Rwanda's Entrepreneurship Development Landscape
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Transcript of Rwanda's Entrepreneurship Development Landscape
Entrepreneurship Development Landscape
Mapping the Entrepreneurship Service Providers in Rwanda
Prepared by: Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center
PO Box 319 Kigali, Rwanda
September 2011
Abstract
This report maps the various support services available to entrepreneurs in Rwanda while providing
basic information about the organizations that deliver these services and a general analysis of the
entrepreneurship development field. It provides valuable information for all stakeholders, including
entrepreneurs, government, and service providers, and it is our hope that this shared knowledge will
pave the way for increased communication and collaboration throughout the sector. Ultimately, the
aim of the report is to be a useful resource that provides a basic overview of the field so that all
current and future actors can more easily understand where they can get involved and with whom,
and how their activities fit into the larger picture of entrepreneurship development in Rwanda.
Entrepreneurship Development Landscape
Mapping the Entrepreneurship Service Providers in Rwanda
Prepared by: Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center
September 2011
2
©2011 Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center
231 Forest St. Office of Undergraduate Dean Babson Park, MA 02457 Telephone: +1 781 239 5660 Email: [email protected]
P.O. Box 319 Kigali, Rwanda Telephone: +250 78 283 5578/96
This report is a product of the Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center (BREC). The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of Babson College or the Rwandan Private Sector Federation. The Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work.
Rights and Permissions
The material in this report is copyrighted. The information herein can be freely copied, distributed,
and used as is, as long as credit is given to the Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center. If you have
any questions regarding the copyright of this report, please contact [email protected].
Contact
US
Dennis Hanno
Undergraduate Dean, Babson College
Executive Director, BREC
+1 781 239 5660
Rwanda
Benjamin Cox
Country Director, BREC
+250 78 283 5596
Christopher Smith
Country Director, BREC
+250 78 283 5578
3
About the Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center
The Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center (BREC) was formed in 2010 through a unique
partnership between Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. (USA) and the Rwandan Private Sector
Federation (PSF). Since its inception, BREC has engaged in a number of activities aimed at advancing
entrepreneurship in Rwanda, including research, trainings, workshops, business plan development,
coaching, and consulting services.
BREC works intimately with experts from both Babson College and PSF to develop and deliver
valuable services to a wide spectrum of stakeholders in Rwanda’s entrepreneurship ecosystem,
including students, business leaders, government agencies, universities, and other not-for-profit
organizations. The Center is staffed by Babson employees and housed within the PSF headquarters
in Kigali, Rwanda.
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Contents
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 6
I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 8
Background ................................................................................................................... 8
Research Objectives ...................................................................................................... 8
Methodology................................................................................................................. 9
Definition of Entrepreneurship ..................................................................................... 9
II. Research Findings ..................................................................................................................... 11
Trends ......................................................................................................................... 11
General ........................................................................................................ 11
Target markets ............................................................................................. 11
Programming ............................................................................................... 11
Staffing ......................................................................................................... 12
Opportunities .............................................................................................................. 13
General ........................................................................................................ 13
Target Markets ............................................................................................ 13
Programming ............................................................................................... 13
Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 15
III. Entrepreneurship Service Provider Overviews ......................................................................... 16
African Innovation Prize (AIP) ..................................................................................... 17
Akilah Institute for Women ........................................................................................ 18
Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center (BREC) ..................................................... 19
Bridge2Rwanda (B2R) ................................................................................................. 21
Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) .......................................................................... 22
CEFE International....................................................................................................... 23
Center for Business Solutions (CBS) ............................................................................ 24
Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda (DOT) .................................................................... 26
Educat ......................................................................................................................... 28
Education Development Center (EDC) ........................................................................ 30
Generation Rwanda .................................................................................................... 31
Global Relief and Development Partners (GRDP) ....................................................... 33
Goldman Sachs ............................................................................................................ 34
Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) ................................... 35
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International Labour Organization (ILO) ..................................................................... 37
Junior Chamber International (JCI) ............................................................................. 38
Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) ....................................................... 40
Private Sector Federation (PSF) .................................................................................. 42
Rwanda Business Development Center ...................................................................... 44
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) ............................................................................ 46
Rwanda Entrepreneurship Week ................................................................................ 48
School of Finance and Banking (SFB) .......................................................................... 49
United Entrepreneurship Coalition ............................................................................. 51
Youth Employment Systems (YES) .............................................................................. 53
IV. Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 55
Appendix I: Definitions of Support Services ............................................................... 56
Appendix II: Support Services for Entrepreneurs in Rwanda by Organization ........... 58
Appendix III: Levels of Support Services for Entrepreneurs in Rwanda ..................... 59
Appendix IV: Positioning Map of Service Providers by Target Markets ..................... 60
Appendix V: Definition of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises ................................. 61
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Abbreviations
AIP African Innovation Prize
B2R Bridge2Rwanda
BDC Rwanda Business Development Center
BDS Business Development Services
Bpeace Business Council for Peace
BREC Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center
CBS Center for Business Solutions
CED Centre for Entrepreneurship Development
CEFE Competency based Economies through Formation of Enterprise
CITT Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer
DFID United Kingdom Department for International Development
DOT Digital Opportunity Trust
EDC Education Development Center, Inc.
ESP Entrepreneurship Service Provider
GRDP Global Relief and Development Partners
GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (German Corporation for
Technical Cooperation)
IEEW Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women
ILO International Labour Organization
IT Information Technology
JCI Junior Chamber International
KIST Kigali Institute of Science and Technology
MET Micro-Enterprise Training
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NUR National University of Rwanda
PSF Private Sector Federation
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RDB Rwanda Development Board
REW Rwanda Entrepreneurship Week
RwF Rwandan Franc
SFB School of Finance and Banking
SME Small and Medium Enterprise (Note: the definition of SME varies widely, even
among institutions in Rwanda. The Rwanda Development Board definition of SME is
included in Appendix V.)
TBIF Technology and Business Incubation Facility
UEC United Entrepreneurship Coalition
USA United States of America
USAID United States Agency for International Development
YES Youth Employment Systems
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I. Introduction
Background
In September 2010, Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. (USA) entered into a partnership with the
Rwandan Private Sector Federation (PSF) with a mission to support Rwanda’s development by
strengthening its entrepreneurial capacity. Within weeks, the Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship
Center (BREC) launched its operations in Kigali and began working on a number of entrepreneurship-
related initiatives. It soon became clear that many other individuals and organizations were
operating in Rwanda with similar goals.
BREC became interested in how these actors were engaging entrepreneurs, the levels of success
they were achieving, and the challenges they were facing in their work to support aspiring and active
business owners throughout the country. This process of trying to understand the activities and
impact of these Entrepreneurship Service Providers (ESPs) revealed minimal amounts of
communication and coordination between key stakeholders – the different actors were largely
unaware of each other and rarely worked together despite having common objectives. Inspired by
this realization, BREC envisioned the publication of a report which would highlight the activities of
the various ESPs and provide a basic understanding of the field so that all current and future actors
would have a well-informed sense of how they fit into the larger picture of entrepreneurship
development in Rwanda.
Throughout the first half of 2011, BREC conducted a series of interviews which asked each ESP
detailed questions about their histories, objectives, activities, targets, and staff. The results of these
interviews have been summarized and included within this report as ESP Overviews. The full
spectrum of interviews allowed for an objective analysis of the field and key findings are included in
the Trends and Opportunities sections. Various types of support services are referenced throughout
the report and definitions have therefore been included in Appendix I.
Ultimately, the report is meant to provide valuable information that can pave the way for increased
communication and collaboration throughout the field. The aim is to be a useful resource that can
help all stakeholders - including entrepreneurs, government, and ESPs – to navigate the
entrepreneurship development ecosystem and understand where they can get involved, and with
whom.
Research Objectives
Identify all parties directly involved in supporting Rwandans in their entrepreneurial
endeavors.
Map the array of entrepreneurship support services being offered and their respective
targets.
Provide an informed analysis of support available to entrepreneurs and the gaps that remain
in the field.
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Methodology
This research was exploratory in nature with the purpose of discovering the number of
entrepreneurship service providers operating in Rwanda, the specific services they offer, and to
whom those services are available. BREC was able to compile an initial list of ESPs based on their
professional network and secondary research. Additional organizations were included in the study as
interviewees introduced them to BREC. This study was limited to organizations that have an overt
and explicit mission of developing entrepreneurs in Rwanda. As such, several organizations that
indirectly support entrepreneurship such as cooperative development organizations, financial
institutions, management consultants, and development partners were not included.
