Sustainable climate smart businesses in Kenya are attracting a lot of attention from global
climate actors seeking local partners, to explore the seemingly limitless opportunities
opening up in the virgin green economy.
The relentless pursuit to align the global financial architecture with climate goals has
smoothened the path for global partnerships, and innovative climate smart businesses
and start-ups in Kenya, cannot stop smiling all the way to the Bank.
With the rapid growth of green financing in Kenya, the future is bright for business models
that align with global sustainability goals.
The global political, economic, sociocultural, technological and legal orientation is fast
shifting towards climate adaptability and mitigation. The old order is being rudely
disrupted, and soon much of the Kenyan established business/market leaders that refuse
to adapt to the evolving global consensus on sustainability, shall surely be upstaged by
green start-ups, and become relics of an age gone by.
EMERGING GREEN FINANCING AND BUSINESS SUPPORT ACTORS IN KENYA
1) LOOPWORKS VENTURES is a leading player in the development of Kenya’s
nascent Circular Economy. The Company is involved in developing various
functions in the circular economy space, including providing access to green
finance and connecting start-ups and SMEs to useful partners within the circular
economy ecosystem.
2) PANGEA ACCELERATOR, a Kenyan – Norwegian venture builder, has over a
period of five years invested in local startups. Early in the year (2024), Pangea
published a call for climate funding proposals, targeting Kenyan starts-ups with
each successful applicant expected to receive green financing ranging from Ksh 15
million to Ksh40 million.
3) WHAT DESIGN CAN DO (WDCD) is an international organization with hubs in
Nairobi among other world Cities. The organization through its REDESIGN
EVERYTHING CHALLENGE call for funding proposal, seeks to finance creative
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS aimed at fast-tracking the transition to a circular economy.
4) KENYA CLIMATE INNOVATION CENTRE, is a key green financing entity in Kenya.
The organization is currently, under its greenbiz programme inviting start-ups and
SMEs to hand in funding proposals to speed up the Country’s transition towards
green economy.
5) KEPRO (Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization) is working with
producers of packaging materials to reduce waste by extending the life of
packaging materials for non-hazardous products in Kenya. Their main function is
to promote circular economy through recycling by working closely with
manufacturers, users and climate smart businesses, to achieve positive
environmental and social outcomes, including creating quality jobs in the green
economy.