Do you have a tech initiative that drives civic participation? Apply for Round I of the Africa Union Civic Tech Fund by 16 January 2022!
Do you have a tech initiative that drives civic participation? Apply for Round I of the Africa Union Civic Tech Fund by 16 January 2022!
The African Union Civic Tech Fund is a pan-African competition seeks to support innovative civic initiatives that demonstrate the potential to lead to citizen-led transformative action across the African continent. Through the Fund, select initiatives will be awarded financial support ranging from EUR 10,000 to EUR 20,000 over an implementation period of six months to be focused on upscaling, adaptation, or replication of pre-existing civic tech initiatives. Support may also be channeled towards funding the deployment of civic technology in partnership with a particular citizen group or civil society that does not have the expertise to do so independently.
In addition to financial support, the Fund will also provide technical support, including:
- Technical support
- Virtual inception/acceleration week (hosted by AfriLabs)
- Provision of embedded technical expertise through the engagement of civic tech specialists
- Thematic support
- Provision of thematic expertise on democracy support, African Union governance & continental policymaking
- Marketing, communication & showcasing support
- Facilitation of access to decision-makers at the African Union level as well as the international development community
- Peer-to-peer learning & networking
- Facilitation of exchange between recipients and other members of related civic tech ecosystems
Priorities for the Fund are across relevant areas such as participation in public space and public discourse, electoral cycles and elections, rule of law and orderly transfers of power between governments, democratic culture and political pluralism, peace and security, and human, economic, and sustainable development. An example of a potential initiative would be one that may propose to leverage technology to enable citizens to have a voice on key issues within their constituencies such as by encouraging participation in digital councils.
Interested applicants must fulfill the following to apply:
- Legal entity
- Registered in an African Union Member State
- Able to sign a service contract agreement (as opposed to a grant contract agreement)
- Not be bankrupt, in the process of being wound up, nor have its affairs administered by the courts
- Must not have received an adverse audit opinion from its own auditors or its donors’ auditor
- Must have policies in place and/or practices in place to guarantee the ethical management of personal identifiable information
Proposals are due 16 January 2022. Preliminary award decisions will be made in February 2022, with implementation set to take place between April and September 2022.
For more information about the Fund, visit: CIVIC TECH FUND
To apply, visit: CIVIC TECH FUND Application
Embracing Digital Literacy program available for women entrepreneurs
Embracing Digital Literacy program available for women entrepreneurs
The Africa Women’s Entrepreneurship Program Rwanda (AWEP Rwanda) in partnership with the US Embassy is offering an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to acquire different skills they need to further their businesses through the Embracing Digital Literacy training program. AWEP Rwanda is an outreach, education, and engagement initiative that targets women entrepreneurs. Through the program, participants will learn skills in:
- Market Searching
- Business Communication
- Designing Marketing Materials
- Effective Business Locating
- Budgeting
The program is meant to be very interactive and practical, and entrepreneurs will learn both skills on how to incorporate ICT tools in their business activities as well as gain access to a forum of women entrepreneurs that will extend beyond the length of the program. Program participants will also have the opportunity to be able to join the AWEP Rwanda network.
To be eligible for the program, women entrepreneurs must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and have a legally registered business. Proof of registration will be required as part of the application process.
The program will take place in four districts of Kigali, Huye, Kayonza, and Rubavu. The program in Kigali will take place from 19th to 20th of November 2020. Dates for other districts will be communicated later.
For more information and application details, click here: Application Details
For any questions, please contact: +250 788 358 891 or aweprwanda@gmail.com.
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
AMI Online Business Survival Bootcamp
Grow your business skills through AMI's Free Online Bootcamps!
With the aim of equipping businesses with practical tools to face challenges brought by COVID-19, African Management Institute (AMI) is conducting a FREE COVID -19 Business Survival Bootcamp, with two different tracks. You can sign up for either one track or both tracks depending on your business needs.
- Track 1: Financial Forecasting & Cost Management Bootcamp helps you with immediate action to the threats to your businesses is facing. This track focuses on mapping out scenarios, assessing and addressing risks to your business, reviewing tools to forecast your cash flow, and defining short-term strategies. July 28th, 2020 at 15:00 pm (Kinyarwanda)
- Track 2: Reboot & Adapt Your Business: Innovation in the “New Normal” will provide you with the next steps to reboot your business, relaunch, and drive new sales. This track focuses on identifying opportunities for innovation and growth, performing market analysis, validating your new idea, and financial modeling forecasting for new products. August 11th, 2020 at 15:00 pm (English)
BOTH TRACKS INCLUDE:
- A 90-minute virtual learning session
- Access to additional courses and tools to help implement learnings for two weeks
- Opportunity to interact and network with other entrepreneurs in Rwanda
Both training webinars are designed specifically for business owners and entrepreneurs. Attendance is restricted at these sessions to keep them highly interactive, so please only sign up if you’re an entrepreneur (AMI will be organizing separate webinars for managers and leaders). Please share with other entrepreneurs and business owners in your network.