Over approximately four months, the BREC Country Directors conducted initial in-person interviews
with twenty-four ESPs. Interviews were conducted over the phone when organizations did not have
representatives available in Rwanda. It is important to note that BREC was unable to reach some
ESPs and therefore these organizations are not included in the report. Additional information was
gained through follow-up meetings, phone calls and emails. The organization profiles in this report
are based on the information collected by the BREC Country Directors and have been sent to the
respective organizations for review. The findings were developed solely by the BREC Country
Directors and are based on the same data set.
Definition of Entrepreneurship
The definition of entrepreneurship varies widely across literature, institutions, and experts. Babson
College, the world’s leading institute for entrepreneurship education, promotes a relatively inclusive
definition – encompassing the traditional view of an individual that creates wealth through
innovation, as well as intrapreneurs that work within corporate structures to catalyze innovation and
create new sources of profit, and others that launch socially-motivated organizations. For the
purpose of this study, BREC defines an entrepreneur as a self-employed individual that combines
resources (labor and capital) to produce a good or service that creates value within a marketplace.
BREC did make one important distinction within this definition; based upon the methodology used
by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor – one of the longest-running and most-referenced reviews
of entrepreneurship around the world – BREC divided the entrepreneurs in Rwanda into two
categories: opportunity-driven and necessity-driven. The first distinction refers to individuals that
make an affirmative decision to start a new business based upon a perceived business opportunity.
The second refers to individuals that start a business because they have no other means of making a
living. This distinction is critical because each type of entrepreneur requires a different set of
support mechanisms.
A necessity-driven entrepreneur will likely operate a micro-sized business in the informal sector and
will benefit most from basic business skills training, access to microfinance, and help transitioning
into the formal sector (see Appendix V for definition of ‘micro-enterprise’). Contrarily, an
opportunity-driven entrepreneur will likely need more sophisticated business support and will have
greater financing needs. The entrepreneurship service providers detailed in this report have
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responded to these differences by tailoring their services and operations in order to meet the
particular needs of their targeted markets.
11
II. Research Findings
Trends
General
Entrepreneurs in Kigali have the most access to support services, with all of the surveyed ESPs
operating within the capital city. A very small number attempt to have a true national presence –
instead, it is more common for ESPs to spread their impact geographically by attracting participants
from other districts to their programs in Kigali. Almost across the board, these programs are in their
infancy stages, as the average ESP is less than five years old. Although there are a handful of older
ESPs, their specific entrepreneurship-related activities have only begun in recent years.
The type of activities targeted to entrepreneurs varies widely, and each ESP generally offers an
assortment of services, with training, coaching & mentoring, and business advising being the most
common (see Appendix III for levels of support services). Most ESPs support these activities through
donor funds, although there is an increasing interest in fee-for-service models, at least to help cover
program costs. Due to this donor dependency, it is not uncommon for ESPs to have predetermined
timeframes for their operations in Rwanda, or stipulations as to how they engage with
entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, the majority of ESPs remain committed to staying in the country as
long as their resources allow.
Target markets
Most ESPs open their programs to all demographics, although a small number specifically focus on
youth or women. The majority targets those with operating businesses rather than new ideas, and
this tends to be the key determining factor in their application processes. These application
processes vary widely depending on the program, from first-come, first-served registration to multi-
round interview processes, depending largely on the amount of resources allotted to each
participant. Often personal character and entrepreneurial experience is gauged, while participation
in specific sectors and education levels are typically not. In summary, it can be said that active,
opportunity-driven entrepreneurs with some proficiency in English are granted more support
opportunities than aspiring, non-English speaking and necessity-driven entrepreneurs.
Programming
The total amount of time that ESPs are engaged with entrepreneurs differs significantly. Some offer
short training courses that last one to three days and have specific foci, while others invite business
owners to longer training programs lasting up to six months and covering a broad array of topics. A
small number offer more holistic service packages that span the course of one to two years and work
through the sustainable development of the participants’ businesses, from opportunity recognition
to strategic planning.
12
When training is involved, the curricula generally cover the basic business principles and come from
tested international sources, with local adaptations made to provide local context. When access to
finance is a priority, ESPs do not usually fund entrepreneurs directly; instead, it is most common for
them to act as intermediaries between financial institutions and entrepreneurs. In these situations,
the ESPs vouch for entrepreneurs when they apply for loans and accompany them to lending
institutions for moral support. In many cases, ESPs have established relations with specific banks and
entrepreneurs from their programs are given more credibility as a result.
Staffing
A large number of ESPs depend on small teams of paid staff members in Rwanda to develop and
implement their programs, with international offices lending administrative and fundraising support.
Volunteers are commonly recruited to add capacity and local staff members are almost always
brought on to help with communication and general navigation of the Rwandan business
environment. When training is a core service, individuals with extensive business backgrounds are
sometimes contracted to lead sessions, though it is more common for trainers to be full- or part-
time staff members that have been through a basic Training-of-Trainers program.
13
Opportunities
General
At the time of this research, it appears that there is very little communication and coordination
between the ESPs in Rwanda, despite the similarities in their visions and goals. Their experiences are
hindered by common challenges such as identifying partners, operating mentorship programs, and
helping their entrepreneurs to access finance. This reality represents a significant opportunity to
more regularly share information, discuss best practices, and address common challenges in their
pursuit of an enhanced entrepreneurial environment. Such collaboration has the potential to reduce
redundancy in services, to strengthen programs, and to create more influence with the government,
financial institutions, and other key decision-makers.
It was also discovered that ESPs have very few monitoring and evaluation systems in place to
measure the impacts of their programs. When such impacts are measured, revenue growth and job
creation in the entrepreneurs’ businesses are the most common indicators of successful
programming. This lack of comprehensive impact analysis can be addressed in order to ensure that
the strategies of ESPs are creating tangible benefits for the participants, their participants’
businesses, and for the sustainable development of Rwanda.
Target Markets
Many of the existing support services for entrepreneurs in Rwanda are targeted at active, English-
speaking, opportunity-driven entrepreneurs that operate small businesses from Kigali, despite the
fact that the majority of the population lives outside of the capital city and the majority of private
sector activity is made up of necessity-driven, micro-enterprises, often operating in the informal
sector. These findings reveal a clear opportunity to extend the geographic reach of support services
and to expand the range of entrepreneurs targeted so that aspiring and necessity-driven
entrepreneurs around the country can also receive support as they start and grow their businesses,
ultimately transitioning into the formal sector and contributing to the country’s development.
Similarly, there are few resources available to help entrepreneurs with sustainable enterprises grow
into larger companies. This is an important segment of the private sector and the entrepreneurs
behind these businesses should also have access to support services that can help them to continue
growing. Clearly, there remain significant opportunities for current and future service providers to
fill these gaps in the field, so that entrepreneurial ventures of all sizes, sophistication levels, and
locations are equally supported. Appendix IV identifies the markets targeted by the ESPs included in
this report.
Programming
Entrepreneurship is a multidimensional field that encompasses a wide array of businesses at various
stages of development, plus a variety of entrepreneurs with differing expertise and support
requirements. The stakeholders in Rwanda’s entrepreneurship development field can address this
14
reality by ensuring appropriate levels of support services are available, covering the full spectrum of
an entrepreneur’s needs. In Rwanda, there is a noticeable lack of services such as business
incubation, technical support, and access to market information (see Appendix III). Surely, the
entrepreneurial environment would be strengthened if the availability of these services were
increased.
It is also worth noting that many of the ESPs do not offer post-program support to their
entrepreneurs – a critical component that can help them put their learnings into action while
maintaining a network that provides the accountability and contacts needed to make best use of the
program’s major takeaways. A few ESPs have successfully created alumni associations as a way to
facilitate this sustained support, featuring peer mentoring, networking opportunities, and general
exposure to new ideas and new markets. Such activities represent another important opportunity
for current and future stakeholders to consider.
15
Conclusion
Entrepreneurship will continue to play a vital role in Rwanda’s transition from an agricultural-based,
low-income country to a service-based economy and a middle-income nation. The impacts of
entrepreneurship go far beyond simply building personal wealth; entrepreneurs have the potential
to drive Rwanda forward by increasing levels of employment, expanding the tax base, fostering
economic stability, improving human welfare, and creating innovative solutions to societal
challenges. One of the key drivers to realizing these goals is strengthening the entrepreneurial
propensity and capacity of the local population. The service providers included in this report are
doing exactly that.
