The Chamber Business Academy (CBA), in partnership with the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (VCCIC), has successfully completed a four-week Training of Trainers programme under the Skills for Women and Youth in Kenya Project. Funded by the Lithuanian Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Fund, the training targeted KNCCI representatives across all 47 county chapters. Participants were equipped with practical skills in e-commerce, digital marketing, international business development and international partner search—key competencies required in today’s evolving business environment.

The programme strengthens KNCCI’s capacity to support SMEs, especially women- and youth-led enterprises, by enhancing local trainers’ digital and business development competencies. Through this initiative, entrepreneurs across Kenya will benefit from increased digital literacy, improved business skills, and expanded access to local and international markets. Ag. CEO KK Mutai emphasized that the project reflects the power of global chamber-to-chamber collaboration and builds long-term institutional capacity to serve SMEs beyond the programme period.

Ag. CEO KK Mutai stated:
“The success of this program shows the power of collaboration especially between chambers of commerce across the globe in line with our mandate . By training our own chamber staff and leaders, we have built long-term capacity that will continue benefiting SMEs even after the project ends. We are proud to support a digital-ready generation of entrepreneurs.”

The Participants highlighted the transformative impact of the sessions, particularly in digital marketing, export readiness, and global partnership building. This cohort marks the second graduation under the programme, following the successful training of 478 SMEs in August. The curriculum was informed by KNCCI’s 2024 National SME Survey, which revealed pressing SME needs in online visibility, cross-border trade, international markets, and global business linkage opportunities.

“The Digital Marketing session was eye-opening! I’m grateful to KNCCI and the project partners for empowering us with 21st-century business skills. This training has transformed how I view digital entrepreneurship. I’ve gained practical tools to help women entrepreneurs in my community promote their businesses online more effectively,” – Eva Mukumbu County Chamber Manager Kiambu County Chapter.

“The training sharpened our understanding of international trade dynamics and equipped us with actionable tools to assess export potential, develop market-entry strategies, and guide our members toward global competitiveness. This knowledge is especially critical for regions like Garissa, where SMEs are eager to scale but often lack the technical guidance to navigate export procedures and standards,” says CCM of the KNCCI Garissa Chapter Abdiwahid Mohamed.

The international business development module directly aligns with KNCCI’s Jiinue Programme, which focuses on training and financing young local women and youth entrepreneurs so that they can expand and aim for international business expansion and investment opportunities. Through the competencies gained such as market-entry strategies, export market assessment, and global competitiveness county trainers are now better equipped to guide SMEs in identifying foreign markets, preparing for trade missions, and leveraging Jiinue’s structured support in attracting global partnerships and investment.

The international partner search module enhances the value of the KNCCI Trust Seal, which promotes credibility, partner verification, export readiness, and global buyer linkages. Through this training, chamber staff now have stronger skills in evaluating potential partners, navigating global networks, and matching SMEs with reliable international counterparts. This directly supports the Trust Seal’s mandate to help exporters build trust-based relationships, meet international standards, and reduce risks in global transactions.

Modules in digital marketing and e-commerce strongly reinforce KNCCI’s Isoko Digital Programme, which empowers SMEs to adopt digital tools, online marketplaces, and data-driven marketing. Trainers can now support businesses in creating online visibility, using digital platforms to access new customers, and transitioning to e-commerce-driven business models. Additionally, the export lessons covered in the training complement the Africa Guarantee Fund (AGF) partnership, helping SMEs apply digital tools and strong business development practices to prepare for export financing, scale to global markets, and improve eligibility for AGF-backed credit facilities.

“”We therefore call upon entrepreneurs across the country to formally join KNCCI and become part of this powerful national and international network, so that you can access these benefits and many more that drive competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable growth,” concludes Mr. Mutai.