As part of its commitment to fostering financial inclusion and empowering women entrepreneurs, Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) recently hosted a free digital and financial literacy training session at its headquarters in Nairobi. The initiative benefited over 100 women micro-entrepreneurs from the ROSE Women’s Foundation Programme, equipping them with essential skills to grow their businesses in the digital age.
The training, held in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), targeted women running micro enterprises in informal settlements across Nairobi. The goal was to empower them with practical skills to enhance business operations, maximize digital opportunities, and improve financial management.
Attendees benefited from expert-led sessions covering:
- Digital literacy and online business tools
- Social media marketing for business growth
- Effective management of chamas (informal savings groups)
- Strategies for financial planning and loan management
Speaking at the workshop, DTB’s Head of Sustainability and Communications, Azmaira Thobani, emphasized the importance of equipping women entrepreneurs with digital and financial literacy skills.
“At DTB, we recognize that empowering women entrepreneurs is key to driving economic growth and financial inclusion. Through our financial literacy training programme, we are enabling them to expand their businesses, create employment opportunities, and contribute to sustainable development,” Thobani stated.
The initiative aligns with DTB’s broader agenda to foster inclusive economic growth by providing women-led businesses with the knowledge and resources necessary for success in today’s digital economy.
One of the core focuses of the training was on leveraging digital tools to enhance business visibility and profitability. Participants learned how to:
- Use social media for brand awareness, customer engagement, and sales.
- Optimize digital transactions for seamless financial operations.
- Leverage chamas for business growth, including digitized onboarding, personalized wallets, and chama loan management.
For many attendees, the training was a game-changer. Jane Thige, an entrepreneur and a beneficiary of the ROSE Women’s Foundation, shared her experience:
“I have always owned a smartphone, but normally, I just use it for communication and payments. Today’s workshop has opened my eyes to the power of digital marketing. I now understand how to use social media and digital tools to market my products, reach more customers, and increase my sales. I am truly grateful to DTB for this opportunity.”
ROSE Women’s Foundation is a faith-based non-profit organization that empowers women in extreme poverty through the Gospel and entrepreneurship. It partners with women and girls in low-income communities across East Africa, using technology and innovation to uplift families and communities from poverty.
Through continuous impact assessments, ROSE ensures that its initiatives create lasting economic and social change, providing women entrepreneurs with mentorship, financial tools, and skills to scale their businesses.
DTB’s digital and financial literacy training underscores the crucial role financial institutions play in fostering inclusive economic growth. By equipping women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to navigate the digital economy, DTB is not only transforming individual businesses but also driving broader economic development in Kenya.
This initiative serves as a model for empowering women-owned businesses, proving that with the right knowledge and tools, women entrepreneurs can thrive and contribute significantly to Kenya’s economic progress.
