An estimated 1,000 Kenyan enterprises dealing in waste management are set to benefit from a new training and fund model.
The programme targets entrepreneurs under the age of 35 years, with new or existing green businesses.
According to United Bank for Africa, managing director Chike Isiuwe, the initiative seeks to create a holistic, sustainable, and youth-led green entrepreneurship initiative in the waste sector in Kenya.
“The programme targets about 1,000 entrepreneurs, and will train successful candidates on ways to run micro, small and medium enterprises in the waste management sector. About 120 trainees in the programme will also receive a seed funding capital of $5,000 (equivalent to Sh730,000),” said Isiuwe.
The initiative has so far disbursed over Sh450million in seed funding to 692 Kenyan entrepreneurs, and aims to strengthen Kenya’s path towards sustainable, climate-resilient development.
Tony Elumelu Foundation which will run the project, said that the deadline for applications is September 30, 2023.
“We are committed to supporting the growth and development of SMEs across Africa. This is in line with our bank’s strategic focus on the SME segment being a catalyst to economic development of Africa,” added Isiuwe.
Upon successful qualification an entrepreneur will benefit from programmes such as mentoring, a 12-week business management training course, knowledge resources, meetups and networking, annual TEF Entrepreneurship Forum and, a seed capital funding of $5,000.
They will also belong to the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme Alumni Network in Kenya
The BeGreen Africa is an entrepreneurship pilot programme co-created by The Tony Elumelu Foundation in partnership with UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU) in an effort to strengthen Kenya’s path towards sustainable, climate-resilient development while achieving low carbon climate resilient development.
