Youth Enterprise Development Fund

What Youth Enterprise Development Fund does

Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) is a Kenyan government State Corporation established in 2006 under Legal Notice No. 167/2006 and formalized in 2007 via Legal Order No. 63 of 2007, currently domiciled under the State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy. It is a flagship project of Kenya Vision 2030 under the Social Pillar, mandated to provide financial and business development support services to youth-owned enterprises and Kenyan youth aged 18-34. YEDF operates through a network of 47 county offices — one per Kenyan county — each headed by a County Coordinator, providing face-to-face loan application, training, and disbursement services.

The Fund offers ten distinct loan products targeting individual entrepreneurs and groups: Stawi (group loans, no interest, 5% management fee), E-Yes/Smart (graduated individual loans), Agri-Biz (agricultural SMEs at 8% plus 1% processing fee), Asset Finance (75% of asset value up to Kshs 5M), Go Green (renewable energy and eco-tourism), Migration (overseas employment pre-departure costs), LPO/LSO Financing (government procurement contracts up to 70% of value), V-Talanta (creative economy and sports), VIBE (blue economy fisheries), and Vuka (startup and expansion at 8% p.a.). These are complemented by four service modules: Enterprise Development (training, 1.1 million youth trained), Market Support & Linkages (23,230 youth connected to markets), Youth Employment Scheme Abroad (YESA), and Commercial Infrastructure (affordable trading premises). The technology backbone is an ERP system with ISO 9001:2008 certified management processes; a 2023 Cabinet Secretary mandate requires full digitization and a digital platform for loan delivery, but execution status is unclear.

The revenue model is a revolving fund generating interest income at 8% p.a. on individual loans and one-off management/processing fees on group and agricultural products, with repayments recycled into new disbursements. YEDF is government-owned with no external investors, governed by a board chaired by Fatma Barayan (inaugurated March 2023) under CEO oversight, with recent strategic partnerships with UNDP, ILO, Forum Civ, KMTC, and One Acre Fund's Tupande extending its reach into agripreneurship, migration, and digital jobs verticals.

Name

Youth Enterprise Development Fund

Legal name

Youth Enterprise Development Fund

Website

https://youthfund.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) is a Kenyan government State Corporation that provides subsidized loans, entrepreneurship training, and market linkages to youth-owned enterprises and Kenyan youth aged 18-34 across all 47 counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Finance

NAICS

Sales Financing (52222), Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA), SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB), Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)

Keywords

• Youth development finance
• Microenterprise lending
• Government development loans
• Business development services
• Asset finance lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest and Management Fees: The fund generates revenue through interest charges on loans (e.g., 8% p.a. on Vuka loans) and one-off management fees (e.g., 5% on Stawi group loans). As a revolving fund, repayments are recycled to provide credit to additional youth borrowers.
2. Loan Processing Fees: Additional revenue from processing fees such as 1% processing fee on Agri-Biz loans, netted off at disbursement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Youth Enterprise Development Fund provides affordable credit and enterprise development services to Kenyan youth aged 18-34 who own or operate micro and small enterprises. Its core offering consists of ten differentiated loan products (including individual, group, asset finance, diaspora, climate-smart and talent-focused loans) priced at a single-digit interest rate with a subsidized 0.5% processing fee, complemented by four non-financial service modules: Business Development Services, Mentorship and Coaching, Capacity Building, and Monitoring and Evaluation.

