USIU-Africa Women Economic Empowerment Program
Background
Economic empowerment of women makes them self-reliant and is one of the most effective strategies in combating poverty, creating decent jobs, enhancing social-economic growth, achieving gender equality and reducing gender-based violence. For these reasons, it is mainstreamed in the Kenya Vision and African Union 2063 aspiration. It is therefore not surprising that the Government of Kenya has laid in its strategy, elaborate effort and dedicated resources through private sector intermediaries and public sector platforms for enhancement of women economic empowerment. USIU-Africa has crafted a program that coaches women to take advantage of the opportunities that are available in the private and public sectors to enhance their economic empowerment and contribute to the overall good of the society.
About the Program
The United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) will be offering a women’s program that aims to empower women entrepreneurs by giving them Experiential Entrepreneurial Education that connects them to the available opportunities in the Kenyan Market. The program covers important dimensions in developing and managing a successful business and includes; building business enterprises, environment and business alignment, implementing effective business processes, managing business productivity and creating powerful networks.
The Program was launched during a stakeholder forum on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at USIU-Africa and the class will have two cohorts per year;
a.) Monday, January 30, 2023 to Friday, April 28, 2023 (one week per month for 4 weeks)
b.) Monday, June 26, 2023 to Friday, September 29, 2023 (one week per month for 4 weeks)
Participants will be issued with certificates of completion that will be useful in linking them to available opportunities.
Learning Approach
Our approach to training will integrate the realistic perspectives and skills with professional experience and wisdom. By so doing, we offer each party an opportunity to make suggestions and decisions and recognize and value contribution of each party. Through the approach, we will view our trainees as partners and not as recipients of knowledge.
Training Content
| Training Module | Sub Module(s) | Outcome |
| Business Management | Entrepreneurship mindset | Enable participants to convert their ventures into viable profitable enterprise |
| Dealing with employees | ||
| Customer relationship management | ||
| Record keeping | ||
| Ethical behavior in business | ||
| Managing growth and diversification | ||
| De-risking our businesses | ||
| Financial literacy | Financing the business – capital, debt and grants | Become better personal finance managers |
| Managing finances – expense management, increasing incomes, budgeting | ||
| Value chain management | Production planning (demand and supply), value chain actors, negotiation strategies to reduce costs, nurturing supplier relationships, maintain quality. | Become better suppliers |
| Green business and climate smart agriculture | Being intentional about green business and climate smart, conservation of water and energy | Develop sustainable businesses |
Target Audience
Women-led and owned small and medium enterprises across all sectors and industry (ICT, retail, manufacturing, agribusiness, jua kali, cereals, clothing, motor vehicle, schools, salon, hotel and restaurant).
Fees
The fees payable is KShs. 75,000
For information on how to make payments, please visit here.
Contact Information:
For inquiries and application details please contact:
Senior Research Officer,
School of Graduate Studies Research and Extension,
Email: wweprogram@usiu.ac.ke
Telephone: +254 730 116 511
To apply, click here
