Thais Costa
Youth Digital Readiness
GIZ approached Butterfly Works to conduct a design research project as part of their wider programme: 'The Global Project on Employment' that aims to support youth in accessing better opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, particularly in the context of the rapidly evolving digital economy such as the rural areas of Kenya, Burkina Faso and Malawi. The project aimed to equip young people in developing countries with the digital skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
My Role:
I led the design research process in Kenya, working closely with a local design thinking expert who facilitated the in-country workshops. Together, we applied design thinking-inspired research methods to explore the lived experiences of youth in the rural regions of Kakamega and Siaya, gaining deep insights into their challenges, needs, and aspirations.
Company/ partners
Output
An insight deck and a set of guiding principles for the design of digital solutions.
Location
Kenya, Malawi, Burkina Faso
Date
2021
The design challenge
Kenya has a youthful rural population, with 36 million Kenyans under 35 years of age, and 70% of them living in rural areas, primarily engaged in small-scale farming. However, due to high unemployment rates and limited growth opportunities, many young people do not see agriculture as a viable career path. There is a pressing need to focus on the technological advancements and modernization of the agricultural sector. As such, the project aimed to assess the digital readiness of youth and implementing partners while capitalizing on existing opportunities.
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To address this, we set out to answer the following research questions:
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How do youth access and use digital devices and applications?
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What skills do youth need when using digital devices and applications?
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What challenges and opportunities related to digital devices and applications do youth face?
We applied a variety of research tools, including communication mapping, challenge scenarios, individual interviews, guided observations, and photo collection, to better understand the needs, challenges, and aspirations of youth farmers, as well as their support ecosystem. Participants in the research included youth, as well as representatives from partner organisations such as vocational training centres, extension services, youth organisations, and smallholder farmers.
The outcome
The methodology was structured around three key components: Online Research, an In-person Workshop Day, and a Field Visit Day. This approach provided a comprehensive range of perspectives and ensured the information gathered was grounded in the local context.
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Online Research: Focused on collecting visual insights into how youth perceive themselves and their lives in relation to digital technologies.
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Workshop: Aimed at understanding participants' perspectives and experiences related to youth farming, through interactive discussions and exercises.
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Field Visits: Served to contextualize, validate, and enrich the insights gathered during the workshop, using a guided observation process.
The outcome of this methodology was an Insights Deck Report, which synthesized the key research findings, identified recurring patterns, outlined potential opportunity areas, and proposed guiding principles to inform the next steps of The Global Project on Employment programme.
The communication mapping exercise seeks to understand what are the the communication channels used by youth, how do they use it and with whom.
The challenges scenario helps us understand the most important obstacles that the participants have to contend with in the execution of their work.
The individual interviews tool seeks to understand the needs, challenges and aspirations of people through their personal encounters and lived experiences.