Nairobi, Kenya |19 June 2026

Building directly on the landmark Green Finance Risk-Sharing Guarantee partnership that I&M Bank and Sida formalized in Nairobi in March 2026 which unlocked up to 45M USD in green finance, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), through its Leveraging Investments and Finance for a Green Transition (LIFT) Program funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), delivered a three-day capacity-building training on green lending for I&M Bank Kenya in Nairobi from 17–19 June 2026.

The training convened 25 participants drawn from across the Bank’s credit, risk, ESG and business teams to strengthen I&M Bank’s capacity to design, implement, and scale green lending products aligned with international standards and emerging market opportunities.

The training is anchored to the landmark Green Finance Risk-Sharing Guarantee partnership that I&M Bank and Sida formalized in Nairobi in March 2026, which unlocks a dedicated green transition lending portfolio of up to USD 30 million, anchored by a USD 15 million Sida guarantee with eight-year coverage and a 50 percent risk-sharing structure. As Sida’s green finance guarantee partner in Kenya, I&M Bank was selected for this tailored technical assistance under LIFT to ensure the institutional capacity is in place to deploy the facility effectively and at scale. Where the guarantee reduces the financial risk of green lending, the LIFT training equips the Bank’s teams with the tools, frameworks and product knowledge to convert that risk capital into a robust pipeline of bankable green loans.

Access to climate finance remains one of the key challenges facing Africa’s transition to a green and resilient economy. While African countries require an estimated USD 2.8 trillion by 2030 to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), climate finance flows continue to fall significantly short of demand. Despite the substantial asset base held by African financial institutions, private sector investment in climate-related activities remains limited, highlighting the critical role that banks can play in mobilizing capital for sustainable development.  By pairing a financial guarantee with targeted capacity building, the Sida–I&M–GGGI partnership demonstrates a replicable model for mobilizing private capital toward Kenya’s low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

The workshop was opened by Mrs. Vera Obare, Regional Program Manager, Embassy of Sweden in Nairobi, who stated: “Banks that build capacity to identify, assess and price green transition opportunities today will be the ones best positioned to lead Kenya’s/ Africa’s green economy tomorrow.”

Mrs. Vera Obare, Regional Program Manager, Embassy of Sweden in Nairobi

Echoing this, Mr. Ali Haider, LIFT Program Lead, GGGI, added: “The Green Lending Workshop marks an important milestone in I&M Bank’s sustainable finance journey. By strengthening internal capacity and advancing green lending practices, the Bank is well positioned to expand its impact across the region, mobilize capital for low-carbon and climate-resilient investments, and contribute meaningfully to climate action.”

The tailored 3-day program equipped the financial sector professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to turn sustainability ambitions into actionable financing solutions. Participants explored emerging opportunities in green lending, climate finance, ESG risk management, and carbon markets, while collaborating on real-world exercises to design green financial products and measure their impact.

ABOUT SIDA

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is Sweden’s government agency for development cooperation. Working on behalf of the Swedish Parliament and Government, Sida supports sustainable development and poverty reduction in partner countries worldwide.

ABOUT GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization founded in 2012. GGGI delivers programs in over 51 countries with governments, investors, and partners to advance climate action and green growth. In 2024, GGGI mobilized USD 3.9 billion in green and climate investment, bringing its lifetime total to USD 14 billion.

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FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES

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Global Green Growth Institute

GGGI Media Contact:  Isabelle Ky, communication associate | E-mail:  Isabelle.ky@gggi.org

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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM: 

 Ali Haider, Program Lead, LIFT | E-mail: ali.haider@gggi.org