Co-op Bank of Kenya has stepped up efforts to expand access to sustainable water and sanitation solutions, with engagement in Meru focusing on how tailored financing can help businesses overcome the high upfront costs of investing in reliable water infrastructure.
The forum hosted by Co-op Bank in partnership with Water.org, entrepreneurs and key stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector explored ways financial tools can turn sustainable water investments into practical and profitable business opportunities.
The bank’s Head of Trade Finance, Millicent Wahome, and Head of Asset Finance, Dick Denis Munene, shared insights on financing solutions available to businesses seeking to invest in water-related assets and infrastructure.
The engagement forms part of a wider public-private partnership between Co-op Bank, Water.org, Aqua for All and the Water & Sanitation Services Providers Association (WASPA), aimed at increasing access to clean water and improved sanitation across Kenya.
Under the partnership, Co-op Bank has committed KSh500 million in loan facilities to catalyse investment in the WASH sector. The funding targets at least 15 infrastructure projects, with the potential to extend safe drinking water and improved sanitation services to more than 50,000 people across urban, peri-urban and rural communities.
The financing model combines capital with technical and business support. Co-op Bank provides loan capital and tailored asset financing, enabling water service providers and other businesses to acquire the equipment and assets they need without carrying the full burden of upfront costs.
Water.org provides technical assistance grants to help water service providers develop bankable project proposals, while Aqua for All offers results-based financing and portfolio support to strengthen projects and improve their chances of attracting investment.
The Meru engagement follows similar WASH business forums held in other parts of the country as the bank seeks to create greater awareness of financing opportunities within the sector.
Last month, Co-op Bank and Water.org hosted entrepreneurs and WASH stakeholders at Seo Hotel in Machakos. The forum focused on strengthening partnerships, improving project readiness and increasing awareness of financing options available to businesses.
In July, the bank also engaged entrepreneurs and stakeholders in Thika during a business engagement forum at Eton Hotel. The discussions centred on sustainable WASH solutions, enhanced financing awareness and stronger collaboration among sector players.
Through the engagements, Co-op Bank is seeking to bridge the gap between the growing need for sustainable water solutions and the financing required to implement them.
The initiative also positions access to finance as a critical enabler of both business growth and improved water and sanitation services, supporting efforts to deliver sustainable solutions to communities across Kenya.