Celebrating the SME Response Clinic Awards

Celebrating the SME Response Clinic Awards


Read the Terms and Conditions

We are proud to feature the 30 businesses shortlisted for the SME Response Clinic Business Awards through the Twiteze Imbere campaign, which celebrated the role small businesses play in the country’s journey to recovery following COVID-19. We received around 1,200 nominations from across the country in three categories: established businesses, women-owned businesses, and startup/innovative businesses. Congratulations to the businesses that were shortlisted and we wish them the best in their growth!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RUNNERS UP


5 ways to enhance employee experience

5 ways to enhance employee experience

During challenging times, many companies have a hard time ensuring good employee experience and morale, which can be especially harmful to business performance. In this video, we discuss five ways your company can improve employee experience and positively impact your bottom line. Get ready to reap the rewards of greater employee engagement!

Script

As a business owner, you are always on a constant journey with your employees. Employee experiences are crucial to your business – they influence employee attitudes and these attitudes in turn form behaviors that eventually drive outcomes. These are five ways you can improve employee experience:

 

  1. Exercise an open-door policy.

An open-door policy means that you are open to communication, discussion, and feedback from every employee. This means employees have the liberty to raise their concerns and suggestions outside their chain of command without worrying. With an open-door policy, business owners have a better chance to connect with employees, show their support, and understand employees personally. This arrangement fosters trust and loyalty and strengthens your work relationship with them.

  1. Check-in individually from time to time.

One-on-one meetings are essential and should help you understand current issues employees may be facing and offer the opportunity for you to provide feedback on employee progress. We know things get busy; therefore, it is crucial to dedicate some time to listen to employees while being supportive through providing positive and constructive feedback.

  1. Share the bigger picture.

With fewer complicated administrative procedures than a large corporation, consider sharing plans for your business with employees. This will make them feel more valued. It is easy for employees to be more engaged with their work if they better understand your vision for the future, and their contribution can help you achieve a particular goal.

  1. Exercise flexibility.

Flexible work arrangements are becoming the norm in many businesses across all sectors. Consider flexibility in your business to improve your employees’ work-life balance and quality of life. Being flexible means that you are open, allowing workers time-off, especially during emergencies s. Such arrangements can help to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and enhance loyalty.

  1. Provide employee benefits that are relevant to their needs.

Small businesses may have the idea that employee benefits are costly and unaffordable, and while this may be the case, implementing some benefits makes a massive difference in keeping workers happy, which in turn incentivizes higher productivity. An example of an affordable employee benefit would be to offer options or perks that coincide with the season. For example, introduce summer Fridays so that everyone starts their weekend a few hours early. Most businesses are resuming operation soon in Rwanda; consider implementing these tips to create a conducive environment where your employees have the opportunity to increase their productivity in their work.

 

 


The Westerwelle Startup Haus offers support for entrepreneurs in Rwanda.     

The Westerwelle Startup Haus offers support for entrepreneurs in Rwanda.     

The Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali is an innovation hub established in August 2018 and it is supported by the Westerwelle Foundation, a German-based non-profit organization. The Foundation was established in 2013 and aims to promote entrepreneurship, social-economic growth, and job creation here in Rwanda. Westerwelle Startup Haus offers a unique mix of services to help entrepreneurs with innovative new business ideas to exchange with peers and develop their businesses. These include access to a co-working space, networking events, private offices, and a makerspace as well as advisory services and opportunities for networking internationally.

Westerwelle Startup Haus offers working space packages, which include a day pass option for individuals, flex and fixed desks for individuals renting on a monthly basis in a co-working environment, and private offices for companies offered by the month. Membership, which includes access to networking events, is available to Individuals renting fixed and flex desks and companies renting private offices. Westerwelle Startup Haus has had over 178 members and 54 startups and companies hosted at their premises. Currently, they only host 50% of the startups due to COVID-19 preventive measures put forward by the government of Rwanda.

The Westerwelle Startup Haus has been operating in Rwanda for two years, supporting startups from a variety of sectors and garnering a membership of more than 150 members. In addition to the above-mentioned services, Westerwelle Startup Haus also offers an incubation program that provides cohorts of 20 startups a 10-month membership subscription with access to the organization’s wide range of amenities along with business development services such as business diagnostics, mentorship sessions, workshops about business tools, and team building activities. Through the incubation program, Westerwelle Startup Haus has had 3 cohorts with 40 startups participating in the program.

