STANBIC BANK GRADUATES 261 GREEN ENTREPRENEURS, STRENGTHENS PATHWAY TO BUSINESS FINANCE

From left: Mercy Githanji, Executive Director and Head of Stanbic Kenya Foundation; Kai Mollel, Head of Stanbic Biashara Incubator; a beneficiary receiving her certificate; Julian Henseli, Advisor and Technical Team Leader for the WE4D Programme; and other programme representatives during the graduation ceremony for 261 entrepreneurs under the Biashara na Ajira Kijani Programme in Arusha. The initiative equips entrepreneurs with business skills, mentorship and improved access to formal financing to support the growth of green enterprises.

ARUSHA, TANZANIA, 10 August 2026 — Stanbic Bank Tanzania has graduated 261 entrepreneurs across Arusha, Mbeya, Mwanza and Tanga under the Biashara na Ajira Kijani Programme, strengthening efforts to equip emerging green businesses with practical skills, financial discipline and a clearer pathway to formal finance.

The programme was implemented through the Stanbic Biashara Incubator, with support from GIZ through the Stanbic Kenya Foundation, and focuses on entrepreneurs operating within Tanzania’s growing green economy.

The graduating class comprises 77 entrepreneurs from Mbeya, 60 from Arusha, 60 from Mwanza and 64 from Tanga. Women account for 76 percent of the cohort, reflecting the significant role women are playing in Tanzania’s emerging green business landscape.

The entrepreneurs operate across five sectors central to Tanzania’s green transition: sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, the circular economy, the blue economy and green transport.

These sectors are increasingly recognised as important drivers of sustainable economic growth, job creation, climate resilience and Tanzania’s transition towards a low-carbon economy.

BUILDING INVESTMENT-READY BUSINESSES

Between May and July 2026, the programme recruited, trained and coached all 261 entrepreneurs through a classroom bootcamp, followed by one-on-one coaching and mentorship.

The training focused on areas that frequently prevent small businesses from accessing formal financial services, including costing and pricing, financial record-keeping, market access and preparation for formal credit.

Through the programme, Stanbic Bank Tanzania is seeking to help entrepreneurs build businesses that are more financially resilient, investment-ready and positioned for long-term growth.

By combining entrepreneurship training with business advisory services and tailored banking solutions, the initiative aims to help entrepreneurs strengthen their enterprises, create jobs and contribute to Tanzania’s transition towards a more sustainable economy.

Kai Mollel, Head of the Biashara Incubator at Stanbic Bank Tanzania, said the programme was deliberately open to both women and men, with the final composition reflecting the entrepreneurs already active in green sectors.

“We did not set out to run a programme for one group. We set out to find people already trading in green sectors and give them what the market was not giving them. Seventy-six percent of this class turned out to be women, and that tells you something about who is doing this work in Tanzania today,” said Mollel.

She added that the programme sought to provide entrepreneurs with practical structures to help them run stronger businesses.

“What we added was structure: how to price, how to keep records, how to hold a conversation with a bank and be understood.”

LINKING TRAINING TO FORMAL FINANCE

Julian Henseli, Advisor and Technical Team Leader for the WE4D programme at GIZ, said the partnership's approach distinguishes it from conventional entrepreneurship training initiatives.

“Training on its own rarely moves a business into the formal economy. What makes this programme work is that the skills sit alongside a financial institution with a direct interest in seeing these enterprises grow,” said Henseli.

He noted that green sectors are expected to play an increasingly important role in Tanzania’s job creation and economic transformation.

Access to formal credit remains a major challenge for small businesses in Tanzania, particularly women-owned enterprises. Limited collateral, short credit histories and informal financial records can prevent otherwise viable businesses from accessing banking services.

The Biashara na Ajira Kijani Programme was designed to address these challenges by combining business skills development with a deliberate pathway towards formal banking relationships.

SUPPORTING TANZANIA'S GREEN ECONOMY

Through the Stanbic Biashara Incubator, Stanbic Bank Tanzania continues to invest in entrepreneurs with the potential to create jobs, strengthen local value chains and expand access to formal finance.

The initiative reinforces the Bank’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, while supporting entrepreneurs contributing to Tanzania’s transition towards a greener and more resilient economy.

About Stanbic Bank Tanzania

Stanbic Bank Tanzania is a leading provider of financial services, offering a wide range of banking solutions to individuals, businesses and institutions. With a focus on sustainable investment and strategic partnerships, the Bank plays a key role in supporting Tanzania’s economic development and regional integration.

Stanbic Bank Tanzania is a member of Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets, with a presence in 21 countries across the continent. Through this network, the Bank connects Tanzania to Africa’s growth and global financial markets.

Source: Stanbic Bank Tanzania

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