Women's Financial Empowerment in Kibera: Expectations and Experiences of Uweza's Bright Futures Participants

Abstract

This case study examines the perspectives of nine young mothers (aged 21-29) participating in the Uweza Foundation's Bright Futures programme to grasp the expectations and experiences of financial empowerment of women living in Kibera. Using semi-structured interviews and a combined deductive-inductive thematic analysis grounded in Kabeer's (1999) framework of resources, agency, and achievements, and Kato & Kratzer's (2013) financial empowerment categories, this study examines dimensions of Ownership, Self-Esteem, Self-efficacy, Control over savings and income, Mobility, and Decision-making. Findings reveal that participants not only develop practical financial skills (saving, budgeting, etc.) and confidence, but also articulate long-term goals of business ownership and improved family well-being. These highlighting the need for nuanced, context-sensitive evaluation tools. The insight informs both academic framework and programme design for women's financial empowerment in informal settlements.