SIBC East Africa unites entrepreneurs, global leaders, investors to drive sustainable energy shift

The gathering brought together representatives from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD Groupe), regional entrepreneurs, diplomatic representatives, technical experts, investors, and international partners supporting innovation, climate resilience, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth.

The event featured remarks and participation from distinguished guests, including:

Eléonore Caroit, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad

Christophe Lecourtier, Chief Executive Officer of AFD Group (Agence Française de Développement), Arnaud Suquet, Ambassador of France to Kenya, alongside senior leadership from AFD Group and regional programme partners.

The session formed part of the ongoing SIBC East Africa “Energy Transition” programme, a regional initiative supporting entrepreneurs working in clean cooking, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy access across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.

The SIBC East Africa Programme is designed to strengthen high-potential enterprises by equipping them with technical skills, mentorship, investor connections, and regional networks needed to scale sustainable businesses and increase social and environmental impact.

Implemented through a six-month virtual acceleration phase, followed by an intensive Nairobi bootcamp and continued post-programme engagement, SIBC supports entrepreneurs through expert-led training, tailored coaching, peer learning, transformational pedagogies, and strategic visibility opportunities.

The programme places strong emphasis on experiential learning, collaborative problem-solving, entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur exchange, and ecosystem engagement to strengthen leadership, innovation, and investment readiness.

The Nairobi bootcamp also serves as a key milestone ahead of the Africa Forward Summit 2026, where entrepreneurs will engage directly with ecosystem actors, investors, policymakers, and international stakeholders through networking and business-to-business engagement opportunities.

Originally launched in 2017, SIBC has supported more than 400 entrepreneurs across Africa to strengthen their enterprises, increase investment readiness, and maximise social and environmental impact. The programme has since expanded into multiple regions, including East Africa, North Africa, and the Caribbean.

Speaking during the event, Philippe Baudez, SIBC Project Manager at Campus Groupe AFD, emphasised that energy transition in Africa is not only a climate imperative, but also a major development and economic opportunity.

Through stronger collaboration between entrepreneurs, investors, development organisations, and ecosystem actors, SIBC aims to accelerate innovation, climate resilience, and inclusive economic transformation across the region.

Participants and ecosystem experts highlighted the importance of strengthening local entrepreneurship ecosystems, improving access to financing, and creating stronger regional collaboration platforms that enable enterprises to scale sustainable energy solutions adapted to African realities.

One entrepreneur participating in the programme noted:

“The SIBC programme is helping us think beyond our local markets and strengthen our businesses for long-term impact. The combination of mentorship, collaboration, and exposure to investors and ecosystem actors is opening new possibilities for growth and partnerships.”

The programme currently supports 48 entrepreneurs from East Africa, with a strong focus on women-led and inclusive enterprises addressing real market needs within the energy transition space.

SIBC East Africa continues to invite investors, ecosystem partners, corporates, development organisations, and technical experts to collaborate in supporting enterprise growth through financing, mentorship, technical expertise, and market access partnerships.