International Development Grant

Enablis East Africa - Program 2008-2011

Project Number: CA-3-A033537001

Status: Closed

Country/Region: Unknown

Regional Focus:

South of Sahara 100%

Maximum Contribution: $4,428,151.00

Start Date: July 09, 2007

End Date: March 28, 2011

Duration: 3.7 years

Project Description

Enablis East Africa is a not-for-profit venture established with Accenture and Telesystem Ltd. to provide small micro and medium-sized enterprises with access to business coaching loans and technical support. Businesses are invited to become accredited members giving them access to financial and non-financial support services and linking them with other African organizations that support business development. Enablis also supports a network of African entrepreneurs which facilitates the sharing of information and generates business opportunities between entrepreneurs amongst various regions in Africa. This contribution is one of two parts of a $10 million project. The project has been divided for administrative reasons.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results of the Enablis project as of March 2012 include: Enablis provided business development and support services to 1 046 entrepreneurs in Nairobi and Kisumu (Kenya) Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Kigali (Rwanda) representing an increase of over 80% compared to 2011. 35% of the member entrepreneurs were women exceeding the target of 30%. The membership survey confirmed a 93% rate of satisfaction with Enablis services up from 91% the year before. In 2011 Enablis created an additional 15 000 new permanent and part-time jobs improving wealth for thousands of East Africans. These results are contributing to improving the business and development performance of entrepreneurs. A new partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation in Kenya led to Enablis managing the Impact Sourcing Project (ERISP). The successful Business Plan Competition (BPC) in Kenya mobilized new members local partners and sponsors. Enablis plans to launch similar events in Tanzania and Rwanda in 2012-2013. These results are contributing to expanding the entrepreneurial network for sharing information and business opportunities. Together the results are contributing to increasing the contribution of small enterprises to economic development in East Africa.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Enablis Entrepreneurial Network

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
WGM Africa

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Business support services and institutions 100%

Aid Type: Donor country personnel

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Level 1 ICT as a tool for development
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2007-04-01 to 2008-03-31 $4,428,151 CAD
Geographic Information
100
Project Number: CA-3-A033537001