Mobile Learning, Lasting Impact: From Digital Upskilling to Economic Empowerment for Rural Women in Kenya

This report examines One Acre Fund’s (OAF) dual strategy to empower rural women in Kenya and their field staff through digital tools, in collaboration with the Gates Foundation. Central to this approach is the Learn.Ink platform, which provides digital training for female field staff to improve productivity and efficiency while promoting economic autonomy. Similarly, Learn.Ink offers financial literacy training for female farmers to enhance income generation and access to markets. The research, conducted in Western Kenya, identifies critical barriers to digital engagement, including limited access to devices, high data costs, and low digital literacy. It proposes several strategies to improve engagement, such as tailoring digital content to address farmers' business needs, addressing time poverty, and establishing networks of digital champions within communities. 

The report emphasizes the importance of refining digital tools and scaling efforts to drive women’s economic empowerment through digital financial inclusion. These findings provide valuable insights for replicating similar strategies in other regions facing analogous challenges. Furthermore, the report advocates for a comprehensive ecosystem approach that integrates digital tools, infrastructure, and community support systems to overcome systemic challenges and ensure sustainable impact.