Are you a business in the Agritech or Foodtech industry interested in scaling your business? Apply for the Katapult Africa Accelerator Program
Are you a business in the Agritech or Foodtech industry interested in scaling your business? Apply for the Katapult Africa Accelerator Program
Katapult, an investment company focused on highly scalable impact tech startups, has opened applications for the Katapult Africa Accelerator Program for startups in Agritech and Foodtech. Selected participants will benefit from training from experts, local and international mentorship, and access to a global network. Additionally, a select group of participants in the Accelerator program will receive seed capital.
All startup businesses in the Agritech and Foodtech industry are encouraged to apply.
To apply for Katapult Africa Accelerator Program, visit: Application Form
Are you a social entrepreneur with an innovative solution focused on empowering women and girls? Apply for the Innovations to Empower Women and Girls Challenge before 30 March 2022!
Are you a social entrepreneur with an innovative solution focused on empowering women and girls? Apply for the Innovations to Empower Women and Girls Challenge before 30 March 2022!
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with World Intellectual Property Organizational (WIPO), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) are launching the Innovations to Empower Women and Girls Challenge (the Challenge). The Challenge was launched to develop further and position innovative solutions to scale to help combat inequalities and advance the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity.
Through the Challenge, UNFPA aims to support social enterprises registered in UNFPA programme countries to pivot from grant-making models to self-sustaining financial models. Participants in the Challenge will receive mentorship, technical assistance in key focus areas including intellectual property management and business modelling, and grants of up to USD 60,000.
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply:
- Company must be registered as a company/organization in a UNFPA programme country
- Company, including any joint venture/consortium members and any of its individual members, must not be under procurement prohibitions derived from the Compendium of United Nations Security Council Sanctions Lists at the time of application
- Company, including any joint venture/consortium members and any of its individual members, has not been suspended, debarred, sanctioned, or otherwise identified as ineligible by any UN Organization or the World Bank Group
- Innovation must be implemented in the UNFPA programme country in which the company is registered
- The proposed innovation should promote the empowerment of women and girls and contribute to one of the following challenges:
- Ending unmet need for family planning
- Ending preventable maternal deaths
- Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices
- Company must have already tested a prototype, undergone proof of concept, and have a minimum viable product (MVP) that has been piloted and is ready to be positioned to scale; the MVP must belong to the submitting organization
- Innovative solution must have a viable pathway to scale and sustainability via the market or public sector (definition as per UN Innovation Toolkit: driving adoption beyond the initial pilot’s target population)
- No similar solution to the one being proposed, or the proposed solution delivers more development impact per dollar or is more cost-effective than other ways of achieving the same objectives; there must be evidence to support this claim
Interested applicants must register on the UNFPA platform to submit an expression of interest to be shortlisted for proposals.
To register on the UNFPA Innovation Challenge platform, visit: Registration
To submit an expression of interest for this Challenge, visit: Applications
For more information on the Challenge, visit: Innovations to Empower Women and Girls Challenge
Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs this March with the SME Response Clinic – Insights from Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders
Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs this March with the SME Response Clinic – Insights from Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders
As we continue to celebrate March, the women’s history month, the SME Response Clinic is pleased to share with you a recap of some of the highlights from our engagements with women entrepreneurs and leaders in Rwanda over the past two years. Women entrepreneurs play a vital role in developing Rwanda’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and make a tremendous contribution to the nation’s economy. Join us in celebrating women entrepreneurs this month and throughout the year!
Here are some of the highlights:
Webinar on “Practical Solutions for Improving the Wellbeing of Women Entrepreneurs”
On 8 December 2021, the SME Response Clinic, in partnership with Geruka Healing Center, held a webinar featuring women entrepreneurs at the Kigali Public Library as part of the Building Back Healthier series. The webinar’s objective was to inform, inspire and share knowledge and skills that businesswomen can use to better their wellbeing as they deal with their day-to-day business activities while managing other responsibilities. The webinar featured a mental health expert, Adelite Mukamana and two businesswomen, Scovia Umutoni and Amina Umuhoza.
Interview with Her Excellency Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, former Deputy Governor of National Bank of Rwanda and current Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission
In July 2020, the SME Response Clinic interviewed Her Excellency Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa to understand the barriers women face in accessing information to help them better manage their businesses. During the interview, H.E. Dr. Monique emphasized the importance of not just making information available online but also mobilizing women to access that knowledge with a personal touch.
