Course Overview
The Strategic Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) and Transformative Leadership Masterclass is a premier 10-day intensive program designed for senior development professionals and program directors. In an era where gender equality is recognized as a fundamental driver of global economic growth, this course provides the high-level strategic frameworks necessary to move beyond basic gender mainstreaming toward systemic economic transformation. It addresses the structural barriers that limit women’s economic participation and provides leaders with the tools to design, implement, and scale high-impact interventions that empower women as economic actors and decision-makers.
Over the course of two weeks, participants will explore the intersection of macroeconomics and gender, digital financial inclusion, and inclusive value chain development. The curriculum emphasizes "Leadership for Change," focusing on how Program Directors can influence policy, manage diverse stakeholders, and navigate the complex socio-political landscapes of women’s empowerment. By blending technical economic empowerment strategies with advanced leadership coaching, this masterclass ensures that participants return to their organizations ready to lead transformative initiatives that produce measurable, sustainable results for women and their communities.
Upon the successful completion of this Masterclass in Strategic Women’s Economic Empowerment and Transformative Leadership for Program Directors participants will be able to:
ü Design comprehensive Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) strategies aligned with global SDGs.
ü Analyze and dismantle structural and institutional barriers to women’s financial inclusion.
ü Lead high-level advocacy and policy reform initiatives for gender-equitable economic laws.
ü Implement inclusive value chain and market systems development (MSD) approaches.
ü Utilize advanced transformative leadership skills to manage multi-sectoral partnerships.
Training Methodology
The course is designed to be highly interactive, challenging and stimulating. It will be an instructor led training and will be delivered using a blended learning approach comprising of:
ü Executive briefings and interactive lectures
ü Strategic case study analysis of successful WEE interventions
ü Group "Think-Tank" sessions for project design
ü Role-playing high-level policy advocacy and stakeholder negotiation
ü Expert-led leadership coaching and self-assessment workshops
Our facilitators are seasoned industry professionals with years of expertise in their chosen fields. All facilitation and course materials will be offered in English.
Who Should Attend?
This Masterclass in Strategic Women’s Economic Empowerment and Transformative Leadership for Program Directors would be suitable for, but not limited to:
ü Program Directors and Country Directors of International NGOs
ü Senior Project Managers in Gender and Development
ü Heads of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in corporate and public sectors
ü Policy Advisors and Government Officials in Women’s Affairs
ü Directors of Women’s Rights Organizations and Civil Society Groups
ü Grant Managers and Foundation Directors focusing on Women’s Economic Empowerment
ü International Development Consultants
Personal Benefits
Participants will emerge as recognized experts in the specialized field of Women’s Economic Empowerment, possessing a rare blend of macroeconomic insight and leadership prowess. You will gain the confidence to lead complex, multi-million dollar portfolios and the strategic capability to influence global development agendas, significantly elevating your professional profile for executive-level roles in the international development sector.
Organizational Benefits
Organizations will gain the capacity to design more competitive and impactful grant proposals, leading to increased funding and partnership opportunities. By institutionalizing transformative leadership and WEE frameworks, the organization will see improved program sustainability, better risk management in sensitive social contexts, and a fortified reputation as a leader in gender-transformative development.
ü Course Duration: 10 Days
ü Training Fee
o Physical Training: USD 3,000
o Online / Virtual Training: USD 2,500
Module 1: Foundations of Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)
ü Conceptualizing WEE: Agency, Resources, and Achievements
ü The Business Case for WEE in global development
ü Intersectional perspectives on economic empowerment
ü Global frameworks: The SDGs and the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on WEE
ü Practical Session: Identifying WEE entry points in current organizational portfolios
Module 2: Transformative Leadership: Theories and Applications
ü Power Dynamics: Power Over, Power With, and Power Within
ü Emotional Intelligence for Program Directors
ü Leading diverse and remote teams in the development sector
ü Ethical leadership and professional integrity
ü Practical Session: Leadership self-assessment and 360-degree feedback simulation
Module 3: Macroeconomics, Gender, and Structural Barriers
ü The impact of fiscal and monetary policy on women
ü Trade liberalization and gendered employment patterns
ü Analyzing property rights and land inheritance laws
ü Institutional bias in labor markets
ü Practical Session: Developing a macro-level barrier map for a specific regional context
Module 4: Designing WEE-Responsive Program Frameworks
ü Integrating WEE into the Theory of Change (ToC)
ü Designing for scale and sustainability
ü Human-Centered Design (HCD) in women's programming
ü The "Reach, Benefit, Empower" framework
ü Practical Session: Redesigning a program LogFrame using a WEE lens
Module 5: Financial Inclusion: Access to Credit, Savings, and Insurance
ü Barriers to formal financial services for women
ü Alternative collateral and gender-sensitive credit scoring
ü VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Associations) and the "Graduation" model
ü Micro-insurance products for women entrepreneurs
ü Practical Session: Designing a partnership model with a local financial institution
Module 6: Digital Empowerment: Closing the Gender Tech Gap
ü Mobile money and digital wallets: Drivers of inclusion
ü Overcoming the "Digital Divide": Access, Skills, and Safety
ü Digital marketing for women-led SMEs
ü E-governance and women’s economic participation
ü Practical Session: Audit of a program's digital accessibility for female participants
Module 7: Inclusive Value Chain Development and Market Systems
ü Gender-sensitive value chain analysis
ü Upgrading women’s roles from producers to processors and owners
ü Market Systems Development (MSD) and WEE
ü Connecting women to regional and global markets
ü Practical Session: Mapping a local agricultural or handicraft value chain for gender gaps
Module 8: The Care Economy: Addressing Unpaid Care Work
ü Recognizing, Reducing, and Redistributing (The 3Rs) unpaid care
ü The impact of care work on women’s economic opportunities