For more information, visit Westerwelle Startup Haus or contact the organization directly via email at info@westerwelle.haus.

Westerwelle Startup Haus iha imfashanyo ba rwiyemezamirimo mu Rwanda.      

Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali ni ikigo cyo guhanga udushya cyagiyeho muri Kanama 2018;  kikaba giterwa inkunga n’umuryango udaharanira inyungu w’Abadage witwa Westerwelle. Uwo muryango washinzwe muri 2013 ukaba ugamije guteza imbere urwego rwa ba rwiyemezamirimo, iterambere ry’imibereho myiza n’ubukungu, no guhanga imirimo mu Rwanda. Westerwelle Startup Haus itanga serivisi zinyuranye zifasha ba rwiyemezamirimo bahanga udushya bafite ibitekerezo bishya mu bucuruzi bwabo ikabafasha kubigeza kuri bagenzi babo no guteza imbere ubucuruzi bwabo. Ibikorwa byayo birimo kubafasha gushyiraho uburyo bwo gukorera hamwe, gukora ibikorwa bibahuza nk’abakora akazi kamwe, gushyiraho ibiro by’abikorera, aho gukorera, kimwe na serivisi z’ubujyanama n’amahirwe yo kubahuza n’abandi ba rwiyemezamirimo mu rwego mpuzamahanga.

Westerwelle Startup Haus   itanga ubwoko bunyuranye bw’aho gukorera burimo uburyo bwo gutanga aho gukorera umunsi ku wundi ku bantu ku giti cyabo, ameza yo gukoreraho afungwa cyangwa atimukanwa ku bantu bakodesha buri kwezi ahantu hakorerwa n’abantu benshi n’ibiro byihariye ku masosiyete ahakorera buri  kwezi. Kuba umunyamuryango bijyana n’ibikorwa byo kubasha kwitabira ibikorwa bihuza abantu benshi bakora ibintu bimwe byemererwa abantu ku giti cyabo bakodesha ameza yo gukoreraho afungwa cyangwa atimukanwa na sosiyete zikodesha ibiro byihariye. Westerwelle Startup Haus yacumbikiye  abanyamuryango 178  mu bikorwa remezo byayo n’ibigo by’ubucuruzi bigitangira na sosiyete 54. Muri iki gihe, icumbikiye gusa 50% by’ibigo by’ubucuruzi bigitangira bitewe n’ingamba zo kwirinda COVID-19 zashyizweho na Leta y’u Rwanda.

Westerwelle Startup Haus imaze imyaka ibiri ikorera mu Rwanda ifasha ibigo by’ubucuruzi bigitangira mu nzego zinyuranye kandi ihuriza hamwe abanyamuryango barenze 150. Usibye kandi serivisi zimaze kuvugwa, Westerwelle Startup Haus yashyizeho  kandi gahunda ifasha  amatsinda y’ibigo by’ubucuruzi bigitangira 20 kwiyandikisha nk’abanyamuryango bayo mu gihe cy’amezi 10 bikanabasha kubona ibikoresho byiza by’ikigo hamwe na serivisi z’iterambere ry’ubucuruzi nko kwiga ibibazo ibigo by’ubucuruzi bifite, ibiganiro by’ubujyanama, inama nyunguranabitekerezo ku bijyanye n’ibikoresho byifashishwa mu bucuruzi, n’ibikorwa byo gushyiraho amatsinda. Binyuze muri gahunda yo gufasha ibigo by’ubucuruzi bigitangira, Westerwelle Startup Haus  yafashije ibyiciro 3 by’ibigo by’ubucuruzi bigitangira byagize uruhare muri gahunda.

Niba ukeneye ibindi bisobanuro, sura urubuga rwa  Westerwelle Startup Haus cyangwa wandikire ikigo mu buryo butaziguye wifashishije imeyili info@westerwelle.haus.


Holiday wishes from the SME Response Clinic

As 2020 draws to an end, I would like to congratulate Rwandan entrepreneurs for everything they have managed to achieve this year, despite the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. Happy holidays and may next year bring more opportunities and success to your business.