Watch the video to learn more
Learn about AMI’s Business Survival Bootcamp from Justine Ntaganda, owner of La Cornicle Hotel Rubavu and Nyabihu
Justine Ntanganda, a businesswoman who co-owns La Cornicle Hotel operating in Rubavu and Nyabihu districts, attended a Business Survival Bootcamp training organized by the SME Response Clinic in partnership with the African Management Institute. Ms. Ntanganda shared with the SME Response Clinic more about what she learned.
Watch the video to learn more
To learn more about AMI training offers in Rwanda, visit: Africa Management Institute
Kwishimira ibikorwa bya ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu Rwanda
Kwishimira ibikorwa bya ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu Rwanda
Ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagize igice kinini cya ba rwiyemezamirimo kizamuka vuba ku isi hose, kandi no mu Rwanda ni ko bimeze. Nk’uko bikubiye muri Raporo ya FinScope Gender 2020, abagore bayobora 52% by’ibigo by’ubucuruzi bito cyane, ibito n’ibiciriritse (MSME) mu Rwanda (cyangwa ibigo by’ubucuruzi byenda kugera kuri 420.0000). Binyuze muri ibi bikorwa by’ubucuruzi, ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagira uruhare runini mu izamuka ry’umusaruro mbumbe w’igihugu bagahanga n’imirimo ifite akamaro gakomeye mu mibereho y’abaturanyi babo no mu gihugu muri rusange.
Muri SME Response Clinic, duha agaciro gakomeye uruhare ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagira mu iterambere ry’ubukungu n’iry’imibereho myiza mu Rwanda. Kuva twatangira muri Gicurasi 2020, twagiye dutegura ubutumwa, twakira ibiganiro twifashishije ikoranabuhanga, kandi dukora ibikorwa by’iyamamaza bigambiriwe bigamije kugera neza kuri ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore no kubafasha guteza imbere ubucuruzi bwabo n’ubwo byari mu bihe bikomeye.
Muri uku kwezi, tuzibanda ku bikorwa byo kwishimira uruhare ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagira mu guteza imbere urwego rwa ba rwiyemezamirimo mu Rwanda. Tuzibanda cyane kuri bamwe muri ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore badasanzwe twahuye nabo ku buryo mwabigiraho cyangwa mukaba mwabona ubundi bwoko bw’ubucuruzi mwagerageza!
Ngwino hamwe natwe muri uku kwezi ubwo tuzaba turi mu byishimo – Dusange kuri aderesi musa.kacheche@consumercentrix.ch maze utubwire ikigo cy’ubucuruzi kiyobowe n’umugore uzi kandi ukunda!
Celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship in Rwanda
Women entrepreneurs represent the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs globally, and Rwanda is no exception. According to the 2020 FinScope Gender Report, women lead about 52% of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Rwanda (or about 420,0000 businesses). Through these businesses, women entrepreneurs are significant contributors to GDP growth and create jobs critical to people’s livelihoods in their communities and the country at large.
At the SME Response Clinic, we value women entrepreneurs’ role in Rwanda’s economic and social development. Since our launch in May 2020, we have developed content, hosted webinars, and conducted targeted marketing activities to better reach women entrepreneurs and support them in business growth despite tough times.
This month, we will focus our efforts on celebrating the role played by women entrepreneurs in developing the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Rwanda. We will highlight some of the exceptional women entrepreneurs we have encountered so you can learn from their experiences or maybe find a new business to try out!
Join us this month as we celebrate – and reach out to us to share the name of a women-led business you know and love at musa.kacheche@consumercentrix.ch!
SME Response Clinic ikoresha ikiganiro hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga ku nsanganyamatsiko yerekeranye n’ibisubizo bishoboka byo kunoza imibereho myiza ya ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore
SME Response Clinic ikoresha ikiganiro hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga ku nsanganyamatsiko yerekeranye n’ibisubizo bishoboka byo kunoza imibereho myiza ya ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore
Kuwa 8 Ukuboza 2021, SME Response Clinic yakoresheje ikiganiro hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga ku nsanganyamatsiko yerekeranye n’ibisubizo bishoboka byo kunoza imibereho myiza ya ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu Isomero Rusange rya Kigali.
