AWSC WEE Hub Learning Visit with BMGF at KIRDI Nairobi - 9th Dec 2025

On Tuesday, 9th December 2025, the AWSC Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Hub team hosted a learning visit for representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), Nairobi.

The visit highlighted the Women's Business Incubation Project, where women entrepreneurs receive technology transfer and value addition training. KIRDI is one of three key institutions which delivered this training under the program; alongside Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) and the University of Nairobi’s Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering.

During the tour, the BMGF team viewed KIRDI’s facilities and observed firsthand where the hands-on training took place. Representatives from the women’s collectives had the opportunity to exhibit products developed through the program, showcasing the tangible outcomes of the skills and knowledge gained.

The meeting was attended by senior leadership including the Director General of KIRDI, the Board Chair of KIRDI, and the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Industrialization. The Principal Secretary of the State Department of MSMEs was also represented.