During the research phase of BREC’s work in early 2011, it became clear that many other types of
organizations are indirectly involved in supporting Rwanda’s entrepreneurial development. In
particular, the efforts of financial institutions, development partners, independent trainers,
management consultants, and cooperative-development organizations should also be documented
and shared in order to give a more holistic view of the economic development initiatives taking place
in Rwanda.
It is important to note that this report stops short of critically analyzing the individual ESPs and their
services. Generally, each operates independently and utilizes different benchmarks and
measurements for their internal evaluations; this creates a challenge in objectively analyzing the
relative effectiveness of their various services. Further research that would assess the ability of each
ESP to foster entrepreneurial growth is also encouraged in order to objectively inform all
stakeholders of the best strategies to help Rwanda achieve its entrepreneurship development goals.
Although many of the ESPs included in this report are in their nascent stages, a wide range of
services have already been developed and thousands of Rwandan entrepreneurs have been helped.
Still, demand for these support services appears to be greater than the capacity of the ESPs now
operating in Rwanda. While there are certainly opportunities for those service providers to improve
and expand their offerings, there is even more room for new ESPs to enter Rwanda and to bring
their own expertise and energy to the field. Our hope is that this landscape report will inform both
of these groups as they consider how to best allocate their resources and how they can address the
gaps and opportunities that have been identified. This report should therefore serve as a useful
resource that will encourage collaboration, stimulate innovation, and ultimately increase the
effectiveness of the different actors in Rwanda’s entrepreneurship development field.
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III. Entrepreneurship Service Provider Overviews
Entrepreneurship Service Providers (ESPs) in Rwanda take many different forms and engage with
entrepreneurs in many different ways. The most common form for an ESP is that of an international
non-governmental organization (‘International NGO’) that operates in multiple countries throughout
the world. In some cases, they work exclusively in Rwanda (‘Local NGO’) with international
headquarters based in Europe or the United States. Other forms of ESPs highlighted in this report
include higher-education institutions, private enterprises, government agencies, and networks of
independent consultants.
While most ESPs work directly with entrepreneurs through services like training, consulting, and
networking, a few others actually work to build the capacity of fellow ESPs. What follows is a brief
description of the ESPs that BREC interviewed as well as the relevant services they offer to support
entrepreneurs in Rwanda.
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African Innovation Prize (AIP)
Type of Initiative: International NGO
Services Offered: Business Plan Competition
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview*
About AIP: African Innovation Prize (AIP) aims to help establish and run a first-rate student
business plan competition for African university students. AIP is rooted in the belief that
grassroots entrepreneurship is a key driver in knowledge creation and economic
development. This iterative business plan competition will also help fuel long-term
entrepreneurial thinking in the university ecosystem and enable prospect for new job
creation. In 2009, AIP established a partnership to run the first AIP Business Plan Completion
at KIST.
Mission: To facilitate global entrepreneurship by encouraging university students from
African countries to commercialize ideas and innovations; we will achieve this by creating a
pan-African organization that provides inspiration, training, and seed funding through
business plan competitions for university students across the continent.
Featured Programs
African Innovation Prize: Launched in 2010, the African Innovation Prize is a free business
plan competition for staff and students at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology. At
the beginning of March, applicants are invited to submit brief business proposals (250
words) to judges, who award three small cash prizes for the best proposals by the end of the
month. A second phase of the competition is then opened and applicants are required to
write more detailed plans (1500 words) in order to compete for a grand prize of
500,000RwF, awarded at the end of June. Winning submissions are selected based on their
potential, originality, and presentation/clarity, with special attention given to ideas with
social or environmental benefits. After being selected, the winning team must register the
new business and open a bank account in order to receive the prize money.
For more information:
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.africaninnovationprize.org
* From organization website
18
Akilah Institute for Women
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview*
About Akilah: The Akilah Institute is an initiative of Project Akilah, a U.S.-based tax-exempt
nonprofit organization, and a registered international nonprofit organization in Rwanda. The
Akilah Institute is a college that is dedicated to empowering and producing the next
generation of female leaders and entrepreneurs. Through our educational programs, we
focus on career development, enabling these young women to successfully shape their
personal and professional goals. Our first Diploma, Leadership & Hospitality Management,
prepares students to find meaningful employment and launch ventures in the fastest
growing sector of the economy, the tourism industry.
Mission: Akilah transforms the lives of young women by empowering them with the skills,
knowledge, and confidence to find meaningful employment and to serve as leaders in their
communities.
Featured Programs
Diploma in Leadership and Hospitality Management: This two-year program prepares
young women to enter the hospitality and tourism industry in Rwanda. All female graduates
of secondary school are invited to apply in June of each year. A minimal application fee
(1000 RwF) is required, in addition to letters of recommendation and written essays.
Applicants that are accepted but do not meet English-language requirements take part in a
one-year foundation program before entering the two-year diploma program. In addition to
the technical expertise that the program provides, students are also required to gain 240
hours of real work experience through local and international internships. In 2012, Akilah
will move from Kigali to a new location in the Bugasera district, where students will put their
entrepreneurial skills to work as they develop agricultural-based businesses that will help
the new campus to be self-sufficient.
For more information:
Lisa Martilotta, Executive Director
Phone: +250 (0)78.410.8834
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.akilahinstitute.org * From organization website
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Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center (BREC)
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Advisory Services, Behavioral Training, Business Plan Development, Networking,
Research & Policy Advocacy, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview
About BREC: The Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center (BREC) was formed in 2010
through a unique partnership between Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. (USA) and the
Rwandan Private Sector Federation (PSF). Since its inception, BREC has engaged in a number
of activities aimed at advancing entrepreneurship in Rwanda, including research, trainings,
workshops, business plan development, coaching, and consulting services.
BREC works intimately with experts from both Babson College and PSF to develop and
deliver valuable services to a wide spectrum of stakeholders in Rwanda’s entrepreneurship
ecosystem, including students, business leaders, government agencies, universities, and
other not-for-profit organizations. The Center is staffed by Babson employees and housed
within the PSF headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda.
Featured Programs
Global Entrepreneurship Week: BREC is the country host of Global Entrepreneurship Week
2011 - an international initiative taking place in over 100 countries each year. During this
week in November, thousands of events around the world inspire millions of people to think
innovatively and engage in entrepreneurial activity. BREC mobilizes and supports partners in
Rwanda in the planning and implementation of many events which inspire, connect, and
equip entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to launch a new business.
Babson Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy (BELA): Babson faculty, staff, students and
alumni make up the BELA team and travel to Rwanda each year to host a week-long
residential program for up to one hundred of Rwanda’s most promising secondary school
students. Through a series of lectures and hands-on activities, the students explore how to
behave as leaders in their communities and how to act more entrepreneurial in all parts of
their lives. Students are identified by their headmasters as top performers and are invited by
BREC to participate in this free workshop. By the end of the week, students have developed
a draft business plan and learned to pitch their business ideas to potential
partners, advisors, and investors.
Business Plan Development: BREC can link high-growth-oriented entrepreneurs with
student consultants from Babson College to collaboratively develop business plans. The
entrepreneurs perform local research while the student consultants develop detailed
business strategies and financial analysis. The engagements begin in January or September
20
of each year and generally last for four months. The entrepreneurs must speak English and
have previous business experience. There is no formal application process, but interested
entrepreneurs should contact BREC at least three months prior to the start dates to work
out the details of the arrangement.
For more information:
Benjamin Cox, Country Director
Phone: +250 (0)78.283.5596
Email: [email protected]
Christopher Smith, Country Director
Phone: +250 (0)78.283.5578
Email: [email protected]
21
Bridge2Rwanda (B2R)
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Advisory Services, Networking, Research & Policy Advocacy
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview*
About B2R: Bridge2Rwanda (B2R) is a Kingdom enterprise dedicated to “building a bridge
from our world to Rwanda and transforming lives at both ends.” Our mission is to help build
successful businesses in Rwanda and to create opportunity for the next generation to
become entrepreneurial servant leaders modeled after Jesus.
Featured Programs
Advisory Services: B2R’s Business Development initiatives provide research, financial
analysis, investment advice, capital raising and facilitation services for new and developing
businesses on an ad-hoc basis. B2R also actively markets Rwanda to potential foreign
investors and high-capacity visitors with special focus on global corporations, private
entrepreneurial businesspeople and investment funds targeting Africa.
