On 24^th March 2022, KEPSA, in partnership with the State Department for Gender launched the first ever Private Sector Gender Mainstreaming Policy in Kenya at the Nairobi Serena Hotel. The gender policy will guide the private sector in optimizing gender equality and women empowerment initiatives through a seven-point gender mainstreaming agenda. The soft launch was done during the International Women’s Day celebrations at the Kenya School of Government.

Present during the launch was Hon. Jebii Kilimo – Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes together with her counterpart Hon. Rachael Shebesh; KEPSA Directors led by the Board Chair Ms. Flora Mutahi; KEPSA Governing Council members led by Gender Sector Board Chair Ms. Mucha Mlingo; Ms. Martha Cheruto – KEPSA Deputy CEO among other partners and stakeholders.

While outlining the seven-point gender mainstreaming agenda, Ms. Mlingo pointed out the need to ensure that all company positions are thoroughly advertised and women and other groups are encouraged to apply in categories in which they may be under-represented. She added that the private sector should establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality and initiate gender working group/committee to support the executive in gender mainstreaming efforts.

In her remarks, the KEPSA Chair said the policy developed with support from the Mastercard Foundation, aims to offer guidance to companies and organizations seeking to optimize gender equality and women empowerment initiatives. “The formulation of this policy is a demonstration of the private sector’s commitment to ensuring that gender mainstreaming is integral to the policies and operations of an organization. It is therefore imperative to ensure that no one is left behind in this quest for sustainable growth and development,” Said Ms. Mutahi.

Hon. Jebii Kilimo, said that there was the need to promote women’s entry, re-entry and advancement in the job market by investing in care infrastructure services while strengthening education training and skills. “The difference in labour force participation can be attributed above all to women’s disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work. The importance of robust legislative and policy frameworks is therefore critical for women’s economic empowerment to provide a foundation for implementing relevant programmes and interventions for economic growth of a country,” She noted.

A panel discussion on the private sector’s contribution and progress towards women empowerment and gender equality brought to fore the importance of partnerships and the need for professional care and career guidance to women entrepreneurs. The panel featured Dr. Charles Mwirigi – CEO, Women Enterprise Fund; Ms. Makabelo Mulamane – Head of Transaction Banking, Kenya and East Africa, Standard Chartered; Ms. Violet Gatwiri – Vice-chair, women in business, Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Association; Ms.  Wangechi Wachira – Executive Director, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW); and Mr. James Ngomeli – Board Diversity Lead, KEPSA.

In her closing remarks, Hon. Shebesh appreciated the partnership between the Government of Kenya and the private sector in various development issues over the years while adding that the deliberations have been insightful and have contributed to the work that is being undertaken by stakeholders to accelerate the economic empowerment of women.

Some of the key takeaways from the event included;

• That despite the Covid-19 pandemic, there are opportunities presented by the crisis including the creation of solutions to local and global problems. Technology has emerged as a crucial enabler for business continuity during the period and there is a need to address challenges such as e-commerce regulations, logistics, access to the internet, and devices for the special interest groups.
• Exploring the new frontiers that women and youth can venture and benefit from. The need to focus on supplier diversity i.e. diversification of products and services aimed at enhancing their participation in entrepreneurship.
• The need for capacity building of women, youth, and PWDs owned- businesses to ensure they can effectively participate in the job market. We have to also rethink women’s access to connectivity, especially those in SMEs. How do we enhance digital accessibility and literacy among women entrepreneurs?
• The need for deliberate efforts by the government, private sector, and other stakeholders to promote gender mainstreaming across various value chains.
• Promote women entrepreneurship through the closing of financial gaps in terms of financing and skills of the future.
• Equal sharing of unpaid work among both men and women towards sustainable economic development and a productive labour force.
• Promote women entry, re-entry, and advancement in the labour market by investing in care infrastructure services, strengthening education training and skills.

While highlighting the way forward, Ms. Catharine Musakali – KEPSA Director, Governance and Leadership noted that KEPSA looks forward to an engendered private sector of all relevant stakeholders to advance the agenda. She noted that KEPSA looks forward to: Creating a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to enable tracking and reporting gender-sensitive progress and implementation; Sufficiently budgeting for gender sensitization in the private sector; Extending labour protection to domestic workers and other informal sector workers; and Development of other gender-friendly facilities at workplaces.