About Us
We are a social enterprise entity based and registered in Kenya as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Headquartered in Garissa, Northern Kenya, NieHub supports and empowers youth, girls and women in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera through ICT skills, social entrepreneurship, mentorship as well as career and job training.
NieHub was conceptualized in 2019 to help improve the lives of the marginalized youth, girls and women in Northern Kenya. Through well thought programs, the innovation hub offers a unique platform that equips the target group with essential life skills through professional, technological, entrepreneurial and technical initiatives. The hub provides creative working space to empower the target groups with business and soft skills so that they create economic opportunities for themselves.
According to the 2018 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the unemployment rate among the youth is 70 percent which translates to seven million. Counties in Northern Kenya that have been marginalized since independence, rank top in the unemployment index survey. This has resulted in high poverty rates, substance abuse, disillusionment that has caused increase in depression and mental diseases as well as recruitment into extremist groups.
Access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and services in Northern Kenya is among the lowest in the country. NieHub seeks to bridge this gap by providing a convenient platform to empower the community… The employment market for young people has changed significantly over the past two decades under the combined impacts of globalization, market liberalization and the adoption of innovative approaches.
Vision
NieHub envisions Inspired and equipped young people of Northern Kenya with relevant skills and knowledge for better future.
Mission
Northern Innovation and Empowerment Hub creates platforms for the young people to transform their lives and those around them.
Values
- Inclusion
- Integrity
- Innovation
- Impact
NieHub
Objectives
To promote consumption of ICT services by the locals in the Northern region of Kenya
To provide mentorship in life skills and career development for boys and girls
To provide platform for innovation and increase the number of impactful startups and creative ideas
To create a research and development hub for the northern region
NieHub launched as an innovation hub for youth, girls and women in this region to offer the following initiatives:
ICT4D
NieHub is a strategic hub that equips the youth with skills and technical knowhow in web and app development, computer science, network engineering and programming through a well-developed curriculum. Importantly, NieHub offers a safe hub for the youth to come up with and incubate innovative ideas in ICT that will offer solutions to community challenges and advance socio-economic development. With guidance of specialists in ICT, the youth are nurtured to bring out their full potential through use of coding to steer digital advancement in various sectors. Further, the hub offers specialized ICT training for girls to bridge the gender disparity in the region and set them up for career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM)
Entrepreneurship Incubator
NieHub offers creative space for the incubation of ideas in order to identify under explored as well as unexplored sectors in the region. The hub provides tools/resources to support entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and solutions through in person as well as virtual mentorship that allows them to be at par with the entrepreneurial eco-system. Women and youth are coached and guided in running a business by helping them clarify the vision of their business and how it fits in with their personal goals, developing an effective business model, critical thinking and problem solving, accounting and book keeping, basic web development, proposal writing and marketing. The hub also creates awareness for youth and women from this region on the government led initiates such as the Women Enterprise Fund, Uwezo Fund and Youth Enterprise Development Fund.
Mentorship
Through engaging role models and professionals from the community, NieHub mentors girls and boys in primary and secondary school level on reproductive health, effects of substance abuse, life skills, academic achievement and career opportunities. This is achieved through creating close mentor-mentee relationships that offers coaching, support and guidance. Niehub also creates a platform to enhance soft skills such as leadership and interpersonal skills, communication skills, character, positive attitude and teamwork.
Research and Development
NieHub identifies and researches on developmental challenges facing the community in this region. Areas of research include education, economic, health, social, security, environmental among others. The hub publishes and shares the research findings and offers recommendations to the national and county governments and broad range of partners. NieHub also supports organizations in carrying out research by providing expertise and resources in data collection, analysis, monitoring and evaluation.
Who we are
Our Team
NieHub’s dedicated team leading the way
Fatuma A. Dubow
Fatuma A. Dubow has a wide experience in community development, having worked with the marginalized North-Eastern communities in Kenya. She is a development specialist with focus on community mobilization, community development, and NGO (Non-governmental organization) partnerships. Her experience as a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) expert puts the organization at a strategic position of efficiently using and controlling the available resources. In addition, Dubow has a Master of Arts in Development Studies from the Catholic University of East Africa. She is in charge of Projects Implementation, Monitoring and Learning component of NieHub.
Alinoor R. Hassan
Alinoor Hassan is an Economic development professional experienced in SME, trade and private sector including business start-ups. Previously managed large economic development projects funded by USAID, DFID and World Bank. He has over 10 years of experience in the field of research, particularly conducting qualitative and quantitative research. He has an excellence facilitating and training skills. He is experienced in working with civil organization, government agencies and international humanitarian organization. He holds a Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management from University of Nairobi. Alinoor Hassan serves as the Strategic Planning and Finance Manager for NieHub.
Alinoor M. Bosh
Alinoor Moulid Bosh is an experienced independent journalist, having worked in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. His specialties are in journalism, editing and online (digital) journalism, making his experience invaluable in implementing the programs of NieHub. Alinoor is an indispensable asset to the organization as he has traversed the north eastern region of Kenya, with strong grassroots connections in the major towns in the region. Alinoor is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs from the Kenya Methodist University in 2015 and a continuing student of a Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations at Kenyatta University. Alinoor serves as the Operations Manager as well as the Communication person at the organization.