Rural youth entrepreneurs want sensible pathways to show their companies into viable enterprises that may develop, entry markets, create jobs and appeal to finance, Catholic Aid Companies (CRS) has stated.
The decision was made on the Rural Youth Enterprise Discussion board (RYEF) 2026 on Tuesday, September 15, which introduced collectively authorities officers, monetary establishments, private-sector gamers, improvement companions and rural youth entrepreneurs to debate limitations stopping youth-owned companies from transferring past the start-up stage.
Discussions lined entry to finance, markets, digital options and enterprise development, amongst different areas.
The discussion board was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Arts (MoYA), CRS and Caritas Rwanda beneath the theme, “Empowering Rural Youth Enterprises to Develop, Thrive and Scale.”
Caroline Agalheir, Deputy Regional Director for Program High quality for CRS’s Central and West Africa Regional Workplace, stated rural youth entrepreneurs want help to construct companies that may generate revenue, create jobs and take part in wider markets.
“For rural youth entrepreneurs, the problem goes past merely beginning a enterprise. It’s about rising viable enterprises that may enhance family resilience, create jobs, entry markets, use digital instruments and contribute to Rwanda's inclusive financial transformation,” she stated.
She referred to as on monetary establishments to develop financing pathways that replicate the realities of younger entrepreneurs.
“To monetary establishments, we invite you to assist construct life like pathways from financial savings and information to youth-friendly merchandise and development capital,” Agalheir stated.
She additionally urged private-sector corporations to view rural youth entrepreneurs not solely as beneficiaries however as potential suppliers, clients, innovators and enterprise companions.
Constructing companies that may entry finance
Minister of Youth and Arts Abdallah Utumatwishima stated entry to finance stays one of many main challenges going through younger entrepreneurs, however famous that some limitations will be addressed by the entrepreneurs themselves.
“The youth in rural areas have saving schemes however that isn’t sufficient. The youth ought to save in SACCOs or save in different monetary establishments. That’s how banks will know you and can have details about you,” Utumatwishima stated.
He stated some entrepreneurs search financing for initiatives value Rwf100 million regardless of having little expertise managing smaller quantities, even lower than Rwf1 million, highlighting the necessity for younger companies to reveal their means to handle smaller financing earlier than looking for bigger loans.
The minister additionally stated some younger individuals linked to banks by means of authorities financing initiatives fail to entry loans as a result of they don’t meet lenders’ necessities.
He urged them to take care of books of accounts and construct a transaction historical past that may assist monetary establishments perceive the efficiency of their companies.
Additionally, the minister inspired younger individuals to construct relationships with monetary establishments and stated this might open the way in which to funding by means of the Aguka Youth Fund meant to assist younger entrepreneurs entry inexpensive finance.
“If you’re to take any choice from right here, begin doing enterprise and dealing with banks. Begin with SACCOs round you and it is possible for you to to entry funds from Aguka Youth Fund as we might be working with you,” he stated.
Younger entrepreneurs, he identified, have to strengthen their monetary preparedness as the federal government and its companions work to broaden entry to finance.
“Entry to finance remains to be a problem however we try to handle it along with companions, however we would like younger individuals themselves to be prepared by saving, by monetary literacy and by monetary self-discipline,” he stated.
Collateral stays a hurdle
For some rural entrepreneurs, nonetheless, even companies with development potential can wrestle to satisfy the circumstances connected to formal finance.
Solange Bayizere, a handcraft and style entrepreneur from Nyabihu District, stated she had been unable to safe a mortgage as a result of she didn’t have adequate collateral.
“Rural youth face problems with entry to finance. Typically we don't fulfil the necessities. I utilized for a mortgage however I didn’t have sufficient collateral,” she stated.
She stated entrepreneurship coaching had helped her change her method to enterprise and develop a tradition of studying.
“Within the coaching we acquired, we have been skilled on mindset change and entrepreneurship and I developed the tradition of studying,” she stated.
CRS in partnerships with Caritas has established a mannequin to help rural youth entry finance by financial savings and accessing loans progressively as their companies develop. Ranging from accessing small loans in youth’s financial savings and lending teams, to working with monetary establishments, rural entrepreneurs entry funds to take a position additional of their companies.
From start-up to development
Younger entrepreneurs additionally exhibited agricultural and agro-processed items, handicrafts, regionally made sneakers, weaving and tailoring merchandise.
CRS stated it has labored in Rwanda for greater than 16 years, participating greater than 102,000 younger individuals, with over 48,000 supported by means of enterprise improvement, participation and entry to financial alternatives.
CRS’ Nation Supervisor Kumud Chandra stated that the inspiration has been set, and there’s a want for constructing a robust partnership to permit additional development and strong help that reply to present challenges rural entrepreneurs face.
“Our journey has developed from readiness programmes to strengthening techniques round finance and digital options. The foundations have been set, however development is the subsequent frontier, requiring tailor-made help that responds to the wants, measurement and ambitions of rural enterprises,” she stated.
The organisation stated its work has concerned partnerships with Caritas Rwanda, authorities establishments, monetary establishments, private-sector actors and native companions.
The deal with serving to younger companies formalise, entry finance and scale come as Rwanda seeks to create 1.25 million productive jobs by 2029 beneath the Second Nationwide Technique for Transformation (NST2), equal to 250,000 jobs yearly over the five-year programme that started in 2024/25.
