More than 27 businesswomen have enrolled for a training programme in drafting of bankable projects.

They are among 100 women from Senegal, Rwanda and Gabon to be trained by the Foundation Entreprenarium.

The six-week training, code named, ‘women capital raising’, is designed to equip women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and resources to succeed in starting and operating small or medium businesses.

This is the first time such training is being conducted in Rwanda.

The programme focuses primarily on equipping start-ups with innovation and business oriented skills to be able to raise the required finance, Kristine Ngiriye, the founder, Entreperarium, told The New Times.

"Through WCR, the foundation takes a practical approach in the training sessions, allowing participants to acquire solid knowledge in each of the topics,” Ngireye said.

The programme includes detailed and interactive exercises for participants to consolidate their newly acquired knowledge with practical know-how, she added. 

The foundation is expected to fund up to 10 per cent of the business projects from each of the three countries.

All the women need to do is to pitch well packaged business plans to be able to attract assistance, Ngiriye told the women.

The methodology taught allows entrepreneurs to quickly adjust the supply to the actual demand or to rotate if necessary to a different economic model dictated by the market, Ngiriye added.

According to Dorothy Kabariza, one of the trainees, the programme will help minimise production costs and sustain SMEs.

"Among the problems women face while coming up with business projects is limited access to finance; therefore  the programme could be a stepping stone towards addressing this challenge,” said Kabariza.

At the end of the training, the beneficiaries should be able to clearly articulate their business model, provide a viable product or service to the market and be in position to foresee possible returns, organisers said.

Entreprenarium has so far trained and supported 700 young aspiring entrepreneurs across the African continent. 

editorial@newtimes.co.rw