Relief Measures Available for Women Entrepreneurs During and Post COVID-19
Relief Measures Available for Women Entrepreneurs During and Post COVID-19
New Faces New Voices Rwanda in collaboration with the SME Response Clinic will be hosting a live discussion focused on existing government relief measures that can help support women entrepreneurs during and post COVID-19. The discussion will be hosted on the SME Response Clinic’s Facebook page at 3:00 pm on July 16 and will be held primarily in Kinyarwanda.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play a significant role in the Rwandan economy and contribute to sustain livelihoods for many. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda’s Establishment Census 2017, the sector, including private sector and cooperatives, represents 99% of businesses and over 70% of in-establishment employment. Women entrepreneurs are a vital force in Rwanda’s economy. Statistics from the National Gender Policy in Rwanda indicate that women head 42 percent of enterprises and comprise 58 percent of enterprises in the informal sector, which accounts for 30 percent of GDP. National surveys indicate that women entrepreneurs also have a tremendous impact on job creation in Rwanda, with many hiring between 3 and 5 employees to work in their businesses.
In addition to contributing to the development of their local communities through offering employment opportunities, women entrepreneurs contribute substantially to the development of their families through health and nutrition, ensuring funds are available for school fees and higher education for their children, and making improvements to their homes with profits from their businesses. Their contributions, however, are not without challenges. Women entrepreneurs in Rwanda face difficulties in access to three important factors: information, business skills training and development, and finance. They grapple with issues such as high taxes and transportation costs as well as discrimination in property ownership.
As in many markets across the globe, women entrepreneurs in Rwanda have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and measures to contain the spread of the virus have deepened some of the existing challenges they face. In the face of drops in demand or disruptions in the supply chains, a number of jobs have been lost or are at the brink while loans, taxes and rent are going unpaid. To respond to the challenge, the Government of Rwanda introduced the Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) as a mechanism to mitigate the threats that the pandemic is putting on the sector. Due to known barriers women in business face, there is a legitimate concern that without a deliberate effort women-owned/led MSMEs are likely to remain ill-informed and their uptake of ERF less than optimal.
To provide information about ERF and other private and public sector measures available to support women entrepreneurs in these uncertain times, New Faces New Voices Rwanda in collaboration with the SME Response Clinic will be hosting a live discussion focused on how government measures to address the economic effects of COVID-19 can support women entrepreneurs. The discussion will be hosted on the SME Response Clinic’s Facebook page at 3:00 pm on July 16. To increase accessibility for women entrepreneurs, the event will be held primarily in Kinyarwanda.
Panelists include:
Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Governor, National Bank of Rwanda
Jeanne Françoise Mubiligi, Chairperson, Rwanda Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs
Claude Kabutware, Project Coordinator, Pro- Femmes Twese Hamwe
Hannington Namara, Managing Director, Equity Bank Rwanda
The panel will be moderated by Ida Ingabire, Secretariat at New Faces, New Voices Rwanda and Ruziga Emmanuel Masantura, Business Jounalist, Rwanda Broadcasting Agency
This discussion will be the first of a two-part conversation with key stakeholders in the Rwandan economy. The second webinar, scheduled for July 30, will focus on how financial services providers are addressing the specific needs of women entrepreneurs in the face of COVID-19.
Ingamba zo kuzahura ubucuruzi zafashwe kuri ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu gihe cy’icyorezo cya COVID-19 na nyuma yacyo.
New Faces New Voices Rwanda ku bufatanye na SME Response Clinic, izacisha ikiganiro kirimo kuba ako kanya ku ipaji yayo ya Facebook ku kuntu ingamba za Leta n’iz’Urwego rw’abikorera zo guhangana n’ingaruka za COVID-19 zafasha ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore. Icyo kiganiro kizacishwa ku ipaji ya Facebook ya SME Response Clinic saa 15:00 kuwa 16 Nyakanga, na ururimi ruzakoreshwa cyane mu nama ni Ikinyarwanda.
