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MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 2018 ISSUE 84
TELLING RWANDA’S STORY
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w.h
ope-
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Cogebanque a Rwandan Bank with world-class services
7 EDITORIAL Cogebanque leads the way for local companies
12 COGEBANQUE launches mobile wallet ‘Coge mBank’ for easy account management
14 AKAGERA MOTORS introduces Foton range of trucks and busses
16 ENGEN RWANDA hands over scholarships to Imbuto Foundation
20 AIRTEL RWANDA launches “Go from Good to Best” campaign.
24 MOBISOL Clients win cows and school fees as ‘Nezerwa' ends
28 UAP Women’s Day Celebration
30 VISION FUND and World Vision Project makes families thrive
32 KCB BANK RWANDA launches program to empower youth
33 KCB BANK to integrate all banking services on mobile platform
34 BK TECHOUSE Powering Innovation
Hope Magazine Rwanda 1
BPR ATlas Mara Group 2
Airtel Tigo Rwanda 3
Bourbon Coffee 4
Akagera Business Group 5
Access Bank AccessPay 8
BRALIRWA Limited 9
Access Bank Mobile Wallet 13
Engen Rwanda Limited 17
Kigali Serena Hotel 18
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel 19
Airtel Rwanda 21
UAP Group Rwanda 22
UAP Group Rwanda 23
Mobisol Limited 25
Marriott Kigali 26
Safintra Limited 27
Galaxy Hotel 31
Riders Lounge 37
Davis and Shirtliff 38
The Court Boutique Hotel 39
Business Partners Limited 47
WAKA Fitness Group 48
Yegomoto 49
The Arts & Gimco Real Estate 50
Sinotruk Rwanda Limited 51
BK Techouse 52
CONTENTS
KCB BANK RWANDA
ENGEN RWANDA
RIDERS RWANDA
TOYOTA RWANDA
BK TECHOUSE
RDB
HOPE FEBRUARY ISSUE 846
HOPE TEAM
Allan MigaddeBen GasoreErwin WinklerHimbana AlexandreIshimwe Yvonne
Iradukunda AnimeKeith NtagozeraKobusingye BonitahManzi JosephMbanda ClaudeMucyo Rodrigue
Rumanzi AbrahamShema IgnaceSindayirwanya IsabelleRebero DanielDESIGN & LAYOUT
Dani K.
COPYRIGHT 2013 Reserved by Hope Magazine, a monthly Magazine published by HOPE HOLDINGS LTD All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers of Hope Magazine.
HOPE MAGAZINE
February 2018 Issue 84In this Issue
PUBLISHED BY HOPE HOLDINGS LTDADVERTISING & GENERAL INQUIRIESP.O. Box 6176 Kigali-Rwanda+250 788 524189 / +250 788 404138
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ADVERTISERS
CONTRIBUTORS
36 RIDERS RWANDA The Riders Experience
40 RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARD Volkswagen assembly to start in second quarter of 2018
42 RESONATE RWANDA helping women find their voice and transform communities
44 TOYOTA RWANDA Toyota Hilux with new GD engine
46 DEVELOPMENT BANK OF RWANDA resumes Countrywide Investor Outreach in Rusizi, Nyamasheke and Karongi
Resonate is trying to organise leadership workshops primarily for women and girls, in which hard skills and education are coupled with leadership training with a view of giving women the confidence to take action and create change...One of the best examples of the transformative impact that this approach has, can be found in Abahizi Rwanda, a cooperative of women artisans based in Masoro, Rulindo district, which since 2014 has been supported by the global fashion brand Kate Spade New York...
COVER Cogebanque a Rwandan Bank with world-class services
Hope Magazine assume no liability for error or omissions in this publication. All Advertisements are taken in good faith, opinions and views contained herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. All copyrights and trademarks are recognized. No part of this publication or contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form without written permission by Hope Magazine. Exemption is hereby granted for extracts with the purpose of fair review. © 2013
I n the first decade or so after 1994, the sector was rather sluggish. It was a period of reconstruction – socially, economically and in terms of infrastructure. Investors were
prudent, waiting to see if Rwanda could get on its feet again, and so were the banks. They mainly stuck to traditional products such as deposit and savings accounts, and high initial deposits made the threshold to the banking sector quite high.
Yet by the mid-2000s, th ings had drastically changed. Reconstruction had turned into a phase of rapid development, and international investors took note. So did regional banks, which were quick to see the opportunities of this quickly emerging economy, by acquiring majority stakes in local banks and rebranding them. They brought with them a more aggressive and dynamic way of banking.
The telecommunications companies, which had only landed in the market a few years earlier, also suddenly breathed down the neck of the local financial sector by launching their own money transfer services, which already had been a huge success among the unbanked population in other parts of Afr ica, and quickly became popular in Rwanda too as they made it so much easier to get money from one place in the country to another.
Banks reacted quickly with products that brought account management to their clients’ fingertips: first ATMs and internet banking, then mobile banking and even mobile apps.
In this rapidly changing environment, Cogebanque charted its own steady course, and today it is one of the country’s most successful banks. That is remarkable, as it’s the country’s youngest bank, and the only new local one since 1994. What is more, until today it is still largely owned by Rwandans.
Their trust in the bank is today vindicated, as Cogebanque has not only moved into it new headquarters in a building constructed and owned by the bank, but has also recently launched its ‘Coge mBank’ mobile app, becoming one of the first banks to have its own app. As Cogebanque’s Managing Director, Cherno Gaye, rightly points out an interview with Hope Magazine, you don’t need foreign ownership to be exposed to best practices, or to have the ambition to offer world-class products and services.
As such, Cogebanque serves as a shining example to other Rwandan companies, especially in this age of ‘Made in Rwanda,’ the government’s drive that promotes locally made products. As Cogebanque shows, with the right people and products, Rwandan companies can compete on the regional, continental and global markets.
Erwin Winkler
We appreciate your feedback. Please keep sending more on [email protected] or visit www.hope-mag.com,
to post your comment on any published story. We shall pick it and respond to you asap!
Cogebanque a Made-in-Rwanda bank that
leads the way for local companies
� While Rwanda’s banking sector today is highly dynamic, with financial institutions
keen to make banking as easy as possible for their customers through constant innovation,
that hasn’t always been the case.
RESONATE RWANDA
UAP RWANDA
HIGHLIGHTS
Editorial
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VISIT HOPE WEBSITEwww.hope-mag.com
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H ope Magazine sat down with Cogebanque’s Managing D i r e c t o r, M r. C h e r n o Gaye, in his new off ice overlooking the car-free
zone, to discuss how the company has managed to thrive in Rwanda’s highly competitive banking sector.
Q Cogebanque has recently moved to its new headquarters, a new building owned by the bank. Why was this move made and what does it say about Cogebanque’s health as a business?
A First, we needed room for growth and expansion. Cogebanque has been growing very fast, and is incontestably one of the fastest growing banks in Rwanda. Before, we were at Centenary House, but it became too small, we required room for expansion; here, we have a bigger space.Secondly, we needed more visibility.
Q A&
The new HQ of Cogebankque
� While Cogebanque is maybe one of the youngest banks in Rwanda, it has in less than two decades managed to get a strong foothold in the country’s financial sector. The bank has just relocated its headquarters to its own, newly constructed building in the heart of Kigali.
