The Chamber of Women at the Private Sector Federation (PSF) has launched a nationwide training programme aimed at equipping women in the informal sector with entrepreneurship and leadership skills.

Mungwarareba Donatien, the Private Sector Federation (PSF) director for member services, capacity building and entrepreneurship promotion, said the training targets 500 selected small-and-medium business women from across the country.

"This is part of the countrywide exercise by the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs that is aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and creativity among women as well as equipping them with leadership and business skills to help them run enterprises profitably,” Mungwarareba said.

Over 62 women in the informal business sector from Rulindo and Musanze districts in Northern Province have so far benefited from the programme that is funded by the World Bank through the Ministry of Trade and Industry. 

According to Maarifa Ndekezi, the managing director of Frontiers Adventures, women in the informal sector need technical competence, initiative, good judgment, intelligence, self-confidence, positive attitude and creativity to succeed in business. 

Frontiers Adventures is facilitating the training.

Clementine Uwizera, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, said supporting women to improve their businesses is paramount for Rwanda’s economic transformation.

"This initiative is an opportunity for women to become more productive and competitive in business. It will also help create more jobs and raise household income levels, which is in line with the country’s second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy,” she said.