Networking: The Isoko Institute for Entrepreneurship invites and hosts universities and
researchers from around the world to visit, conduct research and offer study abroad
programs and internships in Rwanda. Isoko College Prep Center prepares and creates
opportunity for Rwanda’s top students to study at colleges and universities in the U.S. and
other English-speaking countries.
For more information:
Blayne Sharpe, Rwanda Operations Director
Phone: +250 (0)78.566.2316
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bridge2rwanda.org
* From organization website
22
Business Council for Peace (Bpeace)
Type of Initiative: International NGO
Services Offered: Advisory Services, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Global (3 Countries)
Organization Overview*
About Bpeace: Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) is a non-profit network of business
professionals. We volunteer skills to entrepreneurs in conflict-affected countries to help
them create significant employment for all, and expand the economic power of women. Put
simply: More jobs means less violence. Our goal is to create one million jobs across 1,000
communities. Every one of those jobs, entrepreneurs, and communities becomes a beacon
of hope. In each community these business people become role models and strong voices
for peace.
Featured Programs
Fast Runners: The Fast Runners program selects high-potential, active entrepreneurs
running small- and medium-sized businesses from a variety of industries who share the
belief that increased employment ultimately leads to less violence within their communities.
After a competitive selection process, Bpeace helps Fast Runners participants grow their
businesses through its customized package of business development services including
financial improvement, marketing, human resources and customer service. Throughout the
three years of the program, business owners are supported by an entrepreneurial advisor in
Rwanda as well as industry experts from the USA who conduct various business trainings
and consultation sessions both virtually and in Rwanda. Entrepreneurs are also given the
opportunity to apprentice at related companies in the USA.
For more information:
Marla Gitterman, Chief Program Officer
Phone: +1 212.696.9696 (US)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bpeace.org
* From organization website
23
CEFE International
Type of Initiative: Independent Consultants
Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Global (140 Countries)
Organization Overview*
About CEFE: CEFE was initiated and disseminated mainly by the German Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and GTZ and has been introduced in more than 140 countries since
1983. Its further development is now based on the competence of over 20,000 people
working independently as CEFE trainers around the world. In 2008, CEFE was outsourced and
the global CEFE Network is now coordinated by CEFE International, as a non-profit private
sector organization, which coordinates members of the network to provide competent CEFE
services.
Featured Programs
Training: CEFE independent trainers use an internationally-tested curriculum to train
entrepreneurs and business managers in a range of skills from business plan development
and general venture start-up advice to organizational capacity building. The action-oriented
sessions are tailored to a range of target groups, but generally focus on income generation
and increasing employment in the context of sustainable economic development. CEFE
trainings are demand driven as training sessions are only planned upon the request of an
organization.
For more information:
Dieudonne Kabanda, Head Trainer
Phone: +250 (0)78 851 9110
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Web: www.cefe.net
* From organization website
24
Center for Business Solutions (CBS)
Type of Initiative: Private Enterprise
Services Offered: Access to Finance, Access to Market Information, Advisory Services, Coaching &
Mentoring, Incubation, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview*
About CBS: Center for Business Solutions (CBS), an affiliate company to Maxinet Group
Limited offers services to Rwandan Businesses to help them prosper and overcome obstacles
inherent to business. At CBS, we offer high quality information that is tailored to Rwandan
businesses to help them stay ahead of the pack.
Mission: CBS exists to provide business development support services to small and medium
enterprises through its SMS platform while leveraging on strong partnerships with
stakeholders in order to achieve greater impact.
Vision: To be a leading centre for Business Development Services that offers integrated
business solutions which include access to finance, market information and skills.
Featured Programs
IFC Business Edge: CBS offers a wide array of fee-based training courses on a rolling basis, all
based on IFC’s Business Edge curriculum. These trainings are open to owners of active
businesses and generally last three to six days. CBS utilizes their professional network and
relationships with financial institutions, the Rwanda Development Board, and the Rwandan
Private Sector Federation to invite entrepreneurs and their employees to participate in
trainings. CBS may work closely with the most promising graduates to help them attain
growth financing though partner financial institutions.
Incubation: CBS offers residential and non-residential business incubation to established,
formalized SMEs across all sectors. For up to two years, entrepreneurs with proven initiative
and a hardworking character can pay a small monthly fee to receive office space at a
subsidized rate. Residential companies qualify for administrative support in addition to the
weekly business trainings and individual mentoring sessions that are open to all participants.
The most common training topics for incubated businesses include taxation, business
planning, marketing, and customer service. CBS may link successful graduates to its network
of financial institutions for growth financing.
* From organization website
25
For more information:
Rebson Dzala, General Manager
Phone: +250 (0)78.342.1126
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.cbs-rwanda.com
26
Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda (DOT)
Type of Initiative: International NGO
Services Offered: Access to Finance, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills Training, Technical Support
Geographic Presence: Global (11 Countries)
Organization Overview*
About DOT: Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) is a leading international organization,
headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. DOT focuses on creating educational, economic, and
entrepreneurial opportunity through the effective use of ICT for communities and people in
countries that are developing, are in transition, or are under stress. DOT launched a
Rwandan office under local management in March 2010 to run its Enterprise and
Entrepreneurship Development in Rwanda Project, in partnership with the Canadian
International Development Agency and the MasterCard Foundation.
Mission: Creating global networks of talented, energetic young leaders who make real
change by educating local communities to apply technology effectively to real life.
Vision: To eradicate poverty, vulnerability and gender inequality by giving all people the
skills and knowledge to use technology to achieve educational, social and economic
opportunities.
Featured Programs
ReachUp!: DOT recruits young Rwandans as interns and trains them to become technology
ambassadors. DOT interns then provide training in essential business and ICT skills to
vulnerable community members, mainly youth and women, and to micro-enterprise owners.
DOT works closely with local community leaders and community-based organizations to
identify program participants. The courses are free of charge and run for three hours per day
for a period of one month. In addition to the courses, interns also coach the participants to
help them achieve short-term objectives and connect participant to microfinance
institutions and business development opportunities. In a period of three years, 180 interns
will be hired to impact 35,000 people.
StartUp!: This program provides new entrepreneurs with the information and tools to start
their business. DOT interns work with the entrepreneurs to validate their business ideas and
to develop business plans. The entrepreneurs are linked to microfinance institutions for
funding when applicable.
* From organization website
27
For more information:
Violette Uwamutara, Country Director
Phone: +250 (0)78.838.1431/2, +250 (0)78.838.1270
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Web: www.rwanda.dotrust.org
28
Educat
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Organizational Capacity Building, Networking, Skills Training
Geographic presence: Kigali
Organization Overview: *
About Educat: Educat is a social enterprise with roots in Denmark but working in Kigali since
2009. Educat believes positive change starts at the level of the individual. We believe that
change-makers exist at all levels of society. And we believe that with the right support we
can unleash the full development potential of Rwanda’s entrepreneurs and leaders. That’s
why we are in Rwanda.
Educat runs a supportive platform for Rwandan Entrepreneurs And Leaders. This platform
we call REAL. REAL fosters entrepreneurial skills, attitudes and opportunities. REAL is a
training provider and a place of knowledge and experience transfer. REAL supports the goals
of Rwanda’s Vision 2020 and contributes to make the private sector the principle growth
engine in Rwanda.
Mission: To create successful entrepreneurs and leaders who dare to be curious and
provocative, who question the established with new and innovative approaches and who are
ambitious on their own and society’s behalf.
Vision: The purpose of REAL is to strengthen the business environment in Rwanda by
providing training, education and support services to all levels in both the public and private
sector. Healthy businesses mean economic growth, new employment opportunities and
reduction of poverty.
Featured Programs
Rwandan Entrepreneurs and Leaders (REAL) Platform: REAL delivers short-term training
programs on a regular basis which focus on promoting entrepreneurial culture,
strengthening business management skills, and empowering trainers within Rwanda.
Aspiring and active entrepreneurs from micro-, small-, and medium-sized businesses are
invited to participate in various free or fee-based courses lasting from three days to three
months. Business leaders and managers are also targeted for a number of the trainings and
can also benefit from Educat’s tailor-made consultancy services. The micro-enterprise
training is offered in Kinyarwanda while all others are taught in English.
