When women are economically empowered, they re-invest in their families and communities, producing a multiplier effect that spurs economic growth and contributes to global peace and stability. USAID's Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Initiative seeks to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025 through U.S. Government activities, private-public partnerships, and an innovative fund. The initiative aims to enhance opportunities for women to participate meaningfully in the economy and advance both prosperity and national security.
In the face of COVID-19, USAID’s efforts to invest in and economically empower women is critical to Kenya’s economic recovery. Kenyan women cannot prosper in the workplace, or succeed as entrepreneurs, until we break down the legal, policy, and social barriers that inhibit their full economic participation. While 80% of Kenyan women are engaged in smallholder farming, only 1% own land, access less than 10% of available credit, and access less than 1% of agriculture credit. USAID is addressing the barriers to women’s full economic participation and is working to close the gender financing gap.
