Briefing Paper

Strategies to Support Youth-headed Households in Kenya and Rwanda

“There is a growing number of youth-headed households in Sub-Saharan Africa that have specific vulnerabilities not often addressed by current policies and programs in their home countries. Where countries have developed strategies to support orphans and
vulnerable children, there has been a limited focus on youth-headed households as a social group requiring attention. Rwanda has articulated strategies and implemented programs to support youth-headed households, setting a useful example for others in the
region. Kenya has placed youth-headed households on the policy agenda, however more targeted strategies will need to be developed and implemented in order to support, protect and enable this group of young people.”