Newsletter

2019-2023

OPENING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FOR WOMEN

© Buildher

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2019-2023

Buildher

Buildher is a Kenyan social enterprise that trains disadvantaged young women in construction and crucial life skills, boosting their career prospects and helping them to achieve financial independence. By introducing a qualified female workforce into the male-dominated construction industry, Buildher is challenging traditional gender bias within the sector.

CHALLENGE

The construction industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Kenya. It’s also one of the most gender-segregated. Less than 3% of its workforce is women, none of whom are in skilled or leadership roles.

© Solidaridad/Annemarieke van den Broek

ACTION

Buildher’s pilot programme trains disadvantaged young women living in Nairobi’s informal settlements to become qualified construction workers.

To ensure a truly transformative outcome, the training curriculum integrates technical and critical life skills, placing special emphasis on building confidence and leadership. The participants also receive education about health and wellbeing topics, such as sexual and reproductive health, mental health, nutritional support and physical conditioning.

Buildher supports the graduates through a network of construction employer partners, helping them secure fairly paid employment opportunities as carpenters, joiners, painters and plasterers.

Buildher is now refining its training curriculum and strengthening its placement strategy with the aim of training 680 women and helping them transition them into paid, qualified jobs by 2023.

IMPACT

The 69 programme graduates between 2019 and 2021 were able to increase their income from $3 to $8-12 per day.

111

GRADUATES

currently pursuing careers in construction

530
%

INCOME INCREASE

after four months of training

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© Buildher

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© Buildher

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© Buildher

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© Buildher

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© Buildher

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© Buildher

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© Buildher

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© Buildher

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© Buildher