Absa SHE STARS Program 2022

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Absa Bank Kenya in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D) Programme supported by Yunus Environment Hub launched a project dubbed “SHE Stars- See Her Empowered” Program to support female entrepreneurs from various sectors in Kenya to overcome some of the most prevalent challenges of today’s women in the business world.

Over the course of 18 months, Yunus Environment Hub (YEH) will support 1,500 women-led micro and small enterprises within the ABSA Bank clientele to build more resilient, sustainable, and competitive businesses in response to disrupted livelihoods, climate change, biodiversity loss and a resource depleting economy. The beneficiaries will be equipped with the necessary tools and skills to capitalize their business models to drive change and examine the broader landscape in which they thrive in.

Through a blended Finance and Business Development program, they aim at empowering these entrepreneurs to enhance their business capabilities and thus increase income opportunities and create jobs. Additionally, with the tailored mentorship and interactive business training and extensive networking opportunities with experienced entrepreneurs, the program entails hands-on skills and a capacity building journey to the selected SHE STARS.

Program Details

During the 18-months program, the 1,500 SHE STARS will be grouped into 4 cohorts of ca. 375 and each cohort will participate in a 12-weeks training and mentoring program, that concludes with a graduation event.

The selected participants will receive:

  1. Training in business skills
  2. Mentorship with experienced female entrepreneurs (BIG SISTERS)
  3. Networking opportunities
  4. Peer-to-peer support
  5. Access to markets and blended finance support
Eligibility

Only customers that fulfil these criteria are eligible to apply:

    1. Should be between the ages between 22 and 55 years.
    2. Have been in business for at least 2 years.
    3. The business should be women led/owned.
    4. Have demonstrated a keen interest for growth, e.g. through operation expansion over years, growth in annual turnover, increase in jobs opportunities, market penetration etc.
    5. Favorably the business should be solving a challenge within social and environmental bounds.
    6. The business should be solving a challenge within the following sectors: Agribusiness value
      chains, Hospitality & Tourism, Retail & Wholesale, Manufacturing, Education, Information and
      Communications Technology, Business Services (consultancy and basic services) and Waste
      Management & Sanitation.

For more information on the program and application: https://she.yunusenvironmenthub.com/

Applications will close on May 31, 2022 at 23:59 EAT.

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