African Resilience Initiative for Entrepreneurs offers support for women entrepreneurs
African Resilience Initiative for Entrepreneurs offers support for women entrepreneurs
The African Resilience Initiative for Entrepreneurs (ARIE) is currently working to support businesses through a zero-interest loan program with a strong focus on women entrepreneurs.
What is ARIE?
ARIE is a Pan-African initiative committed to supporting 300 African entrepreneurs – 70% of whom will be women – by providing financial and technical assistance as well as a platform for networking that aims to connect entrepreneurs to potential investors. The initiative was started by Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESPartners) in partnership with the US African Development Foundation (USADF), recognizing that women entrepreneurs have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges they normally face in access to finance, skills building support, markets, and information have been exacerbated by the crisis, and they need additional support to recover, reinvent and rebuild their businesses following the pandemic.
What specific opportunities are available for SMEs?
ARIE will support entrepreneurs from seven countries (Rwanda, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Senegal) and from among the agri-business, manufacturing, energy and renewables, and essential services sectors. Selected SMEs will have the opportunity to receive up to 150,000 USD per firm ( Rwf .150 Million approx.). The funds will be disbursed as an interest-free loan to ensure businesses have the working capital they need to maintain operations and scale despite the pandemic.
ARIE will assign each entrepreneur to a business advisor that will support them in diagnosing and rethinking their strategy and operational efficiencies. They will then have access to a team of experts that will help them adapt to and navigate the present economic reality.
Finally, the ARIE platform will help SMEs harness opportunities unleashed by the establishment of an African Continental Free Trade Area. It will connect African SMEs to potential investors and the networks they require to expand their geographical coverage, thus enhancing their capacity to trade across borders. The ARIE platform will also be a repository on a wide range of topics, including access to markets, building human capacity, and scaling.
How do I apply?
Applications will be available from 24th August through 25th September 2020. Interested SMEs should visit https://bit.ly/ARIE2020 to apply.
For more information, contact:
Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESPartners)
Website: www.espartners.co
Email: info@espartners.co or arie@espartners.co
Rwanda Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs/PSF with Support of UN Women provides Business Clinics for Women-Led Businesses affected by COVID-19 in Rwanda
Rwanda Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs/PSF with Support of UN Women provides Business Clinics for Women-Led Businesses affected by COVID-19 in Rwanda
In Rwanda, women-owned businesses account for about one-third of all businesses, a large portion of the economy. As the PSF – Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs’ mandate is to provide advocacy, capacity building, linkages to local and international markets, and experience sharing among women through networking, they initiated a series of Business Clinics to help their members cope during the COVID-19 pandemic, and build back better.
With support from UN Women, and in partnership with BPN Rwanda and the Kora Coaching Group, the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs assessed their members to find out their challenges and greatest needs during the pandemic. From this assessment, they designed a series of business continuity advisory services combined with psychosocial support services, with one-on-one coaching sessions for a pilot cohort of thirty women-owned businesses in Kigali.
The biggest challenge for women during the pandemic was that it came with no warning, and no business had time to prepare or make a strategy. The major challenges the entrepreneurs faced were that those who had merchandise at customs were unable to access them and had difficulties paying employees when there was no work.
These challenges brought both psychological and professional distress to many businesses. Women in the business clinic needed both support in assessing how their businesses were operating prior to COVID-19, as well as the assistance in making recovery plans for the future.
These interventions have been greatly appreciated by women who were part of the first cohort who noted that they had never imagined that they could find ways to either transform or adjust their business practices to survive the pandemic.
What they have received in terms of knowledge and skills has contributed much more to our businesses than money ever could.”
– Agnès Samputu, Director, PSF Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs
The Chairperson of RCWE insists on the expected outcome and impact of this project on the lives of women entrepreneurs in Rwanda.
“As the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs, the COVID-19 pandemic provides us with a challenge and an opportunity to advocate for systemic changes and appropriate policies, interventions and actions that protect Rwandan women entrepreneurs and all the women in general from being disproportionately affected by shocks like these in the future. It is our belief that these changes could also have a far-reaching effect on the state of women entrepreneurs and women equality in Rwanda at even more stable times, post COVID-19.”
