Equity Bank and IFC Unveil $20 Million Risk Sharing Facility To Empower Refugees And Host Communities

Equity Bank Kenya, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has launched a $20 million Risk Sharing Facility (RSF) to enhance financial inclusion within underserved regions in Kenya, including refugees and host communities. The program, unveiled in Kakuma, Turkana County will be implemented in 14 marginalized counties across Kenya, among them Turkana and Garissa which host Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, with the goal of supporting refugees and their host communities towards social economic empowerment that ultimately lead to self-reliance.

This is the first global risk-sharing facility dedicated to financial inclusion for refugees and their host communities.

Commenting on behalf of Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Bank Kenya Managing Director, Moses Nyabanda said: “This partnership with IFC embodies Equity’s commitment to driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment across the African continent. The Risk Sharing Facility (RSF) program is a crucial component of our Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), as it directly addresses the financial needs of vulnerable populations and fosters entrepreneurship, ultimately creating jobs and building more resilient communities. By expanding access to credit and other financial services, we are investing in the future of refugees and host communities unlocking opportunities to transform their lives, give dignity and expand opportunities for wealth creation.”

Mary Porter Peschka, IFC’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa, expressed her confidence in the partnership, stating: “This groundbreaking initiative speaks directly to IFC’s mission to support private sector development and opportunity in challenging environments, including refugee-hosting areas. This facility is helping to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of refugees and their host communities, creating jobs, providing services, and driving development in the region.”

The RSF program will enhance Equity Bank’s unsecured microlending proposition, focusing on character and capacity to pay rather than collateral. The program will initially cover 14 counties with 28 branches, providing access to financial services for marginalized communities. Non-financial services, such as financial literacy training and agribusiness capacity building, will also be offered through a partnership with the Equity Group Foundation.

With a significant portion of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya lacking access to vital financial services – studies show unmet demand for finance as high as 83% – this initiative has the potential to unlock substantial economic growth.

The program aligns with ARRP’s goal of creating 5 million businesses and 25 million jobs by 2030. Given that only 56% of Kenyan MSMEs are formally registered, and a further 73% of those registered reported being underserved in previous studies, the RSF program has significant potential to expand financial inclusion and drive economic development.

Turkana County Governor, H.E Hon. Jeremiah Lomorukai Napotikan, welcomed the initiative, stating, “The success of initiatives like the RSF reminds me that true impact is only possible through collaboration. No single entity can drive the level of change needed to transform livelihoods. It is through partnerships that we

can develop sustainable solutions to the challenges we face. The RSF exemplifies this spirit of collaboration. By assuming 50% of the risk exposure, the IFC has reaffirmed its commitment to innovative financial solutions that prioritize the most vulnerable. This shared-risk approach empowers Equity Bank and other financial institutions to extend credit to businesses that might otherwise be excluded from the financial system.”

Read Also: Equity Bank Gets ISO Certification For Information Security Management