FEATURED: Rwandan women entrepreneurs win international Awa Prize for impactful, innovative ventures

Among 12 winners in 19 countries, two women entrepreneurs from Rwanda won the Awa Prize, an event that recognises companies that make a positive impact on their environment and community. Launched by Enabel, the Belgian development agency, the Awa Prize is an international award honouring women in entrepreneurship in Belgian cooperation partner countries. The awards aim to recognise and reward promising female entrepreneurs in four categories, namely, start-ups, scale ups, innovation and the people’s choice. This edition of the Awa Prize marks the second time the awards are being held. Winners will receive support in the form of coaching, training, and international travel opportunities. The award ceremony took place in Kigali on Thursday, May 30, during a workshop organised by Enabel in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF). Bert Versmessen, the Ambassador of Belgium to Rwanda, said they celebrate women’s entrepreneurship, highlighting it as a field where the ambitions of Belgium and Rwanda align. He emphasised that gender equality is a prominent aspect of their shared goals. “We are convinced that we must enable women to fulfil their potential and not just for their own benefits, but for the whole society. Women make very many contributions in different fields, including entrepreneurship, which is what we celebrate today,” he added. At the event, Raissa Ikuzwe received the second Awa Prize in the start-up category for her company Ino Coffee. She strives to offer Rwandans a taste of local high-quality organic coffee, while also providing training and employment opportunities for young women. Working with dedicated small-scale farms nationwide, Ikuzwe brings a positive impact to the community through Ino Coffee. “I am thrilled to have received the award. It shows that all our efforts are recognised and appreciated. It really demonstrates that people trust and choose us because of our products,” Ikuzwe said. Mireille Niyonkuru, a Burundian entrepreneur and the founder of BUIM Rwanda based in Rwanda and Burundi, received the third prize. With her company, Niyonkuru wants to bring electricity and light to rural areas in Rwanda and Burundi. By installing solar kits throughout the country, her company aims to provide households with access to energy using safe, affordable, and environment-friendly technology. Niyonkuru expressed her gratitude towards Enabel for their efforts to support women entrepreneurs and for believing in their work. She emphasised her commitment to continuing her efforts to positively impact her community. Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Valentine Uwamariya, thanked Belgium and its development agency, Enabel for being reliable partners. She highlighted their collaborative efforts with the Rwandan government to create a community where women can thrive as business leaders and innovators. Uwamariya highlighted that the Rwandan government is committed to providing every Rwandan with the opportunity, skills, and environment to develop into their desired selves. She emphasised that the government works hard to ensure that this process is not hindered by gender, religion, or any other factor. “One of the areas that still requires further efforts is girls and women in entrepreneurship,” she added. “Our role as the government and partners remains to address critical elements of the entrepreneurship ecosystem of women in business in Rwanda, in particular, financial accessibility to support their economic empowerment, to reduce their vulnerability and unleash unused potential for more sustainable and equitable growth.” The 2024 edition The third edition, themed ‘Cultural and Creative Industries’, will once again highlight companies with a positive impact on their environment and community. Registration will take place from June 12-28 on the Awa Prize website. Criteria for registration Women entrepreneurs can register to enter the competition, to do that, one needs to be the CEO and founder of a company, their company has to be active in cultural and creative industries and the company needs to be at least one year old. Companies will be selected in four categories: start-up (for companies existing less than three years); scale-up (for companies exceeding three years of existence); innovation (for those that innovate through products, services, or approaches); and people’s choice (where individuals will choose the winner).

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FEATURED: Rwandan women entrepreneurs win international Awa Prize for impactful, innovative ventures