10HOPE FEBRUARY ISSUE 84
Cogebanque, a Rwandan bank with world-class services
Banking
Q In the past 15 years, the banking sector in Rwanda has undergone a complete transformation, with many foreign banks entering the market or taking a majority stake in local banks. Today, Cogebanque remains one of the few banks with a majority of Rwandan shareholders. How has the bank experienced this increased competition, and how has it managed to maintain its Rwandan ownership?
A I think one of the main reasons why the local shareholders are with us is that the bank has been delivering respectable returns over the years. This is a bank that was created in 1999, with a very modest loan book at the end of the first year; today, we have a balance sheet size of about Rwf 200 billion.
The fundamentals of the bank are also very strong; it has a good track record of delivering a strong return on equity (ROE), which is a yardstick to measure the extent to which an entity is creating shareholder value. So it is not surprising that the bank managed to attract and maintain the local shareholders. And also, we have been able to attract and maintain our customers.
As for the foreign competition, there has indeed since a few years been an influx of banks from the region. Compet i t ion is unders tandab ly intense. Also, banks have grown bigger and better capitalised. What this means is that banks need to pursue sound competitive strategies going forward. I am inclined to believe that we have what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Q Today, the main trend in banking is to go digital, sometimes even at the expense of physical branches and agents. What is Cogebanque’s approach in this respect?
A I think when it comes to digital, we’re not being left behind. It would be fair to say that we’re among the banks that lead the pack. For example, we’re among the few that have a mobile app with the ‘Coge mBank’ mobile wallet which we have just launched.
We also have a good internet banking platform in addition to other digital offerings. And there is a USSD option for digital banking on a feature phone.
On top of that we have our debit, credit and prepaid cards and our agency banking network is also growing. You know, the easier you make it for the customer, the better, and not having digital options as a bank is a massive competitive disadvantage. More and more, banks are beginning to learn this disturbing truth.
When it comes to branches, I can say that as a bank that seeks to serve the retail segment, it is critical to be able to reach the mass market. The level of banking penetration in Rwanda is still low at 26% (although the level of financial inclusion is much higher). So it makes a lot of sense to use tools to attract as many customers as possible, including branches. Branches are still key to raising liabilities and also when it comes to offering more specialised services.
It’s a question of striking the right balance. Yes, the need for branches has slightly diminished, but they still serve important needs. Actually, we will very soon be opening at least three new branches, which are very targeted.
Q In this context, what is your view on the incursion by telecoms into the financial sector with their mobile money products, which have been hugely successful in Africa, particularly among the under-banked part of the population? Do you see them in terms of competition or collaboration?
A Yes, Telcoms are doing activities one would argue are the preserve of banks. These are mainly those incidental to their core business. It is understandable that they also want to monetize the opportunities arising from their unique positioning.
As regulated entities and also due to our unique positioning, there are also things only banks can do – at least at this material moment; so, they cannot entirely avoid banks. Therefore, we have to cooperate in many areas. Push & Pull is a case in point. A customer who has a mobile money account and wants to move money to and from his or her bank account will find it this handy.
This is very convenient for customers and for a bank that is customer centric, we think this is critical and therefore embrace it. It ’s about serving the cus tomer. We jus t have to f i nd innovative ways to cooperate, with each doing what they do best or where they are uniquely suited to perform better. We cannot be all things to everybody.
Q How do you see the evolution of Rwanda’s banking sector in the next 5 to 10 years? Is there still room for new players?
A That is a tough question. But given the size of the economy, and the number of incumbents, I think it will take time before we have new entrants into the market given current dynamics. But if you’re talking about 5 to 10 years, there will definitely be new competitors especially because the Rwandan economy is poised to deliver strong growth. In the short run, I would say it is highly unlikely.
And of course, you have to remember that the government is also pursuing digital initiatives and financial inclusion, and as all these efforts bear fruit, the market will be more attractive and therefore attract more players.
11www.hope-mag.com
Co.LogoCOGEBANQUESPECIAL FEATURE
Cherno Gaye Cogebanque’s Managing Director
I think when it comes to digital, we’re not being left behind. It would be fair to say that we’re among the banks that lead the pack. For example, we’re among the few that have a mobile app with the ‘Coge mBank’ mobile wallet which we have just launched.
W i t h Coge mBank, cus tomers can manage various accounts, pay bi l ls, transfer money and conduct numerous other banking transactions.
The app is part of Cogebanque’s digital banking strategy aimed at opening up opportunities to transact using multiple channels, especially digital ones, chief among which is mobile.
The strategy helps the bank to expand its delivery channels and make banking more accessible and convenient for customers. “This development is in line with the bank’s digital aspirations and a manifestation of the bank’s commitment to bring banking services
closer to the clients,” said the Cogebanque’s Managing Director, Cherno Gaye at the launch.
As customers continue to embrace digital channels around the globe, Cogebanque continues to be an active pioneer of digital banking solutions, and provide digital financial services and solutions to customers in line with the country’s drive to create a cashless economy.
“This mobile wal let app provides simple, functional, and relevant ways of banking, anywhere at any t ime with Cogebanque,” remarked Yvon Gilbert Nishimwe, the Head of E-Banking at Cogebanque. “With the app, all you need to transact is your smartphone.”
The bank’s Marketing Manager, Antoine Iyamuremye, said Coge mBank should make banking easier for customers.
“This is a means of taking control of your accounts whether you’re on the go or curled up on the couch at your home, day or night,” he remarked.
To start using Coge mBank:
� Go to Google Play or Apple store
� Download “Coge mBank”
� Once downloaded, follow instruction to subscribe or activate your Cogebanque Mobile Wallet.
The app was presented during the finals of Miss Rwanda 2018, of which Cogebanque was the main sponsor
�As the main sponsor of Miss Rwanda 2018, Cogebanque used the occasion of the beauty pageant’s finals in February to present its Mobile Wallet app, Coge mBank. The app runs on both iOS and Android mobile devices.
12HOPE JANUARY ISSUE 83
Cogebanque launches mobile wallet ‘Coge mBank’ for easy account management
Finance & Banking ... COGEBANQUE SPECIAL FEATURE
20% Increase
in assets & Profits
C O G E B A N Q U E ( C o m p a g n i e Générale de Banque Limited) is a commercial bank licensed by the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) in 1999.
The bank’s performance for the last 5 years has been remarkable with year-on-year growth of more than 20% in assets and profitability.
ABOUT COGEBANQUE
KN 63 St.
A BG entered into an agreement with Foton last year and has since been selling the Foton Aumark C lightweight truck. Now it has also added the Foton Auman TX Prime Mover (a tractor-type truck) and the Foton
Auman TX Tipper 18 CBM, both of which are heavy-duty vehicles.
ABG also distributes Foton’s range of buses, which includes a coaster type, a city bus and a long-distance inter-city bus. We wanted a reliable partner for buses and trucks,” explained Shivaprakash, Sales Manager at Akagera Motors. “And Foton has a good reputation, as it has partnered with Daimler; it is an international brand, and one of the best.”
“The advantage of Foton is that they have a wide range of trucks, but they are much cheaper compared to other brands yet they are as powerful,” he adds. “Over the last ten years, Foton has ventured into Africa, and they have proven their vehicles are strong for the African conditions,” he added.
AKAGERA MOTORS introduces Foton range of trucks and busses
� AKAGERA MOTORS, WHICH IS PART OF AKAGERA BUSINESS GROUP (ABG) HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED A RANGE OF BUSSES AND TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BY FOTON MOTOR.
