What we do

The Kenya Vision 2030 released in 2008, which outlines implementation plan of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is the United Nations’ poverty reduction framework in developing countries like Kenya.....

The Kenya Vision 2030 released in 2008, which outlines implementation plan of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is the United Nations’ poverty reduction framework in developing countries like Kenya, underlines “Gender, Youth and Vulnerable Groups” as areas that require aggressive and concerted efforts so as to strengthen the social pillar of the country in order to take considerable strides toward poverty reduction in the country. And because the vision specifically identifies access to labour markets and productive resources as one of the areas in which women are disadvantaged, SIT seeks to engage particularly women self-help groups toward empowering them in social and economic circles. Toward an effort to empower women, the government aims at upholding gender equality by making fundamental changes in the following four key areas:

1. Opportunity

2. Empowerment

3. Capabilities

4. Vulnerabilities

SIT believes these changes can be achieved through promoting the concept of table banking, entrepreneurial development and education among women and young people. This should be combined with a holistic approach, as currently underlined in the UN’s Global Goals, to end poverty. Integrated solutions are key to achieving the SDGs and to this end, much of SIT’s work directly contributes to achieving this.

The following are examples:

• Our table banking program targeted at women and girls in rural areas, aims at ensuring gender equality is integral to the program. This is a big issue in developing countries like Kenya. Oxfam’s research has shown that while 96 percent of rural women work in farms in Kenya, only 6 percent of them own any land (Goal 5: Gender equality)
• Every day, more than 20 SIT officers work tirelessly to train women and girls in rural areas in how to create wealth and empowering some of the most vulnerable people to combat poverty. Despite the progress made in fighting poverty by governments globally, 70 percent of the world’s poor continue to be women (Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere)
• Through entrepreneurial skills training, SIT seeks to create inclusive business models that promote women’s economic empowerment. The result has been many of the beneficiaries have been able to start small-scale businesses and created employment for others. (Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all)
• To promote education particularly among women and girls, SIT started a product called ‘The Education Booster Fund’. This ensures that every group member gets the learning opportunities that are available to their male counterparts. Besides getting learning opportunities for themselves, table banking group members ensure their children get an opportunity to attend school as well (Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all).
• SIT is currently working with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) to promote food security as well as enhance agricultural value chain (Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture)