Key Insights Bridging The Finance Gap: Opportunity Edufinance Training Sparks Loan Readiness Among Women School Leaders in Kenya

Following participation in School Leadership Academy training, the percentage of women school owners intending to apply for a loan nearly doubled, rising from 47% before the training to 81% after. 40% of women school owners surveyed at the training had never previously accessed any type of loan. Cash flow constraints and existing debt were the most commonly cited reasons for loan rejection among women school owners. While income levels are broadly similar across male and female school owners, women school owners in the Coast and Western regions report lower median earnings than their counterparts in the region. Among more nascent schools, women owners are likely to report a lower monthly school revenue than the overall sample, suggesting gaps in financial management.