The push to empower women-led businesses has received a boost with lender Equity Bank Kenya entering into an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to turn women more bankable.

In an update on Monday, Equity said that will be implementing Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women online course to accelerate the pace of entrepreneurship growth in the country.

The initiative, which aims at equipping women entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge they need to become more bankable, will be rolled out in partnership with Equity Group Foundation (EGF), the lender noted. 

"Partnering with IFC for the 10,000 Women program enables us to offer world-class learning opportunities to our customers, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s competitive business environment," explained Equity Group CEO Dr. James Mwangi. 

He added,"This program will leverage our extensive regional network and digital platforms to reach women entrepreneurs in every corner of the country, providing them with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and access a global network of like-minded businesswomen."

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women is an international scheme that aims at fostering economic growth by offering entrepreneurs hands-on skilling, by tapping guidance and wisdom of educators from top business schools. The scheme has a global reach of at least 200,000 entrepreneurs. 

"Empowering women entrepreneurs is central to our mission of fostering inclusive growth and sustainable development. IFC is committed to unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs in Kenya, who are vital to driving economic growth and creating jobs," said Jesman Chonzi, Manager, Financial Institutions Group - East Africa, IFC.

Built by Goldman Sachs and delivered through UK's University of Leeds, 10,000 Women Online education initiative will be open to all Equity Bank Kenya and SMEs under Equity Group Foundation, granting access to all 10 courses and eligibility to join the 10,000 Women alumni community. 

Since 2007, the bank has been empowering women entrepreneurs under its 20-week Fanikisha programme, providing financial literacy and business key skills coaching. 

Statistics show that SMEs are a vital element of Kenya's economy, accounting for a nearly 80 percent of employment. 

By further empowering women-led businesses, this programme seeks to enhance their ability to foster job creation, economic diversification, and inclusive growth.

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