Small Foundation partners with EAPN to strengthen MSME resilience in East Africa

Small Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with the East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN) to explore how philanthropy can support micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) resilience and growth across the East African community.  

EAPN is a regional platform of over 200 philanthropic organisations committed to advancing a culture of local giving. The network provides a collaborative space to champion, connect and co-create innovative solutions that strengthen philanthropic practice and enable more effective development. Its work enhances the capacity and credibility of development actors while supporting an enabling environment for impactful giving across the region. 

Over the next 15 months, through the integration of a network approach, our partnership will explore opportunities for coordination between EAPN members and MSME networks to support knowledge exchange, investment opportunities and strategic interventions between philanthropy and MSMEs. EAPN aims to strengthen coordination throughout the MSME ecosystem by convening stakeholders, unlocking capital and de-risking investments, sharing research and knowledge, and collaborating to strengthen MSME policy infrastructure policy. 

Reflecting on our partnership, EAPN CEO, Evans Okinyi, said:

 Philanthropy must evolve from charity to catalytic capital — and nowhere is this more urgent than in the MSME space. Our partnership with Small Foundation is about building a coordinated, resilient ecosystem where local giving, enterprise growth, and structural change go hand in hand. This is the next frontier of impact in East Africa.

Membership is open to organisations committed to promoting philanthropy in the region with a working presence in an East African country.  Apply to become a member of EAPN.