Product overview

Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) is a Kenyan government state corporation offering a comprehensive portfolio of financial products and enterprise development services for youth entrepreneurs. The core offering consists of 10 distinct loan products: Stawi Loan (group startup loans), E-Yes/Smart Loan (individual graduated loans), Agri-Biz Loan (agricultural businesses), Asset Finance Loan (equipment purchase), Go Green Finance Loan (green economy), Migration Loan (overseas employment), LPO/LSO Financing (government procurement), Talanta Loan (creative economy and sports), VIBE Loan (blue economy), and Vuka Loans (business expansion/startup). These are complemented by four service modules: Market Support & Linkages, Enterprise Development (training), Youth Employment Scheme Abroad, and Commercial Infrastructure. The portfolio is designed to serve youth aged 18-34 across various sectors including agriculture, green economy, blue economy, creative industries, and formal employment pathways abroad.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inua Biashara Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to enable Kenyan youth to boost and scale existing micro and small businesses, providing affordable credit to support business growth.
• Pamoja Biashara Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to youth groups and collectives, enabling them to jointly finance and operate group enterprises.
• Bidhaa Enterprise Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to enable youth entrepreneurs to purchase goods and inventory for their enterprises.
• Asset Finance Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to allow youth entrepreneurs to acquire productive business assets such as equipment and machinery.
• Special Loan Specialized loan product (previously known as Group Loan) offered by YEDF to organized youth groups and associations with tailored financing terms.
• Individual Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to individual youth entrepreneurs to finance personal micro and small enterprises.
• Talanta Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to talented Kenyan youth — including those in sports, creative arts, and innovation — to monetize their talent through enterprise activity.
• Vijana Biashara Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to young Kenyan entrepreneurs for starting and growing small business ventures.
• Climate Smart Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to finance youth-led climate-smart and green enterprises that promote environmental sustainability.
• Diaspora Loan Loan product offered by YEDF to Kenyan youth residing in the diaspora to finance enterprise investments in Kenya.
• Business Development Services (BDS) Non-financial service module offered by YEDF to youth entrepreneurs and groups, providing practical business development support such as enterprise planning, market access, and operational improvement.
• Mentorship and Coaching Non-financial service module offered by YEDF that links youth entrepreneurs to experienced mentors and coaches to support enterprise growth and personal development.
• Capacity Building Non-financial service module offered by YEDF that delivers training, skills development, and enterprise education programs to youth entrepreneurs and groups.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Non-financial service module offered by YEDF that tracks and assesses the performance and impact of funded youth enterprises and programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,136,500 youth trained in entrepreneurship
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• One Acre Fund (Tupande)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026YEDF has partnered with One Acre Fund's Tupande to provide a comprehensive Youth Agripreneurship Training Program. The four-year programme aims to reach at least 300,000 youths across 34 counties in Kenya, combining YEDF financing with Tupande's technical support, agricultural inputs, and market access. YEDF offers individual agribusiness loans of up to Sh2 million at single-digit interest rates, with repayment schedules aligned to agricultural production cycles.
• Forum Civ and ILO (International Labour Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to support youth employment and entrepreneurship in Kenya. The collaboration aims to enhance youth empowerment initiatives through joint programs addressing unemployment and enterprise development.
• Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Exploratory partnership to support nurses seeking jobs abroad through training and certification support, aligning with YEDF's Youth Employment Scheme Abroad (YESA) mandate.
• Government SpokespersonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to boost awareness among youth about YEDF products and services, leveraging government communication channels.
• Digital Jobs Partners (Exploratory)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Exploratory partnership to equip youth for digital jobs, aligning with YEDF's enterprise development mandate.
• Hon. Hassan OmarminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Discussion of collaboration on youth empowerment initiatives at the county level.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership under the Economic Empowerment Programme (EEP) implemented by the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Youth Affairs. UNDP supports business skills and entrepreneurship development training (BSED) for youth.
• County Governments (Various)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with county governments across Kenya for organizing trade fairs, establishing commercial infrastructure, and facilitating youth enterprise development at the local level.
• Large Enterprises and InstitutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarket linkage partnerships where large established enterprises or government institutions provide business and mentorship opportunities to youth entrepreneurs through subcontracting, outsourcing, franchising, and business development training.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Pay-as-you-go solar financing company operating across East Africa including Kenya. Directly comparable to YEDF's Go Green Finance Loan in providing asset-financed renewable energy credit to off-grid youth and small entrepreneurs, though as a private commercial operator.

Emerging players

• Kiva: Global crowdfunding nonprofit enabling crowdfunded microloans to underserved entrepreneurs worldwide, including in Kenya. Comparable to YEDF in mission of financial inclusion via affordable credit to micro-entrepreneurs, but using a distributed lender-crowdfunding model rather than a centralized fund.
• Tala (formerly InVenture): Mobile-based digital lender using alternative data to underwrite small-ticket loans to underbanked consumers in Kenya and other emerging markets. Comparable to YEDF in targeting the same youth borrower segment but via a fully digital, instant-decision model that YEDF's planned digitization would need to match.
• Branch International: Mobile lending platform operating in Kenya and other African markets, offering small-ticket personal and business loans via smartphone app. Comparable to YEDF's microloan products in borrower profile and ticket size, but delivered digitally rather than through physical county offices.

Broad incumbents

• Grameen Bank: Pioneering microcredit institution in Bangladesh and global benchmark for group-lending and microenterprise finance. Comparable to YEDF's Stawi group loan model and enterprise development methodology in approach to serving micro-entrepreneurs without traditional collateral.
• Equity Bank Kenya: Kenya's largest commercial bank by customer base with a strong SME and youth banking focus through products like Equitel and Eazzy Loan. Comparable to YEDF in serving mass-market Kenyan borrowers but with a much broader deposit-taking and digital offering.
• Co-operative Bank of Kenya: Kenyan commercial bank with deep SACCO and cooperative network, providing SME and youth-targeted credit products including FOSA loans. Comparable to YEDF in serving group-based borrowers via cooperative structures and offering subsidized youth products, but as a diversified depository institution.

Direct peers

• M-KOPA: Kenya-headquartered pay-as-you-go solar and asset financing company serving underbanked customers. Comparable to YEDF's asset finance and Go Green loans — both finance productive assets (solar home systems vs vehicles/equipment) for low-income earners via installment credit.
• Kenya Women Microfinance Bank (KWFT Bank): Kenya's largest microfinance institution providing credit and savings to women entrepreneurs, with a similar mission of financial inclusion for underserved populations. Comparable to YEDF in providing group and individual microloans with training components, though focused on women rather than youth.
• One Acre Fund (Tupande): Major agricultural finance and inputs provider operating across Kenya including through its Tupande program; explicitly partnered with YEDF. Highly comparable in serving rural smallholder farmers/youth with bundled financing, training, and market access — a near-twin model to YEDF's agri-biz strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YouthFund_Ke
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@youthfund_kenya9065?si=XL_4vX13surZNEy4
• Facebookfacebook.com/youthfund.kenya
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-fund-kenya
• Instagraminstagram.com/youth_fund

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Youth Enterprise Development Fund