The Netherlands is facing a growing shortage of workers for low-skilled digital jobs. At the same time, there is high unemployment in Nairobi's slums. A study by Erasmus University Rotterdam, in collaboration with the ALLSAFE fund [1], aims to connect these two issues
Digitalisation in Nairobi's slums
In the Mathare slum in Nairobi, nearly everyone has a mobile phone. In some respects, digitalisation is more advanced here than in the Netherlands. Dina, a grandmother who survives on just 1 USD a day, owns a mobile phone, though she cannot always afford to buy food. She needs the phone to receive digital payments from the church. Thomas, squatting on the street, searches for work on his phone, while Bea, a hairdresser, follows the latest hair trends on YouTube. However, there are far more opportunities with digitalisation that remain untapped due to unreliable internet and power supply, as well as a lack of knowledge.
Research into digital training and support
Erasmus University Rotterdam is exploring how digital training and support can improve conditions in the slums. Research leader Jan Fransen explains: "Most of these digital training centres fail because the computers aren't maintained, or the training is ineffective. We need to find new working methods that meet the needs of slum residents. That is what EUR is researching, together with researchers from the slum itself. Samuel Kiriro leads these slum researchers and has trained them. After identifying the residents' needs, a co-creation process begins. The government, community groups, and researchers work together to develop a plan for digital hubs in the slums. Samuel remarks, 'This collaboration between the government and residents is a breath of fresh air, especially in a time when we often find ourselves on opposite sides.'"
Digital hubs for employment and collaboration
The main goal of the digital centres is to help young people secure jobs in the fastest-growing economic sector: digital work. Additionally, they provide the poorest residents, like Dina, with access to information about where to seek help. Perhaps most importantly, the digital hubs foster collaboration between the government, community groups, and businesses to achieve greater impact.
A solution to the labour shortage in the Netherlands?
Could this action-oriented research help solve the shortage of low-skilled digital workers in the Netherlands? We put the question to Eric Stubbe, Director of ALLSAFE, and Linda Janssen, Director of Stichting4Life, which supports several ALLSAFE schools in Nairobi. Eric explains how difficult it is to find good staff: "At the same time, this initiative helps people in Kenya find work. ALLSAFE supports two schools in a Nairobi slum and plans to expand a digital training centre there so that more school leavers can find employment." It's a win-win situation.
[1] The ALLSAFE fund is a named fund of the Erasmus Trust Fund. ALLSAFE Mini Storage not only provides people with space for their belongings but also believes in investing in knowledge and education to make the world a better place.
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Vital Cities and Citizens
With the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens (VCC) Erasmus University Rotterdam wants to help improve the quality of life in cities. In vital cities, the population can achieve their life goals through education, useful work and participation in public life. The vital city is a platform for creativity and diversity, a safe meeting place for different social groups. The researchers involved focus on one of the four sub-themes:
- Inclusive Cities and Diversity
- Resilient Cities and People
- Smart Cities and Communities
- Sustainable and Just Cities
VCC is a collaboration between Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB), Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) and International Institute of Social Studies (ISS).