voice, youth participation, grievance mechanisms, social dialogue, rights at work and improved working conditions for young people.
Youth leadership and social accountability
Youth leadership, civic participation, community accountability, service feedback mechanisms, inclusive decision-making, local advocacy, social accountability tools and constructive engagement with public and community institutions.
Cross-cutting elements: Digital innovation, skills development, enterprise support, gender responsiveness, disability inclusion and refugee-host-community inclusion may be integrated as cross-cutting elements.
04
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are open to youth-led organisations operating in Turkana and/or Garissa. Applicants must demonstrate substantive youth leadership, local relevance, implementation capacity and alignment with at least one thematic track.
Eligible Organisation Types
- Youth-led non-profit organisations
- Community-based organisations
- Refugee-led organisations
- Youth groups
- Civil society organisations
- Cooperatives
- Training institutions
- Youth hubs
- Workers' or employers' organisations
- Research/development institutions
- Social enterprises
Not Eligible
Applications from individuals will not be accepted. Organisations that do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements will not proceed to technical scoring.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
Applicant type
Is the applicant an organisation and not an individual applicant?
Organisation category
Is the applicant an eligible youth-led organisation type and aligned with the purpose of the call?
Legal status and contractual capacity
Does the applicant provide evidence of registration or formal organisational recognition in Kenya, authorised signatories and capacity to enter into a grant agreement?
Youth leadership
Does the applicant demonstrate substantive youth leadership in governance, management, membership, staffing, decision-making or implementation?
Geographic focus
Does the applicant have operational presence, a track record or credible implementation links in Turkana and/or Garissa?
Target group relevance
Does the proposed intervention target refugees, host-community youth, young women, persons with disabilities or other marginalised youth?
Thematic alignment
Does the proposed intervention align with at least one programme track?
Decent work and safeguarding commitment
Does the applicant commit to labour rights, occupational safety and health, non-discrimination, safeguarding and grievance mechanisms during implementation?
Application completeness
Has the applicant submitted the required technical proposal, budget template, organisational profile and supporting documents?
Applications that do not meet all minimum eligibility requirements will not proceed to technical scoring.
05
What Selected Organisations Will Receive
A Full Grant-Readiness Journey
Bootcamp
A five-day grant-readiness programme focused on proposal refinement, budget validation, milestone planning, MEL readiness, safeguarding, GRM integration, decent work commitments and grant compliance.
Youth Leadership Lab
10-12 months of structured institutional strengthening, mentoring, advisory clinics, peer learning, field accompaniment and technical assistance.
Milestone-based grant support
Grants ranging from USD 15,000 to USD 40,000 for 5-10 organisations, subject to due diligence, grant-readiness, approved budgets and signed grant agreements.
Selection into the programme does not automatically guarantee grant funding. Grant agreements will be confirmed only after proposal refinement, due diligence, budget validation, approval of milestone frameworks and signing of grant agreements.
06
Application Package
How to Apply
- 1
Read these participant guidelines in full
- 2
Review the eligibility criteria and thematic tracks
- 3
Download the technical proposal and budget templates
- 4
Complete all required sections in English
- 5
Prepare all supporting documents
- 6
Submit the application through the official application portal before the deadline
- 7
Retain the submission confirmation where available
Applicants may also be requested to submit a short video introduction to support verification of organisational leadership, local presence, understanding of the proposed intervention and implementation readiness.
The Package Includes
- Completed technical proposal template
- Completed budget template
- Organisational profile
- Evidence of registration or formal organisational recognition in Kenya
- Evidence of authorised signatories
- Supporting documents requested in the participant guidelines
- Any additional due diligence information requested during review
Key Information
- Application portal
- [Insert application link]
- Application deadline
- 30 August 2026
- Application language
- English
- Enquiries
- accelerator.kenya@e4impact.org · +254 712 526 952
Applicant support will clarify requirements, templates, timelines, eligibility and submission procedures. E4Impact will not write proposals on behalf of applicants.
07
Selection Process
Five Stages, One Hundred Points
Stage 1 — Eligibility screening
Applications are reviewed against minimum eligibility requirements. Applications marked “No” against one or more minimum requirements will not proceed.
Stage 2 — Technical scoring
Eligible applications are scored out of 100 points against approved technical criteria. A minimum technical threshold of 70 points is recommended for shortlisting, subject to final agreement with ILO.
