Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation on Wednesday, March 16, concluded an electoral process that culminated in the electionof board members at the national level. The polls were conducted concurrently with reforms that seek to make the umbrella of the country’s private sector more effective. Advocacy is one of the major functions of PSF. However, the previous structure was ineffective in a way that it was highly centralised and thin on the ground, which technically handicapped the body as far as following up on issues and advocacy were concerned. The former structure was such that chambers were not represented at the local government level, with only one individual representing PSF at the sector, district and provincial levels. The absence of chambers (now clusters) at the grassroots meant that it was difficult for issues in different sectors to receive the attention they deserved, and therefore challenges often As part of the reforms, the federation has also slashed the number of chambers from 10 down to 5, through creating clusters instead of chambers. This means that clusters will be in position to look at sector-based challenges from a broader perspective and also avoid duplication. In addition it will allow for proper coordination with other stakeholders. Another vitally important aspect is the fact that the new structure is now more inclusive than the previous one. Indeed, the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Special Cluster across the whole ecosystem, right from the cell to national level, is a commendable move as it will help address particular issues that affect this special interest group – along with youth and women entrepreneurs. These reforms should serve as a catalyst for the federation to make its presence felt by ensuring that challenges experienced by businesses are attended to in a timely manner and necessary advocacy or facilitation carried out accordingly. This would go a long way in helping enhance productivity across all sectors of the economy, including exports.
