Issued by: WMC Africa
In an effort to support women entrepreneurs in Uganda’s green economy, Stanbic Business Incubator Limited (SBIL) has partnered with the German development agency GIZ to launch a new four-month training programme. The inaugural cohort comprises 45 women entrepreneurs, all of whom are focused on sustainable business solutions.
This initiative is part of the broader Employment Promotion for Women for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) programme and is called the Green Businesses and Jobs for the Green Transformation Project. Funded by the German government in collaboration with the European Union and Norway, WE4D is implemented by GIZ alongside the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.
At the launch event, Catherine Poran, the chief executive of SBIL, emphasised the critical role women play in advancing Uganda’s green economy. “This programme empowers women with the knowledge, skills, and access to finance necessary for sustainable growth,” she said, highlighting its potential impact on economic development, food security, and poverty reduction, particularly in rural areas.
The programme aims to support 200 women-led micro and small enterprises in the Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts over two years, through targeted business training, coaching, and financing. “Women-led businesses are uniquely positioned to innovate in green sectors, developing solutions that are sustainable and responsive to local needs, such as clean energy and sustainable agriculture,” said Ms Poran.
Michael Seng of GIZ emphasised the importance of local ownership and sustainability.
“Partnering with established local institutions like the Stanbic Incubator ensures the programme’s long-term success. We are here to support entrepreneurs on their individual journeys,” he said.
Goretti Serunkuma of Stanbic Bank encouraged participants to take advantage of the financing opportunities offered by the World Bank-funded GROW project, which is designed to help scale up established enterprises, particularly those focused on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.
Stephen Segujja, the manager of the Economic Enterprise Restart Fund at Stanbic, urged participants to share their newly acquired skills with fellow entrepreneurs and to actively pursue available financing options to drive further growth.
