Pochi la Biashara and Women Micro-Entrepreneurs in Kenya: From insight to action

This report explores how digital financial services can better support women micro-entrepreneurs in Kenya through insights from a multi-year engagement between the GSMA Connected Women programme and Safaricom PLC on Pochi la Biashara, Safaricom’s merchant payment solution.

The report examines the barriers women micro-entrepreneurs face in adopting and using Pochi la Biashara, including concerns around trust, privacy, safety, financial control and digital confidence. It also shares lessons from exploring and testing approaches to address these barriers and drive greater adoption and usage.

In addition, the report highlights the positive impact Pochi la Biashara has had on women’s businesses and livelihoods, including improved savings, financial management and business growth. It also demonstrates the commercial value of designing products that intentionally address women’s needs, with evidence of strong growth in women’s uptake and usage of the product.

The findings provide actionable considerations for digital financial service providers seeking to design more inclusive products and reduce gender gaps in digital and financial inclusion.