gutangiza

Urashaka gutangiza ikigo cy’ubucuruzi? Hitamo imiterere y’ikigo yemewe n’amategeko ikwiye

Urashaka gutangiza ikigo cy’ubucuruzi? Hitamo imiterere y’ikigo yemewe n’amategeko ikwiye

 Ikintu cy’ingenzi gikwiye kwitabwaho iyo umuntu atangije ikigo cy’ubucuruzi ni imiterere y’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi yemewe n’amategeko aba  agenga ubwo bucuruzi. Mu Rwanda, ikigo cy’ubucuruzi gishobora kuba ari umutungo bwite w’umuntu ku giti cye, cyangwa kiba ari sosiyete. Imiterere y’ikigo yemewe n’amategeko  umuntu ahitamo igira ingaruka ku byerekeranye n’ubwoko n’umubare w’abanyamigabane ( ba nyirisosiyete) icyo kigo kiba gishobora kugira, uburyozwe bw’umuntu ku giti cye ku byerekeranye n’imyenda y’ikigo, no ku kiguzi cyo gutangiza no gufata neza ikigo cy’ubucuruzi cye.

Dore imwe muri iyo miterere n’ibyiza n’ibibi byayo.

  1. Umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye:

Iyi miterere kenshi na kenshi iba myiza kurusha iyindi iyo rwiyemezamirimo umwe atangije ikigo cy’ubucuruzi. Ku byerekeranye n’ibyiza, biroroha gutangiza no kwandikisha ikigo cy’ubucuruzi cy’umuntu ku giti cye. Kandi, nk’umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye, umuntu akomeza kugira ububasha busesuye bwo kugenzura ibikorwa by’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi. Ikindi kintu cyiza kiba gihari ni uko inshingano zihoraho zo kubahiriza ibisabwa ziba  nkeya kuberako umuntu aba adasabwa gukoresha inama rusange, gukora amaraporo, gukora raporo z’umwaka, cyangwa kugaragaza inyungu za buri mwaka. Ikintu kibi cy’ingenzi cyo kuba ikigo cy’ubucuruzi runaka ari umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye ni uko nyiracyo aryozwa we wenyine ibyo ikigo cy’ubucuruzi cye kiba kigomba  abandi, harimo n’imyenda ishobora gushyira umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye mu ngorane iyo icyo kigo cy’ubucuruzi gihuye n’ingorane zo mu rwego rw’imari.

  1. Ikigo cy’ubucuruzi cy’ubufatanye:

Ubu bwoko bw’imiterere y’ubucuruzi bwemewe mu rwego rw’amategeko mu Rwanda kuva muri 2021. Ni ubufatanye buba hagati y’abantu babiri cyangwa barenga bemera gukorera ubucuruzi bwabo hamwe. Buri wese ku giti cye ashora amafaranga, umutungo, imbaraga, n’ubuhanga bwe mu kigo cy’ubucuruzi noneho agateganya uruhare azagira ku nyungu no ku bihombo. Ibigo by’ubucuruzi by’ubufatanye bitangiza amafaranga macye, biroroha kubishinga, kandi ababigize bakagabana inyungu. Ba nyirabyo batanga imisoro ku nyungu bwite gusa. Iyo umwe mu banyamuryango ashatse kuva mu kigo cy’ubucuruzi cy’ubufatanye, ashobora kukivanamo inyungu ze.

Ku ruhande rw’ibibi, uburyozwe bw’umuntu ku giti cye bukomeza kuba ikibazo. Biragora kandi kwegeranya amafaranga kandi kubona abafatanyabikorwa bakwiye rimwe na rimwe biba ari ingorabahizi.

  1. Sosiyete

Sosiyete ni ikigo cyemewe n’amategeko gifasha rwiyemezamirimo gutandukanya umutungo we bwite n’uw’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi. Ibi bishaka kuvuga ko abantu bashobora imari muri sosiyete ( abanyamigabane baryozwa gusa imyenda y’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi kugeza ku gaciro k’amafaranga baba barayishoyemo. Kubera iyo mpamvu rero, ni uburyo bwiza cyane bwo kureshya ishoramari budashyira umutungo w’umuntu ku giti cye mu ngorane. Ariko, ni bwo bwoko bw’imyubakire y’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi bwemewe n’amategeko butwara amafaranga menshi mu kugihanga, buragenzurwa cyane, kandi bukenera kubika inyandiko cyane. Bwanyuma, isoreshwa rikorwa inshuro ebyiri. Habaho umusoro ku nyungu za sosiyete n’umusoro ku nyungu bwite.

