The Promoting Gender Inclusive Local Economic Development programme is hinged on the successes and lessons learnt from the COE programme implemented over the past 12 years. The COE programme was subsequently declared the “programme of choice” for gender mainstreaming by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

The programme focuses on five thematic areas including arts and crafts, clean energy, health and sanitation, horticulture, and waste management. The programme held entrepreneurship training and infrastructure development ensuring that women and youth have access to local economic opportunities, including access to finance, markets, and learning and sharing platforms. It also seeks to build the capacity of the 12 local authorities to ensure that they support women-owned enterprises on procurement processes.