- JEAN BOSCO IYACU, ACTING COUNTRY DIRECTOR OF AFR

Holiday wishes from the SME Response Clinic

As we all prepare to celebrate the holidays, the SME Response Clinic sends season’s greetings. We know that this year has been a challenging one and many businesses have faced unprecedented hard times.  The SME Response Clinic recognizes the hard work many in the financial sector have done to support businesses and the ways that business owners themselves throughout the country have worked to keep their businesses afloat, contributing to their households and their communities as well as the economy at large. We hope that the articles, live webinars, and training offerings promoted through the SME Response Clinic site have helped navigate the COVID-19 crisis and contributed to building business resiliency for the year ahead.

The SME Response Clinic will continue to support the financial sector and entrepreneurs in Rwanda in the coming months with access to information, business development services, and more. We welcome the opportunity to hear from you. Contacts: +250782730371.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday and best wishes for 2021.


Embracing Digital Literacy program available for women entrepreneurs

Embracing Digital Literacy program available for women entrepreneurs

The Africa Women’s Entrepreneurship Program Rwanda (AWEP Rwanda) in partnership with the US Embassy is offering an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to acquire different skills they need to further their businesses through the Embracing Digital Literacy training program. AWEP Rwanda is an outreach, education, and engagement initiative that targets women entrepreneurs. Through the program, participants will learn skills in:

  1. Market Searching
  2. Business Communication
  3. Designing Marketing Materials
  4. Effective Business Locating
  5. Budgeting

The program is meant to be very interactive and practical, and entrepreneurs will learn both skills on how to incorporate ICT tools in their business activities as well as gain access to a forum of women entrepreneurs that will extend beyond the length of the program. Program participants will also have the opportunity to be able to join the AWEP Rwanda network.

To be eligible for the program, women entrepreneurs must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and have a legally registered business. Proof of registration will be required as part of the application process.

The program will take place in four districts of Kigali, Huye, Kayonza, and Rubavu. The program in Kigali will take place from 19th to 20th of November 2020. Dates for other districts will be communicated later.

For more information and application details, click here: Application Details

For any questions, please contact: +250 788 358 891 or aweprwanda@gmail.com.


Call for Applications for Start-Ups to Receive Capacity-Building Support

Call for Applications for Start-Ups to Receive Capacity-Building Support

The Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali Entrepreneurship Program 2021 (WSHKEP21) is offering capacity building support for start-ups operating in Rwanda by providing access to quality infrastructure as well as tailor-made services to support their business growth. The Westerwelle Startup Kigali Entrepreneurship Program is designed to support early stage start-ups in Rwanda to create scalable businesses and integrate them deeply within the existing local starting ecosystem to facilitate knowledge sharing and peer learning. The WSHKEP21 is sponsored by the Westerwelle Foundation for International Understanding, a German-based non-profit organization.

Selected applicants will be granted a 9-month membership subscription beginning November 15, 2020, to Westerwelle Startup Haus Kigali. This includes access to mentoring sessions with experienced entrepreneurs, corporate partnership networking/facilitation, investment opportunity networking/facilitation, business diagnostic services, and workshops on topics including:

 

  • Business & financial management
  • Corporate governance
  • Market research and competitor analysis
  • Leadership skills analysis
  • Sales and marketing

 

It also includes access to amenities such as:

  • Access to a fixed working space including kitchen facilities
  • Access to meeting rooms
  • Event priority if fully booked
  • Own locker
  • Mail service
  • Access to high-speed internet provided by Liquid
  • Hall of Fame feature
  • Marketing feature

To apply, applicants must submit their startup ideas through the relevant online application form before November 15th, 2020 (GMT+2 23:59). Qualified applicants will be notified via email of their successful submission. Please click here to apply: Application Form.

 

To find out more details about the program, please read the Terms&Conditions.


How the SME Response Clinic addresses gender information asymmetries

How the SME Response Clinic addresses gender information asymmetries

Investing in women’s entrepreneurship is good for business and essential for socio-economic growth. Women are more likely than men to invest a higher proportion of their income back into their families and communities; yet, most women-owned businesses across Africa remain stagnant at the micro-level, unable to grow.

The reasons holding them back are well-documented. First, women are less likely to access sufficient financing to grow their businesses, greatly hindered by challenges due to information asymmetries that put them at a distinct disadvantage to their male counterparts. In comparison, men are more likely to have access to the right information, training, and guidance to inform their dealings with financial institutions and plan effectively for their businesses in the long-term.

During “business as usual,” information asymmetry makes it challenging for women entrepreneurs to keep up. During a global pandemic, when updates related to financial products or services and government measures are issued multiple times a day, the information gaps can become even more unbalanced – leaving women entrepreneurs even further behind.

