Gender and Economic Growth in Kenya : Unleashing the Power of Women

This report examines the legal,
administrative, and regulatory barriers that are preventing
women in Kenya from contributing fully to the Kenyan
economy. Building on the 2004 Foreign Investment and
Advisory Service (FIAS) report, "Improving the
Commercial Legal Framework and Removing Administrative and
Regulatory Barriers to Investment," this study looks at
the bureaucratic barriers facing women in Kenya through a
gender lens. The report makes specific recommendations to
address gender-related barriers in the context of ongoing
government and donor initiatives to encourage private sector
development as the key driver of poverty reduction and
economic growth, in line with Kenya's Economic Recovery
Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation 2003-2007 (ERS).
Addressing these constraints will not only allow women to
make a full contribution to the economy but also improve
their livelihoods and those of their families and help
create a more enabling environment for all businesses in Kenya.