Access to Markets: Empowering Kenyan SMEs
Our commitment to bolstering the Kenyan business landscape includes supporting Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV) portfolio SMEs from five key counties. In Bungoma, Nyahururu, Murang’a, Kiambu, Machakos, and Nairobi, we’re actively engaged in helping SMEs develop and actualize detailed sales plans. We work closely with these SMEs, fostering growth, and ensuring that their potential reaches new heights. Let’s work together to create opportunities and unleash the potential of Kenyan entrepreneurs in these thriving communities.
Supporting Women Enterprises in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL)
We are proud to introduce our collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Kenya. This program was dedicated to enhancing the capacity of resilient women enterprises in the dairy and camel meat value chains in the regions of Marsabit and Isiolo.
Our dedicated team provides crucial technical support to these women-led enterprises. Importantly, we work in partnership with local youth identified by the enterprises, ensuring that our interventions have a sustainable, long-lasting impact beyond our direct engagement.
Let’s work together to empower women in the ASAL region, strengthen local economies, and provide better nutrition through sustainable dairy and camel meat value chains. Together, we can create a brighter future for these communities.
Project TWENDE: Transforming Rangelands with Honey
The SME Support Centre partnered with Conservation International to empower communities in drought-affected regions. In Project TWENDE (Towards Ending Drought Emergencies), our objective is to empower communities in drought-affected regions by supporting enterprises in the honey value chain. We took a holistic approach to address the challenges faced by these communities. Our efforts encompass:
- Enterprise Development
- Market Development
- Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Emerge Supplier Acceleration Program
Unilever Kenya in partnership with the SME Support Centre implemented the “Emerge Supplier Acceleration Program” which aimed at increasing Unilever’s procurement spend on diverse businesses. The program was designed to support MSMEs, particularly those led by women and persons with disabilities. Across two cohorts, the program focused on businesses in various sectors such as packaging materials, food ingredients, capex maintenance, repairs and operations (MRO), and specific business services. Through capacity-building and business development support, participants were positioned to become key suppliers for multinationals.
Greenbiz Mentorship Programme
SME Support Centre Limited partnered with Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) on an initiative dedicated to nurturing climate technologies and innovative business models. The goal was to drive the commercialization and scaling up of climate-related companies, resulting in the creation of quality jobs, wider access to low-carbon energy sources, enhanced community and household resilience to climate change, and a multitude of environmental and social benefits.
Digital Sponsorship Project-Africa 118 & NORAD
SME Support Centre Limited partnered with Africa 118 and NORAD Kenya on an initiative aimed at equipping and supporting African SMEs to achieve and sustain success in their businesses by providing them with a comprehensive package of digital tools and expertise (Digital LaunchPad) to enhance their competitiveness and access global markets.
The program is offering over 3,000 SMEs in; Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ghana with:
- Financial literacy training
- Digital marketing training
- Investment readiness and venture building training
- Digital marketing campaign
- Professional website
- E-commerce + payment integration
- Access to financing
- Accelerator program
KEPSA Training and Mentorship Program
SME Support Centre Limited supported KEPSA and Mastercard in delivering a training and mentorship program that impacted just under 10,000 SMEs for a period of 1 year. The key components of the program were:
- Delivered various trainings on ALL aspects business
- Delivered various mentorship sessions with key industry leaders
- Delivered an access to finance coaching program