In late March, our team recognized the hardship that all entrepreneurs were facing when finding the right COVID19-related information for their businesses. After noticing there was no centralized platform that housed all the crucial updates happening across Rwanda’s private and public sectors, the SME Response Clinic platform was launched to address this gap and support entrepreneurs with relevant information. ConsumerCentriX, in partnership with Access to Finance Rwanda and the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda, created the website.

After reviewing data of the SME Response Clinic platform’s performance from the first few weeks, the team immediately recognized a gender problem when it came to web traffic. Only 30 percent of all visitors were women. Read this article to learn how we closed the gap. Only 30 percent of all visitors were women. Through further examination and analysis, it became apparent that the gender gap in web traffic was a symptom of the gender-neutral content and promotion of the platform on social media.

Recognizing a Problem

As a new platform beginning with zero followers, we relied heavily on an aggressive social media strategy. We launched a Twitter campaign and regularly targeted users on Facebook who exhibited entrepreneurial behavior and interests.

However, this social outreach strategy was not reaching women. For Twitter, a look into the data revealed that a staggering 93 percent of accounts using the campaign’s hashtag were men. While the gender gap on Facebook wasn’t as stark, men were still 73 percent more likely to see an advertisement and 80 percent more likely to engage with the content.

Two possible explanations shed light on our limited initial success in reaching women entrepreneurs in Rwanda. First, women in Rwanda are less likely to have access to phones with the internet and are less likely to be digitally literate than their male counterparts. Web traffic data indicates that roughly 80 percent of the SME Clinic website’s visitors access content through a mobile phone – putting women at a clear disadvantage.

The second barrier was the content itself as there was no particular gender lens in our early articles and videos. Instead, by producing only gender-neutral content, we were exacerbating the existing information asymmetries. We knew that we had to urgently switch up our strategy to reach women entrepreneurs with the right information to support their businesses throughout the economic downturn.

Mobilizing women entrepreneurs to access the right information for their businesses

In this video, Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Governor of National Bank of Rwanda and Chairperson of New Faces, New Voices Rwanda, and Ida Ingabire, Secretariat of New Faces New Voices Rwanda, explain the barriers women face when accessing information for their businesses and how SME Response Clinic can bridge that gap.

Developing Content through Partnerships

To create more compelling and meaningful content for women entrepreneurs, the SME Response Clinic partnered with New Faces New Voices Rwanda. From their own experience engaging with women entrepreneurs, New Faces New Voices emphasized the importance of making information available online and the necessity of mobilizing women to access the knowledge through a personal touch.

Though the partnership with New Faces New Voices, the SME Response Clinic delivered new content specifically for women entrepreneurs. Once finalized, we promoted on Facebook, specifically targeting women users who exhibited entrepreneurial interests.

However, to be seen as a platform that women could trust required a more involved personal touch. We decided to produce a Facebook event specifically for women entrepreneurs. The event allowed women entrepreneurs to ask high-level government officials, including Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, a Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, and private sector leaders about new government measures in place to support their business survival and growth.

While previous events hosted by the SME Response Clinic were held in English, the decision was made to have the conversation in Kinyarwanda at New Faces New Voices’ recommendation. By using the native dialect of Rwanda, there was a shared goal to make the event more accessible for women entrepreneurs, particularly those at the micro-level.

To increase attendance, New Faces New Voices reached out directly to their member through phone calls, bulk SMS, email and WhatsApp group messages. This outreach effort then turned into technical assistance support during the event, as staff helped users who were having issues accessing the live stream video. In the end, the panelists’ star power and the hard work of the organizers paid off. Even though only women received promotions for the event, the total number of users who viewed the live session outnumbered the turnout of our previous events on Facebook Live.

Final Thoughts

The event’s success meant that for the first time since the launch of the website, we were able to achieve gender parity in our weekly visitors. In the weeks and months following the event, we have learned that we can continue to achieve parity in weekly visitors if we publish content and produce events specifically for women. If we do not publish this targeted content, the gender gap returns without fail.  While this overall shift in strategy requires more work and depends on successful external partnerships, women entrepreneurs’ benefits are too significant to ignore. In the coming months, the SME Response Clinic will continue to engage women entrepreneurs with events and relevant content for their businesses.


Niba narasonewe umusoro kubera ibibazo byatewe na COVID-19, itangazo rishya ry’Ikigo cy’Imisoro n’Amahoro (RRA) risobanuye iki kuri njye?

