The Government of Kenya in recognition of the systemic barriers that hinder women and girls in Kenya from realizing their full potential as economic and social change agents, has sanctioned the National Policy on Women’s Economic Empowerment. This landmark policy has set the stage for women’s full participation and inclusion in the country’s economy which will help bridge gender gaps in financial inclusion, property ownership, skills development, and market access.
The approval of the National Policy on Women’s Economic Empowerment positions Kenya as a progressive nation in Africa taking deliberate action to address gender inequality which despite prior momentum continues to stagnate.
With a population exceeding one billion, the African continent offers vast opportunities for development, with the private sector playing a crucial role in harnessing this potential.
According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2024 Global Gender Gap Index, Africa still lags in gender equality and at the current rate, it is estimated that it will take more than 150 years to close the gender gap on the continent.
As per the WEF report, of the top 10 ranked countries globally, only one African nation, Namibia, made the list. Kenya ranked 75th globally and 13th in Africa, with only 21 African countries among the top 100 globally.
Findings from the UN Global Compact report, Corporate Africa: Advancing Gender Equality, underscore the magnitude of the challenge ahead and why governments and private sector must work together. The report reveals that a faster pace of change is possible if we can resume or surpass the pace of women’s economic inclusion seen prior to 2016 and with this, Africa could close the economic gender gap in less than 90 years.
The economic benefits of closing the gender gap are undeniable. Research shows that achieving gender parity could boost Africa’s GDP by up to 50%, a compelling argument for the private sector to lead in advancing gender equality.
What can we do then to achieve a faster change?
The private sector must foster male allyship to accelerate gender equality. Business leaders, especially men, must actively champion gender equality to drive collective ownership of this progressive agenda. Initiatives such as International Women’s Day and Ring the Bell for Gender Equality, both commemorated globally in March, offer key opportunities for male leaders to visibly and actively advance gender equality.
The private sector must also advocate for Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) which calls on the private sector to commit to the WEPs, a proven framework for promoting gender equality in the workplace, marketplace, and community.
The Forward Faster Campaign, an initiative of the UN Global Compact is another way to accelerate change and among other issues, calls on the private sector to commit to equal representation of women at all management levels and equal pay for work of equal value. This is against the backdrop that Women earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men for work of equal value globally according to UN Women.
We must also recognize and reward the invisible economy, of unpaid care work. Unpaid care and domestic work contribute up to 39% of GDP in some countries, often exceeding contributions from manufacturing and agriculture. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, nationally, women spend approximately 7 times more time on unpaid care work (2.4 %) than men (0.4%) and about 5 times more (16.3%) on unpaid domestic work than their male counterparts (3.2%). The proportion of time spent on these activities in rural areas is slightly higher compared to urban areas for both women and men.
Businesses must invest in family-friendly policies, including paid parental leave, flexible work arrangements, parental reintegration programs, and childcare support. These policies are not just socially responsible, they are smart economic strategies that enhance productivity, staff morale, and long-term growth.
Finally, through a collective action plan, Kenyan companies should embrace the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) Gender Statement. This Africa CEO-led coalition is committed to advancing among others, women’s economic inclusion into business operations to achieve business competitiveness and resilience. The ABLC accounts for companies with USD 150 billion in revenue and hiring more than 900,000 employees across 50 African countries.
As we move forward, gender equality must not be an aspiration, it must be a reality. Through policy and intentional leadership, we can reshape Kenya's and Africa’s economic future to be more inclusive and equitable for all.
The writer is the Executive Director at Global Compact Network Kenya.
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