Icyo kiganiro gitambuka hakoreshejwe ikoranabuhanga ni igice cy’uruhererekane rw’ibiganiro bya Ubaka ufite ubuzima bwiza kurushaho byatangijwe n’ikiganiro cyanyuze kuri KT Radio kuwa 18 Ukwakira 2021 kikaza gukurikirwa n’ikindi kiganiro ku nsanganyamatsiko yerekeranye n’ingamba zishoboka zo kurwanya umunaniro cyabaye mu Ugushyingo. Urwo ruhererekane rutegurwa ku bufatanye na n’Ikigo cya Geruka Healing Centre.
Icyo kiganiro cyakozwe hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga cyari kigamije kumenyesha, kungura ibitekerezo, no gusangira ubumenyi n’ubushobozi na ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore; ibyo bikaba byabafasha kunoza imibereho myiza yabo igihe baba bahanganye n’umunaniro wa buri munsi ukomoka ku kazi kajyanye no gucunga ubucuruzi bwabo ari nako banakurikirana izindi nshingano baba bafite. Byongeye kandi, icyo kiganiro cyakozwe hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga kibanze ku buryo bushoboka bwo kubungabunga umutekano mu rwego rw’imitekerereze no kongera umusaruro no ku buryo bwo gutunganya neza aho akazi gakorerwa cyane cyane kuri ba rwiyemezamirimbo b’abagore.
Icyo kiganiro gikorwa hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga cyitabiriwe n’impuguke mu bijyanye n’ubuzima bwo mutwe, Adelite Mukamana, M.Sc., hamwe n’abacuruzi bakomeye b’abagore ari bo Scovia Umutoni na Amina Umuhoza. Madame Mukamana yatangije ikiganiro atanga urugero rutangaje rufasha abari bitabiriye ikiganiro kugira imyumvire yimbitse ku byerekeranye n’ubuzima bwo mu mutwe n’imibereho myiza:
Mu mutwe hacu hameze nka moteri y’imodoka iyo ari yo yose. Uko imodoka yaba igaragara neza hanze kose, idafite moteri, ntabwo yashobora kugenda. Imodoka ishobora kugenda gusa iyo moteri ikorana ingufu zayo zose. Mufate ubuzima bwo mu mutwe n’imibereho yanyu muri ubwo buryo.Iyo hari ikintu kitameze neza muri moteri y’imodoka, ushaka umukanishi. Mu gihe wumvise ubuzima bwo mu mutwe cyangwa imibereho yawe itameze neza, saba ubufasha bwo mu rwego rw’umwuga.
Scovia na Amina buri wese yatumenyesheje ibyamubayeho. Mureke tubyinjiremo maze turusheho kumenya byinshi:
Ibyabaye kuri Scovia:
Scovia Umutoni ni we washinze KGL Flour Limited, uruganda rutunganya ibihingwa mu rwego rw’ubucuruzi, urwo ruganda rukaba rukora ifu y’ibigori- izwi ku izina rya kawunga- n’ibiryo by’amatungo. Mbere ya COVID-19, yakoraga ahandi hantu, ariko yaje gutakaza akazi ke kimwe n’abandi bantu benshi ubwo icyorezo cyadukaga. Aho kwiheba, yafashe icyemezo cyo gushora amafaranga yari yarizigamiye maze atangiza ubucuruzi bwe bwite. Nubwo byari igitekerezo cyiza, byabaye ibihe bikomeye kubera ko ubwo yatangiraga ubucuruzi bwe, u Rwanda rwagiye muri Guma mu Rugo, ibintu byose bihita bihagarara.
Guma mu rugo irangiye, ubwo ubundi bucuruzi bwongeraga gutangira gukora, isoko rya Scovia ryari rigizwe n’ibigo by’amashuri n’amahoteli ryari ritaratangira gukora. Yatangiye kumva bimubabaje atanabona neza uko ejo hazaza he hazaba hameze. Scovia yahise atekereza vuba noneho afata icyemezo cyo guhindura uburyo bw’imikorere, agamije isoko ryo muri Repubulika iharanira Demokarasi ya Congo (DRC). Ubwo yatangiye kujya aha ibicuruzwa bye abaguzi bo muri DRC guhera ubwo ngubwo. Noneho u Rwanda rutangiye kuzahuka buva mu ngaruka z’icyorezo yongera gutangira kugurisha ibicuruzwa bye mu Rwanda.
