Stanbic Bank, GIZ Partner to Empower Women in East Africa’s Green Economy

Stanbic Bank Uganda and the German development agency GIZ have forged a significant regional partnership aimed at championing women’s economic empowerment and advancing environmental sustainability across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. The new initiative, titled “Promoting Green Businesses and Jobs for the Green Transformation,” will specifically target women-led enterprises that are developing business solutions with a positive environmental impact.

This collaborative program seeks to foster the growth of green women-led micro and small enterprises by providing comprehensive business training, coaching, and crucial access to finance for participating businesses. Beyond nurturing business growth, the partnership aims to expand training opportunities for women and businesses contributing to the green transformation, simultaneously opening up more employment avenues for women within green supply chains.

Sheila Agaba, Business Manager at Uganda’s Stanbic Business Incubator, highlighted that the program in Uganda will concentrate on districts including Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono. “The program intends to attract green female-led businesses that have a financing need to scale their green businesses,” Agaba stated. “The initiative will also support these women SMEs prepare for loan uptake at a subsidized rate, providing tangible solutions to the hurdles faced to acquire credit in the past.”

The partnership is an extension of the broader Women Entrepreneurs for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) initiative, which is dedicated to supporting women-led green businesses committed to sustainable development across the continent. This strategic alliance is poised to unlock the full potential of green businesses, particularly those spearheaded by women, positioning them as key drivers of East Africa’s sustainable economic transformation. The WE4D program in Uganda receives additional support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Union, and the Norwegian government. GIZ Uganda will work in collaboration with Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL) and the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to implement the project.

Eligibility Criteria for Participating Businesses:

• Female-owned and female-led enterprises, or businesses that employ a majority of women.
• Legally registered and operational in Uganda.
• Minimum of two years in operation.
• Annual turnover of at least UGX 70 million.
• Existence of verifiable financial records.
• Operating in critical green sectors such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, circular economy, and waste management.

Program Benefits:

Successful applicants will gain access to a range of benefits designed to accelerate their growth and impact:

• Tailored business training and coaching.
• Facilitated access to finance.
• Opportunities for local and regional market integrations.
• Dedicated business financing support.
• Graduation support to ensure sustained success.

The “Promoting Green Businesses and Jobs for the Green Transformation” program will be implemented over a two-year period, structured into four cohorts. Each cohort will benefit from intensive classroom training, practical workshops, insightful business visits, and personalized coaching.

Business owners who meet the specified criteria and are eager to contribute to a greener, more sustainable East Africa are encouraged to apply for the program via the link: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/QWESws

This new partnership represents a pivotal step towards fostering inclusive economic growth and environmental stewardship in the East African region, leveraging the innovative spirit and leadership of women entrepreneurs.