Nairobi, Kenya– MEDA formally launched its Leveraging Equality for Gender Inclusive Economic Development (LEGEND) project with an in-person event held on January 26th, 2023. Over six years, this project will support 250 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 30,000 small entrepreneurs (SEs), 100 associations, and other business ecosystem actors in nine targeted counties in Kenya’s Lake and Coast regions. LEGEND will support its clients, focusing on women and youth, through technical assistance, matching grants, and investment capital, which will improve the prosperity of SMEs and SEs, in the aquaculture, horticulture, and poultry sectors.
Her Excellency Mrs. Rachel Ruto, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, attended this event and gave the keynote address. His Excellency Christopher Thornley, High Commissioner for Canada in the Republic of Kenya, also attended. The event also included representatives from the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development of the Republic of Kenya, Global Affairs Canada, Kenya county government officials, MEDA staff, and other key stakeholders from the SME and NGO sectors. Other MEDA staff members were present, too.
The LEGEND project will play a critical role in providing decent work opportunities for women, youth, and people from other marginalized groups. It will also enable MEDA to achieve its overarching strategic goal to create or sustain 500,000 decent jobs by 2030. MEDA’s strategic goal is also fully aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals #8: Decent work for all and Kenya’s Vision 2030.
Helal Ahsan-Ul-Haque, MEDA’s Senior Regional Director, Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa, underscored the impact of this project on the livelihoods and businesses of small-scale farmers and businesses in Kenya.
“MEDA can contribute the most sustainable impact by supporting youth, women, and other underrepresented people in Kenya to find decent work and build prosperous businesses. We look forward to LEGEND continuing the ripple effect of prosperity that will contribute to better and more prosperous lives for farmers, small entrepreneurs, and their communities for generations.”
– Helal Ahsan-Ul-Haque
Read more about the LEGEND project and check out some of our other content in the Storehouse to learn how entrepreneurs and farmers use their skills and talents to build prosperous businesses and livelihoods.