ABG sells different types of Foton busses
14HOPE FEBRUARY ISSUE 84
Motoring AKAGERA BUSINESS GROUPSPECIAL FEATURE
find it difficult to buy a truck.” As is the case with other brands of trucks it sells, Akagera Motors can also customize Foton’s light trucks – whether it is a flatbed truck, a fully enclosed cargo area, a cage or a tank for liquids.
Through the deal with ABG, Foton makes further inroads into East Africa; already, it has an assembly plant in Mombasa, Kenya, where it also has a regional sales office and a warehouse for parts.
“Africa is one of our most important target markets globally, and Foton eyes to penetrate into the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Free Trade Zone,” said Sun Qingzhong, General Manager of Foton Motor Kenya, who led a delegation at the launch in Kigali.
“Rwanda is a strong emerging market, which is why last year we launched the collaboration with ABG,” Sun explained. For the moment, however, the Foton vehicles sold in Rwanda come from China, as the assembly plant in Kenya (which currently makes the Auman TX Prime Mover) produces right-hand-drive vehicles.
Symphorien Kamanzi, the General Director of Akagera Business Group, for his part expressed optimism that the deal would prove to be fruitful for both companies, and also said he is very confident in Foton’s vehicles.
“Their products are known worldwide, they are present in more than 100 countries in the world. Their products are of high quality, especial ly s ince they col laborate with Daimler,” he said.
Worldwide, Foton produces 700,000 vehicles per year.
According to Shivaprakash, the relatively low cost of the Foton trucks makes them ideal for starting businesses or first-time truck buyers. “The light truck, for example, costs around Rwf 25 million, and ABG offers a deal where you pay 30% upfront and the balance in installments over 24 months,” he explained. “So we are helping those customers who would normally
Foton makes both light- and heavy-duty trucks
Sun Qingzhong, General Manager of Foton Motor Kenya, before the Foton Auman TX Prime Mover Guests check out the interior of one of the busses
www.hope-mag.com 15
Co.Logo
O n Friday, Engen handed over its annual contribution to Imbuto Foundation in accordance with a 5-year partnership agreed upon in 2016, in which Engen committed itself to contribute Rwf
12 million over the five years to support 10 bright but vulnerable youth to access secondary school.
“Engen wants to make sure its contribution to society has a sustainable impact,” said Engen Rwanda’s Managing Director, Sarah Doukoure after the hand-over of the cheque. “We are confident that the students we sponsor will become successful, and contribute to the growth of the economy. One day they might even work for Engen.”
“We are committed to closely fol low the students unti l they finish their secondary studies,” she added. “We understand that education is key.”
In three years, Engen Rwanda has already supported 20 students at schools around the country, including Gashora Girls Academy,
Lycée de Kigali, Lycée Notre Dame, among others.
“Under the program ‘Edi f ied Generation’ we have sponsored over 8,000 students to complete their secondary studies for the past 17 years,” said the Director General of Imbuto Foundation, Sandrine Umutoni. “We work
with different schools around the country to identify well-performing students coming from vulnerable backgrounds,” she said.
“We are grateful that Engen is part of this important program which contributes to the development o f a hea l thy, educa ted and prosperous society,” she added.
Engen Rwanda hands over third annual scholarship for
students to Imbuto Foundation� Leading fuel distributor Engen Rwanda has renewed its sponsorship of vulnerable students from senior 3 to 6 under the Imbuto Foundation’s scholarship program ‘Edified Generation.’
About Engen
Engen Rwanda, commenced operations in Rwanda in November 2008 acquiring the assets of TOTAL and thus becoming a leading producer and marketer of a wide range of fuels, lubricants and oil-based products in the country.
Engen Rwanda currently operates 21 service stations in Rwanda and operates across 18 African markets.
About Imbuto Foundation
Imbuto Foundation is a Rwandan non-profit-making organisation the vision of which is ‘A nation of empowered and dignified Rwandans,’ while its vision is to support the development of a healthy, educated and prosperous society.
Imbuto Foundat ion ful f i ls i ts mission through the implementation of projects in health, education and economic empowerment and through partnerships with organisations with the same goals.
Sarah Doukoure Engen Rwanda’s Managing Director, hands over the cheque to Sandrine Umutoni Director General of Imbuto Foundation
Sandrine Umutoni DG Imbuto Foundation
16HOPE FEBRUARY ISSUE 84
Education ENGEN RWANDA
SPECIAL FEATURE
“I am very happy to be a Mobisol c u s t o m e r b e c a u s e t h e s e a r e marvelous prizes which will be very useful. I am very happy and grateful to Mobisol,” he said. “I urge everyone to use Mobisol’s products because it gives you affordable and reliable electricity.”
The ‘Nezerwa na Mobisol’ builds on an already exist ing pract ice w i th in Mobiso l , wh ich rewards customers with Rwf 10,000 when they recommend a new client.
“Part of our success is coming from our existing customers who, after enjoying the quality of our solar home system, take their time to interest their friends or neighbors and refer them to Mobisol,” said Louis Rwagaju, the company’s Head of customer loyalty and government relations.
“This promotion was a big opportunity to recognize our customers’ loyalty and encourage them to recommend their neighbors.”
I n January, there had already been a first raff le of the ‘Nezerwa na Mobisol’ promotion at which bicycles, stereo radios and phones were given away. ‘Nezerwa na Mobisol’ was
launched late November to reward the company’s loyal customers, who could win prizes for referring new clients to the company;
In the final draw on Wednesday, the two winners of a cow were Jean De Dieu Safari from Gasabo and Jean Marie Bapfakwita from Rutsiro. Three lucky winners walked away with school fees: Eric Nayigiziki from Kirehe, Liliane Cyuzuzo from Gasabo and Jean Marie Vianey Ndagijimana, also from Gasabo.
There were also stereo radios for three excited winners: Wellars Bizimana from Rusizi, Julienne Uwimana from Nyabihu and Eric Nayigiziki from Kirehe. The latter, who won both school fees and a stereo radio, was elated.
� Mobisol has concluded its ‘Nezerwa na Mobisol’ promotion with a very excited and hyped crowd at Rumbogo where the competition’s grand prizes cows, school fees and stereo radios, handed over.
Mobisol's Louis Rwagaju Head of Corporate sales and Government partnership Mobisol Rwanda Ltd, with some of the lucky winners
Mobisol's Louis Rwagaju hands over a cow to the winner Jean De Dieu Safari
Eric Nayiziki one the luckiest winners who walked away with a stereo radio and school fees
Lilliane Cyuzuzo One of the lucky winners of school fees
Clients win cows and school fees as ‘Nezerwa Na Mobisol’ ends
24HOPE FEBRUARY ISSUE 84
Business MOBISOLSPECIAL FEATURE
Calisto Ogaye UAP Rwanda MD and the Old Mutual Women Network leadership
C urrently, with 37 members, the platform has made significant strides in celebrating women through insightful talks, the most recent held on International Women’s Day (IWD), 8th March 2018. The unique event was held at the UAP Headquarters with
the Executive Director of Financial Sustainability at the Central Bank of Rwanda, Peace Uwase Masezero, as the guest speaker.
The IWD campaign theme this year is ‘Press for Progress,’ against the background of the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report which predicted gender parity to be still over 200 years away. This has motivated the current strong global momentum striving for gender parity. Acknowledging this process, movements like OWN across the world are making positive gains day by day.
