About Gender Lens Investing

About Team Careers
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Our Story

In July 2021, Plan International launched a pilot in Kenya to assess the organisation’s value proposition for the gender lens investing market. The pilot was kicked off with human-centred market research, exploring the challenges and needs of gender lens entrepreneurs, investors and intermediaries. This research was crucial in identifying critical market gaps and  potential solutions that Plan International could explore in order to address them. As a result of this process, the organisation is currently piloting its first market offering in Kenya, the Disrupt4Her Gender Lens Incubator in Kenya.

Why we need gender lens investment

Only 2.3% of VC funding went to women-led startups in 2020

Only 1 in 3 businesses are owned by women

But 80% of all global consumer decisions are made by women

How our gender lens impact bridges the gap

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We directly support entrepreneurs

Plan International recently launched the Gender Lens Incubator. Alongside our partners, Circle Innovation and GrowthAfrica, this incubator pilot seeks to support businesses that offer products and services for low-income women and girls.

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Ecosystem enablers: We're connecting actors to build a stronger gender lens investing ecosystem

We offer networking support to various ecosystem builders across East Africa to support a more robust gender lens investment market.

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We can support investors who care about gender equity

Traditional financing does not work for women. We seek to empower investors with data to improve their pipeline and product offerings to better support women.