Ibigo by’ubucuruzi bito n’ibiciriritse bigira uruhare rukomeye mu bukungu bw’u Rwanda, kandi bikanatunga abantu benshi. Hashingiwe ku ibarura ryakozwe mu 2017 n’Ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’Ibarurishamibare ku bikorwa by’ubucuruzi n’imirimo mu Rwanda, uru rwego, harimo n’abikorera ku giti cyabo n’amakoperative, byihariye 99% by’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi na hejuru ya 70% by’imirimo yose. Ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bafatiye runini ubukungu bw’u Rwanda. Imibare yatanzwe na Politiki y’Uburinganire mu Rwanda igaragaza ko abagore bayobora 42 ku ijana by’ibigo by’ubucuruzi, kandi bakaba bihariye 58 ku ijana by’ibigo by’ubucuruzi bibarizwa mu bucuruzi butanditse, bigira uruhare rwa 30 ku ijana mu Musaruro mbumbe w’Igihugu. Ubushakashatsi butandukanye bukorwa mu Gihugu bugaragaza kandi ko ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagira uruhare rukomeye mu guhanga imirimo mu Rwanda, aho abenshi baha akazi hagati y’abakozi batatu na batanu mu bikorwa by’ubucuruzi byabo.
Uretse uruhare bagira mu guteza imbere aho batuye binyuze mu gutanga akazi, ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore banagira uruhare runini mu iterambere ry’imiryango yabo mu buzima ndetse n’imirire, aho batanga amafaranga y’ishuri, bakarihira abana babo mu mashuri makuru, kandi bagateza imbere ingo zabo babikesheje ubucuruzi bwabo. Ariko nubwo batanga uwo musanzu, ntihabura n’imbogamizi. Ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu Rwanda bahura n’ibibazo mu kugera ku bintu bitatu by’ingenzi bikurikira : amakuru, amahugurwa ku bumenyi bwo gukora no guteza imbere ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi, no kubona imari. Babangamirwa n’ibibazo bitandukanye nk’imisoro ihanitse, ikiguzi cyo gutwara ibicuruzwa, ndetse no gukorerwa ivangura rishingiye ku mutungo.
Nk’uko bimeze no mu yandi masoko atandukanye ku Isi, ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu Rwanda bagizweho ingaruka n’icyorezo cya COVID-19, kandi ingamba zo guhagarika ikwirakwira ry’iyo virusi zatumye imbogamizi bahura nazo zirushaho kugira ubukana. Bitewe n’uko abaguzi bagabanutse no kuba gukwirakwiza ibicuruzwa bidakorwa neza, abantu benshi babuze akazi cyangwa barenda kukabura, mu gihe inguzanyo, imisoro n’ubukode bitishyurwa. Mu rwego rwo guhangana n’iki kibazo, Guverinoma y’u Rwanda yatangije Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu nk’uburyo bwo kugabanya ingaruka icyorezo cya COVID-19 kiri kugira kuri uru rwego. Hashingiwe ku mbogamizi zizwi abagore bari mu bikorwa by’ubucuruzi bahura nazo, hari impungenge ko hadashyizweho ingamba zifatika, Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibicirirtse bifitwe cyangwa biyobowe n’abagore bishobora kutamenya amakuru, bityo bigatuma batitabira Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu uko bikwiye.
Mu rwego rwo gutanga amakuru ku Kigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu no ku zindi ngamba zihari za Leta n’iz’Urwego rw’abikorera zo gushyigikira ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore muri ibi bihe bigoye, New Faces New Voices Rwanda, ku bufatanye na SME Response Clinic izacisha ikiganiro kirimo kuba ako kanya ku ipaji yayo ya Facebook ku buryo ingamba za Leta zo guhangana n’ingaruka za COVID-19 zafasha ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore. Icyo kiganiro kizanyura ku ipaji ya Facebook ya SME Response Clinic saa 15:00 kuwa 16 Nyakanga. Mu rwego rwo kugira ngo ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore benshi babashe kugikurikirana, muri icyo gikorwa hazakoreshwa Ikinyarwanda cyane.