– Jeanne Francoise Mubiligi, The Chairperson, PSF-Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs
UN Women noted that the efforts made through the business clinic to restore women’s businesses and provide the necessary psychosocial support have shown positive results, and that they look forward to continuing these types of business clinics in a sustainable way. Since a core value of UN Women is to “Leave No One Behind,” partners are exploring ways to bring these workshops and mentoring to small businesses in other provinces of the country.
‘‘The COVID-19 crisis is both a health and a socio-economic crisis. With this business clinic we hope to provide the quick and quality support to assist as many women-owned businesses as possible. We have already secured funding to extend the support to 100 women entrepreneurs and we are encouraged that new partners might be joining us in this endeavor. Supporting more women-owned businesses to launch, own and manage small and medium enterprises is integral to our work as UN Women. This is at the heart of our collaboration with the government and with the private sector. As we enter the decade of the SDGs and try to build a better, greener, inclusive, and equitable world post COVID-19, we must ensure that women are not left behind.’’
– Fatou Lo, UN Women Representative in Rwanda
To this end, a second cohort will begin soon. While the situation of COVID-19 is stabilizing to some extent, the knowledge and skills conveyed through the business clinic, along with the psycho-social support and mentoring, have the potential to reach out to small businesses nationwide. It may also help women entrepreneurs who are not aware of the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs to learn about its existence and activities, and motivate them to join.
Currently, the business clinics are available only to those women who are members of the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs in good standing, and who have expressed their needs and committed to participate in the program and improving or transforming their businesses.
How can one become a member of the PSF chamber?
To become a member of the PSF- Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs, a business woman must have a legally registered business, and pay dues on a yearly basis. For more information, contact the Chamber’s Membership Coordinator, Marie Olga Mukayisenga, or visit them on Twitter (@chamberofwomen):
To learn more about the Women’s Business Clinics, you can also check out these videos:
CNBC Africa: Chamber Launches Business Clinics…https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/07/09/chamber-launches-business-clinics-to-support-women-led-businesses/
KORA Coaching Group: Business Clinic Launch Rwanda Women Entrepreneurs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mslpOQ8kUws
CNBC Africa: This Business Advisory Clinic Seeks to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Rwanda https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/07/20/this-business-advisory-clinic-seeks-to-empower-women-entrepreneurs-in-rwanda/
Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera, kuwa 21 Kanama
Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera hamwe na UN Women batanga amahugurwa ku bucuruzi bwa ba Rwiyemezamirimo b’Abagore mu Rwanda.
Mu Rwanda, ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi by’abagore byihariye hafi kimwe cya gatatu cy’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byose, bikaba bigize igice kinini cy’ubukungu. Nk’uko Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera rifite inshingano zo kubakorera ubuvugizi, kubaka ubushobozi, kubahuza n’amasoko yo mu gihugu no hanze yacyo, hamwe no gusangira ubunararibonye hagati y’abagore binyujijwe mu gukorana, batangije uruhererekane rw’amahugurwa ku bucuruzi mu rwego rwo gufasha abanyamuryango babo guhangana n’ibibazo byatewe n’icyorezo cya COVID-19, no kurushaho kwiyubaka.
Ku nkunga ya UN Women, no ku bufatanye na BPN Rwanda hamwe na Kora Coaching Group, Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera bakoze ubushakashatsi ku banyamuryango babo hagamijwe kureba imbogamizi bahura nazo n’ibyo bakeneye kurusha ibindi mu gihe cy’icyorezo. Muri ubwo bushakashatsi, bashyizeho serivisi zitandukanye z’ubujyanama bwakwifashishwa mu gukomeza ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi hamwe na serivisi z’ubujyanama mu rwego rw’imitekerereze n’imibereho myiza, binyujijwe mu masomo ahabwa buri muntu ku giti cye yahawe ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi 30 by’abagore biri mu cyiciro kimwe muri Kigali byakoreweho igeragezwa.
