http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/155967 2026-04-08T19:34:15Z http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/167898 Strategies that Work for Women’s Economic Empowerment Kabira, Nkatha; Ombara, June; Akoth, Brender This publication is based on a study by Kabira & Ngunjiri (2024) that explored the impact and contributions of the Women’s Movement and Self-Mobilization in Kenya during both the pre-independence and post-independence periods. The study documents stories of women’s journeys, highlighting their successes and challenges. The narratives portray women, not as victims of their circumstances but as heroines characterized by determination and resilience. The book from which these strategies are drawn offers chronological and historical accounts of women’s self-mobilization towards economic empowerment. In another earlier study (Kabira et al., 2018), discuss how women have navigated historical, socio-political, and legal spaces to challenge the mainstream knowledge, in their journey towards a transformative and just society. The promulgation of the constitution of Kenya in 2010 marked significant progress in addressing systemic barriers and creating opportunities for Women’s economic empowerment (WEE). However, more effort is still needed to establish a sustainable policy framework that addresses economic disparities between genders. WEE is widely recognized by governments, international development institutions, and businesses globally as essential for human progress, thriving economies, and business success. It is apparent that WEE yields multiple benefits, contributing to the overall goal of strengthening global gender justice and serving as a launching pad for future interventions in feminist movements. Women’s Economic Empowerment is a powerful tool for change, promoting gender equality, and delivering greater benefits to communities and nations. The extent to which economic inclusion can be achieved for marginalized groups, including women and girls, depends on supportive structures such as a strong women’s movement. The movement should advocate for policy reforms that promote economic opportunities. Addressing the wide range of issues affecting women globally calls for strong partnerships among various stakeholders involved in the ecosystem of women’s economic empowerment. It is essential to invest in women leaders and networks to enhance their capacity to advocate for these important policy changes. Research conducted by UoN WEE Hub under the Women in Business Incubation (WBI) project highlights that the informality of most women’s businesses significantly hinders their access to financing (UoN WEE Hub, 2022). This lack of formalization often prevents them from participating in schemes like the Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS). A Study 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/167897 Replicating Strategies that Worked for Women in the 2010 Constitution-Making Process in Networking and Alliance Building for Women’s Economic Empowerment (NABWEE) Mutua, Agnes Meroka; Wanjiku, Diana Anne; Akoth, Brender The Networking and Alliance Building for Women’s Economic Empowerment (NABWEE) Project of the University of Nairobi, African Women Studies Centre, Women Economic Empowerment Hub (UoN-AWSC WEE Hub) under cluster 4 Project 2 (C4P2) seeks to evaluate what works in networking and alliance building by replicating the strategies that worked for women during the Constitution making process (1990-2010). The women’s movement has made remarkable progress, culminating in gains in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. Owing to this, the WEE Hub decided to replicate the strategies that worked for women during the Constitution-making process to influence policies, regulations, and programs both at the national and county levels through the NABWEE. The NABWEE Project, therefore, aims to evaluate what works in networking and alliance building for WEE by utilizing best practices for women’s self-mobilization in influencing policies, programs, and regulations for WEE. By building a network of women leaders, women entrepreneurs, and women’s rights advocates, NABWEE aims to create a space where women can use evidence generated through research to self-advocate for WEE. The Project’s purpose is to galvanize the creation of networks of women’s organizations and women’s entrepreneurs to promote a shared understanding of issues affecting Women’s Economic Empowerment and the strategies that work for the full realization of women’s economic rights, and leverage on strengthening synergies among policies and programmes that target women. The Alliance aims to contribute in promoting mutual support and accountability towards ensuring that women entrepreneurs tap into the available opportunities within the local and international markets. Using the research conducted by the UoN-AWSC WEE Hub on strategies that work for women’s self-mobilization for WEE, NABWEE aims to support women entrepreneurs and women’s organizations in mobilizing and advocating for Women’s Economic Empowerment. The NABWEE Project was launched in collaboration with CRAWN Trust in February 2022, following the development of the project design, concept, and work plan in 2021. The Project aims to support the establishment and sustainability of women’s networks in Kenya. These networks are important vehicles for