The Climate Resilience Service Program (CRSP), popularly known as Climate WorX, was recently launch by President William Ruto with an aim of addressing climate resilience while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for the youth.
The programe is a government initiative designed to address the growing challenges posed by climate change, while simultaneously providing employment opportunities for the youth.
With unemployment being one of the major ills affecting the country, the intiative aims to create jobs through labor-intensive public works that focus on environmental conservation, infrastructure development, and disaster preparedness.
In addition to employment, CRSP will also provide hands-on training and life skills development to prepare participants for future opportunities in both formal and entrepreneurial sectors.
By combining environmental conservation with economic empowerment, the program aims to build a skilled workforce that can contribute to the country’s climate action goals while alleviating unemployment.
The program, which is designed to recruit 200,000 youth from across the 47 counties, has specific requirements that applicants must meet to be eligible. Below is a comprehensive look at the only qualifications applicants need to qualify for the jobs.
- Kenyan Citizenship and Valid National ID
To be eligible for recruitment into the Climate WorX program, the applicant must be a Kenyan citizen and possess a valid National Identity Card (ID). This ensures that the program is restricted to Kenyan nationals and enables efficient identification for payment and verification purposes.
The recruitment process is stringent in confirming an applicant’s identification details, as all payments are processed through mobile money platforms like Mpesa, which require an ID match with the mobile number used.
- Age Between 18 and 35 (with exceptions for vulnerable groups)
The program is specifically targeted at young people between the ages of 18 and 35. This age bracket has been selected to focus on youth to enhance their economic stability and growth.
However, there are exceptions to the age requirement for vulnerable groups, such as women and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs).
- Minimum of Primary School Education
While the program is designed to be inclusive, it does require that all applicants have at least a primary school education. This basic educational requirement ensures that participants can effectively follow instructions and undergo the necessary training for the various workstreams under the Climate WorX initiative be it road construction, environmental conservation, or housing development.
- Registered Safaricom Line with Mpesa
All recruited workers under the Climate WorX program will be paid paid via Mpesa. Therefore, applicants must have a Safaricom line registered in their own name, with the ability to receive mobile payments through Mpesa.
- No Participation in Other Government Cash Transfer Programs
The Climate WorX program is designed to target those who are not already receiving government financial assistance through other cash transfer programs.
Applicants must sign an attestation confirming that they are not beneficiaries of programs such as the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC), or the Hunger Safety Net Program (HSNP), among others.
Additional Key Considerations
While the above qualifications are mandatory for participation, there are a few additional considerations that applicants should be aware of. First, the recruitment process is based on quotas for each settlement or area, meaning that only a certain number of applicants will be selected from each region.
Furthermore, to promote fairness and spread the benefits across as many households as possible, only one person per household can be recruited. This ensures that more families benefit from the employment opportunities created by the Climate WorX initiative.
Another key aspect of the recruitment process is the emphasis on gender equity. The program aims to meet the constitutional requirement of ensuring that no more than two-thirds of one gender are recruited from any given area, promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for both men and women.
Also, persons living with disabilities are eligible for recruitment but must be briefed on the specific work requirements.
The CRSP encourages applicants who have an interest in construction work and entrepreneurship. The selected youth will be involved in various infrastructure projects and environmental activities aimed at promoting climate resilience.
Selected applicants will undergo verification of their details to ensure that the information provided during registration matches their official ID and Mpesa registration details. This step is crucial to avoid issues in processing payments.
Terms of Employment
Under the program, there are clear terms of employment for workers to ensure they understand their rights, responsibilities, and benefits while engaging in their duties including;
Age and Citizenship Requirements:
All workers must be Kenyan citizens between 18 and 35 years old. However, vulnerable women and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) above 35 can also apply.
Mobile Payments:
All payments will be made through mobile money (Mpesa), so workers must have a Safaricom line registered in their name to receive wages.
Protective Equipment:
Workers are required to come to work equipped with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including gumboots, face masks, and heavy-duty gloves. This ensures safety while working on labor-intensive projects.
Work Hours and Compensation:
Workers will be expected to work for up to eight hours a day and can work up to 20 days per month.
Unskilled workers will earn a daily wage of KES 500, while skilled workers will be paid based on the specific workstreams they are assigned to.
Payments will be processed a week after the conclusion of the fortnightly shift.
Registration and Selection
The Climate Resilience Service Program (CRSP) will employ an open online registration system to recruit eligible youth for the initiative. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and are required to submit their identification and phone number during the registration process.
With only 200,000 available positions, a selection committee will be tasked with reviewing applications and finalizing the list of successful candidates.