How to apply for financing under the Jiinue Growth Program

  • JGP targets businesses in the following sectors:

    1. Retail and Trade

    2. Agriculture

    3. Manufacturing

    4. Healthcare

    5. Creative handmade sector

  • To qualify for JGP funding, applicants need to meet the following criteria:

    1. Age: Be a young Kenyan aged 18–35 years.

    2. Business Ownership: Own and operate a micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise (MSME).

    3. Business Sector: Operate in one of the eligible sectors (retail, agriculture, manufacturing, creative handmade sector or healthcare).

    4. Business Registration: The business should be legally registered (where applicable).

    5. Prohibited Activities: The business must not engage in alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons, or sex-related industries.

    6. Membership: Must be a member of one of JGP’s participating partner organizations (e.g., KNCCI, GROOTS Kenya, KEPSA).

  • Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

    • Ensure you meet the basic requirements and that your business operates in an eligible sector.

    Step 2: Submit Application

    • Obtain the loan application form from one of JGP’s access to finance partners (e.g., Grassroots Business Fund, 4G Capital, or Powered by People).

    • Fill out the form accurately and provide all required documentation, including:

      • Business registration documents (if applicable).

      • Financial records (e.g., sales records, purchase records, mobile money statements

      • Identification documents (e.g., national ID).

    Step 3: Verification and Approval

    • The access to finance partner will review your application and verify your eligibility.

    • For 4G Capital, the system will sort applicants into "valid" and "invalid" categories. Invalid applicants will receive an SMS notification.

    • Valid applicants will be contacted by a loan officer for further verification, including:

      • Confirmation of business details (e.g., age, location, monthly sales).

      • Assessment of loan affordability based on business cash flow.

    Step 4: Loan Disbursement

    • Once approved, the loan amount will be disbursed to your business account or mobile money platform.

    • You will receive an SMS confirming the disbursed amount and repayment terms.

    Step 5: Repayment

    • Repay the loan through M-PESA or other approved channels.

    • You will receive SMS reminders on repayment dates.

  • JGP offers an integrated solution that combines financial support with technical assistance. It targets promising entrepreneurs and provides them with the funding and skills they need to grow their businesses. JGP offers an integrated solution that combines financial support with technical assistance. It identifies promising entrepreneurs and provides them with the funding and skills they need to grow their businesses.

Keynotes

  1. Multiple applications: You can apply for funding for multiple businesses, but only one loan will be approved at a time.

  2. Disqualification: Applications may be disqualified for reasons such as incomplete documentation, forged information, or engagement in prohibited activities.

  3. Technical assistance: While not mandatory, JGP strongly encourages beneficiaries to participate in technical assistance programs to enhance business growth and sustainability.

For more information, reach out to any of our partners.

 Program FAQs

  • The Jiinue Growth Program (“JGP” or “Program”) aims to bridge the funding gap for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya. The Program integrates grassroots mobilization, digital-based concessional loans, flexible loan sizes ranging from KES 5000 to KES 14,000,000 to terms up to two years, and both in-person and digital technical assistance.

  • The credibility of JGP lies in the strong partnership it has with reputable organizations, both Kenyan and global, its backing by the Mastercard Foundation, and the expertise and knowledge of its partners. Its strategy is based on our extensive experience working in the entrepreneurship ecosystem and is targeted towards solving real-world problems faced by Kenyan entrepreneurs.

  • JGP exists because there is a significant funding gap in the MSME sector in Kenya, especially for young people and women-led businesses. Its solutions are designed to provide both financial and technical support to these enterprises, helping them grow, creating sustainable jobs and income.

  • JGP offers an integrated solution that combines financial support with technical assistance. It targets promising entrepreneurs and provides them with the funding and skills they need to grow their businesses. JGP offers an integrated solution that combines financial support with technical assistance. It identifies promising entrepreneurs and provides them with the funding and skills they need to grow their businesses.

  • JGP has a consortium of six diverse Kenyan partners, including Grassroots Business Fund supported by DT Global in project management, 4G Capital, Powered by People, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and GROOTS Kenya.

    The collaborative effort brings a wealth of expertise and resources to the table that allows the program to tap into different skills and resources to ensure it provides a comprehensive solution to the financial and technical challenges MSMEs face.

  • Item descriptionJGP’s six partners play distinctive roles in the program. There are management partners, access to finance partners and eco-system partners. The fund manager Grassroots Business Fund is responsible for the delivery of the program and is supported by DT Global in program management. Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and GROOTS Kenya comprise the eco-system partners in the program. Grassroots Business Fund additionally provides an access to finance role in the program, along with 4G Capital and Powered by People.

  • 68% of Kenya’s wider MSMEs report access to finance to be a major constraint i.e., they lack access to capital and diversity in financial products to match their needs. Young-people and women-led MSMEs fare even worse. They require a range of financial services, business support services, and access to markets. The partnership places particular emphasis on young and women led MSMEs, offering a blend of finance and technical assistance. It is believed that this targeted approach will translate into sustainable work opportunities for young people, ultimately driving social and economic change.

  • JGP offers technical assistance to participants to further enhance their capacity to effectively support the growth of the targeted businesses. Technical support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the form of book-keeping training, investment readiness, marketing etc will support their resilience and expansion. It equips them with value- adding management capacity to make the most of capital and steer their businesses towards growth.

  • JGP targets promising micro, small and medium sized businesses owned by young people and women in Kenya working in the sectors of retail and trade, agriculture, manufacturing, creative handmade sector and healthcare with membership of the participating program partners.

  • MSMEs can apply for funding on JGP through access to finance partners on the program. For more information about the access to finance program component please visit the websites of the program partners.

  • To qualify for funding under JGP, you must be a young Kenyan man or woman, between the ages of 18 – 35 years running a business in retail and trade, agriculture, manufacturing and healthcare. Your business must not engage in alcohol, tobacco and drug-related activities, weapons manufacture, war-related activities, gambling/betting, sex-related industries, or have ownership by state or parastatal actors. In addition, your application must be approved to receive funding.

  • The program aims to contribute to improved quality of life and voice for participating young women and men by supporting businesses to scale and absorb commercial capital which will in turn ensure their sustainability. This will lead to increased revenues and job creation.

  • JGP assistance can be accessed by targeted young men and women living and working in all 47 counties in Kenya.

  • JGP is backed by credible and renowned partners, including the Mastercard Foundation. Furthermore, its approach is based on extensive research and program partners’ experience working in the Kenya financial ecosystem, underscoring the viability of its solutions. JGP is committed to delivering impactful results and transforming lives through entrepreneurship