Africa’s economic story is often told through the language of GDP, foreign investment, infrastructure and large corporations. Yet a significant part of the continent’s economic activity happens on a much smaller scale, in businesses started and run by women. From food processing and agriculture to retail, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services and technology, women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are already contributing significantly to Africa’s economies. The...

What does poverty actually look like, up close? It looks like a woman who knows exactly what she is capable of, and has nowhere to put it. It looks like potential with no pathway. Intelligence with no invitation. It is not a lack of ambition. It is a lack of access. And then, sometimes, a classroom door opens. Across East Africa, something is shifting. The EASTRIP programme has tracked female TVET graduate employment rising from 51% to 74%. Read that again slowly, not as a statistic, but as a...

As Kenya celebrates 63 years of self-governance this Madaraka Day, we reflect on a journey marked by resilience, growth, and the pursuit of greater opportunities for all. At Kianda Foundation, this national celebration carries special significance. Our story began in 1961, before Kenya was declared a republic, and for nearly 65 years we have witnessed the profound transformation of our nation and its people. Madaraka, meaning self-governance and the power to determine one's future, is more...