Thirty women-led agricultural small and medium enterprises (Agri-SMEs) have successfully completed a specialized six-month capacity-building program aimed at boosting their business resilience, financial literacy, and investment readiness.

The initiative, delivered under the second cohort of the 2026 Access to Finance Programme, was jointly implemented by Aceli Africa, advisory firm Ronalds LLP, and Family Bank’s Queen Banking and Agribusiness units.

Throughout the six-month engagement, participants undertook four tailored coaching modules focusing on core operational areas: financial management, financing readiness, governance and strategic planning, as well as marketing and customer relationship management. Each session was customized to align directly with the specific growth and funding requirements of the participating businesses.

The program is already yielding tangible financial outcomes. Six of the participating Agri-SMEs have secured Ksh. 70.5 million in financing facilities, while an additional pipeline exceeding Ksh. 243 million is currently undergoing credit review.

Beyond immediate funding, the technical assistance provided during the program has refined the quality and structure of financing proposals submitted to the bank, streamlining the credit assessment process and improving approval prospects.

“Three years since we unveiled Queen Banking, we remain deeply committed to walking this journey alongside women entrepreneurs,” said Phyllis Kimani, Chief Retail Officer at Family Bank. “This cohort demonstrates what is possible when business training, mentorship, and access to finance come together with clear purpose. Our commitment goes beyond providing financial products; it is about creating lasting impact for women, their businesses, and the communities around them.”

Kimani highlighted the growing footprint of the bank’s women-focused initiatives, noting that in 2026 alone, Family Bank has onboarded over 50,000 women customers, facilitating access to more than Ksh. 11 billion to build financial resilience and expand sustainable businesses.

Partner representatives emphasized the value of combining financial products with structured capacity building to drive sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.

“Through Queen Banking, Family Bank has taken the initiative to go beyond lending transactions by investing in strengthening the businesses behind the financing,” said Charity Wamithi, Designated Partner in Advisory Services at Ronalds LLP. “This cohort has shown what is possible when access to capital is accompanied by deliberate investment in the enterprise itself. What we celebrate today goes beyond graduation—it is women entrepreneurs building stronger businesses, making better decisions, and creating the foundations for their next stage of growth.”

This year’s cohort builds on the success of the inaugural 2025 program, which supported 25 women-led Agri-SMEs and subsequently enabled five of those enterprises to access Ksh. 38 million in financing facilities.