OFFICIAL CHAPTER OF:
FOWEK PROGRAMME INITIATIVE
FOWEK creates structured opportunities for women entrepreneurs to connect directly with commercial markets, corporate buyers, strategic business partners, and regional supply chain stakeholders. Understanding that market access is the lifeblood of enterprise survival, the program actively breaks open closed commercial pipelines, enabling women-led enterprises to showcase their products, secure off-take agreements, and participate effectively within the wider business ecosystem.
Delivered through business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking, commercial networking forums, and bilateral trade engagements, this program connects Kenyan entrepreneurs with local and cross-border commercial opportunities. Through initiatives such as the COMESA B2B Market Linkages program and physical matchmaking forums with visiting trade delegations—such as the Tunisia trade delegation—FOWEK enables members to identify corporate buyers, build cross-border partnerships, and expand their regional sales footprint across Eastern and Southern Africa.
FOWEK removes the friction of cold business outreach by serving as a credible institutional broker. Rather than passive networking, our B2B sessions are designed around specific commercial demand, pairing verified buyers with qualified, capacity-vetted suppliers.
By connecting local enterprises directly into the wider COMESA regional trade ecosystem, FOWEK ensures Kenyan women-led businesses expand their customer base beyond domestic borders and capture high-value, sustainable contracts.
This program serves commercial women-owned enterprises ready to supply at scale:
Growth-Stage Suppliers: Women-owned businesses in manufacturing, agribusiness, construction, and professional services that have the capacity to fulfill bulk corporate orders.
Export-Ready Producers: Enterprises with standardized goods seeking regional distributors and buyers across the East and Southern African corridors.
Business Membership Organisations (BMOs): Member associations seeking collective commercial linkages and structured supply partnerships for their member clusters.
FOWEK delivers commercial connectivity through targeted matchmaking mechanisms and bilateral business engagements:
COMESA B2B Market Linkages: Structured regional matchmaking platforms connecting Kenyan women entrepreneurs with verified corporate buyers and partners across COMESA member states.
Inbound Trade Delegation Forums: Physical business engagement roundtables connecting member suppliers with visiting international delegations (such as the Tunisia bilateral delegation) for direct trade talks.
Enterprise Showcases & Buyer Meets: Curated buyer-seller forums providing members direct pitch opportunities with corporate supply chain leaders and wholesale distributors.
GOT QUESTIONS?
FOWEK organizes structured B2B matchmaking sessions, buyer-seller roundtables, and enterprise showcases where member businesses pitch directly to pre-vetted corporate procurement leaders and commercial buyers.
It is a regional trade facilitation mechanism that connects Kenyan women entrepreneurs with businesses across COMESA member countries to explore cross-border trade, find buyers, and expand regional networks.
Yes, FOWEK regularly hosts physical B2B forums with visiting international delegations, such as our bilateral sessions with trade representatives from Tunisia and other COMESA states.
Not for domestic corporate linkages. However, for cross-border and regional COMESA B2B sessions, having compliant standards and standardized products is recommended to successfully close purchase agreements.
Registered FOWEK members are profiled according to sector, production capacity, and supply readiness, and are then matched with incoming commercial buyer requests and B2B delegations.
Access tailored capacity building, B2B commercial linkages, and regional trade platforms to support every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.
We build strategic partnerships that connect women entrepreneurs and business associations to expertise, resources and economic opportunities.
We amplify the voices of women entrepreneurs and engage stakeholders to promote policies that support women’s economic participation.
We strengthen women-focused business associations to improve governance, organisational capacity, member services and representation.
We equip women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and resources to strengthen their businesses and pursue sustainable growth.
WHERE WILL YOUR BUSINESS GO NEXT?
Whether you are looking to strengthen your enterprise, master operational skills, access new markets, or explore regional trade corridors, FOWEK provides the platform you need to move forward.
