NCBA Bank has partnered with HEVA Fund to roll out a groundbreaking financing programme aimed at unlocking affordable, flexible, and inclusive funding for Kenya’s fast-growing creative economy.
The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) introducing five tiered financing solutions tailored to the unique needs of creative professionals and enterprises.
The products include Event Financing, Invoice Discounting, Local Purchase Order (LPO) Financing, Working Capital, and Start-Up Incubator Financing.
The partnership was unveiled during the NCBA Creative Economy Summit alongside the Elev8 LIVE album launch, an NCBA-powered platform that promotes emerging talent while spotlighting Kenya’s evolving music and creative landscape.
By adopting a shared-risk 50:50 capital match model, NCBA and HEVA Fund aim to significantly lower barriers to credit for artists and creative micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The model blends NCBA’s financial muscle with HEVA’s deep sector expertise to de-risk lending and expand access to capital for creatives who often face irregular incomes and project-based cash flows.
HEVA Fund brings over 12 years of experience in the creative economy, having invested in more than 300 creative businesses and supported over 20,000 creatives across East Africa.
NCBA reaffirmed that the partnership aligns with its “Change the Story” agenda, which focuses on delivering inclusive, sustainable economic opportunities for youth and underserved sectors.
The creative economy currently contributes over 5.3 per cent to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), yet access to finance remains the sector’s biggest constraint. The new financing framework is expected to strengthen industry resilience, boost job creation, and accelerate the growth of one of Kenya’s fastest-rising economic sectors.