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

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©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

[email protected]

+1 781 239 5660

Rwanda

Benjamin Cox

Country Director, BREC

[email protected]

+250 78 283 5596

Christopher Smith

Country Director, BREC

[email protected]

+250 78 283 5578

mailto:[email protected]





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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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


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Akilah Institute for Women

Type of Initiative: Local NGO

Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Skills Training



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.


Lisa Martilotta, Executive Director

Phone: +250 (0)78.410.8834


Web: www.akilahinstitute.org * From organization website


http://www.akilahinstitute.org/

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Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center (BREC)


Services Offered: Advisory Services, Behavioral Training, Business Plan Development, Networking,

Research & Policy Advocacy, Skills Training


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

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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.


Benjamin Cox, Country Director

Phone: +250 (0)78.283.5596


Christopher Smith, Country Director

Phone: +250 (0)78.283.5578




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Bridge2Rwanda (B2R)


Services Offered: Advisory Services, Networking, Research & Policy Advocacy



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.


Blayne Sharpe, Rwanda Operations Director

Phone: +250 (0)78.566.2316


Web: www.bridge2rwanda.org


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Business Council for Peace (Bpeace)


Services Offered: Advisory Services, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills Training

Geographic Presence: Global (3 Countries)


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.


Marla Gitterman, Chief Program Officer

Phone: +1 212.696.9696 (US)


Web: www.bpeace.org


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CEFE International

Type of Initiative: Independent Consultants

Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Skills Training



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.


Dieudonne Kabanda, Head Trainer

Phone: +250 (0)78 851 9110

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Web: www.cefe.net


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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



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.


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Rebson Dzala, General Manager

Phone: +250 (0)78.342.1126


Web: www.cbs-rwanda.com

http://www.cbs-rwanda.com/

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Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda (DOT)


Services Offered: Access to Finance, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills Training, Technical Support



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.


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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

http://www.rwanda.dotrust.org/

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Educat


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

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Mikkel Harder, Country Director

Phone: +250 (0)78.411.7919


Web: www.real.rw / www.educat.dk

Dennis Dybdal, Program Director

Phone: +250 (0)78.274.1804


Web: www.real.rw / www.educat.dk

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Education Development Center (EDC)


Services Offered: Access to Finance, Behavioral Training, Organizational Capacity Building, Skills

Training



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.


Jean Claude Nshimiyimana, Deputy Director

Phone: +250 (0)25.258.0796


Web: www.edc.org


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Generation Rwanda


Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills Training

Geographic Presence: National


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.


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Michelle Hamilton, Director of Programs

Phone: +250 (0)78.538.9862


Web: www.generationrwanda.org

33

Global Relief and Development Partners (GRDP)


Services Offered: Advisory Services, Business Plan Development, Coaching & Mentoring,

Networking, Skills Training



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.


Cyusa Leandre, Country Representative

Phone: +250 (0)72.830.9810


Web: www.grdpartners.org


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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



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.


Agnes Uzarerwa, Program Manager

Phone: +250 (0)78.520.9112


Web: www.wdi.umich.edu/ee/rwanda

35

Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW)


Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Business Plan Development, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills

Training



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.


36


Lin Stuart, Director of Programs

Phone: +1 405.943.4474 (US)


Web: www.ieew.org

37

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Type of Initiative: Independent Consultants

Services Offered: Organizational Capacity Building, Skills Training



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.


Lamech Nambajimana, National Program Officer

Phone: +250 (0)78.830.4167


Web: www.ilo.org


38

Junior Chamber International (JCI)


Services Offered: Business Plan Competition, Coaching & Mentoring, Networking, Skills Training



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.


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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.


Lydie Hakizimana, National President

Phone: +250 (0)78.831.2839


Web: www.jci.cc/rwanda

http://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



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.


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.


Rajeev Aggarwal, Director (CITT)

Phone: +250 (0)78.858.6815


Web: www.kist.ac.rw

42

Private Sector Federation (PSF)


Services Offered: Advisory Services, Business Plan Competition, Business Plan Development,




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.


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.


General Inquiries

Phone: +250 (0)58.35.41/38


Web: www.psf.org.rw

BDS Center Inquiries

Francis Rugero

Phone: +250 (0)78.875.7069


Business Plan Competition Inquiries

Betty Abatoni

Phone: +250 (0)78.830.2884


Skills Training Inquiries

Martin Ngirabatware


44

Rwanda Business Development Center


Services Offered: Advisory Services, Behavioral Training, Business Plan Competition, Business Plan

Development, Incubation, Skills Training



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.


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Phone: +1 757.352.4502(US)


Web: www.bdcrwanda.com

46

Rwanda Development Board (RDB)

Type of Initiative: Government Agency

Services Offered: Advisory Services, Incubation, Research & Policy Advocacy, Skills Training,

Technical Support



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.


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.


General Inquiries


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


Advisory Services and Incubation Inquiries

Eusebe Muhikira, Ag. Head of Department

Trade and Manufacturing

Phone: +250 (0)78.851.3764


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Rwanda Entrepreneurship Week


Services Offered: Behavioral Training, Coaching & Mentoring, Skills Training



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.


Jackie Stenson, Student Coordinator


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



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.


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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.


Olive Murinda, Director (CED)

Phone: +250 (0)78.895.2580


Web: www.sfb.ac.rw

51

United Entrepreneurship Coalition


Services Offered: Organizational Capacity Building, Research & Policy Advocacy

Additional Services: Research & Policy Advocacy



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,


52

therefore creating more jobs and enabling economic growth. Special attention will be

devoted to assist youth and marginalized communities.


SPARK Inquiries

Nebojsa Simic, Country Manager

Phone: +250 (0)78.419.3931


Web: www.spark-online.org

BiD Network Inquiries

Anneke Evers, Senior Advisor

Phone: +250 (0)78.404.8404


Web: www.bidnetwork.org

53

Youth Employment Systems (YES)


Services Offered: Access to Finance, Advisory Services, Behavioral Training, Incubation, Networking,




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.


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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.


Jean de Dieu Kabengera, Programs Manager

Phone: +250 (0)78.830.9430


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.

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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

[email protected]

http://www.hanga.biz/

[email protected]

Rwanda's Entrepreneurship Development Landscape

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