Press Release: IYBA-SEED Project
Intervention: Support initiatives to promote women’s participation in sectors where they are underrepresented.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 7th July 2025
Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu Counties
SNV and IYBA-SEED Kenya Kicks Off Trailblazing Media Initiative to Elevate Women Entrepreneurs in Underrepresented Sectors Across Kenya
Members of the press are invited to engage with the initiative, starting with the first sector-based dialogue on 23rd July 2025 in Kisumu, to explore untold stories and amplify the voices shaping Kenya’s inclusive entrepreneurial future.
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, under the IYBA-SEED (Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Strengthening Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development) programme, has launched a bold media and public engagement project; Biashara Power, to amplify the voices and visibility of women entrepreneurs in sectors where they remain vastly underrepresented.
IYBA-SEED is part of the Team Europe initiative, IYBA-SEED aims to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and support structures for businesses led by women and young people. This multi-partner European programme is funded by the European Union and the French, German and Slovak governments, and implemented by five agencies: Expertise France (France), Enabel (Belgium), GIZ (Germany), SAIDC (Slovakia) and SNV (Netherlands).
This specific intervention under IYBA-SEED seeks to support initiatives to promote women’s participation in sectors where they are underrepresented. The Biashara Power initiative is anchored in deep collaboration with local Business Associations and Ecosystem Support Organizations (ESOs), with a special emphasis on inclusion, visibility, and localized storytelling. SNV is working in partnership with Responsible Business Consulting as the implementing partner, alongside Business Associations and Ecosystem Support Organizations (ESOs), in the three target counties: Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Kisumu, to co-create sector-based dialogue events, identify role models, strategic storytelling, and media amplification of the community-rooted narratives that inspire wider participation of women and youth in enterprise.
These partner ESOs include Wisehub in Kisumu, Nakuru Box in Nakuru, and EldoHub in Uasin Gishu; each bringing valuable grassroots expertise and networks to drive impact where it matters most.
Biashara Power supports the larger goal of the IYBA-SEED (Investing in Young Businesses in Africa) SEED component program: to create decent jobs for youth and women, promote inclusive entrepreneurial cultures, and strengthen access to business development services (BDS) in Kenya and beyond.
The project will spotlight women leaders in underrepresented sectors, traditionally seen as male-dominated but rich with untapped potential for women entrepreneurs, by identifying and profiling role models per county. These comprise 80% women of all ages and 20% youth men, selected from the key focus sectors as follows:
- Manufacturing & Engineering (e.g., automotive, industrial machinery, building materials)
- Green and Circular Economy (e.g., renewable energy, recycling, waste management, water, biodiversity)
- Agriculture and Agribusiness (e.g., horticulture, livestock, forestry, value-added processing)
- Technology (e.g., digital startups, AI/IoT solutions, software services)
- Financial Services (e.g., insurance, micro-financing)
- Infrastructure development (e.g., health care, sanitation, road works, logistics, and transport)
- Blue economy (e.g., aquaculture, value-addition and processing, eco-tourism)
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
The primary objectives of the initiative include:
- Designing and executing 6 to 9 sector-based dialogue events across Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru Counties to foster mentorship, networking, and knowledge-sharing among women and youth in underrepresented sectors. The first event will take place on 23rd July 2025 in Kisumu, focusing on showcasing role models, highlighting barriers and opportunities in priority sectors, and facilitating interactive sessions with ecosystem actors, industry leaders, and the media.
- Profiling and amplifying the voices of successful women role models through videos, interviews, blogs, and public storytelling.
- Aggregating and disseminating success stories across digital platforms, traditional media, and live events to inspire a new generation of women-led enterprises.
- Driving public conversations on inclusive entrepreneurship through creative, localized, and context-aware media strategies.
Call to action: Let’s meet on 23 July for our first sector-based dialogue event
SNV invites members of the press, development partners, private sector players, and policy stakeholders to engage with this groundbreaking initiative from the outset. The first series of stakeholder and dialogue events is scheduled to begin on 23rd July 2025 in Kisumu County, with other events following in August, September, and other months throughout the 2-year project across the three counties: Kisumu, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu. These gatherings will offer an opportunity to spotlight inspiring women entrepreneurs, unpack systemic barriers, and co-create actionable solutions for inclusive economic participation. Media houses and journalists are especially encouraged to participate, share these stories widely, and collaborate in reshaping narratives around women-led enterprise in Manufacturing & Engineering, the Green and Circular Economy, Agriculture and Agribusiness, Technology, Financial Services, Infrastructure Development, the Blue Economy, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).
Implementation Partner: Responsible Business Consulting
To ensure effective and on-the-ground delivery, Responsible Business Consulting has been selected as the official implementing partner for this assignment. Their role will be to support the execution, coordination, and technical implementation of all project activities, including:
- Event logistics and facilitation in the three counties
- Sectoral research and role model identification
- Media production and content delivery
- Monitoring and reporting of engagement outcomes
Responsible Business Consulting brings deep expertise in program delivery, stakeholder coordination, and women-focused capacity building. Their role will include supporting county-level execution, event facilitation, stakeholder mapping, and providing technical oversight to ensure that all project outcomes are met with quality and relevance.
About SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation is a global development partner rooted in and working across Africa and Asia, dedicated to advancing sustainable and equitable livelihoods. With a team of over 1,600 professionals, SNV focuses on transforming agri-food, energy, and water systems by strengthening local capacities and catalyzing impactful partnerships. Through system-level change and inclusive development, SNV supports communities to thrive with dignity, resilience, and opportunity.
About IYBA-SEED
IYBA-SEED is part of the Team Europe Initiative. It is a multi-partner programme funded by the European Union and the French, German, and Slovak governments, and implemented by five agencies: SNV, Expertise France, Enabel (Belgium), GIZ (Germany), and SAIDC (Slovakia). IYBA-SEED works in partnership with 5 countries: Kenya, South Africa, Benin, Senegal, and Togo to build resilient economies and create decent jobs by strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and improving access to development services for seed and pre-seed businesses. www.iyba-seed.eu
About Responsible Business Consulting
To ensure seamless execution and strong ecosystem alignment, Responsible Business Consulting joins the project as the official implementation partner. Responsible Business Consulting (RBC) is a sustainability and communications advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations create long-term value for people, planet, and prosperity. RBC provides responsible, responsive consulting services, specializing in sustainability strategy and reporting, stakeholder engagement, and thought-leadership events, alongside corporate communications strategy, internal communications, and change management support. Their mission is to align business success with social and environmental impact through practical, purpose-driven solutions.
To express interest in attending the upcoming events, kindly contact us.
Media Contact:
Susan Njoroge
Director, Responsible Business Consulting
📧 entrepreneurs@rbc.co.ke
📞 +254799346432