Imbogamizi ikomeye abagore bahuye nayo mu gihe cy’icyorezo ni uko cyaje gitunguranye, bityo nta gihe cyo kwitegura cyangwa cyo gushyiraho ingamba cyabayeho. Imbogamizi zikomeye kandi ba rwiyemezamirimo bahuye nazo ni uko abari bafite ibicuruzwa kuri gasutamo batabashije kubibona, kandi ntibanabasha kwishyura abakozi kuko nta kazi kari gahari.
Izi mbogamizi zateje ibibazo mu rwego rw’imitekerereze no mu rwego rw’akazi ku bacuruzi benshi. Abagore bitabiriye amahugurwa ku bucuruzi bari bakeneye ubufasha mu gusuzuma uko ubucuruzi bwabo bwari buhagaze mbere ya COVID-19, hamwe n’ubufasha mu gushyiraho gahunda zo kuzahura ubukungu mu gihe kizaza.
Abagore bitabiriye icyiciro cya mbere bishimiye ibi bikorwa; bavuze ko batigeze batekereza na rimwe ko bashoboraga guhindura cyangwa kujyanisha n’igihe ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byabo kugira ngo babashe kurokoka icyorezo.
Agnès Samputu, Umuyobozi w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera yagize ati : «ubumenyi n’ubumenyi ngiro baduhaye bwaradufashije cyane mu bucuruzi bwacu kurusha kuba bari kuduha amafaranga.»
Umuyobozi wa RCWE ashimangira inyungu zitezwe n’impinduka nziza uyu mushinga uzagira ku buzima bwa ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore mu Rwanda.
Jeanne Francoise Mubiligi, Umuyobozi w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera yagize ati:
«Nk’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera, icyorezo cya COVID-19 cyatubereye imbogamizi ariko kinatubera uburyo bwo gukora ubuvugizi kugira ngo hakorwe impinduka z’uburyo ibintu bikorwamo, hanashyirweho politiki zikwiriye, hamwe n’ibikorwa byo kurengera ba rwiyemezamirimo b’Abanyarwandakazi ndetse n’abagore bose muri rusange kugira ngo mu gihe kizaza batazongera kwibasirwa n’ibibazo nk’ibi cyane kurusha abandi. Twizera ko izi mpinduka zishobora kugira ingaruka ku mibereho ya ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore benshi no ku buringanire bw’abagore n’abagabo mu Rwanda mu bihe bisanzwe, nyuma ya COVID-19.”
UN Women yagaragaje ko ibyakoze mu mahugurwa yo kuzahura ubucuruzi bw’abagore hamwe no gutanga ubufasha bukenewe mu rwego rw’imitekerereze n’imibereho myiza byatanze umusaruro, kandi ko bateganya kuzakomeza amahugurwa nk’aya ku bucuruzi ku buryo burambye. Bitewe n’uko indangagaciro ngenderwaho ya UN Women igira iti : « Ntagusiga n’umwe inyuma », abafatanyabikorwa bari kwiga uburyo bwo kuzatanga aya mahugurwa n’ubujyanama ku bacuruzi bato mu zindi ntara z’igihugu.
Fatou Lo, Uhagarariye UN Women mu Rwanda yagize ati:
« COVID-19 ni ikibazo gikomeye ku buzima no ku bukungu n’imibereho y’imiryango. Muri aya mahugurwa ku bucuruzi, twizeye ko tuzatanga ubufasha bwihuse kandi bunoze mu gushyigikira ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi by’abagore byinshi bishoboka. Twamaze kubona amafaranga yo kongera ubufasha dutanga bukagera kuri ba rwiyemezamirimo 100 b’abagore, kandi twizeye ko hari abafatanyabikorwa bashya bashobora kuzadushyigikira muri iki gikorwa. Gufasha abagore benshi gutangiza ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi, kugira no kuyobora ibigo by’ubucuruzi bito n’ibiciriritse biri mu nshingano zacu nka UN Women. Iki ni ikintu cy’ingenzi mu mikoranire yacu na guverinoma hamwe n’urwego rw’abikorera. Bitewe n’uko turi muri Gahunda y’Intego z’iterambere rirambye, hamwe no kugerageza kubaka isi nziza kurushaho, yita ku bidukikije, idaheza, kandi idasumbanya nyuma ya COVID-19, tugomba gukora ku buryo abagore badasigara inyuma.»
