The push for financial inclusion is paying off as Kenya now tops
the region in provision of capital for women-run enterprises. This is
according to the Dell Global Women Entrepreneur Cities Rankings 2017.
Nairobi
was the only African city in the top 10 in the capital category, coming
in sixth globally ahead of Singapore, Stockholm, Beijing and Chicago.
“The
Capital category measures the frequency and value of funding received
by women-led businesses, the proportion of funding compared to that of
the male-run businesses and the capital base that women can draw on,”
explained the index.
In the overall ranking — which in
addition to capital takes into account markets, talent, culture and
technology — Nairobi is ranked 33rd globally, coming second only to
Johannesburg in Africa. Uwezo Fund and Women and Youth Enterprise Fund
have so far provided over Sh25 billion to women-led enterprises across
the country.
That
and the Sh26 billion worth of tenders availed by the government, of
which 30 per cent were set aside for women, youth, and persons with
disability, have buoyed the financial welfare of women who were
previously considered marginalised.
In the last
budgetary allocation the Treasury allotted Sh18.3bn to the Youth
Empowerment Programme and Sh0.8bn to the Women Enterprise Fund.
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