Scovia akeka ko ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore kenshi na kenshi bagira ingorane mu kazi kabo baterwa n’uko ari abagore. Urugero, yagombye gutumiza imashini isya ifu y’ibigori ku mucuruzi w’umugabo, ubwo yatangiriraga ku busa. Uwo mucuruzi yari yaramurangiwe na Rwanda Standard Board. Uwo mucuruzi yabwiye Scovia ko azamuha imashini mu byumweru bibiri. Ariko, ntabwo yabashije kuzuza amasezerano bari bagiranye, ahubwo byarengeje ukwezi kugirango amuhe izo mashini. Byabaye ngombwa ko ajyana yo n’inshuti ze magara z’abagabo kugirango zimurebere kugira ngo zimufashe guhabwa izo mashini. Ibi byaramubabaje cyane kandi ni kimwe mu bintu bibi cyane yahuye na byo mu kazi ke nka rwiyemezamirimo.
Muri COVID-19, Scovia yasubiye inyuma atekereza ku byari biri kuba noneho atangira gutekereza ku ngamba nshya zigamije kunoza ubucuruzi bwe. Yakoze ibikorwa byinshi byamushimishije kandi byamunogeye mu buzima bwe. Urugero, kumva indirimbo z’Imana nka kimwe mu bintu bigamije gushyigikira ubuzima bwo mu mutwe bwe. Ubuzima bwe nk’umucuruzi ntibubuzemo ingorane- aracyahura n’ingorane nk’umugore ukora mu rwego rwiganjemo abagabo kimwe n’inzitizi zishingiye ku ihagarikwa ry’ingendo bitewe n’icyorezo kigikomeza. Ariko, ntabwo ateganya guhagarika imirimo ye. Scovia yaje kumva ko ingorane zizahoraho igihe cyose kandi ko icy’ingenzi ari ugushaka ibisubizo bigamije guhangana n’izo ngorane.
Ibyabaye kuri Amina :
Amina Umuhoza ni we washinze SAYE – DUKATAZE LTD akaba n’Umuyobozi Mukuru wayo. SAYE ni sosiyete igamije kurwanya inda zitateganyijwe ziterwa abakobwa b’abangavu bitewe n’akato bakorerwa iyo bari mu mihango y’ukwezi. Sosiyete ye iha abagore bato amakuru yerekeranye n’ubuzima bw’imyororokere, imicungire y’isuku igihe bari mu mihango y’ukwezi, ikanabongerera ubushobozi bwo mu rwego rw’ubukungu igurisha ibicuruzwa bakora hifashishijwe ikoranabuhanga n’ubwitange bw’abaturanyi.
Icyorezo cya COVID-19 cyagabanyije cyane ibikorwa bya SAYE . Ntabwo ari ibintu byoroheye sosiyete mu bihe bya Guma mu rugo. Byabaye ngombwa ko sosiyete ikora ibikorwa byayo byose ikoresheje ikoranabuhanga; ibyo bikaba byaratumye Amina na bagenzi be batangira kwibaza niba bazashobora kugera ku ntego bihaye. Amina yagombye guhitamo ibikorwa byihutirwaga kurusha ibindi. Urugero, sosiyete yagombaga gukoresha inyungu yabonaga mu guhemba abakozi imishahara yabo ku buryo babasha gukomeza akazi kandi bakabaho bishimye. Birumvikana, ibi byagize ingaruka zikomeye ku mikorere ya sosiyete no ku mibereho myiza y’abakozi. Bakomeza gukora neza mu gihe cy’icyorezo kuberako bize kubaho nk’aho ari ibintu bishya ariko bisanzwe.
Nka rwiyemezamirimo w’umugore, imwe mu ngorane ahura nazo ni amagambo atari meza abantu bagenda bavuga, harimo no gukorerwa iterabwoba ku mbuga nkoranyambaga. Urugero, akunda kumva cyangwa agasoma ( ku mbuga nkoranyambaga) iyo sosiyete ye yungutse umufatanyabikorwa mushya cyangwa yafunguye ishami rishya igurishirizamo ibicuruzwa byayo amagambo agira ati: “uzashyingirwa ryari ?” cyangwa “utegereje kubanza gukira kugirango ubone gushaka?” Atekereza ko aya magambo yose akomoka mu muco wacu wakomeje kujya ugenda inyuma y’abagore mu bice byose by’ubuzima. Ariko, ibintu byatangiye guhinduka kubera ko Leta yacu yagiye yigisha abanyarwanda akamaro k’umugore mu iterambere ry’igihugu, iry’umuryango n’iry’umuntu ku giti cye.
