Technical Meeting on NPWEE Priority Sectors and Economic Analysis - 10th June 2026

Priority Sectors and Economic Analysis of WEE & WiL Work

The second day of the joint review meeting between the University of Nairobi Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) Hub, UN Women, and the State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action focused on two key agenda items: identifying priority sectors for WEE and WiL work, and presenting the economic case for investing in women's empowerment and leadership.

Priority Sectors in WEE and WiL Work

The team presented findings on the specific sectors where WEE and WiL initiatives are most concentrated across the 16 mapped counties. The analysis revealed that the top three sectors in which work is currently being done are: 1) Agriculture, 2) Trade and Entrepreneurship, and 3) Unpaid Care and Domestic Work. A key discussion emerged around why unpaid care work belongs among the top sectors. The meeting clarified that unpaid care is not merely a social issue but a critical economic growth factor. Care initiatives release women from domestic burdens, enabling them to participate in economic activities. When women engage in the economy, the entire country's economy grows.

NPWEE Economic Analysis

The second agenda item involved a presentation of the NPWEE economic analysis – a breakdown, in economic terms, of the benefits of WEE and WiL work. The analysis quantified what Kenya stands to gain by implementing and scaling up WEE and WiL programs in communities across the country. These economic projections strengthen the investment case for development partners and government agencies, demonstrating that investing in women's economic empowerment and leadership is not only a matter of equity but also a sound economic strategy with measurable returns for the nation.