Abazatanga ibiganiro barimo:
Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa; Umuyobozi Wungirije wa Banki Nkuru y’ u Rwanda,
Jeanne Françoise Mubiligi; Umuyobozi w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera,
Claude Kabutware; Uhagarariye Imishinga muri Pro- Femmes Twese Hamwe, na Hannington Namara, Umuyobozi Mukuru wa Equity Bank, Rwanda.
Ibiganiro bizayoborwa na Ida Ingabire, Umunyamabanga wa New Faces, New Voices Rwanda na Ruziga Emmanuel Masantura, Umuyamakuru mu Bukungu Rwanda Broadcasting Agency.
Iki kiganiro kizaba ari igice cya mbere cy’ibiganiro bibiri bizakorwa n’abafatanyabikorwa b’ingenzi mu bukungu bw’u Rwanda. Inama ya kabiri iteganyijwe kuwa 30 Nyakanga, kikaba kizibanda ku buryo abatanga serivisi z’imari bari gufasha by’umwihariko mu gukemura ibibazo ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bahura nabyo kubera COVID-19.
Online Business Bootcamp Signup submit
Thank you for signing up. We will send the webinar link to your email. If you have any questions kindly get in touch with us at rwanda@africanmanagers.org or call +250 787 339 435
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How to Access AMI's Free Training
How to Access AMI’s Free Training
We know things are tough for entrepreneurs right now and believe you want to explore ways of improving your business in the face of COVID-19. The 90-minute webinar, Reboot and Adapt Your Business: Innovation in the “New Normal,” is a great place to start! There are only two simple steps you need to follow to participate in the AMI’s free training.
Step 1. Sign up by filling out this form. Once you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email. The email will include a link to a platform called Zoom.
Step 2. About 10 minutes before the webinar begins, open the confirmation email and click on the meeting link, and it will launch the platform. Then, the facilitator will walk you through how to use the platform.
If you have any trouble, reach out via WhatsApp at +250 78 7339 435 or via email at rwanda@africanmanagers.org. After the webinar, you will receive an email with log-in information to access free tools and to engage in a community discussion with participants.
You can ask questions anytime either via the Reboot and Adapt community on the AMI platform or via the WhatsApp group.
What can I do if I have corporate income taxes and/or personal income taxes due, but I cannot fully pay?
What can I do if I have corporate income taxes and/or personal income taxes due, but I cannot fully pay?
As of 24 June 2020, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has authorized taxpayers like you to make partial payments on your corporate income taxes and/or personal income taxes.
RRA recognizes the financial hardship that many people – especially SMES – are facing at this time, and has issued this authorization to help those struggling with cashflow.
This means that at this moment you may make a partial payment. If you owe, for example, 100,000 RWF in taxes, but you can only pay 50,000 at this time, it will be accepted. 50% of your taxes owed will have been paid at this time.
Remember to keep all receipts and documentation so that in the future, when full taxes will be due, you have your paperwork in order!
For more information, as well as contact information if you need more clarification, see the Authorization on RRA’s website here:
Authorization to Receive Partial Tax Payments: 24 June 2020.
Assessing Your Business Risk
Assessing Your Business Risk
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has developed a Self-Assessment Tool that is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the COVID-19 crisis. The SME Response Clinic has adapted the tool for use in Rwanda.
The goal of the tool is to help SMEs like you to assess the level of risk and vulnerability of your business by looking at four key aspects of your business called the “4Ps” by the ILO:
People
How are your workers and their families affected by COVID-19?
Processes
How are the everyday operations of your business affected?
Profits
To what extent is your income and revenue affected?
Partnerships
How is the environment around your business affected by COVID?
Ubufasha Cogebanque iha ibigo (SMEs) bikorana na yo muri ibi bihe by’Icyorezo
Ubufasha Cogebanque iha ibigo (SMEs) bikorana na yo muri ibi bihe by’Icyorezo
Ihuriro rishinzwe kwiga uburyo ibigo bito n’ibiciriritse (SME) bihangana n’ingorane byatewe n’icyorezo cya COVID-19 ryaganiriye na Joel Kayonga, Umuyobozi ushinzwe Ubucuruzi muri Cogebanque ku byerekeye ingaruka zihariye zibangamiye ibyo bigo n’ingamba iyi banki irimo gufata kugira ngo ibufashe muri iki gihe bikomeje guhangana n’ingaruka byatewe n’iki cyorezo.