women’s self-advocacy; hence, NABWEE seeks to support self-advocacy by women. Monitoring Survey Report 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/167097 Gender Analysis Tools for Budget Preparation, Monitoring & Evaluation Kemboi, Leo Since its establishment in 2011, AWSC has been a vibrant program, focused on academic programs, innovative research, and evidence-based policy advocacy to create African women's knowledge and change the mainstream, influencing policy for social economic and political transformation for the benefit of African people, women in particular and for those who defend on women's work. One of the AWSC’s key programs, gender budgeting, and care economy research, has been ongoing since 2012. In collaboration with sector working groups, the center has analysed budgetary policies and fiscal estimates annually, irrespective of resource challenges. The program is supported by a robust think tank comprising scholars and experts from diverse fields. These include economists such as Prof. Kiriti Ng’ang’a and Prof. Mary Mbithi, both from the Department of Economics at the University of Nairobi, alongside Leo Kemboi from the Institute of Economic Affairs. Legal experts and consultants contributing to the program are: Dr. Agnes Meroka fromthe Faculty of Law University of Nairobi, who also coordinates the Networking and Alliance Building for Women’s Economic Empowerment (NABWEE), Dr. Linda Musumba, and Caroline Wambugu; Masheti Masinjila of Collaborative Center for Gender and Development (CCGD) and Daisy Amdancy of CRAWN Trust, bring their expertise of civil society organisations. Members of the AWSC include Dr. Marygoretty Akinyi, Wambui Kanyi (Coordinator County Women Network for Women’s Economic Empowerment), Brender Akoth, Duncan Kichamu, and Rachel Keeru. Ms. Wambui Kanyi has been instrumental in fostering strong relationships with the National Assembly and Senate, regularly liaising with clerks from both houses on issues related to public participation. Other members who have greatly supported the program include Prof Martine Oleche and Dr Samwel Wakibi. The project has grown much more over the last four years. With support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the center established a program on women’s economic empowerment (WEE Hub). AWSC expanded its focus on women’s economic empowerment by aligning proposals with Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya. Budget Analysis Tool 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/166728 Effects of Accessing Childcare Services on Women’s Economic Empowerment Mbithi, Mary; Keeru, Rachael; Mwikali, Carolyn; Kabiru, Diana; Muendo, Gideon Childcare has gained traction in recent times as the need for childcare services has increased. Globally, over 40% of all children under primary school require structured childcare but lack access to it. While taking care of children is fundamental to their well-being, there is a consensus in the literature that the amount of time allocated to care work is negatively correlated with female labour force participation. For children below three years, the provision of subsidized early childcare services still remains a huge gap. Although some privately owned early childcare services exist in Kenya, they remain few and far costly, a factor which has constrained their access by women who have children under four years of age and are involved in micro–small–sized enterprises or employed in the informal sector. In 2022, UoN WEE Hub, in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Standards, conducted a study among women involved in cross-border trade in Busia County and Namanga counties, Kenya’s two largest border crossing towns. This study aimed to analyze the participation of women in cross-border trade and establish the challenges women face in cross-border trade. Although several challenges were identified in this study, the study also established the need for child care for women and men involved in cross-border trade as a necessity, with 47 percent of businesswomen interviewed saying they needed child care but was not able to access it mainly due to unavailability, quality and cost concerns. Only 10 percent of the respondents reported being able to access a daycare or employ a house help. As a coping strategy, 40 percent of these women traders either go to work with the children or leave the child(ren) with relatives or friends, a factor that affected their concentration on the business as they opened their business late, or closed early, spend time on telephone addressing childcare issues, while sometimes missed work altogether. 94 percent of those women traders observed that childcare responsibilities have negatively affected their business. Having established the need for childcare in Busia, UoN WEE Hub, in partnership with the Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD), the Ministry of East African Community, arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), and regional development, and the association of women in cross-border trade established a childcare centre at the Busia border in 2021. This facility allows women and men involved in cross-border trade to pay KES 50 per day for childcare. This study analyzes this childcare center’s effects on women’s businesses one year after benefiting from the facility. Report 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z