Women economic empowerment is about women being confident about themselves, to be able to earn an income and manage their own finances, build their financial security and increase their influence over the household budget, it is about women claiming and holding the power to make their own decisions, to stand up for their rights and say no to violence, discrimination and harmful traditional practices, it is about women being able to decide if, when and who to marry; if and when to have children — and how many; be able to leave a violent relationship and how to save or spend their money.
Women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion has been recognized as key to achieving the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. However, women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion remain unfinished business, with our country not having achieved gender equality and women still being more likely than men to live in poverty.
Women are more likely to be unemployed than men and may women than men work in vulnerable, low-paid, or undervalued jobs. Women remain over represented as contributing family workers and in informal work. Also, in many societies’ men continue to claim ownership of and control over productive resources and assets such as property, inheritance and land as well as financial resources.
These factors combined with discrimination against women in financial markets mean that women are far less likely than men to have checking or savings accounts in their own names.
At GROOTS Kenya we believe that Enabling women’s economic empowerment is not only the “right” thing to do, it is also the “smart” thing to do for women to fulfil their human rights and access equal opportunities than men.
Through GROOTS SACCO, we enhance financial inclusion of grassroots women by we providing opportunities for access to finances though credit to expand their businesses and contribute effectively to sustained economic growth and development.
Download the loan application here .