Ni muri uru rwego, ikindi cyiciro kizatangira vuba. Uko COVID-19 izagenda igabanuka, ubumenyi n’ubumenyi ngiro bwatanzwe mu mahugurwa ku bucuruzi, hamwe n’ubufasha mu rwego rw’imitekerereze n’imibereho, ndetse n’ubujyanama, bizagera ku bacuruzi bato mu gihugu hose. Bizafasha kandi ba rwiyemezamirimo b’abagore batari bazi Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera kumenya ko ririho n’ibikorwa rikora, bityo bikanabatera imbaraga zo kurijyamo.
Muri iyi minsi, amahugurwa ku bucuruzi ahabwa gusa abagore bari mu Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera bagaragaje ko bayakeneye kandi bakiyemeza kugira uruhare muri iyo gahunda, kandi bakanoza cyangwa bagahindura ubucuruzi bwabo.
Ni gute umuntu aba umunyamuryango w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera?
Kugira ngo abe umunyamuryango w’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera, rwiyemezamirimo w’umugore agomba kuba afite ubucuruzi bumwanditseho ku buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, kandi akishyura umusanzu buri mwaka. Ku yandi makuru, wakwegera Umuhuzabikorwa ushinzwe abanyamuryango b’Ishami ry’Abagore mu Rugaga rw’Abikorera, Marie Olga Mukayisenga, cyangwa ukabasura kuri Twitter yabo (@chamberofwomen):
Ushaka kumenya byimbitse ibyerekeranye n’amahugurwa ku bikorwa by’ubucuruzi by’abagore, ushobora kureba aya mashusho:
CNBC Africa: Chamber Launches Business Clinics…https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/07/09/chamber-launches-business-clinics-to-support-women-led-businesses/
KORA Coaching Group: Business Clinic Launch Rwanda Women Entrepreneurs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mslpOQ8kUws
CNBC Africa: This Business Advisory Clinic Seeks to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Rwanda https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/07/20/this-business-advisory-clinic-seeks-to-empower-women-entrepreneurs-in-rwanda/
Free Software That Businesses, Schools and Others Can Use During the COVID-19 Crisis
Free Software That Businesses, Schools and Others Can Use During the COVID-19 Crisis
Are you an NGO, governmental organization or school? These tools can help you to stay on top of your employees and smooth the communication among your team.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations everywhere are looking for business software that supports virtual communication. Businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations along with schools and educational institutions are grappling with the challenges of acquiring remote-working and e-learning technology given liquidity constraints during the pandemic. In response, a number of business software and services companies are rolling out free products and services as well as free customer upgrades to more advanced tools to help organizations cope.
These are some of the products and services already available.
Planning Software
Anaplan
For qualifying nonprofits, government agencies, and other organizations, the platform is free for 90 days to help accelerate their response to the crisis by helping with staff scheduling and call-center rosters.
Digital-workflow management
Quick Base
Healthcare providers, governments, educational institutions and nonprofits can get free access to Quick Base software that helps them with asset tracking through September 30.
Electronic signatures for documents
PandaDoc
PandaDoc has created a free e-signature service with no limits to the number of documents that a user can manage via it.
Cloud content collaboration and storage plus electronic agreements
Dropbox
Dropbox and HelloSign Enterprise will be free for six months for nonprofits and NGOs involved in the battle against COVID-19.
Process management and CRM
Creatio
Through October 1, organizations battling COVID-19 can request free access to help with things such as case management, message handling and call processing.
Are you a businessperson struggling with suppliers and customers?
Payment processing
Bill.com
Businesses that are experiencing a sharp decline in their revenues can get a free, three-month subscription to the service to run payables and receivables remotely.
Cloud-based sales and support
Freshworks
Freshworks is offering their tools for free for the next 6 months to small businesses assisting your customer queries and some elements of remote work. Mid-sized companies can use chatbots from the company via its WhatsApp integration for free too.
Are you having difficulties hiring new staff?
Recruitment software and video interviews
Breezy
The company has made its live video interview and assessment capabilities free to all organizations for at least 60 days
Do you want to create your own website?
