Nestlé Kenya signs UN Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs)

Nestlé Kenya has joined other companies from across the globe in signing the UN Women Empowerment Principles.

The move comes as the company commemorated the 2018 International Women’s Day to raise awareness on the importance of gender equality at work.

In a joint ceremony in partnership with UN Women Kenya, Nestlé Equatorial Africa Region Head, Cornel Krummenacher made public the company’s commitment to women empowerment by signing the WEPs CEO statement, joining more than 40 companies that have signed the same in Kenya.

Speaking during the ceremony, East Africa Cluster Managing Director, Ms Miring’u said that they believe Women Make Africa Stronger and that was why they nourish and empower the greatness of every woman.

“We believe that investing in the woman is not just the right thing to do to ensure the future of the continent, but it also makes business sense for us to do so. She is the one who works in the fields to ensure our raw materials are delivered to us adhering to the highest standards. She works in our offices and in our operations.,” added Ms Miring’u.

Miring’u added that women are an integral part of distribution networks, making a living for their families while selling their nutritious range of products.

“She is the mother, the gatekeeper of her family, making dietary choices every day to provide the best nourishment and the best future for them,” said Miring’u.

Apart from women making up 40 percent of its workforce in Nairobi, Nestlé has embraced numerous other efforts in support of women empowerment at work and in various the communities it works. These efforts include ensuring the participation of women in coffee farming and in the leadership of Farmers’ Cooperative Societies through the Nescafé Plan programme.

“We have trained more than 6,000 women farmers on how to become entrepreneurs in coffee farming and this year we are training 6,000 more,” said Ms Mirung’u.

Nestlé also offers one of the most generous maternity and paternity leaves for both male and female primary caregivers.  “For female employees, we give them a minimum of 14 weeks paid maternity leave and the right to extend their maternity leave up to six months. In addition, we have fully equipped and modern lactation rooms to support breastfeeding at work,” Ms Miring’u added.

Launched on International Women’s Day in March 2010, the Women’s Empowerment Principles are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.