Resources

Enterprises in Kenya encompass a diverse and dynamic landscape, representing a crucial driver of economic growth and employment opportunities in the country. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, play a pivotal role, contributing significantly to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and accounting for 90 percent of the labor force. Enterprises must scale their climate action to meet Kenya’s climate mitigation and adaptation goals. However, the lack of funding has limited their contribution to the climate agenda. Debt constitutes most of enterprises’ funding, but the price of debt remains very high and loan tenors are short. The availability of patient capital, including private equity, is also low. 

Trade Finance is the financing of goods or services in a trade or transaction, from a supplier through to the end buyer. It accounts for 3% of global trade, worth some $3tn annually.

Trade Finance is the financing of goods or services in a trade or transaction, from a supplier through to the end buyer. It
accounts for 3% of global trade, worth some $3tn annually.

List of Abbreviations

COVID workplace measures and financing.

Step 1: Establish what the money is needed for and how much you really need.

Step 2: Find out what business and personal information is required.

Step 3: Select two or three providers that could meet your needs.

3.1: Community financing providers of low-value financing.

3.2: Short-term equipment, pre-shipment, sales order or working capital financing.

3.3: Term loans through banks and non-bank financing providers.

3.4: Bank and non-bank short-term supply chain financing options.

3.5: Key enterprise loan regulatory considerations for banks.

3.6: What is “Collateral” and what are its implications for your business?

3.7: Asset valuation: enterprise and lender perspective.

3.8: What are “Covenants” and how do they affect your business?

4.1: Business communications and visibility.

4.2: Loan performance and reporting communication norms.

4.3: References and customer feedback.

5.1: What to optimize before drafting your business plan.

5.2: Risk assessments: Supply chain vulnerabilities, sustainability and resilience.

5.3: Resilience and business continuity plans and measures.

5.4: Product and service authenticity, traceability, quality & labeling compliance.

5.5: Drafting a realistic business plan.

5.6: Market, business growth and revenue projections with references.

5.7: Typical errors and practices that result in application rejections.

5.8: Digitisation and the implications for financing options.

6.1: What to prepare before contacting BDS service providers.

6.2: Types of business development services and business support organizations.

All financing providers, financing transactions operators and investors are required to collect at a minimum the following set of basic information on applicants for, or beneficiaries of, financing of more than Euro/USD 2,500 in any one year.

The Africa Marketplace Explorer addresses the lack of comprehensive information about online marketplaces in more than 50 African countries. 

The platform includes a comprehensive set of tools designed to include every producer and cooperative in the supply chain, ensuring they can provide the necessary information for EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) compliance. 

Global Trade Helpdesk provides relevant trade and market information

We are excited to announce that application for the Jasiri Talent Investor Cohort #8 is now open until 5th April 2025. Aspiring entrepreneurs from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda are invited to apply for this unique opportunity to turn their innovative ideas into high-impact ventures. Candidates must be ready to pursue entrepreneurship full-time as a career and participate in a three-month Residential Intensive in Rwanda. You can read more about the Jasiri Talent Investor program here. We have also attached the Jasiri Talent Investor Presentation, which provides more details about the program, as well as the Press Release for Cohort #8.

This new microlearning platform offers very short courses on trade and trade-related topics, specifically tailored for learners in developing and least-developed countries. It has been set up by the SME Trade Academy of the ITC, a joint agency of the United Nations and the WTO.

 Sustainable e-waste management is a priority for the off-grid sector in Africa but recapture and recycling efforts are limited due to insufficient public infrastructure and a lack of consumer awareness. Incentives are needed to motivate customers and companies to handle end-of-life products responsibly.

 This guide, intended as a resource for business support organizations, maps out the climate change-related physical and transition risks facing companies. 

By FSD Africa

This project:

Identifies the skills gap, training needs and existing cross-industry skill development initiatives among financial service providers in East Africa,

Identifies existing cross-industry skills development initiatives in International markets, and,

Develops potential solutions for cross-industry skills development for the East African financial service sector.

By FSD Africa.

The African continent presents a massive investment opportunity for investors to advance climate solutions in the coming decade, however, a set of barriers to finance have stifled requisite investment to date. In this new report, in collaboration with Climate Finance Innovation for Africa and Climate Policy Initiative, we provide a framework for how innovation in financing structures can leverage strategic deployment of public capital to ‘crowd-in’ private investment at levels not yet seen.

This paper offers insights to policymakers and entrepreneurs alike. Based on data and analysis available in ITC’s ‘Africa Marketplace Explorer’, an online analytical tool available to all, the research is supplemented by data on Africa’s e-commerce ecosystem and case studies of the largest African marketplaces.

Is designed to foster trade and competitiveness, by going beyond paper to set in place the required systems structures, and skills to ensure implementation and achieve the desired results. It is a homegrown solution that not only identifies broad objectives but provides specific answers to critical development issues.

Market facilitation (M4P) is an approach to promote systemic change—change that goes beyond individual players and that is relevant to the wider environment, affecting many. Market systems development requires that organisations play a facilitating role. Standing outside of the market system, facilitators work with different players within the system, to make it work more effectively. Their essential role is active and catalytic, to enable others to do rather than do themselves—stimulating changes in a market system without becoming part of it.

In 2023, with FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi) support, Persistent Energy Capital kicked off fundraising for its US$100 million Africa Climate Venture Builder Fund. The fund will accelerate and amplify access to equity and venture-building support for visionary and green innovators across Sub-Saharan Africa.

This annual publication provides comprehensive information on the tariffs and non-tariff measures imposed by over 170 countries and customs territories.

 ITC’s Youth and Trade Roadmap ( YTR ) is a strategic blueprint that guides government, institutions and the private sector towards progressive youth economic integration. 

A quick reference guide and financing decision trees for MSMEs, developed by the International Trade Centre under the East African Community MARKUP project, funded by the European Union.

The International Trade Centre’s E-Learning and SME Trade Academy platforms offer practical, vocational training online for SMEs and trade advisors in the public and private sectors in many different languages

Find out which online payment solution is suitable for your business depending on your location and sales channel.

Inuka Enterprise Program aims to empower micro enterprises to formalise, small enterprises to professionalise their management and medium enterprises to optimise operations and increase their economic productivity. This initiative is proudly sponsored by the Kenya Bankers Association with the objective of enhancing MSMEs ability to access finance from banks

We have been front and centre in driving fact-based policy advocacy towards the formation of industrial policies to strengthen and support the country’s economic development. Through fact-based advocacy, KAM partners with Government and its associated agencies to ensure a dynamic and flourishing manufacturing sector in Kenya, to realize a double-digit contribution to GDP.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry is registered as a not-for-profit private company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act Chapter 486 of the laws of Kenya.

KEPSA has a Business Hub which is a strategic business unit within the organization birthed from strategic partnerships that it has entered into around the world and in Kenya with the sole purpose of enhancing trade and investments both locally and internationally.

This site provides you with information on the Total Cost of Credit (TCC) and features a simple Cost of Credit calculator, which you can use to estimate the total cost of a bank loan.