British American Tobacco Kenya has rolled out Sh10 million Rural Women’s Development Programme (RuWDeP).
This is part of its commitment to creating shared value in the communities it operates.
The programme will benefit more than 1,600 women from the Oyani and Malakisi tobacco leaf growing communities in Migori and Bungoma counties respectively, who are either women farmers contracted by BAT Kenya or spouses of contracted farmers.
The programme will be rolled out in three phases: 285 women will be in the first phase and extending to 1,387 women in subsequent phases.
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It was initially launched during this year’s International women' day.
Women’s Day, the RuWDep aims to empower more than 1,600 women from the Oyani and Malakisi tobacco leaf growing communities in Migori and Bungoma counties respectively, who are either women farmers contracted by BAT Kenya or spouses of contracted farmers. Through the program which will run for an initial period of three years, BAT Kenya aims to champion women’s rights and welfare, capacity building on sustainable agriculture and business management, as well as entrepreneurship development.
Head of Corporate Affairs for BAT Kenya & East African Markets Mimi Mavuti, they were committed to delivering a positive impact by working with various stakeholders to empower Kenyans in its value chain.
"Women play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of our communities. As part of our Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) platform. We believe that this Rural Women’s Development Programme is an ideal vehicle to not only transform the lives of our farmers but also support them to build sustainable livelihoods," Mavuti said
