Women Economic Empowerment

It has long been recognized that women’s empowerment is a precondition for sustained
economic development and poverty reduction; and that it is inexorably linked to social transformation.

Empowerment for
socioeconomic transformation

LEC acknowledges that greater economic empowerment of women and girls will enable them and their families to achieve greater independence and power. Through this we seek, to strengthen women and girls’ position as key economic actors. This has been identified as one way of reducing their exploitation, marginalization and vulnerability. This is done by addressing the main barriers to their inclusion and active participation in key economic processes and structures.

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Facts and figures about
women empowerment in Kenya

KNBS Comprehensive Poverty Analysis report

Findings of the latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) & United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 2020 Comprehensive Poverty Analysis report shows that 65 percent of women aged 35-59 years are multidimensionally poor compared to 56 percent of their male counterparts. Incidence of monetary poverty among women aged 35-59 years is 34 percent, while that of men is 30 percent. Similarly, 30 percent of women headed households live below the monetary poverty line compared to 26 percent of those headed by men.

Rural women

Women constitute over 60 per cent of the 74 per cent of Kenyans living in rural areas, where poverty levels remain high. Prevalence of absolute poverty in rural Kenya remains at 49.1 per cent. Rural women are at a bigger disadvantage compared to their urban counterparts in terms of access to political, economic and social development opportunities.

Benefits of empowering women economically

Family and community growth

When women gain economic empowerment, the effects spread across families and communities. Research indicates that women invest more of their income on family needs such as food, medical care, and schooling, improving opportunities for the next generation.

Women's Rights Realization

Women’s economic empowerment includes women’s ability to participate equally in existing markets; their access to and control over productive resources, access to decent work, control over their own time, lives and bodies; and increased voice, agency and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels from the household to international institutions.