Economic Empowerment

Jenga Bizna
Mtaani

Equipping communities for sustainable livelihoods—through  entrepreneurship, skills development, and mentorship.

How it works (recommended “step-by-step” section)  

  1. Mobilisation & selection with community leaders and partners 
  2. Training & incubation (business basics, record-keeping, customer discovery) 
  3. Seed support for the most viable community-led initiatives. 
  4. Mentorship & follow-up (0–24 months) focused on sustainability and growth. 

Skills Development Training and Mentorship 
JJF forges strategic partnerships with local organizations to provide robust skills-building  opportunities for community members. By enhancing coordination among existing training  programs, we amplify impact and ensure meaningful synergies across all initiatives. 

Skills Development Training and Mentorship

JJF forges strategic partnerships with local organizations to provide robust skills-building opportunities for community members. By enhancing coordination among existing training programs, we amplify impact and ensure meaningful synergies across all initiatives.

K–Shoes Social Entrepreneurship Training (Mini-MBA)
JJF collaborated with K–Shoes to design a two-month program focusing on entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development. Through this immersive training, participants generate, incubate, and refine their business ideas—culminating in a pitch for potential seed funding.

Fresh Cuts Foundation Hairdressing, Barbering, and Beauty Therapy
In partnership with the Fresh Cuts Foundation, JJF delivers professional training designed for marginalized youth aged 15 to 35. Participants graduate with industry-relevant skills and receive practical tools—such as barbering machines—to jumpstart their careers. Following the successful graduation of over 100 trainees in 2020, the program aims to skill and equip 150 more young individuals by 2021.

Seed Capital for Enterprise Development

To bolster these new ventures, JJF provides seed funding to the most promising community-based projects. Only those initiatives fully owned and managed by youth, women, or differently-abled persons qualify—reinforcing our commitment to inclusive economic development. This approach helps catalyze innovation within social entrepreneurship, enabling communities to scale and create impact at the grassroots level.

Working Towards Sustainable Development

We believe that entrepreneurship and job creation not only contribute to higher levels of productivity and innovation but also help eradicate poverty in all its forms. By reducing inequalities through inclusive policies and capacity-building, JJF promotes economic opportunities for all, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity.

Equipping Communities for Sustainable Livelihoods

Through Jenga Bizna Mtaani, JJF ensures communities have access to stable, lawful, and structured income-generating activities. We work closely with community groups to enhance skill sets, grow scalable enterprises, and provide decent job opportunities—all with the overarching goal of sustaining livelihoods and advancing social well-being across Nairobi’s informal settlements.

The Jonathan Jackson Foundation’s Economic Empowerment strategy centers on Jenga Bizna Mtaani, a program designed to build thriving social enterprises in Nairobi’s informal settlements. By delivering tailored training, mentorship, and seed capital—now offered in-house through JJF’s dedicated Business Development Unit—the Foundation helps marginalized communities create stable, dignified livelihoods. Through strategic partnerships and ongoing support, our efforts directly contribute to reducing poverty, addressing inequalities, and promoting sustainable economic growth for youth, women, and individuals with disabilities.