Niba narasonewe umusoro kubera ibibazo byatewe na COVID-19, itangazo rishya ry’Ikigo cy’Imisoro n’Amahoro (RRA) risobanuye iki kuri njye?

Ikigo cy’Imisoro n’Amahoro (RRA) cyatanze itangazo kuwa 21 Kanama 2020, rigenewe abasora basabye gukurirwaho ibihano, amande, n’inyungu ku bukererwe bwo kwishyura umusoro ku bihembo, umusoro ku nyongeragaciro, n’umusoro ufatirwa muri Werurwe, Mata, na Gicurasi 2020, ndetse n’ababisabye ku musoro ku nyungu z’amasosiyete wa 2019.

Muri iryo tangazo, RRA yatangaje ko itariki ntarengwa yo kwishyura imisoro ku basabye gusonerwa ari kuwa 30 Nzeri 2020.

Bityo rero, niba uri umwe mu basora basabye gusonerwa kimwe mu byavuzwe haruguru, ugomba kwishyura imisoro urimo bitarenze kuwa 30 Nzeri 2020.

Iri tangazo ni ingenzi kuko abatazishyurira ku gihe bazahabwa ibihano, bacibwe amande n’inyungu ku  misoro batishyuye. Iki ni ikintu cy’ingenzi uheraho uteganya ibijyanye n’amafaranga uzakoresha mu bucuruzi bwawe muri uku kwezi.

Ushobora gusura urubuga rwa interineti rwa RRA; rra.gov.rw, n’urutonde rw’abasora, kugira ngo urebe ko uri ku rutonde rwa RRA.

If I received a tax waiver because of COVID-19 hardships, what does the new announcement from RRA mean for me?

The Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) released an announcement on August 21st, 2020, for those taxers who requested waivers of penalties, fines, and interest for late payment of Pay as You Earn (PAYE), VAT, and withholding tax (WHT) in March, April, and May 2020, as well as those who requested for Corporate Income Tax (CIT) for 2019.

In that announcement, RRA has stated that the due date for principal tax payments for those who requested waivers is no later than 30 September 2020.

So, if you are a taxpayer who has requested one of the waivers above, be sure to pay the principal taxes owed by 30 September 2020.

This is an important announcement, as those not having paid on time will be subject to all penalties, fines, and interest for the unpaid taxes. This will be an important part of planning your business finances this month.

You can visit the RRA website, rra.gov.rw, and the list of taxpayers, to check to make sure you are on RRA’s list.


If I received a tax waiver because of COVID-19 hardships, what does the new announcement from RRA mean for me?

If I received a tax waiver because of COVID-19 hardships, what does the new announcement from RRA mean for me?

The Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) released an announcement on August 21st, 2020, for those taxers who requested waivers of penalties, fines, and interest for late payment of Pay as You Earn (PAYE), VAT, and withholding tax (WHT) in March, April, and May 2020, as well as those who requested for Corporate Income Tax (CIT) for 2019.

In that announcement, RRA has stated that the due date for principal tax payments for those who requested waivers is no later than 30 September 2020.

So, if you are a taxpayer who has requested one of the waivers above, be sure to pay the principal taxes owed by 30 September 2020.

This is an important announcement, as those not having paid on time will be subject to all penalties, fines, and interest for the unpaid taxes. This will be an important part of planning your business finances this month.

You can visit the RRA website, rra.gov.rw, and the list of taxpayers, to check to make sure you are on RRA’s list.

Niba narasonewe umusoro kubera ibibazo byatewe na COVID-19, itangazo rishya ry’Ikigo cy’Imisoro n’Amahoro (RRA) risobanuye iki kuri njye?

Ikigo cy’Imisoro n’Amahoro (RRA) cyatanze itangazo kuwa 21 Kanama 2020, rigenewe abasora basabye gukurirwaho ibihano, amande, n’inyungu ku bukererwe bwo kwishyura umusoro ku bihembo, umusoro ku nyongeragaciro, n’umusoro ufatirwa muri Werurwe, Mata, na Gicurasi 2020, ndetse n’ababisabye ku musoro ku nyungu z’amasosiyete wa 2019.

Muri iryo tangazo, RRA yatangaje ko itariki ntarengwa yo kwishyura imisoro ku basabye gusonerwa ari kuwa 30 Nzeri 2020.

