Breaking Barriers: How Kenya is Leading the Charge in Women’s Financial Inclusion
Kenya is rewriting the rules of women’s financial inclusion, with the AFAWA Finance Series challenging banks to rethink creditworthiness and unlock billions for women-led businesses.
With traditional collateral requirements reinforcing gender inequalities, many women-led businesses in Kenya struggle to secure the finances they need to grow.
The AFAWA Finance Series landed in Nairobi, marking the 6th edition of this groundbreaking initiative. Hosted by the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), the African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with Office of the President’s Advisor on Women’s Rights, the three-day event aimed to revolutionize financial access for women entrepreneurs.
Kenya’s Financial System Needs to Work for Women—From the Start
Speaking at the event, Governor Ann Waiguru, Chair of the Council of Governors in Kenya, delivered a powerful message:
“Financial products need to be tailored to women's unique lived experiences, needs, and aspirations from the start—not later when at scale.”
Her remarks echoed a growing realization—financial institutions must rethink how they assess women entrepreneurs. Creditworthiness shouldn’t be judged solely on collateral, but on innovative and inclusive financing solutions.
From Policy to Action: A New Era of Women’s Financial Empowerment
The Series focused on training banks and policymakers on gender-smart investing, equipping them to develop financial products that truly serve women entrepreneurs. The event also introduced AFAWA’s Guarantee for Growth (G4G) program, which de-risks financial institutions lending to women-led SMEs, increasing their appetite for this underserved market.
“Too many women entrepreneurs across Africa are denied opportunities to grow their businesses,” said Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, AfDB’s Vice President for Regional Development. “We’re here to challenge those misperceptions and show that financing women-led businesses isn’t charity—it’s smart business.”
AFAWA’s Bold Vision: $5 Billion for Women by 2026
Since its launch, AFAWA has already approved USD 1.2 billion in financing across 32 African countries, with a bold goal to mobilize USD 5 billion by 2026.
“The question we are addressing is how to support women and increase their productivity to fully participate in Africa’s GDP,” said Jules Ngankam, Group CEO of AGF.
With Kenya joining the ranks of Tanzania, the DRC, Ghana, Angola, and Nigeria in hosting the AFAWA Finance Series, the movement to reshape Africa’s financial landscape for women is unstoppable.
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