WYLDE International, a premier consulting and entrepreneurship development firm based in Kenya, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Finn Church Aid (FCA), Finland’s largest development cooperation organisation, to scale inclusive economic empowerment initiatives across East Africa.
This transformative partnership brings together two purpose-driven organisations with a shared vision: to unlock meaningful opportunities for youth, women, and underserved communities through enterprise development, skills building, and systemic change.
The MOU was signed at WYLDE International’s Nairobi office, signalling a new phase of strategic collaboration grounded in the values of dignity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
Chris Odongo, CEO of WYLDE International, highlighted the importance of this partnership:
“We are excited to join hands with Finn Church Aid to deliver impact at scale. Our mission has always been to build thriving entrepreneurs and resilient ecosystems. This partnership enables us to extend our mission by integrating our business acumen with FCA’s extensive development experience, particularly in fragile contexts. Together, we can support communities not just to survive, but to succeed through enterprise.”
AAR, WYLDE International launches SME insurance usage report
The partnership will focus on designing and delivering entrepreneurship programs that equip youth and women with practical skills, mentorship, and access to the resources needed to launch and grow their businesses.
It will also prioritise the strengthening of small and growing enterprises (SGBs), cooperatives, and community-based organisations through capacity-building, access to finance, and market linkage interventions.
In addition, WYLDE and FCA will jointly develop scalable, locally owned solutions that address systemic challenges such as unemployment, financial exclusion, and limited access to business development services.
Special attention will be paid to vulnerable populations, including refugees and marginalised groups, ensuring that economic transformation is inclusive, locally driven, and sustainable.
The collaboration also includes joint proposal development for funding opportunities, research and knowledge sharing, and integrated monitoring and learning systems to measure long-term impact.
The Country Director of FCA Kenya, John Bongei, reiterated FCA’s commitment to collaborative impact.
“By joining efforts, we can achieve more. Traditionally, NGOs like FCA have shied away from working with for-profit organisations. However, there is a paradigm shift; we now recognise the importance of private sector partnerships in creating sustainable impact.
The previous approach, while impactful, is no longer sustainable on its own. Through partnerships like this, we can meaningfully engage and achieve shared objectives, particularly in empowering young people.
FCA focuses on three key areas: peace, education, and livelihoods. As a rights-based organisation, we measure success by how well people are supported to access decent livelihoods and meet their basic needs. Through this partnership, the youth we serve in Nairobi will gain access to wider networks that will help them build skills and secure meaningful employment.”
This MOU reflects the growing momentum toward cross-sector partnerships that bridge development and private sector expertise to address Africa’s most pressing challenges.
As the region continues to recover from the impacts of global economic shocks, climate change, and displacement, the WYLDE–FCA alliance is poised to catalyse meaningful change where it’s needed most.
