Women Agro-Processors in East Africa: Success Stories and Ways Forward

With the rise of supply chains for export-oriented crops and agro-processing, new and better-paying employment opportunities are arising for East Africans. While the incorporation of women in this sector can be considered as one of the most important developments for female employment in recent decades, women agro-entrepreneurs remain relatively few. Based on success stories from surveyed female agro-processors in East Africa, this briefing paper draws policy lessons for the more effective promotion of women entrepreneurship in agro-processing. It also highlights challenges they typically face as women, such as reconciling their multiple roles at work and in the household, access to land and finance etc.