The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) was established by the Government of Kenya in 2019 following the merger of the Export Promotion Council (EPC) and the Brand Kenya Board. The merger was intended to streamline efforts in both export promotion and national branding, creating a unified agency to enhance Kenya’s global competitiveness and support sustainable economic growth.
The evolution reflects Kenya’s efforts to integrate its export promotion and branding activities under one agency to create efficiency and effectiveness in positioning Kenya’s exports in the global market place.
KEPROBA advocates, coordinates, harmonizes, and implements export promotion and nation branding initiatives and policies with the sole goal of enhancing the presence of Kenyan goods and services on the international stage.
The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) intervenes at multiple stages of a company’s life cycle to enhance its export capabilities and global competitiveness.
Stages of Intervention and advices provided
- Creation Stage:
- Support and Guidance: KEPROBA provides foundational support to newly established companies, helping them understand export markets, navigate regulatory requirements, and develop export strategies.
- Capacity Building: Offers training and resources to equip new companies with the knowledge and skills needed to enter international markets.
- Growth Stage:
- Market Expansion: Assists companies in identifying and penetrating new international markets by providing market intelligence, trade information, and export promotion services.
- Brand Development: Supports companies in building strong, recognizable brands that resonate with global audiences, enhancing their market presence and competitiveness.
- Development/Maturity Stage:
- Sustainability and Compliance: Works with established companies to ensure they meet international standards and regulations, including sustainability practices and corporate social responsibility.
- Diversification and Innovation: Encourages companies to diversify their product offerings and adopt innovative approaches to maintain.
Advice provided
KEPROBA provides a range of advisory services to equip businesses for success in the global marketplace:
- Commercial Advice: This includes market research and intelligence to identify global opportunities and export strategy development to create effective market entry and logistics plans.
- Legal Advice: The agency guides businesses on compliance with international trade regulations, customs procedures, and trade agreements. It also advises on the protection of intellectual property (IP) in foreign markets.
- Management Advice: KEPROBA supports organizational development to handle the complexities of international trade and provides leadership and capacity building to enhance the skills of company executives.
- Financial Advice: This involves assistance in accessing export financing, advice on trade finance options and credit insurance, and guidance on cost management related to production, shipping, and tariffs.
- Branding and Marketing Advice: The agency helps businesses with brand positioning to resonate with international consumers and offers advice on effective marketing strategies, including digital marketing and participation in trade fairs.
Coaching in HREDD
Enabel’s Trade for Development Centre will strengthen KEPROBA in the acquisition and mastery of knowledge so that it is better equipped to support MSMEs on issues relating to respect for the environment and decent work, and more specifically in HREDD (Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence).
More specifically, at the end of the coaching, KEPROBA should have the knowledge and tools to support local MSMEs in:
- Setting up a system for identifying, preventing, monitoring and remedying the 3 main risks and problems relating to human rights, equality and the environment in connection with the organisation and its production.
- The application of requirements relating to the European Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).
A first session with the coach is planned in the week of 13-17 October 2025. It will cover the points mentioned below.
- Recontextualization of the coaching approach and reminder of the roles of each party.
- Explanation, definition and validation of the scope of the coach’s assignment.
- Taking into account the expectations of decision-making bodies (Board of Directors, Management and other relevant operations management entities).
- Informing and raising awareness among the Board of Directors, management and personnel, of their rights and responsibilities and of the commitment of businesses to human rights, gender equality and environmental sustainability.
- Requirements relating to the European Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).
- A first draft of a plan to support businesses in setting up a system for identifying, preventing, monitoring and remedying the 3 main risks and problems relating to human rights, equality and the environment in connection with the organisation and its production.