Nubwo ingamba zafashwe mu rwego rwo kwirinda icyorezo zigenda zoroshywa, haracyari kare kugira ngo abakiriya bagire ibyemezo bikomeye bafata byerekeye ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bakora. Ba nyiri ibigo by’ubucuruzi ubu bahisemo kuba bategereje ngo barebe ko hari impinduka zigaragara ziba. Kubera umwuka uteye utyo, SMEs zikeneye kubona amakuru ku gihe yerekeye uburyo ibintu birimo kugenda bihinduka.
Ni izihe ngorane zikomeye zibangamiye SMEs muri iki gihe?
Ingorane ya mbere ni ukuzahara kw’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi. Gahunda yo gufunga bimwe mu bikorwa bitari iby’ingenzi yatumye ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bihagarara. Ingorane zihari ni izifitanye isano no kubona igishoro cyo gukoresha mu kwishyura imishahara y’abakozi no kwegeranya amikoro mu rwego rwo kwitegura gusubukura ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi. Inzego z’imirimo zitagizweho ingaruka cyane ni ubuhinzi bugamije ubucuruzi n’ubw’ibihingwa ngengabukungu byoherezwa mu mahanga. Urwogo rw’amahoteri n’amacumbi ni rwo rwagizweho ingaruka cyane kubera ingamba zo kugabanya urujya n’uruza rw’abantu.
Mu gihe ingamba zo kwirinda icyorezo zirimo koroshywa, haracyari imbogamizi kuko imipaka yakomeje gufungwa. U Rwanda rutumiza mu mahanga ibyinshi mu bicuruzwa ku masoko yarwo kandi ba rwiyemezamirimo bakenera gukora ingendo kugira ngo babashe gushora amafaranga bahaha ibicuruzwa. Abakiriya ntibazabasha kubona ibicuruzwa bakeneye imipaka itarafungurwa, ni yo mpamvu, ”bahisemo kuba bategereje kugira ngo ibintu bisubire mu buryo.”
Watubwira ubufasha banki igenera ibigo bito n’ibiciriritse (SME) bikorana na yo?
Ibyinshi mu bigo bito n’ibiciriritse (SME) bikorana na banki yacu byatugaragarije ko bikeneye ko inguzanyo zabyo zivugururwa, ni yo mpamvu turimo gukora ibishoboka ngo dufashe ibyo bigo tubyorohereza kwishyura inguzanyo kandi tubyongerera igihe cyo kwishyura izo nguzanyo. Nka banki, Cogebanque yibanda ku nzego z’imirimo zazahajwe cyane n’ibi bihe turimo by’icyorezo ifasha bimwe mu bigo bikorana na yo kuzahura ubucuruzi byabyo. Iyo ikigo cyishyuraga neza kandi ingorane gihura na zo zikaba zifitanye isano n’Icyorezo cya COVID-19, icyo gihe banki yahitaga igisonera kwishyura inguzanyo mu gihe cy’amezi atatu (3). Ariko ku bigo byo mu nzego zimwe na zimwe by’umwihariko amahoteri n’urwego rw’ubukerarugendo, byasubikiwe kwishyura mu gihe cy’amezi atandatu (6). Banki kandi irifuza kongera igihe iyi gahunda izamara bitewe n’uko ibintu bizaba byifashe, kubera ko bizatwara igihe kirekire kugira ngo ibi bigo bisubukure neza ibikorwa byabyo. Cogebanque kandi yahaye inguzanyo zihuse abakorera umushahara cyangwa ibindi bigo byari bikeneye kongera igishoro.
Ni gute banki yabashije gukomeza serivisi iha Ibigo bito n‘ibiciriritse (SMEs) bikorana na yo?