Ibyo bihe ntabwo byoroheye Amina. Ikintu cyamukomereye mu rwego rwo guhangana n’ingorane zifitanye isano n’Icyorezo cya COVID-19 ni ukugira imbaraga zihagije no gukomeza gukora we n’abo bakorana. Kugirango babashe kubigeraho, yakoresheje ibihe bya guma mu rugo abibyaza umusaruro uko bishoboka kose, yitekerezaho akanakora imirimo yo mu mpapuro. Ibyo byamuteye akanyabugabo, kandi n’ibyo byiyumviro byamufashije kubasha kugera ku bo bakorana binyuze mu mbuga nkoranyambuga. Amina kandi yagerageje kwita ku bikorwa yari yarasubitse mbere y’icyorezo; ibyo bikorwa bikaba byarahaye SAYE amahirwe mashya nyuma ya guma mu rugo.
Kongera kubaka ufite ubuzima bwiza kurushaho :
Scovia n’Amina bifuza gutera imbere nk’abacuruzi b’abagore ariko ntabwo byoroshye. Bose amagambo atari meza abageraho ashingiye ku bintu bisanzwe bivugwa hafi ya buri munsi; urugero, igitekerezo kivuga ko ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bashobora gutera imbere gusa ari uko bashatse. Adelite Mukamana ntabwo yemera ibyo bivugwa. Yaravuze ati : “ Kenshi na kenshi twumva bavuga ko iterambere ry’abagore rishingira ku mugabo. Scovia n’Amina ni ingero zifatika zigaragaza ko rwiyemezamirimo w’umugore ashobora gucunga ubucuruzi bwe neza kandi agatera imbere mu bihe ibyo ari byo byose kandi twizeye ko ari ingero nziza abandi bagore bagenzi bacu bashobora kureberaho muri sosiyete nyarwanda ”.
Ba rwiyemezamirimo bombi bemeranyijwe ku kintu kimwe – umuntu ahitamo imyumvire ye bwite, kandi kugira imyumvire myiza ku bijyanye n’imibereho myiza ni ikintu cy’ingenzi gifasha guhangana n’ibintu bibi. Adelite Mukamana yemera ibi bikurikira: “ Dukora dukurikije uburyo dutekereza kandi dufata icyemezo kubyerekeranye n’uburyo dutekereza”.
Ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore by’umwihariko bahura n’ingorane zo guhuza akazi kabo n’ubuzima bwo mu rugo. Amina akeka ko kugira umugabo ugushyigikira kandi wumva icyerekezo cye ari ikintu cy’ingenzi gifasha rwiyemezamirimo w’umugore gutera imbere. Madamu Adelite Mukamana, inzobere mu kazi ke akaba n’umubyeyi, yagiriye inama ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore kudatinya kugira imiryango kubera ko umugore ari ikiremwa muntu gishobora gukora imirimo myinshi. Yagiriye inama abagore gukora ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi batitaye ku buzima bwabo bwo mu muryango mu gihe cyose bifitemo icyizere ko bashobora kubikora. Yashimangiye kandi ko abagabo batagomba guterwa ubwoba n’uko abagore bagira ubushobozi bwo mu rwwego rw’ubukungu cyangwa n’iterambere ry’abo bashakanye ahubwo ko bagomba kwibanda ku iterambere ryabo bombi.
Sura urubuga rwa SME Response Clinic maze ubone inama zigirwa ba rwiyemezamirimo zibafasha gukomeza ubuzima bwo mu mutwe n’imibereho myiza yabo n’iy’abakozi babo. Tubasabye kandi kujya mukurikirana ku mbuga nkoranyambaga zacu inkuru za ba rwiyemezamirimo ku byerekeranye n’uburyo ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byabo bishyira imbere ubuzima bwo mu mutwe n’imibereho myiza nk’imwe mu ngamba zo guhangana n’ingorane zatejwe n’icyorezo cya COVID-19. Ushobora kandi kudusanga kuri YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, na LinkedIn.
SME Response Clinic hosts webinar on Practical Solutions for Improving the Wellbeing of Women Entrepreneurs
The SME Response Clinic held a webinar on practical solutions for improving the wellbeing of women entrepreneurs at Kigali Public Library on the 8th of December 2021. The webinar was part of the Building Back Healthier Series that was launched with a talk show on KT Radio on the 18thof October 2021 and followed another webcast on practical strategies to deal with stress held in November. The series is organized in partnership with the Geruka Healing Centre.
