Kampala, Uganda – A new regional partnership between Stanbic Bank and GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation) is set to transform the green economy in East Africa by empowering women-led businesses in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Unveiled on June 27, 2025, in Nairobi, the initiative dubbed “Promoting Green Businesses and Jobs for the Green Transformation” will equip female entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and networks needed to scale environmentally sustainable enterprises in key sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, circular economy, and waste management.
The initiative builds upon the Women Entrepreneurs for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) programme, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the European Union and Government of Norway.
In Uganda, the program will be implemented by Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL), a subsidiary of Stanbic Uganda Holdings, in collaboration with GIZ Uganda and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD).
“We are investing in both the future of green industries and the empowerment of women entrepreneurs,” said Sheila Agaba, Business Manager at SBIL.
The program targets green enterprises led or owned by women and will roll out in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono.
Participants will benefit from business training, personalized coaching, and subsidized financial support, tailored to prepare them for loan uptake and expansion.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be female-led or female-owned, or employ a majority of women;
- Be registered and operational in Uganda for at least two years;
- Show annual revenues of UGX 70 million or more over the past two years;
- Have verifiable financial records (bank statements from the past 12 months);
- Operate in one of the eligible sectors: sustainable agriculture, agro-processing, renewable energy, circular economy, or waste management;
- Have at least two full-time staff members;
- Be actively seeking investment to scale their business.
The two-year program will be rolled out in four cohorts, featuring classroom training, business visits, regional market integration, and graduation support.
Agaba emphasized that beyond training, the initiative seeks to open more employment opportunities for women in green supply chains and bridge historical gaps in credit access.
“This is a direct response to the financing and skills hurdles that have long held back women-led green businesses,” she added.
The launch coincided with the unveiling of Stanbic Kenya Holdings’ 2024 Sustainability Report, themed “Deepening Impact: Building a Sustainable Future.”
Speaking at the Nairobi event, Lee Kinyanjui, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, lauded Stanbic for its commitment to economic and environmental progress, citing the Nairobi Expressway project as an example.
He further stressed the importance of financial inclusion for SMEs, quoting The Economist: “Africa has too many businesses but too little business.”
Stanbic Foundation and its partners, GIZ, Microsoft, ATC, and the US African Development Fund, were praised for their efforts in shaping Africa’s future entrepreneurial landscape.
Interested green entrepreneurs in Uganda are encouraged to apply for the program through the application portal:
🔗 Apply Now