Iyi nyandiko igaragaza mu magambo macye imiterere y’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi yemewe n’amategeko iba iri imbere yawe iyo ugiye gutangira ikigo cy’ubucuruzi. Ukeneye andi makuru, washaka umunyamategeko cyangwa inzobere mu bijyanye n’imisoro mu gihe waba ufite ibibazo runaka.

Sura urubuga rwa Rwanda Development Board kugirango umenye ibijyanye no kwiyandikisha mubucuruzi

Launching a Business? Choose the Right Legal Structure

A major factor to consider when starting a business is the legal structure. In Rwanda, your business can be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation. The structure you select will impact the kind and number of shareholders (co-owners of the firm) you can have, your personal accountability for business debts, and the costs of beginning and maintaining your business.

Learn more about these structures and their advantages and disadvantages.

  1. Sole proprietorship:

This structure is usually best when a single entrepreneur launches a business. On the plus side, it is easier to set up and register a sole proprietorship, and as the sole proprietor, you retain complete control over the business’s operations. A major plus is that ongoing compliance responsibilities are limited since you are not required to have general meetings, submit yearly reports, or file annual returns.

The primary drawback of being a sole proprietor is that you are personally accountable for all business obligations, including debts, which can put your personal assets at risk should you find your business in financial trouble.

  1. Partnerships:

This form of legal structure has only been allowed in Rwanda since early 2021. It is an alliance of 2 or more people who agree to conduct a business together. Each individual invests money, property, effort, and expertise in the firm and anticipates a share of the gains and losses.

Partnerships have low startup costs, are simple to create, and members share the profits. Owners are taxed only on their own personal income. If a partner wants to leave the partnership, they may withdraw from their corporate interests.

On the downside, personal liability may still be an issue. Raising more funds and finding acceptable partners are also sometimes challenging.

 

  1. Corporation

A corporation is a legally recognized entity that enables the entrepreneur to separate personal assets from your business. This means that people who invest in the firm (shareholders) are only liable for the business’s debts up to the value of their investment. As a result, it is a highly effective method of attracting investment without risking your personal wealth. However, it is the most expensive legal business structure to form, is highly regulated, and requires considerable record keeping. Finally, there is double taxation, first on company profits and then on your personal earnings.

This is a quick review of the legal structures available to you when starting a business. For more advice, seek a legal or tax specialist if you have any specific concerns.


Survive to Thrive

Apply for the Survive to Thrive Programme

Are you a member of KCB Bank Rwanda Biashara Club or a client of Bank Populaire Rwanda? Apply for the Survive to Thrive Programme 

KCB Bank Rwanda, in partnership with ConsumerCentriX and the African Management Institute, invite their SME clients to participate in an exciting 4-month entrepreneurial journey with online courses, virtual learning labs, and practical tools.

The Survive to Thrive Programme will allow an entrepreneur and one (1) senior staff from their business the opportunity to learn how to set SMART growth goals and implement new business habits and tools to support business growth. Upon completing the programme, participants will have access to AMI’s Growth Network, an exclusive community of ambitious African entrepreneurs who have successfully graduated from AMI programmes. Participants will gain access to premium services such as AMI’s Finance Link for funding opportunities, mentoring and coaching networks, exclusive networking events, and continued access to AMI’s world-class business tools, courses, and resources.

New deadline: June 7th, 2022

Apply here: https://bit.ly/AMI-CCX-Entrepreneurship 


Tourism Challenge

Are you a startup in the tourism sector with a solution to the UN SDGs? Apply for the Awake Tourism Challenge before 30 June 2022

Tourism Challenge

Are you a startup in the tourism sector with a solution to the UN SDGs? Apply for the Awake Tourism Challenge before 30 June 2022

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, invites applicants for the Awake Tourism Challenge. Through the Challenge, UNWTO seeks to support the most innovative startups working to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Challenge seeks solutions to six challenges: local and community involvement, green and blue economies, ecological and sustainable capita creation, tourism tech for good, tourism education, and women empowerment.