The objective of the webinar was to inform, inspire, and share knowledge and skills that businesswomen can use to better their wellbeing when dealing with day-to-day stresses of running a business while managing other responsibilities. In addition, the webinar dove into practical techniques for increasing psychological safety and productivity and how to optimize the workplace especially for women entrepreneurs.
The webinar featured a mental health expert, Adelite Mukamana, M.Sc., with two active businesswomen, Scovia Umutoni and Amina Umhoza. Mme. Mukamana started the session with a fantastic example to help the audience have an in-depth appreciation of mental health and wellbeing:
Our mind is like an engine of any car. No matter how good-looking the car might seem on the outside, without the engine, it wouldn’t start. The car can only move when the engine is working in full force. Think about your mental health and wellbeing like that. When something is wrong with your car engine, you look for a mechanic. The moment you feel that your mental health or wellbeing is struggling, look for professional help.”
Scovia’s Experience:
Scovia Umutoni is Founder of KGL Flour Limited, an agribusiness factory that produces maize flour – locally known as Kawunga – and animal feed. Before the pandemic, she was employed elsewhere, but she lost her job like many others when the pandemic hit. Undeterred, she decided to invest her savings to create her own business.
While exciting, it proved to be a very challenging time because once she started her business operations, Rwanda went into lockdown, putting everything on hold.
By the time lockdown was over, while many businesses were back up and running, Scovia’s target market including schools and hotels were still not operational. She started to feel frustrated and uncertain about the future. Scovia thought quickly and decided to change her approach, targeting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She has been serving customers in DRC since then, and as Rwanda has begun to recover, she has started to deliver her products locally.
Scovia believes that women entrepreneurs often face specific challenges based on the fact they are women. When she ordered a corn flour machine to start her business from a local businessman, Scovia struggled to get the machine in the agreed-upon two week period. It took engaging male friends to visit the provider with her for Scovia to get the machine two weeks later than promised. Scovia is certain that had she been a male entrepreneur, she would not have had to resort to engaging friends to help her. This is just one example of common obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs, many of whom were also disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
During the pandemic, Scovia took a step back to reflect on her businesses and to think of new strategies to improve operations. Recognizing the importance of her own wellbeing, she took a number of actions to improve her mental health, including listening to music. Her business life is not without challenges – she still faces challenges like being a woman in a male-dominated industry and travel restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic – but she doesn’t intend to stop. Scovia has learned that challenges will always exist, and what is important is to look for solutions to deal with them.
Amina’s Experience:
Amina Umuhoza is Founder and CEO of SAYE – DUKATAZE LTD, which aims to fight unintended pregnancies in young Rwandan women due to menstruation stigma. Her company provides young women with reproductive health information, menstrual hygiene management, and economic empowerment by selling products produced by young women through technology and community engagement.
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed SAYE’s operations, and like many other businesses, the company took its business online during lockdowns. This major shift in operations led Amina and her colleagues to question whether they would attain their goals, and Amina had to work hard to balance competing priorities. For instance, the company had to use profits planned for investment to instead pay employee salaries to ensure proper staffing and employee satisfaction. Choices like these have allowed Amina to ensure SAYE continues delivering on its business and social objectives throughout the challenges of the pandemic.
Like Scovia, Amina also faces challenges unique to being a woman entrepreneur. A key example is negative comments from others, including social media bullying. It is not uncommon for Amina to receive questions about plans to marry when she posts about new products or partnerships. She believes that these comments come from cultural beliefs about the role of women, but things have started to change as the government has been educating Rwandans on the role of a woman in societal, family, and personal development.
The hardest part of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic for Amina was to ensure she was strong and resilient for herself as well as for her co-workers and employees. Amina used the lockdown as productively as possible to ensure a positive mindset, reflecting on herself and catching up on important paperwork. This cheered her up, and that feeling encouraged her to reach out to co-workers through virtual platforms. Amina also managed to take care of action items she had postponed or put off pre-pandemic, which provided SAYE with new opportunities after lockdown.
Building Back Healthier:
Scovia and Amina seek to thrive as businesswomen, but this is not always easy. Both receive negative comments based on stereotypes nearly every day; for example, the idea that as women entrepreneurs they can only be successful if they are married. Adelite Mukamana disagrees with this stereotype. “We often hear that the development of women depends on a man. Scovia and Amina are true examples that a businesswoman can run her business smoothly and shine through all circumstances, and we hope they are good examples to our fellow women in the Rwandan society,” she says.
