As Kenya confronts the challenges posed by gender-based violence (GBV), 11 Kenyan entrepreneurs are stepping up to prevent GBV and support survivors of GBV with transformative and innovative solutions.
Culminating weeks of mentorship, under this business plan contest, these changemakers will showcase their initiatives at the Innovate Against GBV Pitching Event— an event targeting over 100 participants, organized by The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with the National Gender Equality Commission (NGEC), Nairobi County Government, and project implementing partners, GrowthAfrica.
This event is a milestone moment where their business ideas, developed specifically to tackle GBV, will be presented to a panel of jurors consisting of investors, partners, gender experts and other key stakeholders.
This event represents not just a competition, but a powerful platform for catalysing change. By promoting business models that directly confront GBV, the Innovate Against GBV programme seeks to equip local entrepreneurs with the resources, networks, and support they need to scale their ideas and drive societal impact.
The Power of Entrepreneurship to Address Gender-Based Violence
With rates of Gender-Based Violence increasing in Kenya, the need for innovative, community-driven solutions has never been more pressing. “GBV has profound impacts on individuals, communities, and the nation’s socio-economic landscape. We must enhance our innovative and dynamic actions and I believe businesses have a unique and powerful role to stand against GBV and foster societal change.” said Makiko Kubota, Chief Advisor of the NGEC-JICA Gender-Based Violence Elimination Project and the program’s initiator. ” As an agency committed to supporting both social and economic development in developing countries, JICA can play a crucial role in fostering a movement within the startup ecosystem to tackle pressing social issues such as Gender-Based Violence through innovative and sustainable solutions,” echoed Misako Uehara, SME/Startup Eco-system Building expert of the KIBT (Kenya Institute of Business Training) – JICA Project for Enhancing Enterprise Competitiveness in Kenya, who leads the program’s implementation.
From Ideation to Impact: Supporting Entrepreneurial Solutions to Gender Based Violence
Over the past six weeks, the Innovate Against Gender-Based Violence business plan contest has provided participants with intensive mentorship, strategic business guidance, and practical resources. These entrepreneurs have developed innovative ideas aimed at creating a future free from GBV. The pitching event will allow them to connect with investors and partners who can help scale their solutions to reach communities in need. “We are proud to support these entrepreneurs as they work to drive real change in Kenya. This event demonstrates how entrepreneurship can act as a vehicle for social impact, creating solutions that go beyond profit to address issues deeply affecting communities,” said Patricia Jumi, Managing Director, GrowthAfrica.
A Collective Vision for Change
The Trade and Development Bank Group, which will host the event at TDB Tower, the Group’s Operations Hub, recognises the importance of supporting initiatives that can address critical societal issues such as GVB, and lead to meaningful change. “At TDB Group, we are strong supporters of women empowerment. We have several policies geared internally as well as through the projects we finance – at gender mainstreaming, sensitivity, inclusion, and protection against abuse. Furthermore, almost half of our staff consists of women and over 50% of the jobs supported by our loans are held by women.” said Sheila Amule, Group Executive, People and Organizational Development.
The Innovate Against Gender-Based Violence Pitching Event is a testament to Kenya’s commitment to addressing GBV through innovation, collaboration, and community-driven efforts. By empowering local entrepreneurs, this programme demonstrates that, together, impactful solutions are possible, bringing the country closer to a future free of GBV.
