Women's Economic Forum - Kenya 2025 - 26th Feb 2025
Women's Economic Forum - Kenya 2025 Champions Evidence-Based Empowerment
The Women's Economic Forum - Kenya 2025 (WEF-K), held on Wednesday, February 26th, successfully convened key stakeholders to address the critical issue of women's economic empowerment, with a specific theme: "What Works for Women’s Economic Empowerment." The forum brought together government officials, civil society organizations, development partners, researchers, and women entrepreneurs to explore and identify effective strategies for enhancing women's access to economic opportunities.
The WEF-K places particular emphasis on empowering the "forgotten middle" – the resilient women entrepreneurs who form the backbone of local economies but often lack access to the resources and support they need to thrive. These women, including market vendors, small-scale farmers, and artisans, represent a significant untapped potential for Kenya's economic growth.
A key highlight of the event was the dissemination of research findings by the African Women’s Studies Center and the Women's Economic Empowerment Hub (WEE Hub). The WEE Hub shared valuable insights from several key projects, including the Women’s Incubation Project, NABWEE, the AGPO Project, the Social Protection project, and the WEE Hub’s Childcare Project. These research findings provided evidence-based recommendations for effective interventions to support women's economic empowerment.
The forum's official opening was led by Hon. Anne Wang'ombe, Principal Secretary, State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action. Other prominent government representatives in attendance included Hon. Susan Mangeni, Principal Secretary, State Department of MSME Development, and Dr. Susan Koech, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, demonstrating the government's commitment to this vital agenda.