Both entrepreneurs agreed on one fact – one chooses her or his own mentality, and a positive sense of wellbeing is key to carrying on in the face of adversity. Adelite Mukamana agrees. “We act how we think, and we decide how to think,” she says.
Women entrepreneurs are typically challenged by balancing work and home life. Amina believes that marrying to a partner who supports you and who understands your vision is a crucial element for a success as a businesswoman. Mme Adelite Mukamana, both an expert in her field and a mother, advised businesswomen to not be afraid of having families since a woman is a human being that is capable of carrying out multiple tasks. She advised women to launch businesses regardless of their family lives if they’re confident they can do it. She also pointed out that men shouldn’t be threatened by women’s economic empowerment and their partners’ success but instead focus on growing together.
Visit the SME Response Clinic for tips for entrepreneurs to support their mental health and wellbeing. We also invite you to keep an eye on our social media platforms for entrepreneurs’ stories on how their businesses are prioritizing mental health and wellbeing, as part of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. You can find us on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Submission
Are you a woman entrepreneur interested in scaling your business? Apply for the WIA 54 programme before 31 May 2022
Are you a woman entrepreneur interested in scaling your business? Apply for the WIA 54 programme before 31 May 2022
Women in Africa (WIA), a social impact company supporting African women entrepreneurs, invites applicants for the WIA 54 programme( WIA54). WIA will support 540 finalists from 54 African countries with training and personalized mentoring via a boot camp. The programme will be carried out in three phases including:
- Training phase: Selected entrepreneurs will participate in a virtual orientation programme to learn more about the process and receive a timeline and overview of available resources. Additionally, participants for this phase will receive intensive business management training.
- Mentoring phase: This phase will last six months for select participants. Selected entrepreneurs will be offered mentors to support them in integrating learnings from the training into their business plan. After the mentoring phase, select candidates will participate in a pitching phase, which will give them access to investors and seed capital.
- Pitching phase: Select participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their business knowledge to convince the jury on the viability of their business to access funds.
Interested applicants should fulfil the following eligibility criteria to apply:
- Business should be created or led by an African woman
- Have a first traction on the market (sales, number of users, funds raised)
- Be part of one of the following sectors: agriculture & agritech, food & foodtech, education & edutech, fintech, environment & sustainable development, beauty or creative industry, or health & healthtech
The selection of projects will be based on the following criteria:
- Innovativeness of the product, service, or technology
- Proven business model scalability
- Growth potential
- Demonstration of an ambitious team with solid execution ability
- Market traction (revenue, number of users, funds raised)
- Potential for impact in Africa
To apply for the WIA54 programme, visit: WIA54 Application
Celebrating Women's Entrepreneurship in Rwanda
Celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship in Rwanda
Women entrepreneurs represent the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs globally, and Rwanda is no exception. According to the 2020 FinScope Gender Report, women lead about 52% of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Rwanda (or about 420,0000 businesses). Through these businesses, women entrepreneurs are significant contributors to GDP growth and create jobs critical to people’s livelihoods in their communities and the country at large.
At the SME Response Clinic, we value women entrepreneurs’ role in Rwanda’s economic and social development. Since our launch in May 2020, we have developed content, hosted webinars, and conducted targeted marketing activities to better reach women entrepreneurs and support them in business growth despite tough times.
This month, we will focus our efforts on celebrating the role played by women entrepreneurs in developing the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Rwanda. We will highlight some of the exceptional women entrepreneurs we have encountered so you can learn from their experiences or maybe find a new business to try out!
Join us this month as we celebrate – and reach out to us to share the name of a women-led business you know and love at musa.kacheche@consumercentrix.ch!
Kwishimira ibikorwa bya ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu Rwanda
Ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagize igice kinini cya ba rwiyemezamirimo kizamuka vuba ku isi hose, kandi no mu Rwanda ni ko bimeze. Nk’uko bikubiye muri Raporo ya FinScope Gender 2020, abagore bayobora 52% by’ibigo by’ubucuruzi bito cyane, ibito n’ibiciriritse (MSME) mu Rwanda (cyangwa ibigo by’ubucuruzi byenda kugera kuri 420.0000). Binyuze muri ibi bikorwa by’ubucuruzi, ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagira uruhare runini mu izamuka ry’umusaruro mbumbe w’igihugu bagahanga n’imirimo ifite akamaro gakomeye mu mibereho y’abaturanyi babo no mu gihugu muri rusange.
