Kenya Launches First National Cooperative Gender Platform at Women & Cooperatives Summit 2026

The Women & Cooperatives Summit 2026, convened by ICA-Africa in partnership with Credence Africa, Cooperative Alliance of Kenya and the Nairobi City County Government, brought together cooperative leaders, policymakers, and development partners in Nairobi for two days of dialogue, collaboration, and action aimed at advancing women’s leadership within the cooperative movement. A key highlight of the summit was the official launch of the National Cooperative Gender Platform (NCGP) in Kenya - the first coordinated national framework dedicated to strengthening gender-responsive governance across cooperative institutions. This milestone builds on a 2025 validation process that convened stakeholders to design practical pathways for advancing gender inclusion, now realised through a platform that will strengthen leadership pipelines, enhance governance, and address systemic barriers facing women in cooperatives.

Through dynamic panel discussions on leadership pathways, governance readiness, and financial empowerment, alongside partner-led presentations showcasing initiatives supporting women in the sector, the summit underscored the critical importance of intentional investment in women’s leadership as a driver of stronger, more inclusive, and resilient cooperative systems. ICA-Africa looks forward to scaling this initiative by supporting the rollout of similar cooperative gender platforms across other African countries. Read the framework. 

This activity was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the International Cooperative Alliance- Africa and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.