Publication: Kenya - A Micro-Finance Scheme for Women
Date
1996-09
ISSN
Published
1996-09
Author(s)
Kiiru, Washington K.
Pederson, Glenn D.
Abstract
Established in 1981 as an affiliate of
Women's World Banking, the Kenya Women Finance Trust
(KWFT) aimed to strengthen women's participation in the
economic mainstream. It focused on a clientele that had
little access to formal lending institutions and sought to
strengthen their position by lending to women owners of
micro-enterprises and providing the requisite training.
Although KWFT started its operations in the early 1980s with
several donors providing grants, that support dwindled in
the latter part of the decade due to poor performance. By
1990, general mismanagement had resulted in a relatively
high number of non-performing loans. Operations had largely
ceased and donor confidence was badly eroded. The
institution was subsequently restructured with a new board
of directors, (comprising professional women), management
team and staff. A focused group-based credit methodology was
also adopted.
Citation
“Kiiru, Washington K.; Pederson, Glenn D.. 1996. Kenya - A Micro-Finance Scheme for Women. Africa Region Findings & Good Practice Infobriefs; No. 70. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/a78d3efa-bcb4-51bb-b336-40c347976a04 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”