Kenya - Guarantee Facility-Women Enterprises Development Project

This proposal seeks to implement an integrated program for women's entrepreneurship development in Kenya, with the following main objectives: "Enhance the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs, and assist successful SME Entrepreneurs to grow their enterprises;"Contribute to a more equitable business environment for women entrepreneurs thereby enhancing their contribution to economic development. This includes testing this pilot project and building the case for its replication.Specific objectives: "Fill an SME financing existing gap and support the long-term development and management of adequate financial services by local financial institutions."Lower the collateral requirement and enhance access of Growth Oriented Women SMEs to financial services;"Enhance the management and technical capacity of GOWEs in order to support the growth of their businesses;"Strengthen the capacity of BDS Providers to provide relevant and adequate business services; and "Enhance the capacity of associations of women entrepreneurs to strengthen their advocacy role and to provide adequate support services, mentoring and leadership development for their members.