This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
On July 17, 2020, the European Union (EU) announced a Sh22.2 billion funding plan to support Kenyan agribusinesses over the next five years.
The initiative, dubbed Agribiz, targets women and youth-led ventures, with the goal of creating 17,000 jobs in the agricultural value chain across the country.
Agribiz is a partnership between the EU, the Kenyan government, the Royal Danish Embassy, and the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC).
After a rigorous vetting process, KCIC selected 200 beneficiaries from over 2,400 applicants.
"We are impressed by the overwhelming response to the call from across the country, indicating that many agribusinesses are seeking support to spur their growth," said KCIC Chief Executive Edward Mungai.
The selected beneficiaries include early-stage and start-up companies, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), women and youth-led community-based organizations, as well as self-help groups.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Simon Mordue noted that the huge interest in AgriBiz shows that women and youth are embracing agribusiness activities, contrary to popular opinion.