* From organization
29
For more information:
Mikkel Harder, Country Director
Phone: +250 (0)78.411.7919
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.real.rw / www.educat.dk
Dennis Dybdal, Program Director
Phone: +250 (0)78.274.1804
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.real.rw / www.educat.dk
30
Education Development Center (EDC)
Type of Initiative: International NGO
Services Offered: Access to Finance, Behavioral Training, Organizational Capacity Building, Skills
Training
Geographic Presence: Global (35 Countries)
Organization Overview*
About EDC: EDC is a global nonprofit organization that designs, delivers and evaluates
innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education,
health, and economic opportunity. Working with public-sector and private partners, we
harness the power of people and systems to improve education, health promotion and care,
workforce preparation, communications technologies, and civic engagement. EDC conducts
350 projects in 35 countries around the world. Our services include research, training,
educational materials and strategy, with activities ranging from seed projects to large-scale
national and international initiatives.
Featured Programs
Akazi Kanoze Youth Livelihoods Project: Launched in 2009, this four-year USAID-funded
program provides youth-based organizations with a tested training curriculum that teaches
participants the personal and professional skills necessary to get a job or start a business.
Local partners, which can include NGOs, civil society organizations, government agencies,
education and training providers, and businesses, implement EDC’s Core Training
curriculum, and in doing so, are invited into EDC’s organizational capacity building efforts.
Other specialized trainings and support services are made available to students and
graduates on an ad hoc basis, such as connections to microfinance and savings institutions.
EDC plans to reach 12,000 youth in Rwanda throughout the course of this project.
For more information:
Jean Claude Nshimiyimana, Deputy Director
Phone: +250 (0)25.258.0796
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.edc.org
* From organization website
31
Generation Rwanda
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: National
Organization Overview*
About Generation Rwanda: Our scholarship and leadership education program provides
comprehensive support that empowers our students to become Rwanda’s next dynamic
professionals and leaders in their fields. Every Generation Rwanda student has
demonstrated academic talent and personal drive – and comes from a vulnerable
background. Our mission is premised on the belief that promoting access to higher
education for motivated yet vulnerable young people supports Rwanda’s efforts to harness
its population’s intellectual and entrepreneurial talent. These efforts will succeed only when
all students who excel – including orphans and vulnerable youth – have the opportunity to
obtain a university degree and become the people they aspire to be.
Mission: Generation Rwanda is dedicated to helping orphans and other socially vulnerable
young people in Rwanda pursue a university education and ultimately become leaders in
fostering economic development and social reconciliation.
Featured Programs
Scholarship and Leadership Program: Generation Rwanda’s core scholarship provides
comprehensive support to highly-motivated and socially-vulnerable university students,
covering the costs of tuition, housing, and healthcare, while providing additional living
stipends, coaching, and various personal and professional training programs throughout
their entire time at university. Secondary school graduates with high national exam scores
are invited to participate in a highly-competitive, multi-round application process each year,
where motivations, skills, and vulnerability are all measured. Eventually, up to thirty of the
most qualified candidates are accepted into the program. There are currently 180
Generation Rwanda students studying in ten universities throughout Rwanda.
In 2010, Generation Rwanda began offering optional entrepreneurship trainings for its
students, two to four times per year. The five-day program provides an introduction to basic
business principals and often invites guest speakers and local entrepreneurs to share their
experiences with students. In 2011, staff members plan to develop a more complete
entrepreneurship curriculum for interested students.
* From organization website
32
For more information:
Michelle Hamilton, Director of Programs
Phone: +250 (0)78.538.9862
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.generationrwanda.org
33
Global Relief and Development Partners (GRDP)
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Advisory Services, Business Plan Development, Coaching & Mentoring,
Networking, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview*
About GRDP: GRDP offers a comprehensive set of services tailored to the unique needs of
our U.S. and international entrepreneurs, including leadership development workshops,
mentorship facilitation, and business development, enabling the transfer of important
professional and leadership skills to the next generation of Rwandan business leaders.
Mission: To inspire and strengthen promising entrepreneurs in emerging countries.
Featured Programs
Creating a BiggerFUTURE: Each year, GRDP selects 35-40 high-potential, active
entrepreneurs to participate in its year-long training and mentorship program. The
application process begins each November and each cohort begins its training in January.
Four times throughout the year, qualified North American entrepreneurs and business
executives visit Rwanda to offer two days of training, coaching, consulting, and networking.
At each of these quarterly workshops, participants are measured against the three-year
strategic plan they create at the beginning of the program. A strong command of English is
required to participate as well as an annual program fee of 60,000 RwF. Graduates of the
program are invited into a second year called the BiggerFUTURE Masters Program, where
the relationships established throughout the first year are built upon, occasionally leading to
professional partnerships and investment.
For more information:
Cyusa Leandre, Country Representative
Phone: +250 (0)72.830.9810
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.grdpartners.org
* From organization website
34
Goldman Sachs
Type of Initiative: Private Enterprise
Services Offered: Access to Finance, Advisory Services, Business Plan Competition, Business Plan
Development, Coaching & Mentoring, Networking, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Global (20 Countries)
Organization Overview
About Goldman Sachs: Goldman Sachs is an international investment banking and asset
management company headquartered in New York City, USA.
Featured Programs
10,000 Women Initiative: Since 2009, Goldman Sachs has partnered with the William
Davidson Institute (WDI) at the University of Michigan and the School of Finance and
Banking (SFB) to administer Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women Initiative in Rwanda - a five-year
program that provides underserved women around the world with a business and
management education. Twice per year, in January and July, SFB and WDI accept active
women entrepreneurs with at least one year of secondary school experience and a clear
financial need to participate in their six-month training program. Participants are asked to
contribute 10,000RwF and those from rural areas are lodged during their time in Kigali. In
the last month of the program, participants have access to business advisors, mentors, and
representatives from financial institutions as they work to create actionable business plans.
Each cohort of thirty students graduate after completing the nine training modules and
participating in a business plan competition, though their support continues for two more
years through regular consultations and trainings offered at class reunions.
For more information:
Agnes Uzarerwa, Program Manager
Phone: +250 (0)78.520.9112
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.wdi.umich.edu/ee/rwanda
35
Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW)
Type of Initiative: International NGO
Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Business Plan Development, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills
Training
Geographic Presence: Global (3 Countries)
Organization Overview*
About IEEW: The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) is a 501(c)3 non
profit empowering women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial
ventures, and become more active public policy advocates. The Institute accomplishes this
mission by focusing on education, mentorship, and coaching women in the United States
and abroad who are seeking to acquire entrepreneurial skills to help start and grow a
business.
Featured Programs
Peace Through Business Program: Each year, IEEW chooses up to sixty active women
entrepreneurs to participate in a two-month training on basic business principals. The
application process opens in October and the trainings take place throughout February and
March. Participants must have been operating a business for at least one year, must have a
strong command of the English language, and must be willing to pay their mentorship
experience forward – mentoring a future student after graduating from the program. In-
country staff facilitate the trainings (curriculum provided by Northwood University) and offer
guidance as the participants work to create sound business plans by the end of the two
months. At that time, the fifteen most promising business plans are chosen and the
entrepreneurs behind them are invited to travel to the US, where they participate in a
leadership development program. This includes further training at Northwood University,
attendance at the International Women’s Economic Summit, and a week-long mentorship
experience with an American business owner working within the same industry. This
mentorship lasts for a year after the women return to Rwanda and often results in new
partnerships, investment, or other types of support. While the initial training is free,
participants must cover their visa expenses and pay a program fee of $250 if they are chosen
to travel to the US.
* From organization website
36
For more information:
Lin Stuart, Director of Programs
Phone: +1 405.943.4474 (US)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ieew.org
37
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Type of Initiative: Independent Consultants
Services Offered: Organizational Capacity Building, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Global (183 Countries)
Organization Overview*
About ILO: The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice
and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that
labour peace is essential to prosperity. Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent
work and the economic and working conditions that give working people and business
people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress. Its tripartite structure provides a
unique platform for promoting decent work for all women and men. Its main aims are to
promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social
protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
Featured Programs
Start and Improve Your Business: ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business programs train
entrepreneurs in a variety of skill sets to help them start new ventures and grow existing
businesses. The internationally-recognized program, which has been translated into over
thirty languages and adapted to the local conditions of more than fifty countries, targets
aspiring and established entrepreneurs across all industries and backgrounds. Independent
trainers teach the sessions on an ad hoc basis at the request of the participants.
GET Ahead for Women in Enterprise: The GET Ahead program targets low-income women
who either operate or wish to operate small businesses. The training provides participants
with basic business and management skills and helps them to develop personal networks
that can provide support for their new businesses.
