The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Kenya program, supported by the US Embassy, aims to empower 100 women entrepreneurs through a 9-month training program.
This initiative, now in its sixth cohort, provides participants with the opportunity to grow and scale their businesses while exploring international trade opportunities.
Shakaria Buckson, a regional public engagement specialist at the US Embassy in Kenya, highlighted the significant benefits of the AWE program, which first launched in Kenya in 2019.
“The AWE program supported by the U.S. Department of State and facilitated by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Management has seen successful stories of previous cohort members”.
Shakaria mentioned that this year’s cohort has received additional support from the global shipping and logistics company UPS.
During the event held at the American Corner Mtaani space at the National Library in Nairobi, Kenya, Ushindi Empowerment Director Ella Wafula, the implementing partner, emphasized the importance of commitment from the selected enterprises to confidently engage in cross-border trade.
Since its introduction in 2019, the AWE program has empowered over 16,000 women entrepreneurs globally and nurtured over 500 female entrepreneurs in Kenya. Notably, during the program’s duration, more than 20 AWE graduates have received grants from the USAfrica Development Foundation.
