Domestication of Demographic Dividend at Country Level - Kenya's Pathway

Francis Kundu, National Council for Population and Development
Irene Muhunzu, Natioanl Council for Population and Development
Peter Nyakwara, National Council for Population and Development
Nzomo Mulatya, National Council for Population and Development

The African Union recognizes the importance of demographic dividend in enabling African countries achieve the Social Development Goals by 2030 and the aspirations articulated in Agenda 2063. In this regard the Union is advocating for the incorporation of demographic dividend in national development plans as a way of accelerating socio-economic development. Kenya has since 2014 implemented activities aimed at domesticating the demographic dividend concept at both national and county levels. These efforts commenced with the modelling of the Country’s potential to attain a demographic dividend. After establishing this potential, a survey on youth was undertaken, a roadmap outlining priority DD activities that need to be implemented, and guidelines for DD integration in development plans were developed. These documents have contributed greatly to the domestication of the concept at both national and county levels. Despite these efforts and successes, challenges that may hamper DD achievement exit alongside opportunities for further domestication.