The Standard Chartered Foundation and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU) have announced a new partnership aimed at helping 1,500 young women in Kenya and Nigeria secure jobs over the next three years.
This initiative will focus on women aged 18 to 24 from under-served backgrounds. The collaboration builds on GenU’s existing skills training programs, selecting participants from those who have already completed such training. The goal is to prioritize support for these young women as they seek employment that meets standards for decent work, as defined by the International Labour Organization.
UNICEF offices in Kenya and Nigeria will work with local job placement experts to connect participants with private sector opportunities. UNICEF will also collaborate with local government initiatives to find job pathways tailored to local needs.
Tanuj Kapilashrami, Trustee of the Standard Chartered Foundation and Chief Strategy and Talent Officer at Standard Chartered, said: “This new partnership with UNICEF GenU focuses on empowering young women across Kenya and Nigeria with the training and opportunities they need to build meaningful careers. By coming together, the Standard Chartered Foundation and UNICEF GenU are helping create pathways to employment and driving lasting change from the ground up – because opening doors to decent jobs is vital for broader economic growth and unlocks potential that benefits entire communities.”
Kevin Frey, CEO of Generation Unlimited at UNICEF, stated: “Standard Chartered has been a committed partner since 2022, and supported a global public-private coalition to improve girls’ access to education and employment. This new partnership with the Standard Chartered Foundation focused on Kenya and Nigeria will build on the past efforts to create opportunities for young women in these countries to not only shape their individual futures but also create positive impact for their communities.”
Generation Unlimited was launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2018 as a global Public-Private-Youth Partnership anchored in UNICEF. It brings together international organizations, leaders, civil society representatives, and youth to develop solutions that connect young people worldwide with opportunities in employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact. More information about Generation Unlimited can be found at https://www.generationunlimited.org/.
The Standard Chartered Foundation was established by Standard Chartered in 2019 as a charitable organization working across its markets. Its mission is to address inequality by supporting youth employability programs—especially targeting under-served groups such as women and people with disabilities—and funding projects that help them gain skills needed for work or entrepreneurship. Details about its activities are available at https://www.sc.com/scfoundation/.
UNICEF clarified it does not endorse any brand, product or service.