Adeline Muhoza Nzitatira, the Public Relations, Marketing and Communication Specialist at UAP, acknowledged the situation is much better in Rwanda than in many other parts of the world. “While we know that gender parity won’t happen overnight globally, the good news is that UAP, and Rwanda in general, is
way ahead of the neighbouring countries and many parts of the world,” she said. Yet this gratitude for the progress made does not quench her thirst for more.
“We have made strides here with 33% of staff members being women, and we therefore need to be the inspiration that will draw other corporate bodies to jump on the bandwagon,” Nzitatira remarked.
Guest speaker Peace Uwase was invited to share her life experience and secrets to make it up the corporate ladder. As a girl born first in a family of four with a liberal and supportive dad, it is no surprise she became the leader she is today.
She gives credit to her upbringing and divine destiny as the simple reasons she is where she is. Very humble in character yet an instrumental source of inspiration in the financial sector, Uwase emphasised the importance of education as a tool of societal transformation and having a strong will to do the unimaginable.
“We can’t be complacent; now, more than ever, there’s a strong call to action to press forward and progress gender parity and girl child empowerment,” she said.
“ Internat ional Women’s Day is not country, group or organisation specific. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere, women and men alike in support for women empowerment.
Cutting the Cake during Women's Day celebrations
Peace Uwase Masezero Executive Director of Financial Sustainability at the Central Bank of Rwanda, was the guest speaker
MD Calisto Ogaye hosted the female employees of UAP Rwanda to a lunch at the occasion of Women's Day
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UAP SPECIAL FEATURE
HOPE FEBRUARY ISSUE 84
� In 2016, the Old Mutual Women Network (OWN) was formed as a platform for mentorship and networking through interaction with impactful and influential women in society.
UAP Women’sDay Celebration
So together, let’s be tenacious in accelerating gender parity and celebrating women, let’s all Press for Progress.”
Uwase encouraged women to always seize opportunities as they present themselves, saying that from her early career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers Uganda she learned a lot more than what was in the job description.
She also learnt that being a career woman presented a challenge to balance social life with the professional demands. Uwase admitted she was constantly late for work and suffered trying to be a super woman both at home and at work.
Looking back, she realizes she should have requested for help, something she asked women to accept from their spouses or people around. “There is a place and role for all those around a woman and woman ought to accept help where need be,” she noted.
With over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Claudine Mukakibibi says women are able to multitask without much effort, making them efficient staff members. If she wrote a letter her younger self, she says it would read:
“The world is open for you to do whatever you want.”
To her, OWN as a platform wil l give many woman an opportunity to network and redefine where women will be in future.
Annie Nibishaka believes that hard work pays. “We are tempted to think that as women, we are limited in certain professional careers, but I would urge girls to follow their dreams; if men can do it, so can we,” she points out. Despite the many challenges a women goes through, she says having a clear goal and maintaining a sense of focus will eventually lead to
success. She also believes in having a role model, learning from people who are different from you and continuous upgrading your skills through training. She says that being married to a businessman, as opposed to her parents who were professionals, has been an eye opener and a great opportunity to learn a lot through interaction.
Mary Mwangi Shizz is Kenyan multipreneur based in Kigali who heads Shizz Insurance, a UAP agency. Vibrant and strong willed, Mary Mwangi, commonly known as Shiro, says that as a business woman, what comes first to her is having a sense of responsibility for everyone around her. She believes women make the world turn and they must press for progress without ceasing.
She is inspired by the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangare Maathai, who she says was a fighter, and believes women are free to soar if only they can tune their mindset to self-belief. She urges younger women to seek mentorship from their role models and see beyond their challenges in order to thrive in life.
“We have an exceptional Manage-ment Team who supports women and the young alike,” says Adeline Muhoza Nzitatira, who organised the Women’s Day celebration for the UAP staff members, with as the climax a lunch hosted by Chief Executive Officer Calisto Ogaye for
all female employees. Adeline’s life mantra is “Keep it simple” ‘Better. Simple. Life,’ which is UAP’s tag line. She believes in being one whether at work or home. Her strong self-belief, which she attributes to a good upbringing and a supportive father, clearly indicates fathers have a big role in raising daughters.
To her younger self, she would say that mistakes are lessons that add value in someone’s life. She also believes that people should not look at what they lack, but how much luck they have in the
journey of life. Starting small and not despising such beginnings is something she believes helps bring out the full potential in anyone.
As a Christian she points out that to her, salvation plays a huge role in guiding the journey of life, corporate or social. She learnt that salvation can be compared to spectacles that help a visually challenged person see clearly what they would not before. To her, women are powerful and the OWN is a platform to show just how much they can achieve when united for a common course.
Annie Nibishaka
Mary Mwangi Shizz
SOME OF THE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AT UAP INSURANCE
www.hope-mag.com 29
Claudine Mukakibibi Customer Service Manager
Head of Marketing and Distribution
Insurance Agent
Public Relations and Marketing OfficerAdeline Muhoza Nzitatira
UAP SPECIAL FEATURE
T he project’s goal is to empower p a r e n t s a n d c a r e g i v e r s t o sustainably provide for 60,000 children by improving resilience and increasing incomes to over
200% for 15,700 small-holder farmers by the year 2021. This is expected to be achieved through improved natural resource management; increasing income security of families of children; children live in families whose livelihoods are resilient to shocks and stress; enable smallholder farmers and their families to develop an empowered world view.
The main activities undertaken by the VFR in the THRIVE project are to train Saving Groups (SGs) on financial literacy (savings, borrowing and loan management, budgeting…), to provide loans for start-up equipment for small scale processing, to conduct product development, and to provide personal financial services to producer group members as well as
services related to crop and weather-index insurance, personal savings accounts and cashless banking.
Training of trainers
In the last month, VFR has conducted f inancial l i teracy training sessions in Huye and Gisagara Districts. The sessions were ‘training of trainers’ provided so to SGs leaders – presidents, treasurers and secretaries – who will subsequently train other group members. The trainings mainly focused on savings, borrowing, and loan management, budgeting and M-Hano services.
During the sessions, some interesting issues and cha l lenges emerged. Participants in Kigoma sector raised the issue of gender mindset to ensure a significant impact of the Thrive project, and the Thrive programme manager promised family training.
� Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) is a project implemented since 2017 by World Vision Rwanda (WVR) in collaboration with VisionFund Rwanda (VFR) in five districts: Huye, Gisagara, Gakenke, Rusizi and Nyamagabe.
It also emerged that an upgrade of the M-Hano features is desirable so that there can be three PIN Management for Saving Groups. It was also proposed to start current accounts activities (guichet) to allow SGs in Huye to make withdrawals using the VFR Branch in the district instead of BPR because mobile agents charge them too much when making withdrawals of big amounts of money.
In Cyabingo Sector in Gakenke District Thrive project coordinator participated in WVR empowered World View training to SGs and introduced VFR's services
Participants in Kigoma Sector
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VISION FUND RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE
How a joint World Vision - VisionFund Project makes families Thrive
Empowerment ...
� KCB Bank Rwanda on 9th March hosted 25 students from Lycee de Kigali secondary school at its headquarters as part of this year’s Global Money Week with the theme ‘Money Matters Matter.’
T he week runs from 12th to 18th March, and KCB Bank considers it an opportunity to empower youth socially and economically. The
students were given a tour of the different departments of the bank, while questions and topics of discussion ranged from the accounts the bank offers to different services related to banking.
