By Njeri Irungu,
26 February 2026,
Nairobi, Kenya.
More than 150 green manufacturing stakeholders from across Africa convened in Nairobi for the Pan-African Green Business Building (GBB) Forum, a UK government-funded initiative designed to connect investors with high-potential green manufacturing ventures.
The one-day forum, hosted under the UK’s Manufacturing Africa programme and headquartered in Nairobi, brought together startup founders, impact investors and system partners to catalyse growth in Africa’s green industrial sector.
A green business minimizes its environmental footprint through clean energy adoption, waste reduction, sustainable sourcing and improved resource efficiency. Organisers said the forum sought to accelerate such enterprises by unlocking access to capital and strengthening networks within the ecosystem.
Nairobi was strategically selected as the host city due to its dynamic small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) landscape and its status as a renewable energy leader on the continent. Kenya continues to generate a significant share of its electricity from geothermal, hydro, wind and solar sources, positioning it as a hub for climate-focused innovation.
At the heart of the forum were “Pitch Den” matchmaking sessions, where green manufacturing startups presented investment-ready opportunities to more than 30 impact investors. The pitches spanned diverse subsectors including electric mobility, recycling, solar energy, organic fertiliser production and other emerging industries driving Africa’s green transition.
Research by the Manufacturing Africa programme indicates that unlocking new green investments could generate between $2 billion and $4 billion in annual revenues by 2030, while creating at least 200,000 direct and indirect jobs across participating African countries.
Speaking at the forum, Diana Dalton, Development Director at the British High Commission Nairobi, described the event as a demonstration of the innovation underpinning the UK–Kenya Strategic Partnership.
“Today’s Forum is a great, green example of the innovation at the heart of the UK–Kenya Strategic Partnership. By connecting green manufacturing entrepreneurs with the investment they need to scale, we’re helping turn bold ideas into real, climate-positive businesses that will create jobs. This is our modern economic partnership in action — unlocking Kenyan innovation to drive sustainable growth,” she said.
Thomas Pascoe, Team Leader at Manufacturing Africa, emphasised the long-term impact of nurturing early-stage enterprises.
“We are thrilled to support the next generation of African business talent on their journey to growth and success. Supporting these entrepreneurs at this critical early stage will not only drive job creation and tax revenue but also solidify Africa’s leadership in green industrial innovation for years to come,” he noted.
The forum also featured prominent voices in green manufacturing, including Peter Scott, CEO of BURN Manufacturing; Jesse Moore, CEO of M-KOPA; Bethelhem Dejene, Founder and CEO of Zafree; Jack Oyugi, Founder and CEO of Vertical Lake; and Simon Mnyele, Co-Founder of Lishe360.
The GBB Forum builds on the success of the UK-funded Green Business Building Accelerator, launched in January 2025 to cultivate a thriving green manufacturing ecosystem across Africa. The three-month accelerator programme provides tailored mentorship, peer learning opportunities and direct access to investors to help startups scale climate-positive solutions.
To date, the accelerator has supported more than 50 startups across Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania, helping to drive sustainable innovation and nurture a new generation of green manufacturing leaders.
The GBB Forum and Accelerator align with the UK government’s broader commitment to advancing shared priorities on climate action, nature protection and clean energy. Organisers say the initiative underscores the critical role African innovation will play in addressing global climate challenges while delivering inclusive economic growth.