Bityo rero, niba uri umwe mu basora basabye gusonerwa kimwe mu byavuzwe haruguru, ugomba kwishyura imisoro urimo bitarenze kuwa 30 Nzeri 2020.

Iri tangazo ni ingenzi kuko abatazishyurira ku gihe bazahabwa ibihano, bacibwe amande n’inyungu ku  misoro batishyuye. Iki ni ikintu cy’ingenzi uheraho uteganya ibijyanye n’amafaranga uzakoresha mu bucuruzi bwawe muri uku kwezi.

Ushobora gusura urubuga rwa interineti rwa RRA; rra.gov.rw, n’urutonde rw’abasora, kugira ngo urebe ko uri ku rutonde rwa RRA.


Rwanda Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs/PSF with Support of UN Women provides Business Clinics for Women-Led Businesses affected by COVID-19 in Rwanda

Rwanda Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs/PSF with Support of UN Women provides Business Clinics for Women-Led Businesses affected by COVID-19 in Rwanda

In Rwanda, women-owned businesses account for about one-third of all businesses, a large portion of the economy. As the PSF – Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs’ mandate is to provide advocacy, capacity building, linkages to local and international markets, and experience sharing among women through networking, they initiated a series of Business Clinics to help their members cope during the COVID-19 pandemic, and build back better.

With support from UN Women, and in partnership with BPN Rwanda and the Kora Coaching Group, the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs assessed their members to find out their challenges and greatest needs during the pandemic. From this assessment, they designed a series of business continuity advisory services combined with psychosocial support services, with one-on-one coaching sessions for a pilot cohort of thirty women-owned businesses in Kigali.

The biggest challenge for women during the pandemic was that it came with no warning, and no business had time to prepare or make a strategy. The major challenges the entrepreneurs faced were that those who had merchandise at customs were unable to access them and had difficulties paying employees when there was no work.

These challenges brought both psychological and professional distress to many businesses. Women in the business clinic needed both support in assessing how their businesses were operating prior to COVID-19, as well as the assistance in making recovery plans for the future.

These interventions have been greatly appreciated by women who were part of the first cohort who noted that they had never imagined that they could find ways to either transform or adjust their business practices to survive the pandemic.

What they have received in terms of knowledge and skills has contributed much more to our businesses than money ever could.”

– Agnès Samputu, Director, PSF Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs

The Chairperson of RCWE insists on the expected outcome and impact of this project on the lives of women entrepreneurs in Rwanda.

“As the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs, the COVID-19 pandemic provides us with a challenge and an opportunity to advocate for systemic changes and appropriate policies, interventions and actions that protect Rwandan women entrepreneurs and all the women in general from being disproportionately affected by shocks like these in the future. It is our belief that these changes could also have a far-reaching effect on the state of women entrepreneurs and women equality in Rwanda at even more stable times, post COVID-19.”

Jeanne Francoise Mubiligi, The Chairperson, PSF-Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs

UN Women noted that the efforts made through the business clinic to restore women’s businesses and provide the necessary psychosocial support have shown positive results, and that they look forward to continuing these types of business clinics in a sustainable way. Since a core value of UN Women is to “Leave No One Behind,” partners are exploring ways to bring these workshops and mentoring to small businesses in other provinces of the country.

‘‘The COVID-19 crisis is both a health and a socio-economic crisis. With this business clinic we hope to provide the quick and quality support to assist as many women-owned businesses as possible. We have already secured funding to extend the support to 100 women entrepreneurs and we are encouraged that new partners might be joining us in this endeavor. Supporting more women-owned businesses to launch, own and manage small and medium enterprises is integral to our work as UN Women. This is at the heart of our collaboration with the government and with the private sector. As we enter the decade of the SDGs and try to build a better, greener, inclusive, and equitable world post COVID-19, we must ensure that women are not left behind.’’

Fatou Lo, UN Women Representative in Rwanda

To this end, a second cohort will begin soon. While the situation of COVID-19 is stabilizing to some extent, the knowledge and skills conveyed through the business clinic, along with the psycho-social support and mentoring, have the potential to reach out to small businesses nationwide. It may also help women entrepreneurs who are not aware of the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs to learn about its existence and activities, and motivate them to join.

Currently, the business clinics are available only to those women who are members of the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs in good standing, and who have expressed their needs and committed to participate in the program and improving or transforming their businesses.

How can one become a member of the PSF chamber?