Rosette Mutoni Corporate Communications Manager welcomes the students at the bank
� KCB Bank Rwanda has signed an MoU with the National Youth Council (NYC) which will see 100 young people receive intensive technical training (TVET) while five business proposals by the youth will get financing.
KCB Bank Rwanda launches program to empower youth
“Whatever you want to become in life, long-term planning is an essential element of your journey,” George Odhiambo, the Managing Director of KCB Bank Rwanda, told the students. “How you manage your time and money today will go a long way in helping you to achieve your dreams in the future.”
“Bankers remain key stakeholders driving financial literacy and inclusion; we aim to achieve this through use of modern technology and the youth to drive awareness,” he added.
T he MoU to implement the youth empowerment program called ‘KCB Igire’ was signed on Friday between the Managing Director of KCB Bank Rwanda, George Odhiambo, and the NYC
Executive Secretary, Robert Mwesigwa. Odhiambo observed that while youth form the majority of the population, they face specific challenges and difficulties. “Initiatives to empower youth are happening in a lot of places, so KCB has assessed ways to be part of them and align itself with the government’s program of job creation for the youth,” he said.
Albert Akimanzi KCB Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication George Odhiambo MD KCB Robert Mwesigwa Executive Secretary NYC, Donat Nishyirembere Youth Entrepreneurship Officer.
George Odhiambo the Managing Director of KCB Bank Rwanda, and Robert Mwesigwa Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council, after signing the MOU
(L-R)
George Odhiambo MD of KCB Bank Rwanda, shares a word with students
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BANK
KCB BANK SPECIAL FEATURE
KCB Bank Rwanda engages Lycee de Kigali students on money matter
KCB has several initiatives to promote financial inclusion focused on youth. The bank has hosted a Digital Day at the University of Rwanda and at the Kigali car-free zone with over 100 students from different universities in Kigali engage them on digital payment systems.
Following the signature of the agreement, there will be three weeks in which unemployed youth from around the country can send their application to the KCB Igire program.
Among them, 25 students wi l l be selected in each province, and they will undergo a six-month accelerated vocational training in selected TVET centers.
By the end of the training, the students will present a project for a business, and the best five will be supported by KCB Bank Rwanda with seed capital for a combined amount of Rwf 300 million. “There are many unemployed youth who need a little support to help them tap into their potential and develop business ideas once given the right skills,” Odhiambo explained the rationale of the programme.
NYC Executive Secretary Mwesigwa remarked that the initiative is in line with the organisation’s mission to advocate for and promote the socioeconomic transformation of the youth.
“First of all, we thank KCB Bank Rwanda for this empowering initiative as it’s the first private financial institution to engage in this,” he said. “It is a good programme to change the mentality of job seeking to job creation, and reduce the unemployment levels in Rwanda especially among youth. Also, the assessment of their projects will help connect them to markets.”
George Odhiambo, the Managing Director of KCB Bank Rwanda, and Robert Mwesigwa, Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council, after signing the MOU.
W e are targeting to e x p a n d m o b i l e banking service to inc lude most
of our banking services on mobile phone so customers no longer need to come to banking halls,” Ntwali said.
The service can be accessed b y d i a l i n g * 5 2 2 # , t h e n following the prompts; it is accessib le on al l mobi le platforms, and also allows to open an account.
The platform also offers M-Visa, so that mobile banking users can pay in shops, pay bills or send money to any Visa client in the World. “We want to make it easy for our clients to pay bills via mobile phone, including electricity, pay TV fees, taxes, or top up airtime anytime of the day or night,” Ntwali said.
The system also comes with agency service, which enables customers and agents to access basic banking services, and withdraw
or deposit cash in their own neighborhood with a mobile phone. Meanwhile, KCB customers can continue to use their phone to apply for a KCB Mobiloan, which allows them to borrow between Rwf 500 to Rwf 500,000, depending on their credit rating. The loans are to be paid back within 30 days at a 6% interest.
“Cur rent ly we rece ive over 100 loan applications per day and we can approve loans worth Rwf100 million per month, but targeting to increase to Rwf 300 million in approved loans,” Ntwali said.
Innocent Ntwali Senior Manager for Personal Banking and Channels at the KCB Bank Rwanda
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BANK
KCB BANK RWANDA is set to integrate most of its banking services on mobile platform
KCB BANK SPECIAL FEATURE
� KCB Bank Rwanda is set to integrate most of its banking services to a mobile platform by the end of the first quarter of this year, according to Innocent Ntwali, Senior Manager for Personal Banking and Channels at the bank.
Regis Rugemanshuro CEO of BK TecHouse and students from the Robotics Camp, in a panel discussion at the Africa Tech Summit
Through Urumuri initiative the BK Group gives innovative projects interest-free loans
“OK GUYS, LET’S GO AND HAVE LUNCH.” WHEN THESE WORDS ARE SPOKEN BY A TEACHER IN A CLASSROOM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, YOU’D EXPECT A RUSH TO THE DOOR.
“Thirdly, we wanted to equip them with the skills that they will need to strive in a digital world: teamwork, being able to use in practice what you learn in class and critical thinking,” Rugemanshuro added. “The other element is thinking outside the box: by being exposed to robotics and bringing in their creativity, they’ve made things none of them had thought of before.”
As such, the robotics camp is the perfect manifestation of the spirit that drives BK TecHouse: it is not so much about what technology can do, but what people can do with technology. Rugemanshuro phrased it like this, when explaining to The New Times why the company turned from an internet service provider (ISP) into a tech firm:
“We believe connectivity is just a means to an end, like water and electricity. Someone with a dry cleaner will buy more of both than the average household. We want to create more dry cleaners in this context and one efficient way we found to do that is to deliver value-adding digital solutions that solve everyday basic needs of Rwandans.”
School management solution
The best example of that philosophy is the company’s Urubuto Education System, a comprehensive school management solution aligned with the BK Techouse
Y et on that day in January at Lycée de Kigali, the students hardly paid attention, so engrossed were they in their work. Truth be told, this wasn’t an ordinary class. The 40 youth gathered there were the brightest students in science and
mathematics from around the country, taking part in the first Rwanda Robotics Camp, funded by the BK Group and organised by BK TecHouse and Makers Robotics Academy Rwanda. Under the guidance of three students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), they spent three weeks learning how to build Lego model robots and how to program them, all with a view to find applications for agriculture.
While the youth st i l l have some way to go to become fully fledged robotics engineers, that wasn’t the point of the camp, said Regis Rugemanshuro, the CEO of BK TecHouse.
“We wanted to plant a seed, and make a few points,” he noted. First, we wanted to show that Rwandan kids, exposed to technology, are as able to learn and to come up with things that can solve our problems. Secondly, we wanted to give them the confidence that it’s not just something you see on TV, or that is only done elsewhere. We can do it here, at home.”
The stand of BK Techouse at the Africa Tech summit
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BK TECKHOUSE SPECIAL FEATURE
Innovation ...
BK TECHOUSE Powering Innovation to
solve Rwanda's problems
The company also has innovative solutions for other critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and real estate. Already, last year BK TecHouse signed an agreement with the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) to develop the Smart Nkuganire System (SNS) to digitize the supply chain management of the farmers’ subsidy program. Phase one is already complete and farmers nationwide have already started their registration by dialing *774#.