Ubwo hatangizwaga ingamba zo guhagarika ingendo n’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bitari iby’ingenzi, twasanze ari ngombwa gufunga amwe mu mashami kubera igabanuka ry’urujya n’uruza rw’abantu n’ibintu. Muri Kigali, amashami atatu (3) ni yo yakomeje gufungura ariko twanagabanyije amasaha y’akazi. Mu by’ukuri nta kirogoya yabaye muri serivisi dutanga kuko banki yari yashyizeho ubundi buryo bwo guha serivisi abayigana. Twasanze abantu benshi baritabiriye gukoresha uburyo bw’ikoranabuhanga, kubona serivisi za banki ukoresheje terefoni ngendanwa, gahunda ya Mobile Wallet (Gahunda y’ikofi) na USSD.
Ibigo (SMEs) bike cyane ni byo byari bitariyandikisha gukorana na banki hifashishijwe murandasi no kugezwaho serivisi za banki hifashishijwe terefoni ngendanwa kubera ko ibyinshi (SMEs) bikunda guhererekanya amafaranga mu buryo bwa cash. Ikintu twiboneye ni uko umubare w’abakiriya bitabiriye gukoresha uburyo bw’ikoranabuhanga banki yacu yabashyiriyeho wazamutse cyane kubera ko guhererekanya amafaranga mu ntoki (cash) gusa bitashobokaga, cyane cyane kubera ko nta wari wemerewe gukora ingendo.
Mu rwego rwo korohereza abakiriya ba banki kubona serivisi batavuye aho bari, Cogebanque yabafashije gukoresha umuyoboro wa WhatsApp n’izindi mbuga nkoranyambaga mu kuzuza imyirondoro no kuyohereza, bityo bibarinda gukora ingendo bajya aho banki ikorera. Twagejeje ku bakiriya amafishi basabiraho amakarita ya banki (yo kwishyura no kubikuza) hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga maze tuyaboherereza dukoresheje email. Twoherereje abakiriya amwe mu makuru abagenewe ibindi bisobanuro tubishyira ku rubuga rwacu aho bashobora kubisanga.
Cogebanque provides support to SME customers through the pandemic
The SME Response Clinic spoke with Joel Kayonga, Commercial Director at Cogebanque about specific challenges for SMEs and the actions that the bank is taking to support them during this ongoing pandemic.
Even if the lockdown has been eased, it is a bit early for clients to make big decisions related to their businesses. Business owners are taking an approach of “let’s wait and see.” Given this, SMEs need timely information about how the situation is evolving.
What are the biggest challenges SMEs are facing right now?
First, a slowdown in business. The lockdown brought business to a standstill. Challenges are related mainly to working capital to be used to pay salaries and stock up in preparation for business picking up again. The only sectors that have not been truly affected are agribusiness and commodities. The hospitality sector has been the hardest hit because of restrictions on movement.
While the lockdown has been eased, there are still challenges because borders remain closed. Rwanda is a net importer, and Cogebanque’s clients need to travel to be able to deploy funds and stock up on goods. Until the borders are open, clients will be unable to do this, so they have the approach of “let’s wait and see.”
Can you tell us about the support the bank is providing to SME customers?
Most of our SME customers have expressed the need to have their facilities refinanced, so we are working to help them smooth their loan repayments and have given them deferments. As a bank, Cogebanque is focusing relief on specific sectors that have been hit hardest. If the client was up to date with payments and if the challenges they are facing are clearly COVID-related, the bank automatically gives them a deferment of 3 months. But for some sectors, specifically hotels and others in the tourism sector, deferments are for 6 months. The bank is also willing to extend these as the situation evolves, because it will take longer for them to see business really pick up again. Cogebanque has also provided small overdrafts for salaries or other urgent capital needs that businesses have.
How has the bank ensured continuity of service to SMEs?
At the beginning of the lockdown, we saw the need to close some branches given reduced traffic. In Kigali, we kept 3 branches open and reduced opening hours, but there were really no disruptions in service given that the bank has alternative channels in place. We saw a huge jump in terms of traffic on digital platforms, mobile banking, the mobile wallet and USSD.
