In a strategic move to bolster the resilience of Kenya’s enterprise landscape, I&M Bank has officially launched a partnership with B Lab Africa to deliver the Resilient Sustainable Business (RSB) program.
This nine-week blended learning initiative is designed to equip Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the expert guidance and practical frameworks necessary to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices into their core business strategies.
Scheduled to commence this month, the program targets established businesses with annual revenues ranging from KES 6 million to KES 120 million and workforces of 10 to 100 employees. These participants represent the backbone of the economy, enterprises that have moved past the initial proof-of-concept phase and are currently scaling operations, expanding market reach, and hardening their internal infrastructures.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, Shameer Patel, I&M Bank Director of Retail & Business Banking, emphasized that the collaboration is an intentional investment in the future of the sector. “We are delighted to continue empowering our SME clients through this transformative partnership with B Lab Africa. Through this collaboration, we are intentionally investing in building stronger, more resilient SMEs that are equipped to adapt to evolving market dynamics and create sustainable long-term value.”
According to Patel, the program is expected to unlock new opportunities for inclusive growth by strengthening the operational resilience of these businesses.
The initiative aims to nurture a new generation of African businesses that define success through a dual lens of financial returns and measurable social and environmental impact. The curriculum focuses on high-impact sectors including manufacturing, agri-tech, the circular economy, green energy, and sustainable consumer brands. By embedding ESG at the heart of SME operations, the program seeks to build a more regenerative economic system.
B Lab Africa CEO Lucy Muigai highlighted that the partnership serves as a testament to a growing movement of African businesses committed to higher standards of accountability. ”By integrating ESG into the heart of SME operations, we are not just helping individual companies survive; we are building a more inclusive and regenerative economic system across the continent.
She remarked that these entrepreneurs represent a blueprint for a future where corporate success is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of both communities and the planet.
Participating SMEs will engage in a hybrid learning model featuring six comprehensive modules led by experts. These sessions cover critical topics such as impact measurement, sustainable supply chains, and the financing of sustainable practices. Beyond the classroom, the program offers bi-monthly one-on-one sessions for tailored guidance and provides access to a peer networking community of like-minded business leaders spanning Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius, and Nigeria.
To ensure the program remains accessible to growth-stage enterprises, I&M Bank is sponsoring 80% of the participation cost. This subsidy reduces the financial burden on each SME to a 20% contribution of USD 60, with the bank covering the remaining USD 240 per participant. This investment underscores I&M Bank’s broader commitment to enabling long-term, sustainable growth within Kenya’s vital SME sector.
