Familiar rhythms return to the countryside as pre-season showers herald the start of extended rain across Kenya. The fields soften, the seedlings prepare, and anticipation fills the air. On Kenyan farms, aggregation centers and processing facilities, women are poised to make the most of the planting season.
these women shape The backbone of the sector that supplies food to the nation. They support rural households and provide local electricity economy, We will protect food security not only in Kenya but across Africa. However, their participation in higher-value sectors of the agri-food ecosystem is often limited.
For many people, the challenge is not ambition; innovation, or market demand. It’s access to affordable finance, structured market, formalization aisle, and The technical support you need to sustainably scale. the result, solid growth It may stall before it reaches scale.
The result is not simply personal stagnation. It is Lose Productivity in one of the most strategic areas of the country.
understandteeth gross economic impact; last year, NCBA Building on the Affirmative Financial Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative led by the African Development Bank Group, we strengthened our focus on women across the agri-food value chain by partnering with the African Guarantee Fund.
The NCBA-AFAWA WSMEs Acceleration Program was designed with a simple but strategic goal. It is about going beyond traditional financing to create an ecosystem where women-owned agri-food businesses can access financing, strengthen their capacity and develop markets in a structured way.
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This new partnership builds on the impact of our initial collaboration with the African Guarantee Fund. in 2025enabled financing of over Ksh 17 billion through risk sharing functionality and Reach over 700 small businesses, meanwhile supportare doing There are over 7,000 jobs, 2,200 of which are for women.
Building on that foundation,He updated the program and provided under Afawa, doubles The financing capacity for women and youth entrepreneurs ranges from KES 1.5 billion to KES 3 billion, targeting more than 80 women entrepreneurs across the two cohorts. initiative Also aims to enable US$5 million in financing, create at least 300 new jobs and strengthen the role of tailored finance in inclusive growth.
Since its release in October of last year,NCBA have Facilitated over KES 747 million in loans to women-led businesses, with a broader goal of delivering US$ 5 million in funding and support. creation of more than Three hundred work.
Rather than viewing women-owned businesses as a high-risk segment; this partnership With the right support structure, these businesses can prove to be potential growth opportunities.
But the importance of this program lies not only in the capital that is committed, but also in how that capital is delivered.
In many cases, promising businesses remain informal, unable to meet traditional financing requirements and locked out of capital that could help them scale. The NCBA-Afawa program changes the story by Reduce risk for women-owned businesses through blended credit and partial guarantees; paired with Mentorship and customized business advisory support.
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that further away We create space for deeper engagement through conversations across agribusiness value chains, financial management, climate and market risks, special economic zone opportunities, and long-term strategic planning. The aim is not just to expand credit, but to develop resilience and resilience. vision.
In doing so, the program confronts both financial and structural barriers that have long restrained growth. It’s not just about freeing up capital. Our goal is to foster future-oriented and competitive female entrepreneurs. adapt, Take the lead in an evolving economic landscape.
The core of this acceleration program reflects a long-held belief within NCBA that meaningful change in the small business sector begins by empowering the very entrepreneurs who support it.
Through targeted coaching and practical skills development, we put that belief into action.. BDirecting at least 30 percent of procurement spending to women and youth, the group intentionally widens access to opportunities and integrates them into everyday economic activity.
For NCBA, investing in women in agri-food is not charity. It’s disciplined capital allocation based on evidence and risk.share, and ecosystem support. Because lolchicken lady, A large share of the Agrifood The sector’s workforce will be improved, with access to finance, training and markets, and the synergies will be spread across households. community, and supply chain.
For Kenya, the implications are particularly significant. Agriculture remains a major contributor to GDP; employment, and export earnings. Increasing the productivity and resilience of the agricultural and food sector has direct implications for food security and inflation. stability, and increased rural incomes.
As land ownership is restricted, collateral restrictions and informality continue to exclude viable enterprises from traditional financing. system, The need for intentional design has become more urgent. support What women in agri-food need of understanding of These are living realities from the beginning; It’s not an afterthought, and it’s not the result of a heavily refurbished product.. without it Tailored solutions Seasonal cash flow cycle, climate exposure, Value chain dynamics, capital alone We may not be able to lead to sustainable growth.
Relying on her beliefs, therefore, We recognize that the future of Kenya’s agricultural products and food will be shaped not just by rainfall patterns and commodity prices, but also by how effectively institutions enable the women driving the value chain to scale, organize and compete.
celebrating progress in financial inclusion and face the barrier remain, One lesson is clear: change happens when investment and belief align. And wChicken educational institutions intentionally invest in women’s potential.
