Impact of lifelong learning on performance of women-managed small and medium enterprises: lifelong learning intervention outcomes vary across counties and by level of education.

Literature review indicates that Africans’ prosperity hopes and place in the world can be realized through women who in the past were custodians of wealth, kingmakers, nation-builders and pillars of the society.

However, available data indicates that their full participation in the economy is limited. Several projects with funding components such as the Kenya Women’s Finance Trust’s Biashara Loan and other Non-governmental organizations have been put in place to implement policies on female empowerment (some using the Lifelong learning model- training, mentorship and follow-ups).

KWFT’s Biashara loan is designed to support women with micro, small and medium scaled businesses to access affordable financial services. KU-WEE Hub is carrying out an evaluation on Impact of lifelong learning on performance of women-managed small and medium enterprises: the case of KWFT Bank. The purpose of this evaluation is to produce evidence on what works to advance WEE in the programme.

Preliminary findings indicate that the impact of lifelong learning interventions through mentorship and follow-up mechanisms mounted by KWFT varied across the sampled counties:

• Large percentage (29.41%) of Women in Vihiga County reported positive lifestyle due to Lifelong learning
• About 27.4 % and 23.5 % of women in Kakamega and Machakos reported positive lifestyle change, respectively.
• Kilifi County reported comparatively lower percentage of women whose lifestyles changed positively as a result of lifelong learning.
• The impact has not been similar in all the four study locales.