Report: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI): A lens on high-growth company founders in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda

This report highlights founders of high-growth and potential high-growth companies in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda by analysing LinkedIn data and job advertisements. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) are vital for promoting inclusive development, especially in high-growth sectors, where representativeness significantly impacts entrepreneurial outcomes. By exploring GESI data in detail, our goal is to provide insights and recommendations for improving these ecosystems, informing and guiding policy and practice changes to enhance diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in the future.

This is the fifth insight report in a series produced by GrowthAfrica and Systemic Innovation under the RISA Fund to formalise and implement data strategies to support growth impact ventures and innovation ecosystem enablers in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.

Key findings reveal both progress and persistent gaps in achieving a truly inclusive ecosystem.

Gender:
A significant gender gap exists among founders, with a higher prevalence of male founders in all three countries. This disparity highlights the need for targeted interventions to empower and support women entrepreneurs.

Experience and age:
The majority of founders across all three countries fall within the 26-40 age bracket. Kenya boasts a more experienced founder base, while Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is younger but growing.

Education and inclusion:
Rwanda leads in inclusion indices, indicating a strong foundation for diverse participation. Kenya and Ethiopia require further efforts to enhance educational attainment and ensure equitable access to entrepreneurial opportunities.

Recommendations:
• Leverage data and technology to identify trends, gaps, and areas for improvement in GESI within high-growth firms.

• Implement data-driven decision-making in the investment landscape to eliminate gender bias and promote inclusive funding.

• Ensure access to timely and affordable finance for underrepresented entrepreneurs through policy reforms and innovative financing instruments.

• Expand female-led VC communities and provide targeted training programs for women entrepreneurs to address skill gaps and build confidence.

• Establish clear diversity goals, hold leadership accountable, and actively seek diverse talent to create a more inclusive work environment.

• Develop diverse co-investment funds to provide targeted financial resources and support to underrepresented founders.