Briefing Paper

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Growth and Innovation in Kenya: A Case of the Women Enterprise Fund

“This policy brief outlines growth and innovation options available to the Government of Kenya with regard to women owned enterprises. More specifically, it presents options on the efficiency and sustainability of the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF), a government initiative aimed at promoting enterprise development among women. This policy brief also accompanies a report analysing expert interviews, surveys with the managers and beneficiaries of WEF, and secondary evidence. The report argues that to support women-owned enterprises, there must be a better-integrated intervention by various stakeholders. It concludes that policies should be considered to: Promote the growth and innovation of women-owned enterprises through business training, monitoring, access to individual loans, and business incubation for start-ups. Enhance the operational efficiency and sustainability of the WEF through better staffing, a more efficient funds
disbursement structure, a simplified loaning process, and setting up the WEF as a semi-autonomous government agency.”