How to Access the Training
What Participants Had to Say About the Training
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.
How to Access AMI's Free Training
How to Access AMI’s Free Training
We know things are tough for entrepreneurs right now and believe you want to explore ways of improving your business in the face of COVID-19. The 90-minute webinar, Reboot and Adapt Your Business: Innovation in the “New Normal,” is a great place to start! There are only two simple steps you need to follow to participate in the AMI’s free training.
Step 1. Sign up by filling out this form. Once you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email. The email will include a link to a platform called Zoom.
Step 2. About 10 minutes before the webinar begins, open the confirmation email and click on the meeting link, and it will launch the platform. Then, the facilitator will walk you through how to use the platform.
If you have any trouble, reach out via WhatsApp at +250 78 7339 435 or via email at rwanda@africanmanagers.org. After the webinar, you will receive an email with log-in information to access free tools and to engage in a community discussion with participants.
You can ask questions anytime either via the Reboot and Adapt community on the AMI platform or via the WhatsApp group.
AMI Online Bootcamp: Tools for Managing Risk and Learning from Others - Mathew Rwahigi
AMI Online Bootcamp: Tools for Managing Risk and Learning from Others
Improve your business management skills with AMI’s free Bootcamp and Trainings:
Bootcamp: Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 – https://smeresponse.clinic/2020/07/19/ami-business-bootcamp/
Testimonial: Matthew Rwahigi, Owner, Thella Café – Saturday May 30, 2020
Matthew Rwahigi, a small business owner in Gisozi, was hit hard when the COVID-19 lockdowns began in Kigali. Luckily, as a participant in AMI’s trainings for small businesses, he learned the skills to negotiate with suppliers and his landlords and to make the tough decisions needed to help his business survive.
“The conversations and hearing from other colleagues through the AMI workshops, you feel like you’re not alone. At first I thought maybe I was in the wrong business, this was a bad idea, I just burnt my savings for no good reasons. But then you hear other people and you feel that you are in this with so many others. It gives you the strength to stay the course and find the resources to manage.”
What was most valuable for you about the AMI trainings?
First, I learned to focus on learning how to manage a business. I got to focus a bit on my business. Since I Getting to focus a bit – I hadn’t done business in the past, I did not have the tools and skills to plan and make tough decisions, like having to lay off staff.
Second, I benefited from networking and finding out what other people are going through. I learned a lot from this. I really value the community of business people and their input, because if my business is going to survive, I need these relationships. Now at least I have some knowledge, and if my business doesn’t survive, and if I started another business I would be better informed, and more empowered.
How has AMI supported you?
AMI is there when you need to ask a question, to give you tips and ideas. There is an online business portal with tools and courses, and these are important in continuing to build skills.
“The AMI group really helped us in empowering us to feel that this is not the end of the road, to have a feeling that yes, there is a pandemic but you can still try to tune your business up a bit to survive the pandemic, and even have an opportunity to continue after the pandemic.”
Improve your business management skills with AMI’s free Bootcamp and Trainings:
Bootcamp: Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 – https://smeresponse.clinic/2020/07/19/ami-business-bootcamp/
Amahugurwa ya AMI atangwa kuri interineti: Amasomo ku Guhangana n’Ibibazo no Kwigira ku Bandi
Ongera ubumenyi bwawe bwo gucunga ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi ubikesheje amahugurwa ya AMI atangwa ku buntu:
Amahugurwa: kuwa kabiri, tariki ya 14 Nyakanga2020 –https://www.africanmanagers.org/rwandabusinessbootcamp/
Ubuhamya: Matthew Rwahigi, Nyiri Thella Café – Kuwa gatandatu tariki ya 30 Gicurasi, 2020
Matthew Rwahigi, ufite igikorwa cy’ubucuruzi buto ku Gisozi, yahuye n’ibibazo bikomeye igihe gahunda ya “guma mu rugo” yatangiraga muri Kigali bitewe na COVID-19. Ku bw’amahirwe, bitewe n’uko yitabiriye amahugurwa ya AMI ku bikorwa by’ubucuruzi buto, yigiyemo uburyo bwo kuganira n’abamuha ibicuruzwa ndetse n’abo akodeshereza inzu mu rwego rwo gufata ibyemezo bikomeyo byo gutuma ubucuruzi bwe burokoka.
“Ibiganiro hamwe n’ibyo wumvana bagenzi bawe mu gihe cy’amahugurwa ya AMI, bituma wumva utari wenyine. Mbere nabanje kumva ko ahari nahisemo nabi ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi nakoraga, ariko ibi ntibyari byo, ahubwo napfushije ubusa ibyo nari narizigamye nta mpamvu. Ariko iyo wumvise abandi bantu, wumva ko hari abandi bantu benshi musangiye ibibazo. Bityo bikagutera imbaraga zo gukomeza no gushaka ubushobozi bwo kubikemura.”