Quite a few SMEs were not yet registered to our internet banking and mobile banking offerings since most SMEs tend to transact in cash. What we have seen is a growing appetite for clients to use our digital platforms given that doing only cash transactions is not feasible, especially if you can’t move around.
To facilitate onboarding, Cogebanque has had clients use channels like WhatsApp and other platforms to fill out and send documentation, eliminating the need for them to come to an office. We also availed the forms for application for debit cards and credit cards online and sent them to clients via email. We have also sent out and posted useful tutorials for our clients.
Reboot & Adapt Your Business: Innovation in the “New Normal”
With the aim of equipping businesses with practical tools to face challenges brought by COVID-19, African Management Institute (AMI) is conducting a FREE COVID -19 Business Survival Bootcamp. This short learning programme focuses on Reboot & Adapt Your Business: Innovation in the “New Normal” with practical tools and strategies for quickly adapting your products and business.
The bootcamp is designed specifically for business owners and entrepreneurs. Attendance is restricted at these sessions to keep them highly interactive, so please only sign up if you’re an entrepreneur (AMI will be organizing separate webinars for managers and leaders). Please share with other entrepreneurs and business owners in your network.
SCHEDULE
11th August 2020 at 1500hrs – English | Open
Have questions? Please email smeresponseclinic@gmail.com
“This initiative that has helped us through business counseling and support during this pandemic, COVID-19. We need it because it is not easy to work in this period. I am hopeful that we shall overcome. ”
Marume O.M., the Managing Director of Gout Africaine Ltd / Africano Restaurant in Huye.
Cogebanque provides support to SME customers through the pandemic
Cogebanque provides support to SME customers through the pandemic
The SME Response Clinic spoke with Joel Kayonga, Commercial Director at Cogebanque about specific challenges for SMEs and the actions that the bank is taking to support them during this ongoing pandemic.
Even if the lockdown has been eased, it is a bit early for clients to make big decisions related to their businesses. Business owners are taking an approach of “let’s wait and see.” Given this, SMEs need timely information about how the situation is evolving.
What are the biggest challenges SMEs are facing right now?
First, a slowdown in business. The lockdown brought business to a standstill. Challenges are related mainly to working capital to be used to pay salaries and stock up in preparation for business picking up again. The only sectors that have not been truly affected are agribusiness and commodities. The hospitality sector has been the hardest hit because of restrictions on movement.
While the lockdown has been eased, there are still challenges because borders remain closed. Rwanda is a net importer, and Cogebanque’s clients need to travel to be able to deploy funds and stock up on goods. Until the borders are open, clients will be unable to do this, so they have the approach of “let’s wait and see.”
Can you tell us about the support the bank is providing to SME customers?
Most of our SME customers have expressed the need to have their facilities refinanced, so we are working to help them smooth their loan repayments and have given them deferments. As a bank, Cogebanque is focusing relief on specific sectors that have been hit hardest. If the client was up to date with payments and if the challenges they are facing are clearly COVID-related, the bank automatically gives them a deferment of 3 months. But for some sectors, specifically hotels and others in the tourism sector, deferments are for 6 months. The bank is also willing to extend these as the situation evolves, because it will take longer for them to see business really pick up again. Cogebanque has also provided small overdrafts for salaries or other urgent capital needs that businesses have.
How has the bank ensured continuity of service to SMEs?
At the beginning of the lockdown, we saw the need to close some branches given reduced traffic. In Kigali, we kept 3 branches open and reduced opening hours, but there were really no disruptions in service given that the bank has alternative channels in place. We saw a huge jump in terms of traffic on digital platforms, mobile banking, the mobile wallet and USSD.
Quite a few SMEs were not yet registered to our internet banking and mobile banking offerings since most SMEs tend to transact in cash. What we have seen is a growing appetite for clients to use our digital platforms given that doing only cash transactions is not feasible, especially if you can’t move around.
To facilitate onboarding, Cogebanque has had clients use channels like WhatsApp and other platforms to fill out and send documentation, eliminating the need for them to come to an office. We also availed the forms for application for debit cards and credit cards online and sent them to clients via email. We have also sent out and posted useful tutorials for our clients.
