PBP aims to address critical gaps in the Creative Manufacturing and Handmade Sector, especially for women.
We are dedicated to partnering with like-minded philanthropists and organizations to create project-based solutions that empower artisans through financing, training, AI supported digital tools, and market access driving sustainable growth.
Core Pillars
Featured Project:
The Artisan Soko Trade Show
The Artisan Soko Trade Show
Funded by our philanthropic partners, the Artisan Soko Trade Show was a trade show hosted by PBP to connect Kenyan makers with local and global buyers enabling makers to grow into the global market.
The Creative Manufactoring and Handmade (CMH) sector provides work for approximately 300 million people –predominantly women, youth and migrants living in rural areas with low incomes and often operating informally. Learn more about the opportunities for economic growth and business development in a large and often overlooked sector.
Powered by People's Export Market Readiness Curriculum is designed to equip makers with the essential skills and knowledge to succeed in the global market. Each module in the curriculum boosts maker's market readiness, strengthens brand identity, and provides effective marketing and sales strategies to captivate international consumers.
Our Philanthropic Partnerships
TRANSFORM
TRANSFORM is a joint initiative of Unilever, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and EY and aims to impact over 15 million lives by 2025 by supporting visionary enterprises across Africa, Asia and beyond. PBP partnered with TRANSFORM to test and scale solutions that improve outcomes for women makers through training, digitalization and export readiness.
ASHOKA
Ashoka identifies and supports the world's leading social entrepreneurs, learns from the patterns in their innovations, and mobilizes a global community that embraces these new frameworks to build an "everyone a changemaker world." Through the Ashoka-IKEA Dela Programme, Powered by People worked with IKEA to help effect systemic change in global shipping. We have used this accelerator to pilot our PBP ShipSmart program, which offers consolidated shipping opportunities to our makers worldwide.
IOM
International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and part of the United Nations system. Its work focuses on saving lives and protecting people on the move, driving solutions to displacement and facilitating pathways for regular migration. Powered by People works with IOM on supporting the Ukrainian makers community at the Shoppe Object event in New York city.
BFA Global
Bankable Frontier Associate (BFA Global) is an impact innovation firm that combines research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people. They partner with leading public, private and philanthropic organizations, global and local, to catalyze innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets. Powered by People works with BFA Global to address women’s economic empowerment in Kenya using technology to close the digital divide by testing the extent to which AI-generated, high quality digital profiles positively affect makers’ discoverability online and lead to sales.
Jiinue Growth Program
Powered by People is part of the Jiinue Growth Program implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and a consortium of partners consisting of Grassroots Business Fund, DT Global, 4G Capital, GROOTS Kenya, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA). JGP aims to bridge the financing gap for micro, small and medium (MSME's) in Kenya. The program combines financial support with technical assistance and a coordinated approach among various players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
TRANSFORM
TRANSFORM is a joint initiative of Unilever, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and EY and aims to impact over 15 million lives by 2025 by supporting visionary enterprises across Africa, Asia and beyond. PBP partnered with TRANSFORM to test and scale solutions that improve outcomes for women makers through training, digitalization and export readiness.
ASHOKA
Ashoka identifies and supports the world's leading social entrepreneurs, learns from the patterns in their innovations, and mobilizes a global community that embraces these new frameworks to build an "everyone a changemaker world." Through the Ashoka-IKEA Dela Programme, Powered by People worked with IKEA to help effect systemic change in global shipping. We have used this accelerator to pilot our PBP ShipSmart program, which offers consolidated shipping opportunities to our makers worldwide.
IOM
International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and part of the United Nations system. Its work focuses on saving lives and protecting people on the move, driving solutions to displacement and facilitating pathways for regular migration. Powered by People works with IOM on supporting the Ukrainian makers community at the Shoppe Object event in New York city.
BFA
Bankable Frontier Associate (BFA Global) is an impact innovation firm that combines research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people. They partner with leading public, private and philanthropic organizations, global and local, to catalyze innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets. Powered by People works with BFA Global to address women’s economic empowerment in Kenya using technology to close the digital divide by testing the extent to which AI-generated, high quality digital profiles positively affect makers’ discoverability online and lead to sales.
Jiinue Growth Program
Powered by People is part of the Jiinue Growth Program implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and a consortium of partners consisting of Grassroots Business Fund, DT Global, 4G Capital, GROOTS Kenya, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA). JGP aims to bridge the financing gap for micro, small and medium (MSME's) in Kenya. The program combines financial support with technical assistance and a coordinated approach among various players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.