Enablis East Africa - Program 2012-2015

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2015) include: (1) Enablis East Africa exceeded some key performance measures. In terms of its membership base it bested its original overall target by registering 1 770 members (Kenya 63% Rwanda 15% and Tanzania 22%) of which 708 (40%) were women also surpassing the original 30% target set for female participation; (2) the project delivered 83 538 hours of business support services significantly exceeding its target of 55 000 support hours over the project life. This support was delivered through various types of interactive capacity building programs that rated very high in client satisfaction surveys. These included networking programs seminars mentorships and special programs such as a procurement program focused on women; (3) notwithstanding these successes some of the key objectives were not met. Enablis East Africa’s financial support to these members via its loan guarantee product proved too costly to operate and failed to extend its offer of affordable financial services to meet the agreed targets. The loan component was discontinued in early 2013; (4) Enablis was not able to secure the full original commitments from its private sector partners and sponsors. The resulting fiscal squeeze contributed to higher operational and program costs which in turn hindered the development of a sustainable plan that would have seen operations continue beyond the end of the agreement with Global Affairs Canada. Although the participating entrepreneurs will likely retain and maintain many of the benefits of their Enablis East Africa membership into the future the program failed to achieve organizational sustainability.