Ubufasha Cogebanque iha ibigo (SMEs) bikorana na yo muri ibi bihe by’Icyorezo
Ihuriro rishinzwe kwiga uburyo ibigo bito n’ibiciriritse (SME) bihangana n’ingorane byatewe n’icyorezo cya COVID-19 ryaganiriye na Joel Kayonga, Umuyobozi ushinzwe Ubucuruzi muri Cogebanque ku byerekeye ingaruka zihariye zibangamiye ibyo bigo n’ingamba iyi banki irimo gufata kugira ngo ibufashe muri iki gihe bikomeje guhangana n’ingaruka byatewe n’iki cyorezo.
Nubwo ingamba zafashwe mu rwego rwo kwirinda icyorezo zigenda zoroshywa, haracyari kare kugira ngo abakiriya bagire ibyemezo bikomeye bafata byerekeye ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bakora. Ba nyiri ibigo by’ubucuruzi ubu bahisemo kuba bategereje ngo barebe ko hari impinduka zigaragara ziba. Kubera umwuka uteye utyo, SMEs zikeneye kubona amakuru ku gihe yerekeye uburyo ibintu birimo kugenda bihinduka.
Ni izihe ngorane zikomeye zibangamiye SMEs muri iki gihe?
Ingorane ya mbere ni ukuzahara kw’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi. Gahunda yo gufunga bimwe mu bikorwa bitari iby’ingenzi yatumye ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bihagarara. Ingorane zihari ni izifitanye isano no kubona igishoro cyo gukoresha mu kwishyura imishahara y’abakozi no kwegeranya amikoro mu rwego rwo kwitegura gusubukura ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi. Inzego z’imirimo zitagizweho ingaruka cyane ni ubuhinzi bugamije ubucuruzi n’ubw’ibihingwa ngengabukungu byoherezwa mu mahanga. Urwogo rw’amahoteri n’amacumbi ni rwo rwagizweho ingaruka cyane kubera ingamba zo kugabanya urujya n’uruza rw’abantu.
Mu gihe ingamba zo kwirinda icyorezo zirimo koroshywa, haracyari imbogamizi kuko imipaka yakomeje gufungwa. U Rwanda rutumiza mu mahanga ibyinshi mu bicuruzwa ku masoko yarwo kandi ba rwiyemezamirimo bakenera gukora ingendo kugira ngo babashe gushora amafaranga bahaha ibicuruzwa. Abakiriya ntibazabasha kubona ibicuruzwa bakeneye imipaka itarafungurwa, ni yo mpamvu, ”bahisemo kuba bategereje kugira ngo ibintu bisubire mu buryo.”
Watubwira ubufasha banki igenera ibigo bito n’ibiciriritse (SME) bikorana na yo?
Ibyinshi mu bigo bito n’ibiciriritse (SME) bikorana na banki yacu byatugaragarije ko bikeneye ko inguzanyo zabyo zivugururwa, ni yo mpamvu turimo gukora ibishoboka ngo dufashe ibyo bigo tubyorohereza kwishyura inguzanyo kandi tubyongerera igihe cyo kwishyura izo nguzanyo. Nka banki, Cogebanque yibanda ku nzego z’imirimo zazahajwe cyane n’ibi bihe turimo by’icyorezo ifasha bimwe mu bigo bikorana na yo kuzahura ubucuruzi byabyo. Iyo ikigo cyishyuraga neza kandi ingorane gihura na zo zikaba zifitanye isano n’Icyorezo cya COVID-19, icyo gihe banki yahitaga igisonera kwishyura inguzanyo mu gihe cy’amezi atatu (3). Ariko ku bigo byo mu nzego zimwe na zimwe by’umwihariko amahoteri n’urwego rw’ubukerarugendo, byasubikiwe kwishyura mu gihe cy’amezi atandatu (6). Banki kandi irifuza kongera igihe iyi gahunda izamara bitewe n’uko ibintu bizaba byifashe, kubera ko bizatwara igihe kirekire kugira ngo ibi bigo bisubukure neza ibikorwa byabyo. Cogebanque kandi yahaye inguzanyo zihuse abakorera umushahara cyangwa ibindi bigo byari bikeneye kongera igishoro.