To become a member of the PSF- Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs, a business woman must have a legally registered business, and pay dues on a yearly basis. For more information, contact the Chamber’s Membership Coordinator, Marie Olga Mukayisenga, or visit them on Twitter (@chamberofwomen):

marieolga1985@gmail.com

womenchamber.psf@gmail.com

To learn more about the Women’s Business Clinics, you can also check out these videos:

CNBC Africa: Chamber Launches Business Clinics…https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/07/09/chamber-launches-business-clinics-to-support-women-led-businesses/

KORA Coaching Group: Business Clinic Launch Rwanda Women Entrepreneurs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mslpOQ8kUws

CNBC Africa: This Business Advisory Clinic Seeks to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Rwanda https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/07/20/this-business-advisory-clinic-seeks-to-empower-women-entrepreneurs-in-rwanda/

Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera, kuwa 21 Kanama

Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera hamwe na UN Women batanga amahugurwa ku bucuruzi bwa ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’Abagore mu Rwanda.

Mu Rwanda, ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi by’abagore byihariye hafi kimwe cya gatatu cy’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byose, bikaba bigize igice kinini cy’ubukungu. Nk’uko Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera rifite inshingano zo kubakorera ubuvugizi, kubaka ubushobozi, kubahuza n’amasoko yo mu gihugu no hanze yacyo, hamwe no gusangira ubunararibonye hagati y’abagore binyujijwe mu gukorana, batangije uruhererekane rw’amahugurwa ku bucuruzi mu rwego rwo gufasha abanyamuryango babo guhangana n’ibibazo byatewe n’icyorezo cya COVID-19, no kurushaho kwiyubaka.

Ku nkunga ya UN Women, no ku bufatanye na BPN Rwanda hamwe na Kora Coaching Group, Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera bakoze ubushakashatsi ku banyamuryango babo hagamijwe kureba imbogamizi bahura nazo n’ibyo bakeneye kurusha ibindi mu gihe cy’icyorezo. Muri ubwo bushakashatsi, bashyizeho serivisi zitandukanye z’ubujyanama bwakwifashishwa mu gukomeza ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi hamwe na serivisi z’ubujyanama mu rwego rw’imitekerereze n’imibereho myiza, binyujijwe mu masomo ahabwa buri muntu ku giti cye yahawe ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi 30 by’abagore biri mu cyiciro kimwe muri Kigali byakoreweho igeragezwa.

Imbogamizi ikomeye abagore bahuye nayo mu gihe cy’icyorezo ni uko cyaje gitunguranye, bityo nta gihe cyo kwitegura cyangwa cyo gushyiraho ingamba cyabayeho. Imbogamizi  zikomeye kandi ba rwiyemezamirimo bahuye nazo ni uko abari bafite ibicuruzwa kuri gasutamo batabashije kubibona, kandi ntibanabasha kwishyura abakozi kuko nta kazi kari gahari.

Izi mbogamizi zateje ibibazo mu rwego rw’imitekerereze no mu rwego rw’akazi ku bacuruzi benshi. Abagore bitabiriye amahugurwa ku bucuruzi bari bakeneye ubufasha mu gusuzuma uko ubucuruzi bwabo bwari buhagaze mbere ya COVID-19, hamwe n’ubufasha mu gushyiraho gahunda zo kuzahura ubukungu mu gihe kizaza.

Abagore bitabiriye icyiciro cya mbere bishimiye ibi bikorwa; bavuze ko batigeze batekereza na rimwe ko bashoboraga guhindura cyangwa kujyanisha n’igihe ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byabo kugira ngo babashe kurokoka icyorezo.

Agnès Samputu, Umuyobozi w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera yagize ati : «ubumenyi n’ubumenyi ngiro baduhaye bwaradufashije cyane mu bucuruzi bwacu kurusha kuba bari kuduha amafaranga.»

Umuyobozi wa RCWE ashimangira inyungu zitezwe n’impinduka nziza uyu mushinga uzagira ku buzima bwa ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu Rwanda.

