Women in northern Kenya have the ideas and the drive to run businesses. What they often lack is access to finance. That is beginning to change.
Walk through any market in Mandera and you will see women at its heart — selling milk, vegetables, clothes and household goods. Yet when these women try to grow their businesses, they hit the same wall: no access to credit. Microfinance for women can turn small enterprises into real economic independence.
Why women are left out of finance
- No collateral. Land and livestock are usually registered to men, so women have nothing to pledge for a loan.
- Perceived risk. Lenders often see women and young people as risky borrowers.
- Distance. Banks and microfinance institutions are concentrated in towns.
- Financial products that do not fit. Many women in the region prefer Sharia-compliant, interest-free finance.
Models that work
Group-based lending and savings
Women's groups pool savings and lend to members. Peer support replaces collateral, and members hold each other accountable.
Interest-free revolving funds
VOPA's entrepreneurship programme promotes capital formation at community level through interest-free soft loans and revolving funds. As each borrower repays, the money is lent to the next woman in line — so the fund keeps growing the community's economy.
Start-up kits
Sometimes the best "loan" is equipment. VOPA has equipped six cross-border women's groups with deep freezers, juice dispensers and blenders, allowing them to launch businesses selling chilled drinks and juices. Read about the project.
Finance plus skills
Money alone rarely builds a lasting business. Our programmes combine finance with training in bookkeeping, pricing, marketing and saving. Women learn to separate business and household money, track profits and plan for the dry season when sales may fall.
"The microfinance programme has empowered me to start a business and provide for my family." — Halima Hassan, Mandera
Why it matters for the whole community
When women earn income, they invest in their children's food, health and education. Economic independence also gives women a stronger voice in household and community decisions — including decisions about peace. That is why women and youth empowerment sits at the heart of VOPA's work.
VOPA builds peace, resilience and dignity with communities in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. About us