For more information:
Lamech Nambajimana, National Program Officer
Phone: +250 (0)78.830.4167
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ilo.org
* From organization website
38
Junior Chamber International (JCI)
Type of Initiative: International NGO
Services Offered: Business Plan Competition, Coaching & Mentoring, Networking, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: National
Organization Overview*
About JCI: JCI-Rwanda is part of the largest personal and leadership development
organization for young people in the world - Junior Chamber International. It provides a
range of activities and projects in 4 opportunity areas: Individual, Community, International
and Business. Junior Chamber provides an excellent way to meet new people, develop
yourself as an individual and at the same time give something back to the Rwandan
community through the worthwhile projects the organization engages in.
Mission: To provide development opportunities that empower young people to create
positive change.
Vision: To be the leading global network of young active citizens.
Featured Programs
Coaching & Mentoring: JCI leadership is currently investigating how to best incorporate
Rwanda’s business and community leaders into their vision of a mentorship program. In the
past, JCI’s leaders took on mentees in their full-time businesses as a way to introduce the
members to entrepreneurship in action.
Networking: JCI hosts a networking breakfast or cocktail reception each month for its
members. Business and community leaders are invited as guest speakers, providing
inspiration and connections for the attendees. Ample time is granted for questions and
answers with the guests as members develop their skills in business networking.
Skills Training: JCI’s training courses are offered to local members four times per year.
These short courses, lasting three to five days, are led by certified trainers from around
Africa and utilize a standard curriculum developed by JCI. Participants are exposed to basic
business principles in order to decide if entrepreneurship is a potential career path. JCI’s
leadership also delivers entrepreneurship trainings to various groups throughout Rwanda,
namely university-level student clubs.
* From organization website
39
Terimbere Challenge: The Terimbere Challenge is a business plan competition hosted by JCI
in partnership with the National University of Rwanda, with support from SPARK and BiD
Network. The competition is free and open to all Rwandans between 18 and 45 years old.
Applicants must submit a business plan summary by August 10, 2011 and are eligible to win
commercial loans, free advisory services, and connections to possible investors. The winning
business plans must show self-sustainability in the long term and must have financing needs
between US$5,000-$1,000,000.
For more information:
Lydie Hakizimana, National President
Phone: +250 (0)78.831.2839
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.jci.cc/rwanda
40
Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)
Type of Initiative: University
Services Offered: Access to Finance, Advisory Services, Business Plan Competition, Business Plan
Development, Coaching & Mentoring, Incubation, Skills Training, Technical Support
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview*
About KIST: The Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) is the first public
technological institute of higher learning in Rwanda. It came into existence as a UNDP
project on November 1st, 1997 with a clear mandate to produce technical, scientific
students of high calibers. The Institute was officially inaugurated in April 1998.
About CITT: KIST established the Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITT) in
2002. An invaluable dimension of the centre is the prominence of applied research leading
to environmentally friendly appropriate technology innovations and subsequent transfer to
the market place, particularly among the peri-urban and rural communities. The
establishment of CITT was made possible by the funding from DFID and the GoR. The centre
is located at KIST Remera campus, opposite the National Examination Centre.
CITT Mission: To develop appropriate technological innovations, ensuring their sustainable
adaptation, and enhance the capacity of the private sector to multiply the technologies.
CITT Vision: To be a centre of excellence for innovation, research, development and transfer
of appropriate technologies, focusing on rural and peri-urban communities and equality of
opportunities in Rwanda.
Featured Programs
Technology and Business Incubation Facility: KIST’s Technology and Business Incubation
Facility (TBIF) provides office space and support services to young technology-based
businesses in Rwanda. TBIF targets all graduates from Rwandan institutions of higher
education and offers a three-month pre-incubation period where participants develop
business plans and feasibility studies for a cost of 75,000 RwF per month. The actual
incubation period lasts up to two years and costs 150,000 RwF per month. Participants are
selected based on their levels of motivation, innovation, and willingness to pay. In addition
to office space, participants have access to production facilities and receive consulting and
training on a weekly basis.
* From organization website
41
Skills Training: Every three months, KIST hosts a business development training for the
general public. It also offers a number of other short business courses on a demand-driven
basis. Costs for each vary depending on the topic and length of the training.
For more information:
Rajeev Aggarwal, Director (CITT)
Phone: +250 (0)78.858.6815
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.kist.ac.rw
42
Private Sector Federation (PSF)
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Advisory Services, Business Plan Competition, Business Plan Development,
Research & Policy Advocacy, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: National
Organization Overview*
About PSF: The Private Sector Federation - Rwanda (PSF) is a professional organization,
dedicated to promote and represent the interests of the Rwandan business community. It is
an umbrella organization that groups 10 professional chambers. It was established in
December 1999, replacing the former Rwanda Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mission: To represent and serve the interests of the entire private sector through lobbying
and advocacy, while at the same time providing timely and relevant business development
services that lead to sustainable private sector led economic growth and development.
Vision: To create a credible and effective institution supporting the emergency of a strong
private sector for Rwanda's economic transformation
Featured Programs
Business Development Services Centers: In 2007, PSF launched a network of Business
Development Services (BDS) Centers around the country that were established to provide
fundamental services to the nation’s SMEs. Currently, there are twenty-two centers
operating in twenty-two different districts, offering a range of services including business
plan development, skills training, business advising and others as mandated by PSF. The
centers are open to all SMEs owners as well as aspiring entrepreneurs and offer a
combination of free and fee-based services.
Business Plan Competition: PSF’s national Business Plan Competition was launched in 2004
and hundreds of winners have since been chosen to receive hundreds of thousands of
dollars in awards and loans. Each year, PSF makes the opportunity available to all Rwandan
citizens and collects over one thousand applications across all sectors. The top two hundred
applicants are chosen based on the profit-making ability and sustainability of the business,
as well as the levels of innovation and market demand for the company’s products and
services. Those chosen are invited to take part in a 10-day business plan-writing workshop
and can remain in the competition by submitting a full-length business plan at the end of the
training period. Roughly half of these plans are selected as winners and are recommended
to partnering financial institutions for reduced-interest loans up to 10,000,000RwF and
technical assistance grants up to US$2000.
* From organization website
43
Skills Training: PSF provides basic skills training for its members, who are typically identified
and attracted through the PSF’s BDS centers in their districts. The free, five-day workshops
are offered at different times throughout the year and will be taking place in nineteen
different districts in 2011. Topics include common business principals such as bookkeeping,
marketing, and customer care. Private companies can also request for PSF to organize skills
training courses for their employees.
For more information:
General Inquiries
Phone: +250 (0)58.35.41/38
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.psf.org.rw
BDS Center Inquiries
Francis Rugero
Phone: +250 (0)78.875.7069
Email: [email protected]
Business Plan Competition Inquiries
Betty Abatoni
Phone: +250 (0)78.830.2884
Email: [email protected]
Skills Training Inquiries
Martin Ngirabatware
Email: [email protected]
44
Rwanda Business Development Center
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Advisory Services, Behavioral Training, Business Plan Competition, Business Plan
Development, Incubation, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview*
About BDC: The Rwanda Business Development Center (BDC) is a joint project of Regent
University and the International Christian Chamber of Commerce. The Center prepares and
nurtures entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses with ethical values. It combines world-
class entrepreneurial training with a comprehensive package of services to support and
advise you in your business. Local experts on legal, financial, and accounting issues will visit
the class to introduce those topics and provide you with contacts for your business.
International business experts will also visit the class to mentor you and advise you on your
business ideas. When you complete the program, you will remain connected to a global
network of business experts who will provide consulting, encouragement and contacts.
Mission: Prepare and nurture entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses with ethical
values.
Vision: To build a self-sustaining Center staffed and run by Rwandans in order to help
entrepreneurs start and grow hundreds of businesses that employ thousands of people.
Featured Program
Training: Twice per year, BDC offers a sixteen-week training to both aspiring and active
entrepreneurs for a cost of 150,000 RwF. Participants are selected based on the level of their
English skills, their demonstrated entrepreneurial initiative, their perceived motivation, and
their overall potential. The program combines basic business training with a growing number
of support services, including business advising. Students are expected to commit 20-30
hours per week to coursework for the length of the program, ultimately resulting in a
written business plan that participants then enter into a competition for access to loans
sponsored by BDC. Visiting professors from Regent University encourage action-oriented
learning by requiring field work in between weekly, three-hour lessons. As the center grows,
BDC plans to add a number of additional services, including a resource center and business
incubator.
