Winnie Achieng, a clinical officer and innovator, presents her value-added food products during the visit of the President of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Annalena Baerbock, to a DigiKen-supported digital innovation hub at PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute in Nairobi. Photo: UN in Kenya.

As part of a two-day visit to Kenya, the President of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Annalena Baerbock, visited a DigiKen-supported digital innovation hub at PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute in Nairobi, drawing international attention to Kenya’s efforts to build an inclusive digital economy.

The visit brought together digital entrepreneurs, learners and public officials involved in digital transformation efforts, who shared how they are leveraging digital skills, innovation hubs, and access to finance to create new economic opportunities. The engagement highlighted the importance of ensuring that digital transformation efforts are inclusive, practical, and effectively linked to skills, innovation, and access to finance for users and businesses on the ground.

DigiKen is a joint United Nations initiative funded by the European Union through the UN Joint SDG Fund led by UNESCO and implemented by UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UNEP and UN Women, in partnership with the Government of Kenya. The programme supports the development of a thriving digital platforms ecosystem by combining skills development, innovation infrastructure, policy engagement, and access to finance. It also connects digital entrepreneurs with financial institutions while helping them strengthen their business models and financial readiness so they can access investment.

The President of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Annalena Baerbock, UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Dr Garry Conille, UNCDF East and Southern Africa and Arab States Regional Investment team lead, Omon Ukpoma Olaiya and and other dignitaries during the visit to a DigiKen-supported digital innovation hub at PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute in Nairobi. Photo: UN in Kenya.

A key feature of the programme is its focus on addressing financing constraints faced by digital micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Through its role in the Digiken programme, UNCDF works with financial institutions to unlock financing for digital businesses supported under the programme. This includes a $900,000 guarantee partnership with the Co-operative Bank of Kenya which shares lending risk with the bank. This enables the bank to extend loans to these digital MSMEs that would otherwise struggle to access credit due to limited collateral, lack of credit history, and low financial readiness.

For programme participants, the combined benefits of digital skills training, innovation support, improved investment readiness and access to finance are already visible.

“As someone who is visually impaired, I can now use my phone and digital platforms independently, something I couldn’t do before DigiKen, thanks to the digital skills training support I received during the programme” said Amani Ali, a digital learner and accessibility advocate. “It has given me confidence and a pathway to shape my future. Now I want to help others with disabilities use digital skills to grow their ideas, build businesses and access opportunities, including finance.”

Amani Ali, a visually impaired digital learner and accessibility advocate shares his journey under the DigiKen programme with the UNGA President, H.E. Annalena Baerbock, and her team. Photo: UN in Kenya.

Reflecting on stories such as Amani’s, H.E. Annalena Baerbock, noted, “In these trying times – when the UN Charter is being openly challenged by some – the bad news oftentimes overshadows the good. This trip was also about highlighting the many good stories of the UN. From Raphael to Amani, Nairobi was filled with examples that no single day the world will be better off without the United Nations, and an inspiration that we are indeed better together.”

The visit underscored the importance of linking global commitments on digital transformation with locally grounded, market-based solutions that expand access to finance and enable innovation to scale. It also demonstrated the value of partnerships between governments, the United Nations system, and the private sector in building inclusive and sustainable digital economies.