Since its inception in 2019, the Social Economic Inclusion of Refugees and Host Communities (SEIRHC) project, also known as the ‘Jya Mbere’ project, has been a game-changer in Rwanda. It has significantly enhanced self-reliance and economic opportunities for both refugees and the host communities.

Implemented by the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) under the supervision of the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), the project mirrors Rwanda’s commitment to social cohesion and economic development.

The ‘Jya Mbere’ project aims to increase access to finance, improve basic services, and promote job creation for refugees and Rwandan entrepreneurs living in five districts with refugee camps—Gatsibo, Kirehe, Karongi, Nyamagabe, and Gisagara—and in urban areas like Kigali, Bugesera, and Huye.

Currently, Rwanda is home to more than 135,000 refugees, mostly from DR Congo and Burundi, according to the UN. Over 90 per cent of them live in camps.

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Beneficiaries include entrepreneurs from both communities with viable business ideas, cooperatives, individual entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

According to Furaha William, Jya Mbere Project coordinator, the project’s strategy for long-term sustainability focuses heavily on capacity-building and skills development, which helps business owners improve financial literacy, scale operations, and manage cash flow more effectively.

"To date, over 1,100 individuals have been trained, with 98 per cent planning to expand their businesses and 96 per cent applying new financial and management skills,” he said.

Moreover, access to finance is facilitated by matching grants distributed by partnering financial institutions. A subsidy of 30 per cent is given to beneficiaries with a loan amount above Rwf25 million; 40 per cent is given to beneficiaries with a loan amount above Rwf5 to Rwf25 million; and 50 per cent is given to beneficiaries with a loan amount of Rwf5 million or below.

"Through collaboration with Cordaid, several entrepreneurs have been sensitised and connected to financial institutions involved in the project, including Tsimbura SACCO, Umurage SACCO, BPR, BK, UFC, RIM, Cogebanque, Inkomoko, and BAO. This initiative aims to help businesses scale, manage cash flow, and establish partnerships with local financial institutions or savings and loan groups after the initial project funding ends,” he said.

This access to capital has enabled many refugee and host community entrepreneurs to establish and expand businesses, creating over 18,000 jobs across agriculture, retail, and manufacturing sectors.

Transforming lives and communities

Over four years, the ‘Jya Mbere’ project has provided over 450,000 Rwandans and refugees with better access to services like healthcare, education, and clean water, while also supporting the development of economic infrastructure such as roads and markets.

BRD’s partnership with 10 financial institutions, including Inkomoko Capital Ltd, BK Plc, BPR Plc, RIM Ltd, Tsimbura SACCO, Umutanguha Finance Company, Umurage SACCO, Equity Bank, and Bank of Africa among others, has been central in reaching over 4,000 beneficiaries.

Entrepreneurs, in turn, have started thriving in various industries, notably agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and information and communication technology (ICT). For many, this means a pathway to long-term economic stability.

The project empowers individual entrepreneurs and encourages joint activities between refugees and host communities, strengthening ties between the two groups. This collaborative effort further reflects the government’s commitment to promoting social cohesion through economic development.

Addressing challenges and sustaining growth

Like any large-scale initiative, ‘Jya Mbere’ has encountered challenges.

"Dormant accounts, missing contact information, change of location, and business failures have presented hurdles to the effective distribution of matching grants,” Ntagozera noted, however, BRD has strategies in place to mitigate these challenges.

"These include ongoing mentorship support, monitoring and evaluation, and further collaboration with financial institutions to keep beneficiaries engaged and businesses on track.’

Given the increase in beneficiaries to over 4,991, BRD is preparing for Phase 2 of the ‘Jya Mbere’ project, which is expected to begin next year with additional funding from the World Bank.

He noted: "BRD plans to accommodate the increased demand for the project’s services by collaborating with MINEMA to mobilise additional funding from the World Bank for Phase 2. So far, Phase 2 is set to begin in the coming year, allowing BRD to reach and support more individuals in need.”

Lessons, path forward

One of the key lessons learned from Jya Mbere’s implementation is the importance of involving stakeholders at every level—from local communities to international organisations like the World Bank; the necessity of building beneficiaries’ capacities to equip them with essential entrepreneurial skills; and the value of strengthening collaborations with various financial institutions to reach a larger number of beneficiaries.

"By applying these lessons, BRD aims to design future economic inclusion projects that more effectively support underserved communities and promote long-term growth and resilience,” said Ntagozera.

Regarding the expansion of access to other financial services beyond matching grants, such as insurance or investment opportunities for refugees and host communities, Ntagozera noted that BRD is focused on two components which centre on economic opportunities through enhanced access to finance for both refugees and Rwandan entrepreneurs, along with capacity-building to facilitate this access.

"These efforts align with the government’s commitment to promoting refugee self-reliance. Discussions will take place regarding the potential integration of additional financial services beyond matching grants in Phase 2 of the project,” he added.

As external aid gradually decreases, BRD remains committed to supporting refugee and host community entrepreneurs through additional resource mobilisation and continued collaboration with financial institutions.

He noted: "BRD will also encourage refugees and host communities to apply for direct lending options available to boost their businesses and operations.

Additionally, carrying out regular monitoring and evaluation of businesses for refugees and host communities to offer interventions that support growth.”