Muri SME Response Clinic, duha agaciro gakomeye uruhare ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagira mu iterambere ry’ubukungu n’iry’imibereho myiza mu Rwanda. Kuva twatangira muri Gicurasi 2020, twagiye dutegura ubutumwa, twakira ibiganiro twifashishije ikoranabuhanga, kandi dukora ibikorwa by’iyamamaza bigambiriwe bigamije kugera neza kuri ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore no kubafasha guteza imbere ubucuruzi bwabo n’ubwo byari mu bihe bikomeye.
Muri uku kwezi, tuzibanda ku bikorwa byo kwishimira uruhare ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore bagira mu guteza imbere urwego rwa ba rwiyemezamirimo mu Rwanda. Tuzibanda cyane kuri bamwe muri ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore badasanzwe twahuye nabo ku buryo mwabigiraho cyangwa mukaba mwabona ubundi bwoko bw’ubucuruzi mwagerageza!
Ngwino hamwe natwe muri uku kwezi ubwo tuzaba turi mu byishimo – Dusange kuri aderesi musa.kacheche@consumercentrix.ch maze utubwire ikigo cy’ubucuruzi kiyobowe n’umugore uzi kandi ukunda!
Unsure of whether to register your business? Here's why you should!
Unsure of whether to register your business? Here’s why you should!
Business registration is one of the most crucial steps in any entrepreneur’s journey and the first step in legally establishing your business. Registering comes with several benefits, including easier access to capital, limiting personal liability, better business reputation and many others.
Watch the video below to learn more about the benefits of registering your business.
Waba uri umukiriya wa KCB Bank Rwanda cyangwa Banque Populaire? Saba kwitabira amahugurwa ya Survive to Thrive mbere ya tariki 4 Werurwe 2022
Waba uri umukiriya wa KCB Bank Rwanda cyangwa Banque Populaire? Saba kwitabira amahugurwa ya Survive to Thrive mbere ya tariki 4 Werurwe 2022
Binyuze mu bufatanye hagati ya KCB, ConsumerCentriX na African Management Institute, KCB Bank izatanga amahugurwa y’amezi ane ku bakiriya bayo bato n’abaciriritse agamije gufasha ba rwiyemezamirimo gukomeza gutera imbere binyuze mu masomo atangwa hifashishijwe interineti, ibiganiro mbonankubone , urubuga ruhuza ba rwiyemezamirimo bakungurana ibitekerezo hamwe n’ibikoresho by’ibanze byifashishwa mu gukora ubucuruzi.
Amahugurwa ya Survive to Thrive azafasha rwiyemezamirimo hamwe n’undi muyobozi mukuru umwe mu kigo ayoboye kumenya uko wakwiga intego zihamye zo guteza imbere ubucuruzi ndetse ubashe no kwifashisha uburyo bushya n’ibikoresho bizagufasha mu bucuruzi bwawe.
Binyuze mu muryango mugari wa AMI, uzabasha guhura n’abandi ba rwiyemezamirimo bo mu bice bitandukanye by’Afurika, ubone amahirwe yo kugirwa inama ku gucunga neza imari, gukurikiranwa no guhabwa ubufasha, guhura n’abantu batandukanye hamwe no gukomeza kubona uburenganzira ku bikoresho bigezweho byifashishwa mu bucuruzi bitangwa na AMI, amasomo n’ubundi bufasha.
Saba kwitabira hano: Survive to Thrive Application
Are you an African startup interested in taking your company to the next level? Apply for the SBC Virtual Accelerator Program
Are you an African startup interested in taking your company to the next level? Apply for the SBC Virtual Accelerator Program
Startupbootcamp Afritech (SBC) invites African startups for a virtual acceleration program powered by Enrich in Africa, a project funded by the European Commission. The aim of the program is to encourage and facilitate the mobility of startup entrepreneurs from African or European countries. The program promotes skills development and transfer and the globalization of innovative solutions. Ten successful applicants will benefit from virtual acceleration sessions with lifetime access to the Accelerator Squared Platform to learn from dozens of modules.
Interested applicants must fulfil the following to apply for the program:
- Company must be at least 2 years old
- Turnover of at least $15,000 in 2021
- At least 2 employees and/or co-founders
- Headquarters based in an African/European country
To apply for the program, visit SBC Virtual Accelerator Application