Impact of Covid-19 on women self-help groups and mitigation strategies in Kenya

Abstract

This paper sought to understand the pandemic's effect on Women's Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) operations in Kenya and the strategies stakeholders could adopt to mitigate the effects. The social capital theory was used to guide the research. It holds that social networks are valuable assets and interactions are critical in self-help groups to promote trustworthiness and reciprocity. The desktop review method was used to gather the information from studies on WSHGs and Covid-19 in Kenya (15 studies in 9 out of 47 Counties). The study analysed the public health measures adopted and how they affected WSHGs operations. It established that they adversely affected interactions that are critical in WSHGs operations. The mitigation strategies entail embracing technology, subsidised technological devices, affordable data bundles, social safety nets, and evidence-based interventions. This paper recommends that the government should establish partnerships with more WSHGs to reach the hard-to-reach population. It should empower WSHGs to offer the much-needed social safety nets for vulnerable groups in society. The containment measures should be context-tailored to help WSHGs operate following public health protocols.