EGF & Equity Bank Partners with IFC to Aid Kenyan Women Business Owners

• Equity Bank Kenya and Equity Group Foundation (EGF) have joined the International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• The partnership seeks to introduce the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women online program in Kenya
• The program aims to empower women to develop and maintain thriving enterprises

Equity Bank Kenya and Equity Group Foundation (EGF) partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to provide Kenyan women business owners with access to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women online course.

The internationally recognized program in entrepreneurship—created by Goldman Sachs and taught in collaboration with the University of Leeds—is designed to provide women with business-class education to empower them to build and expand successful businesses. The program has so far impacted more than 200,000 women worldwide.

With this collaboration, Equity Bank Kenya and EGF will provide all their SME customers with access to the entire set of 10 online business courses and membership in the global 10,000 Women alumni network. The program combines interactive materials, mentorship, and instruction from top-of-the-line business instructors to develop critical capabilities for expanding companies.

The program will be administered through Equity Group's Fanikisha platform, introduced in 2007 to help women with business training and financial literacy. The 20-week course will be focused on existing Fanikisha customers in the Almasi, Shaba, Dhahabu, and Platini segments—women already involved in business and seeking to improve entrepreneurial skills.

Equity Group's broader financial inclusion drive also includes its Pamoja Banking programme, a group-lending platform that lends, delivers financial knowledge, and peer support to groups of similar individuals in the society. Together, Fanikisha and Pamoja illustrate the Group's dedication to transforming lives and driving inclusive, sustainable development.

Equity Group Holdings Managing Director and CEO Dr. James Mwangi welcomed the new alliance with zeal:

"We are dedicated to financially empowering women in business and increasing financial inclusion. With support from IFC, we can now extend world-class training through our networks, equipping women throughout Kenya to thrive in the current competitive environment."

IFC's East Africa Financial Institutions Group Manager Jesman Chonzi joined in:

“Women entrepreneurs are key drivers of inclusive growth. The 10,000 Women program helps unlock their potential by enhancing skills, improving access to finance, and supporting job creation. We’re proud to work with Equity Bank and EGF to scale this impact in Kenya.”

The program is especially opportune, given that most micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) owned by women in Kenya struggle with access to capital—with the unmet demand estimated by IFC at 83 percent. By building business competencies and financial preparedness, the program expects to close the gap and enhance the contribution of women to the economy.

SMEs are an essential driver of economic expansion and employment generation, and this association reinforces Equity Bank and IFC's vision to empower women entrepreneurs in Kenya and the world at large.