TRAPCA | ESAMI | Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) | East Africa Community(EAC)
Finance & Investment options (EAC-relevant)

Finance & Investment Access

TDB (Trade & Development Bank) – Trade Finance Lines

  • What it is: Regional trade-finance lines (LCs, confirmations, guarantees, pre/post-shipment working capital). Recent US$100m BII facility to expand food/agri trade finance.
  • Who: Importers/exporters, processors, commodity traders via TDB and its partner banks.
  • Where: Eastern & Southern Africa (incl. EAC).
  • Start here: TDB press note & Reuters coverage. (Trade and Development Bank)

Afreximbank – Trade Finance Programmes

  • What it is: Structured trade finance, import/export LCs, supply-chain finance, guarantees; supports intra-African trade incl. agri-commodities and processing inputs.
  • Who: Banks, corporates, traders; can operate via your commercial bank.
  • Where: Across Africa (incl. EAC).
  • Start here: Afreximbank trade finance programmes. (Afreximbank)

IFC Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP)

  • What it is: Risk-sharing with confirming banks to unlock LCs/guarantees for SMEs and corporates—including EAC issuing banks (Co-op, Equity, DTB, I&M, KCB, etc.).
  • Who: Firms transacting through participating banks.
  • Where: Global; EAC banks are on the issuing-bank list.
  • Start here: Program page + latest issuing-banks list (2025). (IFC)

IFAD / GCF – ARCAFIM (Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism)

  • What it is: US$180m on-lending + US$20m TA to finance climate-adaptation investments for smallholders/agribusinesses—channeled through a host bank (Equity Group) in East Africa.
  • Who: Smallholders, co-ops, agri-SMEs via participating banks.
  • Where: Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda.
  • Start here: IFAD docs + GCF project page. (ifad.org)

Aceli Africa – Lender Incentives for Agri-SMEs

  • What it is: Financial incentives (first-loss cover & origination bonuses) paid to banks/NDIs to expand lending to agri-SMEs (incl. climate, gender, youth).
  • Who: Lenders serving agri-SMEs; indirectly benefits co-ops/SMEs seeking loans.
  • Where: East & Southern Africa.
  • Start here: Aceli overview + 2025 benchmarking & learning reports. (Aceli Africa)

EADB – SME Financing Windows (Uganda & Rwanda)

  • What it is: Lines of credit with local banks for SMEs; recent funds launched in Uganda (UGX 68bn) and Rwanda (~US$36m / RWF 47bn).
  • Who: SMEs incl. agribusiness; apply via listed partner banks.
  • Where: EAC.
  • Start here: EADB fund announcements (UG & RW). (eadb.org)

Uganda – Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF) (Bank of Uganda)

  • What it is: Medium/long-term loans for agriculture & agro-processing, at concessional rates via participating financial institutions.
  • Who: Farmers, co-ops, processors.
  • Where: Uganda.
  • Start here: ACF info (GoU/BoU) + AfDB brief. (create.finance.go.ug)

Tanzania – TADB (Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank)

  • What it is: State development bank for agriculture; equity enhancement and credit lines backed by AfDB to scale agri-finance.
  • Who: Farmers, processors, value-chain actors (via TADB programs).
  • Where: Tanzania.
  • Start here: AfDB implementation report (2025). (African Development Bank)

Warehouse-Receipt Financing (WRF) – Kenya & Uganda

  • What it is: Inventory-backed loans using certified warehouse receipts; reduces price-seasonality risk and unlocks working capital for grain/honey/spices, etc.
  • Who: Farmers, traders, co-ops using certified warehouses.
  • Where: Kenya (WRSC), Uganda (UWRSA).
  • Start here: Kenya WRSC (regulations + financing process) & Uganda UWRSA. (wrsc.go.ke)

AgriFI Kenya Challenge Fund (EU)

  • What it is: Blended-finance grants/co-financing to crowd in private investment for agri-enterprises; €18m deployed to 30+ businesses (processing, trade, climate-smart).
  • Who: Agri-SMEs investing in inclusive, climate-smart value chains.
  • Where: Kenya (national; impacts along regional chains).
  • Start here: AgriFI site + EU/implementer pages. (agrifichallengefund.org)

Rwanda – BRD Green & Export Finance Facilities

  • What it is: BRD is an accredited Green Climate Fund entity; operates green finance lines (with EIB/AFD) and an Export Credit Guarantee Facility to crowd in private capital.
  • Who: Rwandan agribusinesses/processors investing in climate-smart/ export capacity.
  • Where: Rwanda.
  • Start here: GCF BRD page, EIB BRD Green Finance FL I, and MINECOFIN EGCF note. (Green Climate Fund)

AfDB & Partner Bank Trade-Finance Lines (Africa-wide)

  • What it is: AfDB extends risk-participation & lines of credit to African banks to expand trade finance (usable for agri imports/exports).
  • Who: Firms transacting through participating African banks operating in EAC corridors.
  • Where: Africa-wide; check your bank’s AfDB TF line.
  • Start here: Recent AfDB trade-finance approvals (illustrative). (Reuters)

How to use this (fast)

  • Nearest door in: Ask your house bank if they:
    (a) are an IFC-GTFP issuing bank, (b) have a line with Afreximbank, (c) can access TDB or AfDB TF lines. If yes, your LC/guarantee pricing & limits get easier. (IFC)
  • Climate & adaptation capex: For irrigation, solar cold-chain, organic certification, traceability IT—check ARCAFIM (via Equity) or BRD green lines. (ifad.org)
  • Working capital post-harvest: Use warehouse-receipt finance via WRSC/UWRSA registered warehouses—great for grains, pulses, spices, even honey inventory. (wrsc.go.ke)
  • Grant/TA leverage: If Kenya-based (or with Kenya ops), AgriFI can co-finance investments and de-risk early growth. (agrifichallengefund.org)
  • SME windows: Scan EADB partner-bank lists in UG/RW for on-lending schemes that fit agro-processing. (eadb.org)

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