Website creation and management
Yahoo
Yahoo Small Business is offering a free package of services that lets companies do things like create a web presence and manage email accounts.
SPARK Rwanda: Providing a Space for Rwandan Entrepreneurs to Learn from Each Other
SPARK Rwanda: Providing a Space for Rwandan Entrepreneurs to Learn from Each Other
SPARK Rwanda creates better jobs and improved access to employment through entrepreneurship development throughout the country. Because many of SPARK’s entrepreneurs live in more rural areas of Rwanda, the COVID-19 pandemic presented a number of challenges in terms of reaching these entrepreneurs with the information and training that they need. Additionally, COVID-19 decreased the person-to-person exchanges to mouth exchange they normally have among each other.
To overcome these challenges, SPARK Rwanda launched a number of initiatives to continue coaching, mentoring, and training entrepreneurs during the lockdown. This led to the creation of the SPARK Rwanda Facebook platform for entrepreneurs (click here to access). This is a peer-to-peer learning platform that any entrepreneur or businessperson in Rwanda can access to share, learn and even collaborate together.
SPARK’s motto is “Dare to ask, dare to share, dare to learn.” By participating in the Facebook group, entrepreneurs have the chance to share their experiences, ask questions, and get advice from the SPARK team, and learn from each other. Many SMEs in Rwanda are facing issues in terms of access to finance and business given the pandemic, and need a place to get more information and get more connected/increase business relations. The group is designed to meet that need.
Working together with Youth Business International (YBI) and Accenture, SPARK will continue to interact with entrepreneurs over Facebook to support SMEs and provide webinars, training, coaching and mentorship, and a place for entrepreneurs to meet virtually – even when it is difficult to meet in person. Given SPARK’s success in business development in Rwanda, becoming part of the network via Facebook can add value to any small business and increase your network.
More broadly in Rwanda, SPARK continues to work with agricultural value chains and in helping cooperatives to become more professional. For these rural entrepreneurs, proximity coaching and mentorship continues as life slowly returns to normal, although much is still done by Skype or by telephone.
SPARK will soon launch their COVID-19 response strategy, so continue to visit the SME Response Clinic for updates.
To learn more about SPARK or to become a member of the online peer-to-peer network, visit:
- Website: https://SPARK.ngo/sub-saharan-africa/rwanda/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPARKRwandaEntrepreneurs/?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: @SPARKorg
SPARK Rwanda: Guha urubuga ba rwayemezamirimo b’Abanyarwanda kugira ngo bigire kuri bagenzi babo
SPARK Rwanda ihanga imirimo inoze, ikanafasha mu kubona akazi ibinyujije muri gahunda zo guteza imbere ba rwiyemezamirimo mu gihugu hose. Bitewe n’uko ba rwayemezamirimo benshi bakorana na SPARK batuye mu bice by’icyaro mu Rwanda, icyorezo cya COVID-19 cyateje imbogamizi nyinshi mu bijyanye no kubagezaho amakuru no kubaha amahugurwa bakeneye. Byongeye kandi, COVID-19 yagabanyije ibiganiro umuntu agirana n’undi bari kumwe bavugana imbonankubone kandi ari bwo buryo bari bamenyereye gukoresha hati ya bo.
Mu gukemura izi mbogamizi, SPARK Rwanda yatangije gahunda zitandukanye zo gukomeza kwigisha, gukurikirana, no guhugura ba rwiyemezamirimo mu gihe cya Guma mu rugo. Ibi byatumye hatangizwa urubuga kuri Facebook ya SPARK Rwanda rwagenewe ba rwiyemezamirimo (kanda hano winjiremo). Ubu ni uburyo umuntu yigira kuri mugenzi we, buri rwiyemezamirimo cyangwa umucuruzi wo mu Rwanda yajyaho agasangira amakuru, akigira ku bandi, bakaba banagirana imikoranire.
