The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Kenya Programme and the Embassy of Sweden have joined forces with KCB Bank to boost access to affordable financial services for displaced populations and host communities across Kenya.
In a high-level meeting held this week, Marie Ottosson, Head of the Kenya Development Cooperation Section at the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi, and Alistair Cowan, Head of Programmes at DRC Kenya, engaged with KCB Group CEO and Kenya Bankers Association Chair Paul Russo to chart a path toward inclusive financial solutions.
The collaboration centers on the Supporting Displacement Affected Communities in Kenya with Entrepreneurship Development (SDACKED) Project.
Funded by the Swedish Government and implemented by DRC Kenya, the four-year initiative is building a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem targeting refugees and vulnerable Kenyans in Nairobi and Mandera counties.
By leveraging community-driven models such as Community Savings and Loans Associations (CSLAs) and forging strategic links with KCB Bank’s financial products, the project is dismantling long-standing barriers to economic participation.
These include limited access to capital, regulatory hurdles, and widespread financial exclusion.
Through these efforts, the SDACKED Project is enabling displaced persons and their host communities to gain financial independence and entrepreneurial growth, fostering resilience and self-reliance.
DRC Kenya and KCB Bank acknowledged the importance of inclusive financing and celebrated KCB’s commitment to championing economic opportunities for all.