The platform is expected to “de-risk” agriculture sector and increase financial inclusion in ways never seen before in Rwanda. In fact, though 70% of adult Rwandans live off agriculture
activities and contribute to 1/3 of the GDP, in 2016 the total commercial loans allocated to agriculture w e r e l e s s t h a n 8 % (Finscope report 2016). SNS will not only digitize the who le agr icu l tu re value chain, inc luding profiling of the farmers; it will also provide farmers a n d e v e r y o n e i n t h e value chain with advisory messages on weather, warnings, best practices and market information.
Furthermore, it will l ink f i nanc ia l i ns t i tu t ions , Te lcos and insurance companies look ing to invest into the sector and provide the government with real t ime accurate intelligent data on the state of the sector for efficient p l ann ing and ove ra l l decision making.
BK TecHouse has also d e v e l o p e d Te n a n t M a n a g e m e n t S y s t e m (TMS) for i ts cl ients in rea l es ta te . TMS is a revolut ionary software d e s i g n e d t o h e l p a l l companies and individuals with houses, commercial space and stands to lent.
W i t h i t s a u t o m a t e d i n v o i c i n g , i n s t a n t notification and electronic
payment capabilities, property owners, managers and landlords are able to oversee the occupancy and financial status of their properties in real time, reduce resources and time used while increasing efficiency and transparency. Tenants on the other hand are able to create and share their rental history, an incentive to pay in time while building an attractive profile for financial and insurance institutions for themselves or their businesses.
The company is also working with financial institutions to craft interesting loans packages for eligible disciplined tenants (those with a history to pay rent on time) as well as landlords with consistent occupancy and cash flow.
BK TecHouse is also opening up a new showroom for its Internet Of Things (IOT) business in partnership with the renowned, global award-winning HIK Vision, currently the global number-one security solutions provider. The showroom opens officially by May 2018 and will be located at the Remera Corner building on the first floor. It will feature security and monitoring solutions including the exclusive EZVIZ Smart Home Solution, as well as a range of other cutting edge security solutions using the latest technology for smart parking, smart hospitals, smart schools, commercial buildings and more.
Urumuri initiative
Of course, to come up with more innovative products BK TecHouse will have to continue its policy of hiring the best and brightest, and in this respect it could reap itself the fruits of the robotics camp – it is no coincidence that the theme of the first edition was ‘Shaping the Workforce of the Future to Strive in a Digital World.’
And for CEO Rugemanshuro, there is no doubt that there will be more camps. “Given the support and reactions we’ve received, we want to do bigger camps to expose more than 40 students,” he said. “But we also want to follow up on the first students, we want to make sure that they keep the spirit of using what they’ve learnt. There are tons of problems to solve.” To help find solutions to those problems, BK TecHouse intends to leverage the power of the BK Group.
“One of the initiatives of the BK Group is the Urumuri initiative [organised for the first time last year, ed.] in which eight projects won interest-free loans worth Rwf 60 million in total to fund their businesses. So as an organization, we’re supportive,” Rugemanshuro explained. “Our slogan is Powering Innovation, so we will always be around to support good and new initiatives that can solve the problems of Rwandans, and maybe in the region. At BK TecHouse, we understand the transformative power of innovation and the role our youth has to play in it. We are committed and to helping them get ready and supporting them on their journey to make and create the Rwanda we want for the next generation.”
Asked about the market response one year after the official launch of the organization, Rugemanshuro explained: “We have received overwhelming good feedback from the market including some you might consider as competition. They have seen how the three platforms in education, agriculture and real estate are significantly improving the quality of life of our clients. The result is a growing ecosystem of digital consumers made of students, parents, teachers, farmers, tenants, landlords, NGOs, government, and many more, all delighted by our service.”
“We are having many interesting talks with financial institutions, telcos, start-ups, and SMEs looking to add value to that growing ecosystem. And for us at BK TecHouse, that is exactly what we want: providing value-adding affordable options to the digital consumers in our growing ecosystem, significantly increase financial inclusion as well as promote cashless and green economy,” he added. “As the African saying goes: if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go further go together. You will see interesting partnerships take place in the near future.”
concept of “smart School and cashless campuses”. Among its features the platform has discipline and permission management with instant notification to the parents; class attendance monitoring; an advanced analytics reporting engine; marks/results and instant notification after publication; a school library management; generation of various complex reports with one click.
Integrated with the core banking system, the system’s school fee payment module also removes the need for parents to take a physical pay slip to the school; instead, the system does instant reconciliation for the schools after each payment and sends an instant notification SMS to both parents and school management.
Parents whose children go to schools using the platform can now get loans facilitations to cover their children’s tuition fees while the build up their credit history.
Furthermore, combined with its ISP services, BK TecHouse developed an all-inclusive Smart School package which apart from Urubuto comes with internet connection, smart student IDs, access control devices, cashless payment for vending, printing and canteens, and CCTV surveillance. And as part of the BK Group, BK TecHouse tops the package with preferable terms for BK bank accounts for parents, teachers and students, as well insurance through BK General Insurance.
Students at the finale of the Robotics Camp
Participants in the Robotics Camp experimenting with Lego sets
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BK TECHOUSE SPECIAL FEATURE
� The door into the hearts of people is gentlenessand satisfaction, and that is exactly what you will get at Riders Lounge at Kigali Heights.
he Riders Experience has sparked a lot of buzz when it comes to restaurants
that offer more than just delicious meals, refreshing drinks and welcoming services.
Riders Lounge is in a class of its own like an eagle soars above the birds – all may fly but this one has set remarkable standards worth emulating.
So what is the secret of the Riders Experience?
Part of the explanation is the driving force behind it, the Country Manager at Riders Lounge in Kigali, Dorcas Wambui Macharia. She’s a passionate young woman at the highest spot and making remarkable strides in the hospitality industry in Kigali, and she has come a long way.
She started as a supervisor at Anghiti Restaurant in Westlands, Nairobi, where for over three years she learnt the ropes. She then became a mixologist at Brew Bistro, Ngong’ Road, Nairobi where she also did sales for four more years. Her next move took her to Riders Lounge, Kampala in June 2014, where she also worked as a mixologist, and from there she was appointed country manager for the brand in Kigali when it opened its door late last year.
Machar ia oversees a marve l lous team of professional chefs who serve exceptional meals, talented mixologists who come up with wonderful cocktails and carefully selected deejays who create an ambiance that makes you want more.
Yet the secret ingredient to the Riders Experience is care – everyone and everything moves together to make you feel at home.
From the moment you enter, you are greeted with a genuine smile and led to a seat by someone who is really happy with your visit. Nothing short of passion and affection can give you this kind of welcoming feeling.
A waitress serves Clients at Riders Lounge
Dorcas Wambui Macharia Country Manager at Riders Lounge Rwanda
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The Riders Experience
This is the result of culture of teaching and sharing knowledge at Riders.
Macharia says she is inspired by her boss, Hanington, who taught her to constantly learn and grow. She has in turn shared her insights and experience with the staff at Kigali Heights, and they look up to her. She teaches as she learns more in return.
This does not come without challenges, of course. As Macharia is Kenyan, language sometimes gets into the way, but patience and willingness to adapt have helped her fit in the new environment.
This has earned her the respect and admiration of her staff.
