How four Entrepreneur Support Organisations are enhancing services for women-led businesses
Kenya is making significant strides toward inclusive entrepreneurship by supporting four Entrepreneur Support Organisations (ESOs) to become more gender-responsive and transformative in their service delivery to women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA WE4A) project is implementing the Gender Transformative Application (GTA) SME Loop, an innovative coaching and training model that integrates business development with gender-responsive practices.
Empowering ESOs to Support Women Entrepreneurs
Through this initiative, ESOs including E4Impact Entrepreneurship Center, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nyayo Moms Sokos, SNDBX | The Village Experts, and PassionProfit are participating in intensive training and practical implementation support. These efforts strengthen their capacities to work effectively with women entrepreneurs in Kajiado, Kiambu, and Mombasa counties.
The GTA-SME Loop methodology combines business growth coaching with structured reflection on gender norms, power dynamics, and the unique challenges women face in entrepreneurship. This cycle guides ESOs through a practical process — from needs assessment, planning, and mentoring to field visits, peer learning, and continuous improvement.
Building Capacity for Gender-Responsive Support
Since October 2025, ESOs have engaged in capacity development sessions designed to:
- Integrate gender-responsive practices into all aspects of service delivery
- Strengthen diagnostic tools to better understand the needs of women-led SMEs
- Facilitate safe spaces for reflection on gender roles, unpaid care work, leadership, and workplace dynamics
- Improve the quality of business coaching through structured follow-up and accountability
- Identify how gender norms limit business performance and implement transformative solutions
- Select women entrepreneurs in a more inclusive and transparent manner
This approach ensures that support goes beyond technical assistance to address systemic constraints that often hinder women entrepreneurs’ growth.
Implementation and Selection of Entrepreneurs
Each ESO is selecting 20 women-led SMEs to join the GTA-SME Loop cycle. Using jointly developed selection criteria, ESOs have identified pre-qualified candidates who are now undergoing sensitization sessions to understand the methodology and complete needs assessment templates.
Integrating Green and Climate-Smart Business Practices
While the GTA-SME Loop emphasizes gender transformation, it also forms one of the two pillars of IYBA WE4A’s ecosystem strengthening approach in Kenya. In parallel, ESOs receive support to integrate green and climate-smart business development services, preparing women entrepreneurs for a sustainable, future-ready economy. A Green BDS assessment is currently mapping existing capacities and identifying areas for improvement in sustainability offerings.
A Holistic Approach to Women-Led Entrepreneurship
This dual strategy — gender transformation and green business development support — positions ESOs to deliver more holistic, relevant, and impactful services to Kenya’s women entrepreneurs, fostering a stronger, more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.