* From organization website
46
Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
Type of Initiative: Government Agency
Services Offered: Advisory Services, Incubation, Research & Policy Advocacy, Skills Training,
Technical Support
Geographic Presence: National
Organization Overview*
About RDB: The Rwanda Development Board was set up by bringing together all the
government agencies responsible for the entire investor experience under one roof. This
includes key agencies responsible for business registration, investment promotion,
environmental clearances, privatization and specialist agencies which support the priority
sectors of ICT and tourism as well as SMEs and human capacity development in the private
sector. The RDB is independent and influential. It reports directly to the President.
Mission: Fast tracking economic development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth.
The scope of our work includes all aspects related to the development of the private sector.
This involves working with and addressing the needs of companies of all sizes (large, SMEs)
and both local and foreign investors.
Vision: To transform Rwanda into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, and
innovation.
Featured Programs
Business Development Centers: RDB currently operates three Business Development
Centers in each province. Originally established as telecommunication centers, each employs
a manager, business advisor, and an IT technician and offers free internet access, computer
skills training, accounting support, and business planning advice. The services are targeted at
micro- and small-sized enterprises and are free of charge, although entrepreneurs requiring
more specialized support are referred to the fee-based BDS Centers operated by the Private
Sector Federation.
Incubation: RDB, in cooperation with UNIDO, plans to open its first business incubator by
the end of 2011. Located in the Masaka district, the incubator will target businesses
operating within the leather goods, fruit, dairy, and bamboo sectors and will provide office
space, access to specialized equipment, equipment training, and support in business
planning, accessing finance, and establishing a business network. Qualified entrepreneurs
will be accepted into the incubators for a maximum of two years. RDB plans to grow the
total amount of incubators to twelve, each focusing on a different sector according to its
location.
* From organization website
47
Skills Training: RDB currently offers free training courses for young employees of local
cooperatives. The training lasts five full days and is split into two lecture-style modules,
Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Business Plan Development. Classes are taught by
trainers selected through an open tender and have been offered in six of Rwanda’s thirty
districts as of June 2011. In each cycle of the training, thirty participants are accepted per
district, half of which are female. RDB plans to expand the program to all of Rwanda’s
districts.
RDB also plan to launch a training program for tertiary school graduates. The curriculum is
being developed in conjunction with the School of Finance and Banking and will cover both
the theoretical and practical sides of entrepreneurship. The twelve-day program will accept
120-150 participants each cycle and will be offered three times per year.
For more information:
General Inquiries
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.rdb.gov.rw
Skills Training Inquiries
Apollo Munanura, Ag. Head of Department
Human Capital and Institutional Development
Phone: +250 (0)78.835.1318
Email: [email protected]
Advisory Services and Incubation Inquiries
Eusebe Muhikira, Ag. Head of Department
Trade and Manufacturing
Phone: +250 (0)78.851.3764
Email: [email protected]
48
Rwanda Entrepreneurship Week
Type of Initiative: Local NGO
Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview
About REW: Rwanda Entrepreneurship Week (REW), launched in July 2011, is led by student
volunteers from the University of Cambridge in partnership with local university from
Rwanda.
Featured Programs
Rwanda Entrepreneurship Week: Each summer, a team of students from the University of
Cambridge travel to Rwanda to host a week-long workshop on entrepreneurship and
product development. The free workshop is open to university students at KIST, NUR, SFB,
and Generation Rwanda and features a number of prominent Rwandan entrepreneurs who
lead sessions on various business topics while sharing their own success stories. Participants
also have the opportunity to partake in individual coaching sessions with the team from
Cambridge and learn to write business plans and pitch their business ideas at the end of the
week.
For more information:
Jackie Stenson, Student Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.beyondprofit.org.ok/rew.php
www.africaninnovationprize.org/rwanda-entrepreneurship-week
49
School of Finance and Banking (SFB)
Type of Initiative: University
Services Offered: Research & Policy Advocacy, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Kigali
Organization Overview*
About SFB: The School of Finance and Banking (SFB) is a leading business university in
Rwanda, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs and executive development
training programs in various business and management disciplines. The School offers a BBA
program with options in Accounting, Finance, Marketing and Human Resource Management
and a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) with specializations in Project
Management and Finance. SFB also offers Executive Education and Consulting services to
employees from public, private, local, and international organizations with the view of
building the capacity of employees for better services delivery.
About CED: The Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) is an initiative of the
School of Finance and Banking (SFB) intended to serve the prospective entrepreneurial
community within a wider institutional framework of making SFB contribute to the
government vision. The Centre has been designed having in mind needs of
managers/owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who are willing to improve their
managerial and entrepreneurial abilities. The Centre is intended to enrich Rwanda’s
potential entrepreneurs with business knowledge that will assist them to run their entities
more effectively and thus contribute to economic and social development. CED serves as the
focal point in linking the SFB to the real business world in order to make a significant
contribution to enterprise development in Rwanda.
CED Mission: The CED will promote business development through providing high quality
and affordable entrepreneurship training, value added services and research.
CED Vision: The vision of the CED is to be a Centre of Excellence which fosters
entrepreneurial skills development and creates a vibrant and competitive SME sector in
Rwanda. The CED’s vision is suitably aligned with the vision and mission of SFB as well as the
vision of Rwanda for a private sector-led economy.
Featured Programs
Skills Training: In addition to administering the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative in
Rwanda, SFB plans to offer various skills training courses related to entrepreneurship in the
finance and banking industries.
* From organization website
50
Research & Policy Advocacy: SFB plans to conduct research on the most relevant topics for
entrepreneurs in the finance and banking industries, and to then disseminate the findings
through various discussion forums. CED’s first study, to begin in 2011, will focus on
improving the financial sector in Rwanda and will encourage a review of the impacts that
certain policies have on the ground.
For more information:
Olive Murinda, Director (CED)
Phone: +250 (0)78.895.2580
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.sfb.ac.rw
51
United Entrepreneurship Coalition
Type of Initiative: International NGO
Services Offered: Organizational Capacity Building, Research & Policy Advocacy
Additional Services: Research & Policy Advocacy
Geographic Presence: Global (5 Countries)
Organization Overview*
About UEC: The United Entrepreneurship Coalition (UEC) consists of consortium leader
SPARK and co-applicant BiD-Network, two organizations with extensive experience in the
field of entrepreneurship in emerging countries and post-war zones. The UEC programme is
driven by the understanding that economic growth is an important element in the
stabilization of post-war environments, lifting communities from idleness and poverty. Local
partner organizations were selected because they offer experience in entrepreneurial
development, a background of past projects, visions for future development, and a variety of
support they can offer to entrepreneurs directly. The types of partner organizations in each
region vary from business support centers, chambers of commerce, universities, higher
vocational schools and micro-finance institutions.
About SPARK: SPARK supports people in post-conflict regions to provide for their own
means of subsistence by building the capacity of local economic and educational institutions.
SPARK actively mobilises support for this within the Dutch Society, especially among
economic and educational institutions. SPARK is an independent non-profit institution and
was founded in 1994.
About BiD Network: BiD Network contributes to sustainable economic growth by
stimulating entrepreneurship in emerging markets. BiD Network focuses on small and
medium sized enterprises and supports these entrepreneurs in writing their business plans
by offering them coaching and providing valuable feedback to improve their plans. The best
entrepreneurs gain access to investors in our network. Since 2005 BiD Network has helped
start over 300 businesses and has matched them with over 9 million Euros from investors.
Featured Programs
Organizational Capacity Building: Beginning in 2011, UEC will work with local partners to
develop and strengthen activities that promote economic growth in Rwanda. The specific
programs will be implemented by the following institutions which specialize in
entrepreneurial development: Junior Chamber International, Private Sector Federation,
Youth Employment Systems, National University of Rwanda, and Umutara Polytechnic
University. UEC will focus on strengthening the capacity of these local organizations to
enable them to directly support entrepreneurs, and on cutting red tape for entrepreneurs,
* From organization website
52
therefore creating more jobs and enabling economic growth. Special attention will be
devoted to assist youth and marginalized communities.
