A partnership to provide construction jobs for vulnerable women
Tatu City, the 5,000-acre new city at Nairobi’s doorstep, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Buildher, Kenya’s first and only technical training program for construction artisans that exclusively trains women and actively promotes sector-wide gender inclusivity.
Tatu City has been offering free accredited vocational training to the community living around the development since 2018, a programme that has produced more than 400 graduates in construction courses. More than 85% of the graduates have been employed in the buoyant construction industry at the mixed-use development.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Faith Mutheu, representing Renwoman, the gender equality initiative of Rendeavour, Tatu City’s owner and developer, underscored the companies’ deep committment to community empowerment, job creation and gender equality. “Our partnership with Buildher will accelerate access to construction jobs for women at Tatu City, which is East Africa’s largest private real estate and construction project,” said Mutheu, noting Renwoman’s mission for Tatu City to be an enabling space in which women can thrive.
Buildher equips disadvantaged women from Nairobi’s informal settlements with construction skills, leading to greater financial prosperity while promoting gender equality within the construction industry.
Buildher’s model complements technical training with family support, work readiness, life-skills training, advocacy and Routes to Employment, providing access to high quality, industry-based vocational training, while increasing employment opportunities and incomes for a demographic that otherwise would not afford it. The Buildher Methodology includes developing a rigorous approach to training in collaboration with industry partners, which imparts high-quality, relevant skill levels, producing artisans who fit the exact profile of skills sought by employers.
Tatu Gatere, Co-founder and CEO, Buildher, said, “Our vision is to support women across Kenya to actively contribute towards urban development to create safe, inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities, and promote urban development with women. Launching this new partnership with Tatu City is an exciting and pivotal moment in our journey, enabling us to increase our impact and connect more skilled women artsisans to construction opportunities.”
Since its inception in 2019, Buildher has trained 229 women from informal settlements and formalized 26 sector partnerships.
At Tatu City, more than 60 companies are operational or under construction, two schools – Crawford International and Nova Pioneer – educate more than 3,000 students daily and 5,000 multi-income homes are completed or under development. Tatu City is Kenya’s first operational Special Economic Zone, with low corporate taxes and zero-rated VAT and import duties, amongst other benefits.
About Tatu City (www.tatucity.com)
Tatu City is a 5,000-acre, mixed-use development with homes, schools, offices, a shopping district, medical clinics, nature areas, a sport and entertainment complex, and manufacturing area for more than 250,000 residents and tens of thousands of day visitors. Schools and businesses are open at Tatu City, and a range of homes suit all incomes. A Special Economic Zone, Tatu City represents a new way of living and thinking for all Kenyans, creating a unique live, work and play environment that is free from congestion and long-distance commuting.
About Buildher (www.buildher.org)
Buildher is Kenya’s first and only technical training program for construction artisans that exclusively trains women and actively promotes sector-wide gender inclusivity. Buildher exclusively recruits women from informal settlements to gain marketable skills and employment and trains them to work as artisans who add value to the construction workforce. They work closely with industry employers to identify their current skill-gaps, which guides them on how to provide rigorous technical training imparts those skills, producing certified artisans who fit the exact profile sought by employers and contractors.