Intego ya SPARK ni «Tinyuka ubaze, Tinyuka usangire amakuru n’abandi, Tinyuka wige.» Iyo binjiye mu itsinda ry’abagize urubuga rwa Facebook, ba rwiyemezamirimo baba bafite amahirwe yo gusangiza abandi ubunararibonye bwabo, kubaza ibibazo, guhabwa inama n’itsinda ry’abagize SPARK, no kwigira kuri bagenzi babo. Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse byinshi mu Rwanda bihura n’ibibazo byerekeranye no kugera ku mari n’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bitewe n’icyorezo, bityo, bakaba bakeneye ahantu bakura amakuru n’abandi bantu bagirana imikoranire mu bikorwa by’ubucuruzi. Itsinda ryashyiriweho gukemura icyo kibazo.
Ku bufatanye na Youth Business International (YBI) na Accenture, SPARK izakomeza gukorana na ba rwiyemezamirimo hifashishijwe Facebook mu rwego rwo gushyigikira Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse, no gutanga ibiganiro kuri interineti, amahugurwa, amasomo n’inama, hamwe n’ahantu ba rwiyemezamirimo bahurira – kabone n’ubwo bigoye guhurira hamwe imbonankubone. Hashingiwe ku musaruro mwiza SPARK yagezeho mu guteza imbere ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi mu Rwanda, kujya muri urwo rubuga wifashishije Facebook, byafasha ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi biciriritse ibyo ari byo byose kandi bigatuma birushaho kongera umubare w’abakorana na byo ndetse n’abazi ibyo bikora.
Mu Rwanda muri rusange, SPARK ikomeje gukorana n’abongerera agaciro ibikomoka ku buhinzi, ndetse no gufasha amakoperative kurushaho gukora kinyamwuga. Uko ibintu bigenda bigaruka ku murongo, igenda yegera ba rwiyemezamirimo baba mu bice by’icyaro, ibigisha ikanabagira inama, nubwo ibikorwa byinshi bigikorwa hifashishijwe Skype cyangwa telefoni.
Vuba aha SPARK izatangiza ingamba zayo zo guhangana na COVID-19, bityo rero, mukomeze musure urubuga rwa SME Response Clinic mubashe kubona amakuru agezweho.
Ushaka kumenya byinshi kuri SPARK cyangwa kuba umunyamuryango w’urubuga rwa interineti rwo kugirana inama, wasura:
- Urubuga rwa interineti: https://SPARK.ngo/sub-saharan-africa/rwanda/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPARKRwandaEntrepreneurs/?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: @SPARKorg
Covid-19 Assessment Tool
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.
Mobilizing women entrepreneurs to access the right information for their businesses
Mobilizing women entrepreneurs to access the right information for their businesses
The SME Response Clinic spoke with Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Governor of National Bank of Rwanda and Chairperson of New Faces, New Voices Rwanda, and Ida Ingabire, Secretariat of New Faces New Voices Rwanda, to understand the barriers women face to accessing critical information to help manage their businesses and how SME Response Clinic can help bridge that gap. They emphasize the importance of not just making information available online but also mobilizing women to actually access knowledge with a personal touch. By reducing the persistent information asymmetries, women are better able to access finance.
To learn more, watch the video and participate in our upcoming webinar “Relief Measures Available for Women Entrepreneurs During and Post COVID-19” on July 16 at 3pm on Facebook Live.
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Businesswomen call for streamlined means of access to finance and investment opportunities
SME Response Clinic at Rwanda Broadcasting Agency
Businesswomen call for streamlined means of access to finance and investment opportunities
Check out our upcoming event ‘Relief Measures available for Women Entrepreneurs during and post COVID19′ here.
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.
Survey Conducted to Understand Impact of COVID-19 on MFIs and SACCOs in Rwanda
Survey Conducted to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on MFIs and SACCOs in Rwanda
Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) in partnership with the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR) recently conducted a survey to understand the impact and challenges faced by the microfinance sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 177 microfinance institutions responded to the survey, which aims to provide key information to inform stakeholders and policymakers on ways to provide support to the sector. The survey revealed various mitigation measures implemented by the sector to stay afloat during the pandemic; however, the sector needs external support to meet a variety of needs going forward. These include the urgent need for liquidity, to digitize operations, and for the extension of relief from BNR to support liquidity.
The focus note and research findings can be found here: Focus Note and Research Findings.
For more information, reach out to AFR at info@afr.rw or AMIR here.
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?