State Department to Leverage Research Findings to Advance Gender Equality in Kenya’s Creative Economy
July 8, 2026
The State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting gender-responsive policies and programmes that empower young women in the creative economy, following the presentation of findings from the research study, “Behind the Scenes: Young Women and Gender-Based Inequities in Africa’s Creative Sector.”
Secretary for Youth Development Dr.Josephine Etenyi led senior officials from the State Department in receiving a brief on the study, which was undertaken by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). The research explores the experiences of young women across Africa’s creative industries and identifies the structural and systemic barriers that hinder their participation, growth and leadership within the sector.
The study highlights key challenges affecting young women in the sector, including unequal access to employment opportunities, limited access to finance, workplace discrimination and harassment, underrepresentation in leadership positions, and inadequate professional networks. It also presents practical recommendations for governments, industry stakeholders and development partners to foster safer, more inclusive and economically rewarding creative industries.
The briefing provided an opportunity for the State Department to engage with researchers on evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening policy and programming to create a more inclusive and equitable creative economy.