Strathmore University, International Trade Centre open digital marketplace for small businesses in Kenya

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Strathmore University Business School and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are collaborating to launch a Small Business Development Centre Digital Trade Hub in Kenya to provide small businesses with the e-commerce skills, tools and knowledge they need to expand their market reach and opportunities. The partnership aims to support economic growth, job creation and regional market expansion.

The hubs will provide small businesses with e-commerce training materials and resources, as well as in-person coaching and training sessions to help them address the challenges of selling online.

The Business School, through the Kenya Small Business Development Centres (SBDC), provides consulting, training and access to markets and finance for small businesses in six counties – Mombasa, Nakuru, Kiambu, Kisumu, Makueni and Isiolo – under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Strategic Partnerships program, supported by USAID funding.

To complement these services, ITC provides tailored e-commerce curriculum, technical support and digital tools to help small businesses meet the challenges of selling online. This work is being carried out through ITC’s Digital Moonshot and the EU-funded East African Community Market Access Upgrade Programme, which is now in its second phase (MARKUP II).

Building on an established partnership

Strathmore University Business School and ITC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 13, 2024, to establish Digital Commerce Hubs in six counties in Kenya. The agreement aims to equip small businesses with the skills and knowledge to access new markets through digital channels.

The partners will establish contacts with other key e-commerce stakeholders in the country to create an environment conducive to using e-commerce for sustainable business development, including for small businesses.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the International Trade Centre.