Are you a youth entrepreneur with a solution aimed at adapting to climate change? Apply for the African Youth Adaptation Solutions (YouthADAPT) Challenge today!
Are you a youth entrepreneur with a solution aimed at adapting to climate change? Apply for the African Youth Adaptation Solutions (YouthADAPT) Challenge today!
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) invite youth entrepreneurs to apply for the African Youth Adaptation Solutions (YouthADAPT) Challenge under the African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). The Challenge seeks to inspire and scale solutions focused on helping adapt to ongoing climate change driven by youth entrepreneurs in Africa. Selected applicants will have an opportunity to develop and fully commercialize their businesses via a 12-month accelerator program. Ten winners will be selected, and each will receive a business grant of up to $100,000 to grow their business.
The Challenge is open to solutions (products, services, tools, or ideas) targeted at climate change adaptation and increasing resilience. These solutions must also contribute to raising awareness on climate adaptation among communities. To be eligible for the Challenge, applicants must fulfil the following criteria:
- Youth-led applicants aged between the ages of 18 and 35 years
- Commitment to delivering climate adaptation or resilience solutions addressing real-life challenges
- Legally registered enterprises operating in Africa
- Be able to show company revenues for at least two years
Note: 50% of the enterprises to be supported will be women-owned or women-led.
How to apply
Interested youth enterprises can apply by filling in the form here.
Submission deadline: 06th October 2021.
For more information:
Email: solutionschallenge@gca.org
Visit: https://gca.org/african-youth-adaptation-solutions-challenge-2
THE SME Response Clinic Partners with KCB Bank
The SME Response Clinic Partners with KCB Bank
The SME Response Clinic has partnered with KCB Bank Rwanda as part of our ongoing efforts to bring entrepreneurs even closer to financial institutions that offer access to finance and non-financial services to meet business needs through COVID-19 and beyond.
Through this partnership, entrepreneurs will have access to timely information on KCB Bank’s financial products as well as non-financial services such as KCB Bank’s Biashara Club, which features preferential offerings, trainings, business workshops, and networking opportunities. Through the partnership, SME Response Clinic visitors will also have a direct line to the institution at +250788140000.
We are excited about the opportunities this partnership can create for your businesses, and we look forward to providing you with regular updates on KCB Bank’s products and services!
SME Response Clinic iri gufatanya na Banki ya KCB
SME Response Clinic yafatanyije na Banki ya KCB Rwanda mu bikorwa byayo bikomeza byo kwegereza ba rwiyemezamirimo ibigo by’imari bitanga serivisi z’imari n’izitari iz’imari kugira ngo babashe gukemura ibibazo bafite muri ibi bihe bya COVID-19 na nyuma yayo.
Binyuze muri ubu bufatanye, ba rwiyemezamirimo bazajya babonera amakuru ku gihe ajyanye n’ibikorwa by’imari bya KCB na serivisi zitari iz’mari z’iyo banki nka Biashara Club itanga serivisi z’indobanure, amahugurwa, inama nyunguranabitekerezo ku bijyanye n’ubucuruzi, n’amahirwe yo guhuza abantu n’abandi. Binyuze muri ubwo bufatanye, abasura SME Response Clinic bazahabwa umurongo wa telefoni bashobora gukoresha mu buryo butaziguye bavugana n’ikigo. Uwo murongo ni: +250788140000.
Tunejejwe n’amahirwe ubu bufatanye bushobora kugeza ku kigo cy’ubucuruzi cyawe kandi tubijeje ko buri gihe tuzajya tubagezaho amakuru mashya ku bijyanye n’ibicuruzwa na serivisi za KCB!
Interested in bringing your business online? Make-IT Africa launches a playbook to support your transition
Interested in bringing your business online? Make-IT Africa launches a playbook to support your transition
Make-IT Africa has launched a new resource, the Business Model Playbook, to support entrepreneurs in the process of bringing your businesses online. Globally, digitization has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading many businesses to launch products and services on digital platforms, begin accepting and sending cashless payments, and marketing to new and existing customers using digital tools like social media. Customers are becoming more familiar with these digital interactions, and if managed well by the business, it can be a win-win for customers and entrepreneurs alike. Unfortunately, it may be hard to know where to start in the process of bringing your business online.
While Make-IT Africa, an initiative from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), works to promote digital innovation among West and East African entrepreneurs primarily in the digital sector, the playbook can be used by all kinds of businesses looking to bring their businesses online. It explains in detail the different business models that entrepreneurs can use to digitize their products and services and provides specific examples of the models used by popular platforms such as TripAdvisor, Airbnb, Google, and Facebook.
In addition to helping you understand what kinds of models exist for bringing your business online, the playbook also aims to help you determine how to get there – how to integrate with a platform provider. This includes a toolkit that provides insight into how to adjust existing business models and test assumptions with different business tools like a business model canvas and a strategic roadmap to support you as you map and prioritize objectives and next steps.
To access the full version of the digital business model playbook, visit Business Model Playbook.