Successful applicants will benefit from the following:

  • Pitch at a UNWTO Demo Day
  • Curated mentorship programme including one-on-one and in-group sessions focused on Intellectual Property (IP), sustainability, business, and leadership
  • Connection to the UNWTO Innovation Network for meeting public and private stakeholders to explore funding and piloting opportunities
  • Potential matchmaking with partners to scale up the startups, including investors, corporations, and governments

The Challenge targets startups that meet the following criteria:

  • Innovative in nature, providing value-added solutions
  • Sustainability-driven
  • Scalable potential for international growth or to be applied by corporations and in other countries or regions
  • Early-stage or series A startup
  • Introduction or adoption of digital and technological elements
  • Have a tested pilot and business plan
  • Have been accelerated before
  • Have a full-time team including at least 2 members under 35 years; gender balance will also be considered.

Applicants will be subject to further evaluation to assess their contribution to SDGs, potential business impact, maturity of the product or technology, team and organisation maturity, and partnership readiness.

To apply for this Challenge, visit: Applications

For more information on the Challenge, visit: UNWTO Awake Tourism Challenge


Future to Work program

Are you an impact-driven company with a focus on solving unemployment? Apply for the Future to Work program before 29 April 2022

Are you an impact-driven company with a focus on solving unemployment? Apply for the Future to Work program before 29 April 2022

Village Capital, an impact investment company in partnership with Moody’s Foundation, invites startups across Sub-Saharan Africa to apply for the Future to Work 2022 program. Future to Work supports impact-focused startups leveraging highly sensitive data to improve quality and access to digital, financial, and healthcare services. Venture Capital aims to help entrepreneurs with investment readiness training through the program.

Successful applicants will benefit from the following during the program:

  • Networking with fellow impact-driven founders in their cohort
  • Mentorship from investors
  • Interactive, tailored training sessions to support startup companies identify early milestones and preparing them for the next round of capital
  • Coaching from an investment analyst on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and using financial metrics
  • Feature on Village Capital’s program website and other collateral

Interested applicants must have ventures addressing unemployment through the following:

  • Technical, professional, upskilling, or reskilling programs
  • Testing and credentialing programs
  • New approaches to apprenticeship or employment matching, such as gig, job matching, and distributed manufacturing platforms
  • Financial health for informal workers and/or
  • Edtech for post-secondary and tertiary institutions

To apply for this program, visit: Future to Work Applications


Startup

Are you a tech startup interested in scaling up your business? Apply for the Microsoft for Startups challenge before 23 May 2022

Are you a tech startup interested in scaling up your business? Apply for the Microsoft for Startups challenge before 23 May 2022

Microsoft for Startups, a global program supported by a team of startup veterans and industry experts, invites applicants for the Microsoft for Startups Challenge. Microsoft for Startups aims to provide a customized set of offerings and resources to support tech startups grow from ideation to scale.

Through the challenge, participants will gain:

  • Opportunity to unlock up to $150,000 in free Azure credits (a perk offered by Microsoft to save money on your cloud bill)
  • Access to robust development and productivity tools, including GitHub and Microsoft 365
  • Mentorship guidance from business and technical experts
  • Startup-friendly offers from Microsoft partners
  • Access to VivaTech onsite event (annual networking event for tech entrepreneurs)

Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a startup engaged in developing a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of your current or intended business – this software must be owned, not licensed
  • Have a startup that has not already received more than a total of $10,000 in free Azure
  • Have headquarters residing in the countries covered by our Azure global infrastructure (including…[insert ones relevant to us in Africa])
  • Have a startup that has not gone through a Series D or later funding round
  • Have a for-profit business that is not an educational institution, government entity, personal blog, dev shop, consultancy, agency, bitcoin or crypto mining company

To apply for the Microsoft for Startups Challenge, create an account at Challenge Signup


Katapult Africa

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  


empower women

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, 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 

(See descriptions here) 

  • 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 

 


Women Entrepreneurs

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. 

Learn More 

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