The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cooperative Bank, Equity Bank and GROOTS Kenya in a move aimed at capacity Building Women in the Counties.
The MOU will create a partnership aimed at economically empowering women through various training on how to manage funds as well as be able to save for the benefit of tomorrow.
The partnership will further enhance the NGAFF funded women groups through UWEZO Fund as well as SACCOS in business developments and entrepreneurship skills with the program expected to be rolled out in five counties of Nairobi, Nachakos, Kiambu, Makueni and Kajiado.
Ministry of Public Service and Gender Principal Secretary for Gender Prof Colleta Suda in her remarks challenged women to take advantage of the partnership and gain knowledge so as to enhance their and increase their productivity to grow their business.
“This partnership has put into place the structures, policies and frameworks that will definitely leverage on the opportunities that will improve your livelihoods to facilitate economic empowerment of women,” noted the PS who spoke over the weekend during the signing of the MOU in Nairobi.
Suda further noted that the government has put in place programmes for economic empowerment through affirmative action funds,with Shss 12. 5 billion already disbursed to the 47 counties since its inception.
“The funds which have been disbursed as grants to support various projects and programmes that improve the livelihoods of youths represent the 20 per cent of the total funds which have been directed to women groups engaged in table banking and income generating activities,” noted the PS.
The PS urged all women to enroll in this programme so as to take advantage of the great initiative to grow their business.
NGAAF Chairperson Prof. Wanjiku Kabira on her part lauded the partnership and called on women to venture into larger business opportunities, while taking advantage of the platform provided by the partnership.
She noted that empowering women is empowering the whole society and called on the women to have open minds and attend the training and capacity building sessions offered by the partners to help them in the better management of the funds and loans given by the government.
Equity Bank Head of Marketing David Nyamu on his part noted that they will give various capacity building opportunities so as to enable the women to grow in their business, and called on them to start small while believing in themselves that they can go far.
Cooperative Bank Head of Government and Public Sector Silvance Nono on his part called on the women present to embrace the partnership and use it for the benefit of the future generations.
Among those present were NGAAF CEO Titus Lotee, NGAAF Board of Directors, Representatives from Groots Kenya and NGAAF beneficiaries from the five Counties.
by Alice Gworo
