Carolyne Njuki, ILO Chief Technical Advisor
By Vincent Kariuki
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) have formally launched a partnership designed to strengthen entrepreneurship training for women across Kenya.
The initiative seeks to enhance business skills among women and improve loan repayment rates to sustain WEF’s revolving fund model.
Speaking during the event, Caroline Njuki, ILO Chief Technical Advisor, said the collaboration is already underway, using a “training-of-trainers” model. Fifty-seven WEF officers have been trained under the ILO’s global program . These trainers will, in turn, train staff and women entrepreneurs nationwide, ensuring scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Njuki emphasized that the programme equips women with practical business skills—from bookkeeping and competitiveness to customer targeting—critical for business growth and job creation.
WEF CEO Rachel Musyoki noted that the Fund plans to lend up to KSh 1 billion to women this year but faces a funding deficit after two years without fresh government allocation. She urged both government support and repayment by beneficiaries, citing KSh 2.2 billion in non-performing loan.
Board Chair Dr. Cherotich Langat highlighted strengthened oversight measures, including group lending, SIYB verification, and community-level follow-up to improve loan recovery.
The partnership will also roll out financial education and the ILO’s Gender and Entrepreneurship Together training, targeting semi-literate women entrepreneurs to expand inclusion and support sustainable livelihoods.