Ministry of Trade and Industry's support to SMEs in Rwanda in the face of COVID-19 pandemic
Ministry of Trade and Industry’s support to SMEs in Rwanda in the face of COVID-19 pandemic
The SME Response Clinic spoke with Samuel Kamugisha, the Director–General for Industry Promotion and Entrepreneurship Development at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM). The session sought to understand how MINICOM supports SMEs in Rwanda. The discussion focused on programs and policies the Ministry is implementing to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the interview, Director General Kamugisha gave insights about some of the programs and policies the Ministry is currently developing or implementing, such as a new e-commerce policy, the Economic Recovery Fund, and export promotion strategies.
Additionally, Mr Kamugisha highlighted the role the AFCFTA will play in implementing the Entrepreneurship Development Policy and provided information on how entrepreneurs can access information on the Ministry’s interventions. For the full interview, visit: SMEResponseClinic
Menya Ubukanguramabaga bwa Twiteze Imbere na SME Response Clinic
Menya Ubukanguramabaga bwa Twiteze Imbere na SME Response Clinic
Kuwa 26 Werurwe 2021, SME Response Clinic yatangije ubukangurambaga bwa Twiteze Imbere bugamije kwemera no kwishimira uruhare ibigo by’ubucuruzi bito n’ibiciriritse bigira mu rugamba rwo kuzahura ubukungu bwajahajwe n’Icyorezo cya COVID-19. Ubwo bukangurambaga bwatewe inkunga n’abafatanyabikorwa ba SME Response Clinic, barimo Ikigo Nyafurika cy’Icungamutungo (AMI), kizatanga amafaranga yo guhitamo abazahatanira igihembo gihabwa ikigo cy’ubucuruzi muri ubu bukangurambaga kugira ngo kibashe kwitabira Gahunda yayo ya Komeza Utere Imbere (Survive to Thrive). Gahunda iha abafite ibigo by’ubucuruzi ubumenyi ngiro, ibikoresho, n’ingamba zo guhangana n’ingorane no gutera imbere mu bihe bikomeye.
Umuyobozi w’AMI mu rwego rw’igihugu, Bwana Malik Shaffy Lizinde, yahawe umwanya kuri Radiyo Rwanda wo gukora ikiganiro cy’iminota 30 kuri gahunda y’Amahumbezi. Bwana Malik yavuze muri make ibijyanye n’ubwo bukangurambaga anasobanura mu buryo bwimbitse uburyo ibigo by’ubucuruzi bito n’ibiciriritse bikwiye kwitabira iyi gahunda kugira ngo bibashe kubona miliyoni imwe y’amafaranga y’u Rwanda na serivisi z’ubujyanama bizahabwa n’inzobere.
Get to know the Twiteze Imbere Campaign and SME Response Clinic
On 26th March 2021, the SME Response Clinic launched the Twiteze Imbere campaign to recognize and celebrate the role SMEs play in Rwanda‘s road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign was supported by the partners of the SME Response Clinic, including the African Management Institute (AMI), which will be providing sponsorship to select runners-up of the campaign’s Business Awards competition to participate in its Survive to Thrive programme. The programme equips business owners with the skills, tools, and strategies to navigate challenges and thrive in difficult times.
AMI’s country director, Malik Shaffy Lizinde, was featured on Radio Rwanda for a 30-minute discussion on the Amahumbezi program. Malik gave a detailed overview of the campaign and highlighted how SMEs could engage with the campaign to stand a chance to win 1 million Rwandan Francs and expert advisory services.
Call for Application – Smart Cities Innovation Programme
Call for Application – Smart Cities Innovation Programme
Invest for Jobs, in collaboration with the Rwandan government and Make-IT in Africa, has organized the Smart Cities Innovation Programme (SCIP) to support the growth of digital urban innovations in Rwanda and beyond.
The six-month accelerator programme will support high potential tech start-ups from Rwanda and other African countries working in the same field of smart cities. The programme is divided into three tracks: smart mobility, smart housing & fintech for affordability, supporting ten start-ups.
During the programme, selected start-ups will benefit from individual mentoring, training and intensive networking, matchmaking with international business partners and investors. The call for applications officially opened and will run until the 9th of May 2021.
SCIP will be implemented in collaboration with various partners, including Volkswagen, Siemens, and the African Business Angels Network (ABAN) so that applicants have access to highly specialised technical expertise. Successful start-up applicants will also have the opportunity to use Green City Kigali, Rwanda’s flagship smart city project, to test their solutions and enter the Rwandan market.
To be eligible for the programme, start-ups must have already launched their tech-enabled product or service on the African market and have customers. Start-ups should also have a high growth and job creation potential and a positive social and/or environmental impact. Finally, start-ups from Rwanda and/or with female members in management are preferred at equal qualification.
For more information, visit: Smart Cities Innovation Programme’s website
To apply for this programme, visit: SCIP Application.
In case of questions, reach out to info@scipafrica.com.
Dissemination of Finscope 2020 Gender Report Webinar
Dissemination of Finscope 2020 Gender Report Webinar
On 16th March 2021, LEAD Rwanda in partnership with AFR will host a webinar via zoom to present findings of the Finscope 2020 Gender Report. The webinar will to convene stakeholders in Rwanda’s financial and women empowerment sectors and act as an opportunity for them to make recommendations along with reflecting on policies and interventions that affect women’s uptake of financial services in Rwanda.
SCHEDULE
16th March 2021 at 09:00hrs