Building the businesses that build Africa.
SIYB Africa Limited is a Business Development Services social enterprise advancing entrepreneurship, enterprise growth and sustainable livelihoods across Africa. We combine globally recognised programmes with local expertise, coaching, mentorship and management consulting to help people start, improve, formalise, digitalise and grow sustainable enterprises.
A short history
- 1984
Founded as IYB-Kenya — an ILO pilot project for enterprise development.
- 1993
Became an autonomous company serving MSMEs across East Africa.
- 2019
Rebranded to SIYB Africa Limited to reflect a pan-African mission.
- Today
40+ years on: 100,000+ MSMEs trained, USD 150M+ mobilized, 130+ country footprint.
A BDS social enterprise built for practical results
We work with aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, MSMEs, farmers, producer organisations, women, youth and persons with disabilities — as well as trainers, financial institutions, development organisations, governments and private-sector partners.
Our ecosystem brings together skills, enterprise support, finance, markets, technology and networks. Training is the starting point; continuing support helps enterprises apply what they learn and pursue sustainable growth.
Our enterprise development model
Official partner of the International Labour Organization.
Recognized training institution under Kenya's NITA.
Alumni across East Africa and beyond.
SIYB methodology deployed globally.
Our organizational structure
Board & leadership
The people behind the purpose.
A board shaped by enterprise, finance, inclusion, technology and community — bringing the right perspectives to sustainable growth.
Bernard Odhiambo OtienoBoard ChairmanChair – Governance & Ethics Committee
An experienced development professional who brings programme governance, donor accountability, financial oversight and results-based management to SIYB Africa.
Bernard has managed complex health and development programmes across Africa, including donor-funded programmes supported by USAID and UK Aid.
He currently chairs the Credit Committee at Finnlemm SACCO, connecting institutional governance with practical financial inclusion and responsible enterprise finance.
- — MPH, Maseno University
- — BSc Biomedical Science, Egerton University
- — Chair, Finnlemm SACCO Credit Committee
FA Polycarp Paul Ngoje, CMC®Executive Director & Lead ConsultantExecutive leadership
An enterprise-development, financial-education and management-consulting specialist with more than 20 years of experience across sub-Saharan Africa.
Polycarp leads SIYB Africa as an impact-driven and financially sustainable social enterprise, connecting skills, enterprise support, finance, markets and growth.
He is an ILO SIYB Master Trainer, Certified Management Consultant and financial professional who has facilitated more than 100 Training of Trainers and entrepreneurship-development workshops.
- — MBA Finance & Strategy, Egerton University
- — PhD candidate, Management University of Africa
- — ILO SIYB Master Trainer · Licence No. KEN/06/208
Evelynne Wanjiku Ndung’uBoard MemberChair – Finance & Investment Committee
A disability-inclusion leader and enterprise-development professional with more than 13 years of experience in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and business coaching.
Evelynne is CEO of Free A Girl’s World Network, a disability-led organisation advancing the rights and economic empowerment of girls and women with disabilities.
Her lived experience and professional practice help SIYB Africa embed inclusion across enterprise development, digital business, access to finance, market linkages and sustainable livelihoods.
- — BA Leadership & Management, St. Paul’s University
- — Diploma Public Relations, University of Nairobi
- — ILO-certified SIYB Trainer and Women in Digital Business Lead Trainer
Dr. Kennedy OgadaBoard MemberChair – Audit, Risk & Technology Committee
An ICT scholar, researcher and consultant guiding SIYB Africa’s technology-enabled learning, quality assurance, cybersecurity and responsible innovation.
Dr. Ogada is a Senior Lecturer at JKUAT with expertise spanning Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, ICT project management, information systems security, quality assurance and IT audit.
His consulting work includes quality assurance for complex public and financial-sector information systems, strengthening SIYB Africa’s digital governance and business continuity.
- — PhD Information Technology
- — MSc Information Systems
- — Postgraduate Diploma Computer Science
Rebecca AsiengaBoard MemberChair – Partnerships & Resource Mobilisation Committee
A project-management, marketing and stakeholder-engagement professional who connects SIYB Africa’s technical work with partners, communities and resources.
Rebecca brings broad hospitality, marketing, public-relations and project-management experience to the Board, strengthening visibility and stakeholder relationships.
Her community involvement supporting teenage mothers and survivors of gender-based violence adds a grounded social-inclusion perspective to SIYB Africa’s growth.
- — Diploma Project Management
- — Hospitality and customer-experience professional
- — Community-development and social-inclusion advocate
Trainer network
People who turn insight into action.
Kevin Wamboka MuchasiEnterprise Development & Entrepreneurship Trainer
An Enterprise Development Consultant, certified trainer and BDS practitioner with over nine years of experience strengthening entrepreneurs, youth, women-led businesses and underserved groups across Kenya.
Kevin designs and delivers practical, participant-centred programmes using experiential learning, business tools, case studies, role plays, coaching and mentorship to turn knowledge into measurable action.
His assignments include KISIP II/NYOTA, WOW Mom Organization, ILO, KJET, KIBT/JICA, Africa Youth Trust and Women Enterprise Fund. He has delivered socio-emotional skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, enterprise diagnostics and cooperative mentorship programmes.
Kevin is an ILO-certified trainer in Start and Improve Your Business, Digitalize Your Business and Women in Digital Business, with further training in enterprise competitiveness and trainer development.