Kenyatta University received a Research Grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Ref: INV-002289) to establish a hub whose purpose is to generate a body of evidence to advance Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in Kenya. The evidence will be used by persons and organisations interested in improving WEE, i.e., the stakeholders such as policy makers, practitioners, researchers, national governments, county governments, NGOs and development partners. The evidence on what works to influence policies that advance women’s economic empowerment in Kenya is in line with similar evidence being generated by a sister Hub in India, the “Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE) New Delhi. The KU WEE Hub has a close working relationship with IWWAGE.

The rationale for the Project is to address the weak nexus between WEE policies, programmes and gender data in Kenya. To bridge this gap, KU-WEE Hub initiated 12 research studies to gather the required data. The Project’s aim is to use credible research evidence to shape policies, programmes, interventions, and advocacy efforts that move Kenyan women forward in all spheres of the economy.

The Project is undertaking twelve analytical studies using mixed methods, which include collection of quantitative and qualitative data and one Randomised Control Trial (RCT) on childcare and women’s market work in Tharaka Nithi County. In addition, the Project is building capacity of KU researchers and stakeholders in various research tools such as construction of WEE indicators, feminist research methodologies, RCTs and other programme evaluation techniques. The Hub will communicate evidence to policy makers and vigorously advocate for its use through stakeholder engagements, such as policy dialogues with policy makers, citizens, civil society, and non-governmental organizations.