Ni iki cyakugiriye akamaro kurusha ibindi mu mahugurwa ya AMI?
Icyambere, nize gushyira imbaraga mu gucunga igikorwa cy’ubucuruzi. Nabashije gushyira imbaraga kurushaho ku bucuruzi bwanjye. Kuva natangira gushyira imbaraga ku bucuruzi bwanjye kurushaho – nabonye ko mbere ntakoraga ubucuruzi, sinari narabonye amasomo n’ubumenyi mu gutegura gahunda no gufata ibyemezo bikomeye, nko kwirukana abakozi.
Icyakabiri, nungukiye mu guhura n’abandi no kumenya ibibazo abandi bahura na byo. Ibi byanyigishije byinshi. Rwose mpa agaciro abandi bacuruzi n’ibitekerezo byabo, kugira ngo ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byanjye bikomeze, ngomba kugirana imikoranire na bo. Ubu nibura mfite ubumenyi, kandi niyo ibi bikorwa by’ubucuruzi byanjye byahagarara, ngatangira ibindi, naba mfite amakuru n’ubushobozi bihagije.
Ni gute AMI yagufashije?
Iyo ukeneye kubaza ikibazo runaka, AMI ikubwira amayeri wakoresha, ikanaguha ibitekerezo. Bafite ipaji ku rubuga rwabo rwa interineti yifashishwa mu gushakisha amakuru ku bucuruzi, iriho ibyo wakenera n’amasomo, kandi ibi ni ingenzi mu rwego rwo gukomeza kongera ubumenyi.
“Itsinda rya AMI ryadufashije rwose kumva ko ubuzma butahagaze, kumva ko hari icyorezo, ariko ko dushobora gukomeza guteza imbere ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi tukabasha kurokoka icyorezo, kandi ko dufite amahirwe yo gukomeza nyuma y’icyorezo.”
Ongera ubumenyi bwawe bwo gucunga ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi ubikesheje amahugurwa ya AMI atangwa ku buntu:
Amahugurwa: kuwa kabiri, tariki ya 14 Nyakanga, 2020 –https://www.africanmanagers.org/rwandacovidwebinars/
Sign Up Today! / Iyandikishe uyu munsi!
Reboot & Adapt Your Business: Innovation in the “New Normal”
With the aim of equipping businesses with practical tools to face challenges brought by COVID-19, African Management Institute (AMI) is conducting a FREE COVID -19 Business Survival Bootcamp. This short learning programme focuses on Reboot & Adapt Your Business: Innovation in the “New Normal” with practical tools and strategies for quickly adapting your products and business.
The bootcamp is designed specifically for business owners and entrepreneurs. Attendance is restricted at these sessions to keep them highly interactive, so please only sign up if you’re an entrepreneur (AMI will be organizing separate webinars for managers and leaders). Please share with other entrepreneurs and business owners in your network.
SCHEDULE
9th July 2020 at 1030hrs (Kigali) / English | Open
Have questions? Please email smeresponseclinic@gmail.com
“This initiative that has helped us through business counseling and support during this pandemic, COVID-19. We need it because it is not easy to work in this period. I am hopeful that we shall overcome. ”
Marume O.M., the Managing Director of Gout Africaine Ltd / Africano Restaurant in Huye.
Covid - 19 Immediate response bootcamp
To help African businesses continue to thrive, AMI will offer an interactive webinar aimed at preparing businesses to navigate through the initial challenges including access to the ‘COVID-19 Business Survival Toolkit’ through our platform community.
AMI will cover topics aimed at helping businesses navigate the near-term challenges, and prepare for possible bigger shifts – such as managing remote teams, leading in a crisis, optimising health and hygiene at work, as well as financial forecasting and cost management in an economic slowdown
I find the tools to be really helpful and I actually shared a bunch of them with my team. But the cashflow tool was the most useful. We're now using it every two weeks as a team. I think it's great that cash was the main focus of the webinars because that's what is at the top of everyone's mind. One of the participants actually said that if you don't take care of cash then all other things won't go as smoothly as they should."~Liz Robertson, Head of Talent, PowerGen, Kenya
"I am a retailer, I've been in business for 20 years now, but I've never had the opportunity to work with tools like the ones from AMI, that can help me run my business. So getting a chance to learn like this was a gift from heaven. Your programmes are very interesting, especially for the African setting.I now have a team of 6 people, they were 9 but I had to reduce to 6 and I got the answer from the Bootcamp and the courses. I realised some of the roles were overlapping and so it made sense to review, restructure and cut costs where we needed to. Initially, it was tough to see this but after taking the webinar and using the tools it became clear. For now, as an entrepreneur, I can say that I am confident that we can continue operating until the end of the year but I really hope that this crisis will soon end." - Yatha Penelungundu, retail business owner, Lesotho