This archive report was first published on 24 November 2021.
Kenya: Building a Collective Roadmap for Entrepreneurship in Garissa County ¶
On November 24, 2021, a two-day business forum was held in Garissa Town, the capital of Garissa County in Kenya, to build a collective roadmap for entrepreneurship and business in the County. The forum was co-hosted by the International Trade Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The event brought together representatives from local government authorities, business support organizations, business community networks, and the humanitarian sector to discuss potential ways of working together to create an inclusive, thriving, and competitive business environment in Garissa County.
The forum focused on three objectives: identifying challenges, issues, and barriers for businesses in Garissa County; sharing experiences with entrepreneurship in Garissa; and developing a roadmap of action to build a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem in Garissa.
"As actors on the frontline of development of the business and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the county, we serve the same target groups, hosts and refugees, address similar challenges, and have the same overarching goal of facilitating enterprises and businesses to thrive," said Jillo Halkano, National Coordinator for the Refugee Employment and Skills Initiative of the International Trade Centre. "Hence, we are not competitors, we are complementors."
Participants identified several challenges, including limited access to investment and sharia compliant finance, market linkages, and restricted information on business registration and tax processes. Suggested solutions included setting up information hubs, implementing new measures to address administrative procedures, providing registration services, financial services, and affordable loans, and delivering trainings to build skills and raise awareness on the unique characteristics of the business environment in Garissa.
The outcomes of the forum have been compiled into a report that will provide a roadmap in collaboration with other actors.