Jeanne Francoise Mubiligi, Umuyobozi w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera yagize ati:

 «Nk’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera, icyorezo cya COVID-19 cyatubereye imbogamizi ariko kinatubera uburyo bwo gukora ubuvugizi kugira ngo hakorwe impinduka z’uburyo ibintu bikorwamo, hanashyirweho politiki zikwiriye, hamwe n’ibikorwa byo kurengera ba rwiyemezamirimo b’Abanyarwandakazi ndetse n’abagore bose muri rusange kugira ngo mu gihe kizaza batazongera kwibasirwa n’ibibazo nk’ibi cyane kurusha abandi. Twizera ko izi mpinduka zishobora kugira ingaruka ku mibereho ya ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore benshi no ku buringanire bw’abagore n’abagabo mu Rwanda mu bihe bisanzwe, nyuma ya COVID-19.”

UN Women yagaragaje ko ibyakoze mu mahugurwa yo kuzahura ubucuruzi bw’abagore hamwe no gutanga ubufasha bukenewe mu rwego rw’imitekerereze n’imibereho myiza byatanze umusaruro, kandi ko bateganya kuzakomeza amahugurwa nk’aya ku bucuruzi ku buryo burambye. Bitewe n’uko indangagaciro ngenderwaho ya UN Women igira iti : « Ntagusiga n’umwe inyuma », abafatanyabikorwa bari kwiga uburyo bwo kuzatanga aya mahugurwa n’ubujyanama ku bacuruzi bato mu zindi ntara z’igihugu.

Fatou Lo, Uhagarariye UN Women mu Rwanda yagize ati:

« COVID-19 ni ikibazo gikomeye ku buzima no ku bukungu n’imibereho y’imiryango. Muri aya mahugurwa ku bucuruzi, twizeye ko tuzatanga ubufasha bwihuse kandi bunoze mu gushyigikira ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi by’abagore byinshi bishoboka. Twamaze kubona amafaranga yo kongera ubufasha dutanga bukagera kuri ba rwiyemezamirimo 100 b’abagore, kandi twizeye ko hari abafatanyabikorwa bashya bashobora kuzadushyigikira muri iki gikorwa. Gufasha abagore benshi gutangiza ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi, kugira no kuyobora ibigo by’ubucuruzi bito n’ibiciriritse biri mu nshingano zacu nka UN Women. Iki ni ikintu cy’ingenzi mu mikoranire yacu na guverinoma hamwe n’urwego rw’abikorera. Bitewe n’uko turi muri Gahunda y’Intego z’iterambere rirambye, hamwe no kugerageza kubaka isi nziza kurushaho, yita ku bidukikije, idaheza, kandi idasumbanya nyuma ya COVID-19, tugomba gukora ku buryo abagore badasigara inyuma

Ni muri uru rwego, ikindi cyiciro kizatangira vuba. Uko COVID-19 izagenda igabanuka, ubumenyi n’ubumenyi ngiro bwatanzwe mu mahugurwa ku bucuruzi, hamwe n’ubufasha mu rwego rw’imitekerereze n’imibereho, ndetse n’ubujyanama, bizagera ku bacuruzi bato mu gihugu hose. Bizafasha kandi ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore batari bazi Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera kumenya ko ririho n’ibikorwa rikora, bityo bikanabatera imbaraga zo kurijyamo.

Muri iyi minsi, amahugurwa ku bucuruzi ahabwa gusa abagore bari mu Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera bagaragaje ko bayakeneye kandi bakiyemeza kugira uruhare muri iyo gahunda, kandi bakanoza cyangwa bagahindura ubucuruzi bwabo.

Ni gute umuntu aba umunyamuryango w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera?

Kugira ngo abe umunyamuryango w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera, rwiyemezamirimo w’umugore agomba kuba afite ubucuruzi bumwanditseho ku buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, kandi akishyura umusanzu buri mwaka.  Ku yandi makuru, wakwegera Umuhuzabikorwa ushinzwe abanyamuryango b’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera, Marie Olga Mukayisenga, cyangwa ukabasura kuri Twitter yabo (@chamberofwomen):

marieolga1985@gmail.com

womenchamber.psf@gmail.com

Ushaka kumenya byimbitse ibyerekeranye n’amahugurwa ku bikorwa by’ubucuruzi by’abagore, ushobora kureba aya mashusho:

CNBC Africa: Chamber Launches Business Clinics…https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/07/09/chamber-launches-business-clinics-to-support-women-led-businesses/

KORA Coaching Group: Business Clinic Launch Rwanda Women Entrepreneurs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mslpOQ8kUws

CNBC Africa: This Business Advisory Clinic Seeks to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Rwanda https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/07/20/this-business-advisory-clinic-seeks-to-empower-women-entrepreneurs-in-rwanda/