Nairobi, Kenya, November 10, 2025 — HACO Industries Kenya Limited has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Nemlon Training Institute to empower women from refugee and host communities through the ElevateHER Initiative, a program aimed at turning vocational skills into sustainable, income-generating enterprises in the haircare sector.
The partnership was formalised during the official launch of the initiative in Nairobi, which also saw the handover of the first Haco Kwa Mtaa model container to the community. The facility will serve as a hub for training, mentorship, and micro-enterprise incubation, supporting women’s economic inclusion and resilience.
HACO Industries Managing Director Mary-Ann Musangi said the collaboration highlights the importance of joint efforts between the private sector and humanitarian agencies in advancing sustainable development.
“ElevateHER is about moving from training to transformation — enabling women to translate skills into livelihoods and dignity into independence. Through this partnership with UNHCR and Nemlon Training Institute, we are creating pathways for women to participate meaningfully in local economies,” she said.
The program will build on previous haircare and beauty training by offering mentorship, business development support, and market linkages. Beneficiaries will also gain access to HACO’s Miadi and Ashanti-Q brands to help strengthen their entrepreneurial ventures.
UNHCR Senior Protection Officer Janet Pima commended the initiative as a model of private sector engagement in supporting displaced and host populations.
“ElevateHER represents a shared vision of inclusion. By equipping refugee and host community women with the skills and networks to thrive economically, we are building the foundation for self-reliance and long-term stability,” she said.
The ElevateHER Initiative aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, Vision 2030, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on gender equality, decent work, and partnerships.
HACO and UNHCR plan to expand the model to additional counties and refugee-hosting regions in the coming months, integrating it into the Haco Kwa Mtaa network to create sustainable enterprise ecosystems led by women entrepreneurs.
“Sustainability is not just a corporate goal; it is a shared responsibility. ElevateHER reflects our belief that when women rise, communities prosper,” added Ms. Musangi.