Milly, a waitress, says Macharia is humble and approachable, and has taught her how to serve customers better. Japan, the assistant executive chef, describes the working environment as one where you have freedom to express yourself through the cuisine they offer at Riders, which contributes to the Riders Experience. And there is more: where else, for example, can you buy a pizza and get another one for free, as is the case at Riders on Thursdays.
“Free offers and promotions are our identity,” Japan says. Charlot te, a supervisor, says the Riders Experience is an opportunity to sample the world without travelling out of the country. And it is yours to discover at Riders Lounge, Kigali Heights.
MS Wambui Macharia Jovially Interacts with her Clients
MS Wambui Macharia Guiding Riders Lounge employees
Experienced DJs. on Amplifies Systems
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RIDERS LOUNGE SPECIAL FEATURE
T his follows the signature of an MOU between VW and the government to set up a subsidiary company called Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda in December 2016, which paved the way for the current $20 million (Rwf 17 billion) investment. According to Thomas Schäfer,
Chairman and Managing Director of the Volkswagen Group South Africa, the firm has already acquired a building in the SEZ where the cars will be assembled.
“We chose for Rwanda because of its zero tolerance to corruption, political stability, growth of 7%, a young and tech-savvy population, and because Rwanda is spearheading the smart city agenda, which is also part of our plans,” he said.
The firm was also attracted to establish the plant in the country by aspects in the ecosystem such as sustained growth, tech adoption and other factors. The long term development of VW Mobility Solutions Rwanda will comprise of three phases. Phase one will include establishing the company, including the manufacturing
Volkswagen assembly to start in second quarter of 2018
� Executives of Volkswagen (VW) South Africa have announced that they have started the construction of their assembly plant in the Special Economic Zone in Kigali, and that the first cars could be produced in the second quarter of the year.
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RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARD SPECIAL FEATURE
In December 2016 Thomas Schäfer CEO of Volkswagen Group South Africa, and then RDB CEO Francis Gatare signed the MoU
The VW Passat a sedan that will be made in Rwanda
and sales entity, set up a vehicle assembly operation, sales and service structure and training center. In this phase, the cars to be assembled in Kigali are the Polo and Passat for sedans, and the Teramont for SUVs.The first phase will also involve the development of the new mobility solutions.
In the second phase, the objective is to increase the production volume, expand the retail network, extend the training capacity and create more mobility offices.Phase three will involve further increase of manufacturing depth and capacity, extensive dealership in network, creating educational programs and considering exports to other East African countries.
Integrated mobility concept in Rwanda
The MoU signed between Volkswagen and RDB is broader than just manufacturing and selling cars, but concerns the development of a new integrated mobility concept in Kigali.
The concept provides for app-based mobility solutions such as car sharing and ride hailing to be offered in Rwanda. For this purpose, an environmentally compatible local vehicle production facility is to be established in Kigali
to cover vehicle demand for the program. In addit ion, possibilities of training of local staff, in collaboration with other German companies, are being investigated.
“Volkswagen is consistently developing market potentials in Africa,” Schäfer noted in December 2016 after signing the MoU. “Only a few hours ago, we inaugurated our third production facility in Africa, in Kenya. Today in Rwanda, we are launching a concept that will foster individual mobility in this rapidly developing c o u n t r y a n d m a k e t h i s market a fur ther pi l lar of the Vo lkswagen brand ’s commitment to Africa.”
The integrated mobility concept also includes that the assembly plant in Kigali operates in accordance with the environmental standards of Volkswagen’s Think Blue, which embodies the carmaker’s goal of creating environmentally friendly products and solutions, encouraging more eco-conscious behavior and contributing to a sustainable future.
The vehicles required for the new mobility solutions in Rwanda are to be taken entirely from local production.Volkswagen South Africa is forging ahead with this initiative in Rwanda together with Volkswagen’s Kenyan partner DT Dobie based on current experience from the establishment of production in Kenya.
The company’s commitment to Rwanda also includes training of local people, with the possibi l i ty of the establishment of a technical academy together with other German companies. In the long term, the objective is to generate employment, know-how transfer and sustainable growth.
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RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARD SPECIAL FEATURE
In the range of SUVs the VW Teramont will be manufactured in Kigali
The Volswagen Polo one of the sedans to be assembled in Kigali
Thomas Schäfer Chairman and Managing Director of the Volkswagen Group South Africa with RDB CEO Clare Akamanzi
W hile at the top the country can present impressive statistics – the highest percentage of female members of Parliament, big numbers of women in top executive functions – the reality
at the grassroots is still too often that men consider themselves superior, and women reciprocate that impression.
"In Rwanda, you have an enabling environment: you have policies that support women and girls, you have role models, you have big opportunities for women in authority. But despite the incredible results of women in leadership at the top level, it’s not always echoed at the local level,” says Ayla Schlosser, CEO and co-founder of Resonate.
Resonate, a social enterprise founded in Kigali in 2013 by Schlosser and Solange Impanoyimana, is trying to change that by organising leadership workshops primarily for women and girls, in which hard skills
and education are coupled with leadership training with a view of giving women the confidence to take action and create change. It is important to note here that Resonate doesn’t consider leadership as a role or a title, but as a way of being proactive in the face of a challenge. To achieve this, Resonate’s main tool is the ‘Storytelling for Leadership’ model, a participatory and personal approach focused on three pillars of leadership: Self, Community, and Purpose.
Masoro’s women artisans
One of the best examples of the transformative impact that this approach has, can be found in Abahizi Rwanda, a cooperative of women artisans based in Masoro, Rulindo district, which since 2014 has been supported by the global fashion brand Kate Spade New York to set up and own their own sewing factory for the cooperative to supply them with high-end handbags sold under the ‘on purpose’ line of products.
� While Rwanda is often considered as a model for women’s equality in Africa, the country still has some way to go to make this a reality at all levels.
How Resonate helps women find their voice and transform communities
A group of Women in Resonate's workshops
Ayla Schlosser CEO and co-founder of Resonate
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Women Empowerment RESONATE RWANDASPECIAL FEATURE
“These women worked together in a company without knowing each other very well. Yet at the end of the workshop, you would hear them say: ‘I didn’t know my colleague was this strong, I didn’t know I could get so much inspiration from her.’ They have found their voice, and see their worth in a different way.”
One of them is Priscilla, a 34-year-old artisan at Abahizi Rwanda, who today is a change-maker in Masoro where she is an advisor to the local council. She credits Resonate’s workshop for this, as she admits that before she didn’t dare to speak up as she thought her ideas would not be heard, or be useful. “Attending Resonate’s training helped me understand that I am a valuable person, and that my thoughts can be valuable.
That was a great thing because it has completely changed the shy person I was before,” she says. “After Resonate’s training, I started believing that who I am, what I do, and what I think are important, and that I can have a say in my community. Since then, I have become more creative in my work and in my village. My ideas have been considered, which encouraged me to run for the village council.”
“Today, I am a leader in my community and it feels wonderful to participate in the wellbeing of my people,” Priscilla adds. “I can say that my life now has a meaning; I have confidence in every endeavour that I undertake and that confidence helps me progress as a woman, as a mother, as an artisan, and as a leader.”
Yet this collaboration is much more than one between buyer and supplier, as the on purpose line focuses on social entrepreneurship with special attention to the working environment, the extra-professional development of the women and their community.
This is where Resonate became involved, as they were recruited to make the women more confident in the workplace and also become actors of change in Masoro. As a result of Resonate’s workshops and Kate Spade New York’s overall approach to on purpose, the women artisans have not only transformed themselves, but Masoro too.