ü Policy solutions: Childcare, infrastructure, and social protection
ü Engaging men and boys in care work
ü Practical Session: Designing a community-based childcare intervention model
Module 9: Stakeholder Engagement and Multi-Sectoral Partnerships
ü Engaging the Private Sector for WEE
ü Working with traditional and religious leaders
ü Building coalitions with women’s rights movements
ü Negotiation and persuasion skills for directors
ü Practical Session: Mock negotiation with a private sector "Sustainability Director"
Module 10: Policy Advocacy and Legislative Reform for WEE
ü Identifying policy windows for gender-responsive laws
ü Crafting compelling policy briefs and evidence-based arguments
ü Navigating political resistance and backlash
ü International labor standards and women’s rights
ü Practical Session: Drafting an advocacy strategy for equal pay or land rights legislation
Module 11: Social Norms Change and Behavioral Insights
ü Identifying "Sticky" social norms that hinder WEE
ü Behavioral nudges for economic decision-making
ü Mass media and entertainment-education for norm change
ü Measuring shifts in social attitudes and beliefs
ü Practical Session: Designing a community communication campaign to promote women’s financial autonomy
Module 12: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) for WEE
ü Quantitative vs. Qualitative indicators for empowerment
ü Measuring agency: The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI)
ü Participatory M&E and storytelling for impact
ü Ensuring accountability to the women we serve
ü Practical Session: Developing a custom WEE indicator dashboard
Module 13: Entrepreneurship and Micro-Enterprise Development
ü Moving from "Necessity" to "Opportunity" entrepreneurship
ü Incubators and accelerators for women-led businesses
ü Mentorship and networking as growth drivers
ü Supply chain diversity: Sourcing from women-owned businesses
ü Practical Session: Designing a "Business Growth" curriculum for female SMEs
Module 14: Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Resource Allocation
ü Principles of Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB)
ü Tracking financial allocations for gender outcomes
ü Cost-benefit analysis of WEE interventions
ü Resource mobilization and sustainable funding models
ü Practical Session: Analyzing a project budget for gender-responsiveness
Module 15: Conflict Transformation and Women’s Economic Resilience
ü WEE in fragile and conflict-affected settings
ü Economic empowerment as a tool for peacebuilding
ü Supporting displaced and refugee women’s livelihoods
ü Resilience-building against economic shocks and climate change
ü Practical Session: Designing an emergency livelihood program for women in a crisis zone
Module 16: Risk Management and Safeguarding in WEE Programs
ü Addressing the link between WEE and Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
ü Safeguarding women from exploitation in economic activities
ü Do No Harm: Ethical considerations in empowerment
ü Whistleblowing and complaint mechanisms
ü Practical Session: Conducting a GBV risk assessment for a new WEE project
Module 17: Strategic Communications and Influencing for Directors
ü Mastering the elevator pitch for WEE
ü Data storytelling: Making the numbers matter
ü Utilizing high-level platforms (WEF, UNGA) for visibility
ü Crisis communication and managing reputational risk
ü Practical Session: Developing a personal "Thought Leadership" content plan
Module 18: Final Project: Designing a Transformative WEE Roadmap
ü Synthesizing the 10-day learning into an actionable plan
ü Identifying priority interventions and resource needs
ü Setting 12-month impact milestones
ü Peer review and expert feedback session
ü Practical Session: Presentation of the Final Transformative WEE Strategic Roadmap
About Our Trainers
Our training faculty comprises distinguished Program Directors, Economists, and Leadership Coaches with over 20 years of experience in global development. They have successfully led WEE portfolios for UN agencies, World Bank initiatives, and top-tier international NGOs. Our trainers are not just academics; they are practitioners who have navigated the challenges of field-level implementation and high-level policy negotiation, offering participants a wealth of "lived" professional wisdom.
Quality Statement
Phoenix Center for Policy, Research and Training is committed to pedagogical excellence and professional integrity. Our masterclasses are NITA Approved and developed in collaboration with global gender experts to ensure the curriculum meets the highest international standards. We provide a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment that fosters deep learning and high-level networking.
Tailor-Made Courses
We understand that every organization has unique challenges and opportunities as well as unique training needs. Phoenix Training Center offers tailor-made courses designed to address specific requirements and challenges faced by your team or organization. Whether you need a customized curriculum, a specific duration, or on-site delivery, we can adapt our expertise to provide a training solution that perfectly aligns with your objectives. We can customize this Course to focus on your industry, specific risk profile, or internal stakeholder dynamics. Contact us to discuss how we can create a bespoke training program that maximizes value and impact for your team. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254737296202 or Email training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com
ü Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.
ü Applicants must live up to Phoenix Center for Policy, Research and Training admission criteria.
Terms and Conditions
ü Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free
ü What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.
ü Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.
ü The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.
ü Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.
Booking for Training
Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training. Or call us on +254720272325 / +254737296202
Payment Options
We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:
ü Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Phoenix Center for Policy, Research and Training Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.
ü Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.
ü Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)
Cancellation Policy
ü Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.
ü Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.
ü No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.
Accommodation and Airport Transfer
For physical training attendees, we can assist with recommendations for accommodation near the training venue. Airport pick-up services can also be arranged upon request to ensure a smooth arrival. Please inform us of your travel details in advance if you require these services. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254737296202
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