For more information:
SPARK Inquiries
Nebojsa Simic, Country Manager
Phone: +250 (0)78.419.3931
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.spark-online.org
BiD Network Inquiries
Anneke Evers, Senior Advisor
Phone: +250 (0)78.404.8404
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bidnetwork.org
53
Youth Employment Systems (YES)
Type of Initiative: International NGO
Services Offered: Access to Finance, Advisory Services, Behavioral Training, Incubation, Networking,
Research & Policy Advocacy, Skills Training
Geographic Presence: Global (55 Countries)
Organization Overview*
About YES: Youth Employment Systems (YES) is an international campaign striving to build
the individual capacity of youth in order to create sustainable livelihoods and to establish an
entrepreneurial culture where young people move toward formal employment. Since 2002,
YES has developed a network in 83 countries and touched the lives over 1 million youth
worldwide. YES Rwanda, registered in 2004, has engaged in a number of activities to
economically empower Rwanda’s youth. Specifically, YES Rwanda has engaged in outreach,
policy and advocacy in addition to establishing programs that teach youth valuable business
skills and promote business creation.
Mission: To support the development of youth employment policy and programs that gives
the youth of Rwanda opportunities for decent and productive employment through active
participation, research, advocacy and livelihood generation.
Vision: To realize employment of youth in Rwanda through partnerships which create and
enabling environment for job creation.
Featured Programs
Micro-Enterprise Training: Four times per year, YES, in partnership with Educat, offers a
free three-month training program for micro-entrepreneurs operating in the informal sector.
The participants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 with a clear motivation to improve
their business and to contribute to the program. Reading and writing skills in Kinyarwanda
are also mandatory. The class meets twice per week for three hours each day, introducing
participants to basic business principals such as bookkeeping, financial management, and
customer care. The most advanced graduates have the opportunity to access loans through
partnered microfinance institutions. There is also a strong focus on innovation and
relationship-building with the ultimate goal being increased revenues and transition into the
formal sector. The trainers follow-up with participants for one month following the end of
the training sessions.
* From organization website
54
Business Incubation: The business incubator at YES aims to nurture start-up business
ventures into mature and thriving businesses. Fully furnished office space is offered at
subsidized rates along with business advising and networking to aspiring and active young
entrepreneurs. The duration of the incubation is limited to three years and entrepreneurs
are accepted on a walk-in basis.
For more information:
Jean de Dieu Kabengera, Programs Manager
Phone: +250 (0)78.830.9430
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.yesrwanda.org
55
IV. Appendices
56
Appendix I: Definitions of Support Services
Access to Finance: Access to finance refers to support services that help entrepreneurs obtain
financial products needed to launch and/or grow their businesses. These financial products may
include microfinance or commercial loans, equity investments, insurance products, and trade
financing, among others. Prize money and financial awards to entrepreneurs are not included in this
definition and organizations that offer such grants are not considered to offer access to finance
services for the purpose of this report.
Access to Market Information: Market information refers to prices, levels of supply and demand,
consumer trends, and any other economic information that enables entrepreneurs to make rational
business decisions. The information is most commonly used to determine the feasibility and profit
potential of business ventures.
Advisory Services: Advisory services refer to the support provided by experts that employ their
business acumen to address issues critical to the growth of entrepreneurial ventures. The benefits of
these engagements depend upon an in-depth understanding of the entrepreneur’s business and
industry and tend to last for a few months to a few years.
Behavioral Training: Behavioral training aims to develop the soft skills required to succeed as an
entrepreneur. Topics include, but are not limited to, leadership, creativity, and public speaking.
Business Plan Competition: Business plan competitions offer a range of prizes to entrepreneurs
after their plans are judged against one another by a panel of financiers and other experts. The
specific judging criteria for each competition differ, but they often include an analysis of business
feasibility, innovativeness, and profit potential. The entrepreneurs behind the winning business
plans may receive cash prizes, loan guarantees, in-kind professional services, etc.
Business Plan Development: Business plan development services guide an entrepreneur through
the process of creating a business plan that can be used to help launch a new venture, attract new
partners or advisors, and/or obtain financing.
Coaching & Mentoring: Coaching and mentoring refers to a purposeful relationship in which an
experienced and knowledgeable businessperson agrees to support an entrepreneur with less
experience, skills, and knowledge. The best relationships provide mutual benefits to both
participants and are often initiated through professional networking opportunities.
Incubation: Business incubators are physical facilities that offer office space, administrative support,
and an array of other services to start-up and early-stage businesses. Incubators are often fee-based
and require entrepreneurs to pass through an application process, after which they are supported
for up to two or three years.
Networking: Networking refers to explicit activities undertaken by service providers with the
intention of establishing mutually-beneficial relationships between entrepreneurs, business
professionals, financiers, customers, suppliers, and/or other stakeholders. Business information,
advice, and other types of support are often exchanged.
57
Research & Policy Advocacy: Research and policy advocacy refers to any type of research that is
meant to advance entrepreneurship in the country, supplemented by discussion forums or
presentations that are meant to inform policy makers of important changes that would boost the
levels and impacts of entrepreneurial ventures.
Skills Training: Skills training courses range from one-day, one-topic engagements to multi-
dimensional experiences lasting months or years. The most common skills trainings focus on the
basic business skills necessary to start and manage a business, such as bookkeeping, customer care,
and marketing.
Technical Support: Technical support refers to a range of activities that provide entrepreneurs with
specific expertise and assistance relative to their business and industry. Examples of technical
support include demonstrations of new technologies and access to mechanical equipment.
58
Appendix II: Support Services for Entrepreneurs in Rwanda by Organization
Acc
ess
to
Fin
ance
Acc
ess
to
Mar
ket
Info
rmat
ion
Ad
viso
ry S
erv
ice
s
Be
hav
iora
l
Trai
nin
g
Bu
sin
ess
Pla
n
Co
mp
eti
tio
n
Bu
sin
ess
Pla
n
De
velo
pm
en
t
Co
ach
ing
&
Me
nto
rin
g
Incu
bat
ion
Org
an
izat
ion
al
Cap
acit
y B
uild
ing
Ne
two
rkin
g
Re
sear
ch &
Po
licy
Ad
voca
cy
Skill
s Tr
ain
ing
Tech
nic
al S
up
po
rt
African Innovation Prize
X
Akilah Institute for Women
X
X
Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center
X X
X
X X X
Bridge2Rwanda
X
X X
Business Council for Peace
X
X
X
CEFE International
X
X
Center for Business Solutions X X X
X X
X
Digital Opportunity Trust X
X
X X
Educat X
X
X X
X
Education Development Center X
X
X
X
Generation Rwanda
X
X
X
Global Relief and Development Partners
X
X X
X
X
Goldman Sachs X
X
X X X
X
X
IEEW
X
X X
X
International Labour Organization
X
X
Junior Chamber International
X
X
X
X
Kigali Institute of Science & Technology X
X
X X X X
X X
Private Sector Federation
X
X X
X X
Rwanda Business Development Center
X X X X
O
X
Rwanda Development Board
X
O
X X O
Rwanda Entrepreneurship Week
X
X
X
School of Finance and Banking
X X
United Entrepreneurship Coalition
X
X
Youth Employment Systems Rwanda X
X X
X
X X X
X = Current Service O = Future Service
5
9
Appendix III: Levels of Support Services for Entrepreneurs in Rwanda
0
5
10
15
20
25
Levels of Support Services for Entrepreneurs in Rwanda N
um
ber
of
ESP
s O
ffer
ing
Serv
ices
60
Appendix IV: Positioning Map of Service Providers by Target Markets
Necessity – Driven
Opportunity – Driven
Asp
irin
g
EDC
Educat
PSF
RDB
AIP
Akilah Institute
BDC
BREC
CBS
CEFE
Educat
Generation Rwanda
ILO
JCI
KIST
PSF
RDB
REW
SFB
YES
Act
ive
DOT
Educat
Goldman Sachs
PSF
RDB
YES
B2R
BDC
BPeace
BREC
CBS
CEFE
DOT
Educat
GRDP
IEEW
ILO
KIST
PSF
RDB
Denotes services for youth
Denotes services for women
Denotes services for general population
* Note: Organizations often offer different programs for different types of entrepreneurs. See their organization profile for more
information.
6
1
Appendix V: Definition of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
Size of the Enterprise Net Capital Investments
(Million RwF) Annual Turnover
(Million RwF) Number of Employees
Micro Enterprises Less than 0.5 Less than 0.3 1 to 3
Small Enterprises 0.5 to 15 0.3 to 12 4 to 30
Medium Enterprises 15 to 75 12 to 50 31 to 100
Large Enterprises More than 75 More than 50 More than 100
Notes on definition from RDB:
*Two of the three conditions should be met
*Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has a different definition of SMEs for tax purposes
To access this information online, please visit www.hanga.biz.
©2011 Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center PO Box 319 Kigali, Rwanda