BrighterMonday, Mastercard Foundation Launch EmpowerHer to Uplift 217,000 Young Women Across Kenya

BrighterMonday, Mastercard Foundation launches EmpowerHer initiative to enhance workforce development and entrepreneurial ecosystem among 217,000 young women within 18 months across the 47 counties.

In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation through the GenKazi Program, BrighterMonday is rolling out the first edition of EmpowerHer – a county-level workforce intervention targeting women and youth aged 18 – 35. GenKazi is designed to ensure that at least 70% of beneficiaries are women, 10% are persons with disabilities, and 10% are displaced persons, with a deliberate focus on underserved and marginalised groups.

Limited access to mentorship, digital skills, professional networks, and localised opportunities continues to hold women back from achieving their full potential in the labor market and business opportunities. EmpowerHer is a model for county-level, women-focused workforce and entrepreneurial empowerment initiatives. It will serve as a platform to inspire, upskill, and connect women to practical pathways for dignified work and business growth.

“The initiative aims at equipping women with business skills, employability training, and county-led mentorship with tools and networks to thrive in Kenya’s evolving workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Sarah Ndegwa, Managing Director, BrighterMonday Kenya.

Kenyan women remain disproportionately excluded from dignified employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, despite making up nearly half of the working-age population (KNBS, 2023). Counties such as Machakos, where youth and women represent a significant portion of the population, and deliberate interventions to unlock their economic and leadership roles. “EmpowerHer Initiative is tailored to the realities of counties. We are already working with multiple organisations across national and county governments, private and development sectors, to promote inclusive pathways to work and enterprise for women and persons with disabilities. Machakos will be the first County to benefit from this initiative,” added Sarah.

The GenerationKazi Program is setting new standards for inclusive hiring and upskilling, ensuring that all youth, including those from marginalised backgrounds, have access to dignified, fulfilling work.

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