Inspiration
“At the beginning of the workshops, the participants are usually very quiet but by the end, they are speaking up and sharing ideas. They are empowered and find their voice,” explains Clarisse Umutesi Mwitegereze, trainer at Resonate, who adds that the experience with Abahizi Rwanda was really remarkable.
Women share in Resonate's workshops
Women interact in Resonate's workshops
Clarisse Umutesi Mwitegereze trainer at Resonate
Priscilla one of the artisans of Abahizi Rwanda who was trained by Resonate
For leadership training Resonate uses the Storytelling for Leadership model
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RESONATE RWANDASPECIAL FEATURE
T hat was exactly the experience guests of Toyota Rwanda Ltd were given during the recent test drive at Karuruma of the Toyota Hilux with new GD
engine. Admittedly, the experience wasn’t that scary, because prior to going downhil l , you had gone up another equally steep slope, this time without the use of the accelerator.
The magic demonstrated during the test drive is due to the fact that the new Toyota Hilux range has, besides the 2-wheel-drive used in normal conditions (which saves fuel), two 4-wheel-drive settings: high and low.
The ‘high’ option refers to higher speed, to be used on rough terrain which still allows for a rather good pace. When the ‘low’ option is activated, on the other hand, the engine will operate autonomously and maintain a low speed; this is ideal in very difficult conditions, where the driver wants to concentrate on steering and not be distracted by having to use the accelerator or clutch.
Evans Mose sales and marketing manager at Toyota Rwanda
Front Inside view of the New ToyotaHilux
�If you want to have a scary experience, imagine this: you’re sitting in a pick-up truck at the top of a muddy, steep slope (about 45°), and the driver cheerfully announces that
you’re going to go downhill without using the brakes. He then turns a dial, puts the car in first gear and releases the clutch. The pick-up slowly goes over the edge, but instead of racing down at breakneck speed as you would expect, it maintains a slow pace of less than 10 km/h, even though
the driver’s foot is indeed nowhere near the brakes.
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SPECIAL FEATURE TOYOTA
When the Going Gets Tough
The Toyota Hilux with new GD engine
Gets going
This explains why the Hilux can move uphill without accelerator or downhill without stepping on the accelerator or brakes.
That option was already available on the previous generation of the Toyota Hilux, with the 2KD engine, yet as Evans Mose, the sales and marketing manager at Toyota Rwanda indicates, this model will be phased out in favour of the new, more powerful GD engine (with GD standing for global diesel, which is a more efficient diesel engine).
And the difference is noticeable. While a Hilux with 2KD engine going uphill will occasionally require the driver to push the accelerator to prevent stalling and keep the vehicle going, the GD model effortlessly reaches the top without any assistance. And this engine has even more, less visible advantages.
“It’s more efficient in fuel consumption, more driver-friendly and has lower maintenance costs,” Mose explains.
A very handy feature when you’re in a traffic queue at a red light on a slope, for example. On top of all of this, the new Toyota Hilux models also have a differential lock to facilitate driving on very uneven terrain, and a multi-information display which shows things such as average fuel consumption, average speed etc.
In short, if you need a car that can handle the roughest of terrains, while still giving you a comfortable driving experience, go and check out the new Toyota Hilux models.
The GD Toyota Hilux models available at Toyota Rwanda are the 2.8L (1GD) and 2.4L (2GD) (standard) both with manual and automatic transmission. The 2.4L (2GD) has both basic and standard grade specifications, both with manual and Automatic transmission. 2.8L (1GD) has high grade specification which not only has more comfort such as leather seats, automatic air conditioner, parking camera, Curtain and side airbags (in addition to the ones in front), they also come with a neat feature called Hill start Assist Control (HAC) and Traction Control (TRC).
Normally, when you drive on a slope and stop the car, it would start rolling backwards (uphill) when you don’t apply the brakes; with HAC, the vehicle will stay put for about ten seconds, giving the driver ample time to switch from brake to accelerator.
Mechanics of Toyota Rwanda give explanations on some of the parts of the new Toyota Hilux models The New Toyota Hilux Engine
Brake Performance on Steep slope
Climbing a Steep slope
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SPECIAL FEATURE TOYOTA
T he Development Bank of Rwanda has resumed its countrywide outreach campaign, and the caravan now heads to the Western Prov ince d is t r ic ts
of Karongi, Rusizi and Nyamasheke with the aim to identify investment opportunities and potential investors, and showcase the products the bank offers for long- term development projects.
This country-wide outreach campaign was launched in Nyamata and Bugesera districts in October last year and intends to cover 27 districts in four provinces, working hand in hand with the Private Sector Federat ion (PSF) and the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB).
The bank prioritises investment in the key sectors of education, housing, agriculture, exports, energy and in special projects. During the roadshow, BRD officials meet and select investors with ongoing projects and those with project proposals, to see how they can be financed to expand and grow these projects.
Dur ing the roadshow in Karongi , Rusizi and Nyamasheke, solutions were proposed to priority sectors that face constraints in these districts. For instance, one of the constraints observed in the agriculture sector is low agro-processing industrial capacity, so the solution provided by BRD is to support mechanization and agri-input financing.
Energy is another priority sector, and the bank even has a special fund for projects in this area, as BRD’s Investment Analyst Elyse Mutoni pointed out. “BRD’s energy department has a new product called the ‘Renewable Energy Fund’ (REF) that contributes to the government’s objective of giving 70% of Rwandans access to electricity by 2018 and 100% by 2020,” she said.
“So through this roadshow, we want to achieve this by identifying probable investors and projects contributing to this cause.” One of the potential investors selected in Nyamasheke district was Peter Nemeye, the Director General of Gisakura Visitors Center, who is in need of financing to expand this guest house in Nyungwe Forest and attract more tourists with quality services.
In Rusizi distirct, BRD’s Investment Officer in Exports department, Eric Nkusi, in his presentation explained what is comprised in special projects. “In aligning with the government’s program of ‘Guteza imbere u’Rwanda,’ BRD will also finance infrastructure that is considered as special projects: these include bus parks, clinics, markets, manufacturing of construction materials, carpentry and welding centres, because all these contribute to the development of Rwanda,” he said.
“The aim of this campaign is to meet investors with ongoing projects and those with project proposals to see how we can finance their projects and thus increase their contribution to national development,” said Dr. Livingstone Byamungu, the Chief Investment Officer at BRD, at the launch of the roadshows in October last year.
He also made it clear that BRD does not only target big investors, but also small and medium entrepreneurs to have equal opportunities to access the bank’s credit either through BRD’s Partner Financing Institutions (PFIs) who include commercial banks and SACCOs. Byamungu observed that while BRD in general targets projects worth Rwf 50 million and above, even investors who require less money can have their projects considered through the Bank’s partners-commercial banks. The investor should however be able to finance at least 30% of the project cost himself.
BRD resumes Countrywide Investor Outreach Heads to Rusizi, Nyamasheke and Karongi
Eric Nkusi BRD's Inestment Officer of Exports talks to investors about BRD products.
Elyse Mutoni BRD Investment Analyst
46HOPE FEBRUARY ISSUE 84
Investment DEVELOPMENT BANK OF RWANDA
SPECIAL FEATURE
Projected Contribution by Renewable Energy Fund, giving Rwandans access to electricityPercentages Period
70% 2018 100% 2020
BRD staff talking to some potential investors in Karongi district
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