Ni gute banki yabashije gukomeza serivisi iha Ibigo bito n‘ibiciriritse (SMEs) bikorana na yo?
Ubwo hatangizwaga ingamba zo guhagarika ingendo n’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bitari iby’ingenzi, twasanze ari ngombwa gufunga amwe mu mashami kubera igabanuka ry’urujya n’uruza rw’abantu n’ibintu. Muri Kigali, amashami atatu (3) ni yo yakomeje gufungura ariko twanagabanyije amasaha y’akazi. Mu by’ukuri nta kirogoya yabaye muri serivisi dutanga kuko banki yari yashyizeho ubundi buryo bwo guha serivisi abayigana. Twasanze abantu benshi baritabiriye gukoresha uburyo bw’ikoranabuhanga, kubona serivisi za banki ukoresheje terefoni ngendanwa, gahunda ya Mobile Wallet (Gahunda y’ikofi) na USSD.
Ibigo (SMEs) bike cyane ni byo byari bitariyandikisha gukorana na banki hifashishijwe murandasi no kugezwaho serivisi za banki hifashishijwe terefoni ngendanwa kubera ko ibyinshi (SMEs) bikunda guhererekanya amafaranga mu buryo bwa cash. Ikintu twiboneye ni uko umubare w’abakiriya bitabiriye gukoresha uburyo bw’ikoranabuhanga banki yacu yabashyiriyeho wazamutse cyane kubera ko guhererekanya amafaranga mu ntoki (cash) gusa bitashobokaga, cyane cyane kubera ko nta wari wemerewe gukora ingendo.
Mu rwego rwo korohereza abakiriya ba banki kubona serivisi batavuye aho bari, Cogebanque yabafashije gukoresha umuyoboro wa WhatsApp n’izindi mbuga nkoranyambaga mu kuzuza imyirondoro no kuyohereza, bityo bibarinda gukora ingendo bajya aho banki ikorera. Twagejeje ku bakiriya amafishi basabiraho amakarita ya banki (yo kwishyura no kubikuza) hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga maze tuyaboherereza dukoresheje email. Twoherereje abakiriya amwe mu makuru abagenewe ibindi bisobanuro tubishyira ku rubuga rwacu aho bashobora kubisanga.
Supporting Your Business Series: A Discussion with the Microfinance Sector
Supporting Your Business Series
A Discussion with the Microfinance Sector
Join us on Facebook on June 18th for a live discussion with key stakeholders from the microfinance sector!
From 3:00 pm -4:15 pm on Thursday, June 18th, join the SME Response Clinic on Facebook for a live webinar with key stakeholders from the Rwandan microfinance sector hosted by Access to Finance Rwanda and the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR).
You can join simply by opening up the SME Response Clinic page on Facebook at 3pm on June 18th. It will be your chance to learn more about the microfinance sector’s response to support SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SME Response Clinic’s goal is to provide more information to SMEs in Rwanda during the pandemic. The Clinic’s partners know that many small businesses are struggling with lack of cash flow, repayment of loans, and an uncertain future right now.
An important part of the response is already coming from the microfinance sector and other institutions. There are products and services in place that are meant to aid with issues of working capital, reduced revenue and liquidity. The key to managing a business and surviving the pandemic will be to stay informed, stay safe, and know what is available to you as a business person – especially if you operate in a hard-hit industry like tourism, hospitality or transport.
During the webinar, you will learn about products and services available from the microfinance sector. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with:
- Jules Théoneste Ndahayo, Chief Executive Officer, UFC PLC and Chairman of the AMIR Board of Directors
- Laurence Uwambaje, Director General, UMWALIMU SACCO
- Grace Dushimimana, Chief Executive Officer, VisionFund Rwanda
- Aimable Nkuranga, Executive Director, Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda
This webinar will be held primarily in English and will be moderated by Frank Baguma, Programs Officer, MFIs & SACCOs Development at Access to Finance Rwanda.
Please join us for this important event!