The Uwezo Fund was established by the Kenyan government in 2013 to promote economic empowerment among youth and women in the country. The fund aims to expand access to finances for youth and women businesses and enterprises at the constituency level for economic growth towards the realization of the goals of Vision 2030.

Products

These loans are interest-free and are intended to help young entrepreneurs and women start or expand their businesses.

a. Wezesha

Wezesha is designed for first-time borrowers and offers loans ranging from Ksh. 50,000 to Ksh. 100,000.

b. Endeleza

Endeleza, on the other hand, provides loans ranging from Ksh. 100,000 to Ksh. 500,000.

Application

The application process for the Uwezo Fund is straightforward:

1. Interested individual or groups submit their application at the constituency level

2. The applications are vetted by the respective Constituency Uwezo Fund Management Committee (CUFMC)

3. Viable and promising applications are recommended and submitted to HQ for further scrutiny.

4. Deliberation by the board committee follows and if the application meets the standards, the loan is approved.

5. Training is conducted to the successful applicants before disbursement.

6. Finally, disbursement of funds. 

Repayment

The repayment period for the Uwezo Fund loans is 24 months, and it is deposited to the Uwezo Fund Constituency Repayment Account. A six-month grace period is provided from the disbursement date, and borrowers are expected to repay the loan within the stipulated repayment period.

In conclusion, the Uwezo Fund has been a vital source of support for youth and women entrepreneurs in Kenya, providing them with access to affordable credit, business development services, and mentorship programs. The fund has been instrumental in empowering young entrepreneurs and women in various sectors, including agriculture, ICT, manufacturing, and services, among others.