By Victoria Musimbi…
On February 25th, Oxfam, in partnership with the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), hosted a multi-sectoral conference at the Royal Tulip Hotel in Kilimani, Nairobi.
The event brought together key players—including private sector representatives, entrepreneurs, government officials, and NGOs—to discuss gender mainstreaming, access to finance, and responsible business models for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The collaboration between Oxfam and ANDE aimed to amplify the work of entrepreneurs and organizations.
According to Grace Wachori, ANDE’s Regional Director for Africa and Chapter Head for East Africa, ANDE works as a global network supporting small and growing businesses through financial and educational initiatives. “By doing this, we can create jobs, contribute to economic development, and ultimately alleviate poverty,” Wachori said.
One major focus area is gender-lens investing. Oxfam actively supports community-level programs, particularly in unpaid care work and SME development, aiming to shift mindsets and scale community efforts into viable businesses.
Collaboration is key to business growth, Wachori emphasized. “Government programs, private capital from institutions like KCB Foundation, and business development service (BDS) providers create a clear growth pathway for businesses.”
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
Open Capital Advisors (OCA), a financial advisory firm, has been working with Oxfam for three years under the Impact SME Development Program, offering subsidized support to Kenyan businesses.
According to Katie Brauer, Senior Project Leader at OCA, the initiative has supported over 30 post-revenue, for-profit companies in agriculture, energy, mobility, logistics, and waste management. “Our goal is to advance African economies and build the next generation of business leaders.”
Brauer highlighted the event’s ecosystem approach, bringing together private sector players, business service providers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to collaborate. A key discussion point was financial access—ensuring that men are also engaged in gender equity conversations.
“Achieving not just equality but equity means addressing multiple barriers so that women receive the resources and opportunities they need to thrive in business,” she explained.
Mentorship is another critical element. “When women see others succeed, they can envision themselves in those positions. It’s not just about providing financial resources, but also instilling belief and confidence in entrepreneurs,” Brauer emphasized.
Call for Gender-Inclusive Business Practices
Sakwa Masai, Private Sector Engagement Advisor at Oxfam Kenya, stressed the importance of gender mainstreaming in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Women entrepreneurs face significant barriers in accessing finance, markets, and capacity-building opportunities. Many lack an understanding of market sales and production, while men often have better access to capital and assets,” Masai explained.
Purity Jebor, Oxfam’s Gender Justice and Women’s Rights Officer, pointed out that unpaid care work disproportionately affects women, limiting their participation in business. A 2023 report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics found that women spend an average of five more hours per day on unpaid care work than men
Collaboration is crucial. “While the government plays a vital role in policy-making, the private sector must invest in care facilities and gender-equitable workplaces. Through a multi-stakeholder approach, we can drive policy changes and investments that promote gender equity and economic empowerment for women.”
Another challenge apart from the gender devide is that more than half of the tilapia consumed in the country is imported from China.
While Chinese fish is cheaper, it is often of lower quality. Local production struggles to meet demand, yet fish farmers face significant barriers—especially in accessing credit.
Present at the forum ,James Odede, Co-founder and CTO Aquarech, shared what his organisation has been doing to link the credit gap for fish farmers in his community.
The organization has introduced an innovative financing model to support local fish farmers and traders.
According to Odede,fish farming takes 8 to 12 months, with feed being the most significant cost.
Many farmers run out of money for feed, extending their production cycles or turning to lower-quality homemade alternatives.
To address this, Aquarech provides fish feed on credit, allowing farmers to repay only after harvesting and selling their fish.
However, the financing model is structured for those already in the industry. “To qualify, a farmer must have an existing pond or cages and prior experience in fish farming. Likewise, women traders must have a designated place to sell fish,” Odede explains.
Aquarech also supports women fish traders, who often lack working capital. Through their credit model, women traders can take fish on credit from Aquarech outlets and repay at the end of the day after making sales.
Currently, the company works with 450 registered women fish traders and 120 women fish farmers across 11 counties, including Nairobi, Kirinyaga, Nyamira, Kisii, Kisumu, Busia, and Kakamega.
Beyond financing, Aquarech also trades fish, connecting farmers with markets and supporting traders through its Fish Daily app, where consumers can order fried or raw fish from their wholesale outlets.
Odede emphasizes the importance of supporting local fish production. “The government subsidizes fertilizers for crop farmers; we need similar support for the fish industry to compete with mass-produced Chinese imports,” he says.
Conclusion: A Path Forward for Inclusive Growth
The discussions at the Oxfam-ANDE conference underscored that bridging gender gaps in finance, market access, and capacity-building is not just a social responsibility—it’s an economic necessity.
From Aquarech’s innovative fish farming model to impact-driven SME programs, stakeholders across sectors are proving that gender-inclusive business models fuel sustainable economic growth. By working together, Kenya can empower women entrepreneurs, strengthen local industries, and build a more inclusive economy.