Stage 3 — Shortlisting
Approximately 20 organisations may be shortlisted for pitching, subject to application quality, county balance, thematic balance, inclusion, due diligence findings and portfolio quality.
Stage 4 — Pitching and panel review
Shortlisted organisations will be invited to pitch their proposed interventions. Pitching sessions are expected to be held in Turkana and Garissa.
Stage 5 — Final selection
A final cohort of 5-10 organisations will be confirmed for the Bootcamp and Youth Leadership Lab after panel review, due diligence and ILO/E4Impact confirmation.
Technical Scoring Criteria
Relevance and track fit
15 pts
Alignment with one thematic track and contribution to decent work, youth leadership, employment pathways, livelihoods or social accountability in Turkana and/or Garissa.
Problem analysis and local grounding
10 pts
Clarity of the problem statement, county context, target group needs and relevance to refugee-hosting or host-community realities.
Quality and relevance of proposed solution
15 pts
Clarity, practicality, innovation and suitability of the intervention for the identified problem and target group.
Implementation feasibility
15 pts
Realism of activities, workplan, staffing, delivery arrangements, partnerships, timeline and operational approach.
Organisational capacity and implementation experience
15 pts
Evidence of prior delivery, governance, leadership, staffing, systems, local credibility, partnerships and capacity to implement.
Inclusion and gender responsiveness
10 pts
Quality of measures to reach and benefit refugees, host-community youth, young women, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
Decent work, safeguarding and GRM integration
10 pts
Practical integration of labour rights, occupational safety and health, non-discrimination, safeguarding, youth voice, feedback and grievance mechanisms, and complaint handling.
Budget realism and milestone readiness
10 pts
Reasonableness of costs, consistency between budget and activities, value for money and suitability for milestone-based grant disbursement.
Total
100 points
A minimum technical threshold of 70 points is recommended for shortlisting.
08
Timeline
Key Dates
Call opens
1 August 2026
Applicant mobilisation, roadshows and orientation sessions
1-30 August 2026
Application deadline
30 August 2026
Eligibility screening and technical scoring
1-15 September 2026
Pitching and panel review
16-24 September 2026
Selected organisations confirmed
By 30 September 2026
Bootcamp and grant-readiness preparation
October 2026
Youth Leadership Lab support
After Bootcamp, for 10-12 months
Grant implementation and close-out
2027
Any changes to dates will be communicated through the programme landing page and official programme channels.
09
Applicant Responsibilities
What applicants must uphold
- Submit truthful, accurate and complete information
- Use the official templates and application portal
- Participate in required clarification, pitching, due diligence, Bootcamp and Lab activities if shortlisted or selected
- Comply with safeguarding, non-discrimination, labour rights and GRM requirements
- Maintain records required for grant administration, reporting, verification and close-out
- Avoid multiple or duplicate submissions unless explicitly allowed by the programme
10
Feedback, Complaints and GRM
Grievance and Redress Mechanism
Applicants and stakeholders may submit questions, feedback or complaints through official programme channels. Complaints may relate to access to application information, eligibility screening, scoring, shortlisting, pitching, selection decisions, applicant feedback, unfair treatment, exclusion, conflict of interest, safeguarding, discrimination, disability access, retaliation, labour rights, misuse of funds or breach of programme procedures.
Complaints may be submitted by named or anonymous complainants. They will be handled confidentially, at no cost and without retaliation.
How to Reach Us
- GRM tab on the programme landing page
- Programme email address: accelerator.kenya@e4impact.org
- Phone or WhatsApp contact: +254 712 526 952
- In-person reporting during roadshows, Bootcamp, Lab sessions, field missions or county meetings
- Written submission through designated E4Impact focal points
- Referral through County Government focal points, partner institutions or grantee focal persons
Call Opens 1 August 2026 · Deadline 30 August 2026
Ready to lead change in Turkana and Garissa?
Submit a complete application before the deadline. E4Impact applicant support will clarify requirements — but the proposal is yours to lead.
Submission Checklist
- Completed technical proposal template
- Completed budget template
- Organisational profile
- Registration or formal recognition document
- Authorised signatory evidence
- Evidence of Turkana and/or Garissa presence or implementation links
- Supporting documents requested in the application portal
- Contact information for organisational focal person