Experts evaluate World Bank funded projects

A team from Business Plan Competition (BPC) Secretariat is on a countrywide tour evaluating businesses they fund. The BPC programme funds both start-up and operational business plans. The programme is managed by Private Sector Federation (PSF) and facilitated by the World Bank through her Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Programme (CEDP). According to information obtained from BPC office at the Private Sector Federation (PSF), 30 projects qualified for funding but only 13 are currently benefiting. David Gasatura, from BPC secretariat said, “We are basically monitoring how the already financed projects used the loans and taking account of all sorts of emerging issues. We are also doing a thorough evaluation how the projects have impacted on communities around them.” He said a comprehensive report will be compiled after the tour. The team visited projects in Kigali City, Nyanza and Butare in Southern Province, Kayonza and Nyagatare in Eastern Province. They are also scheduled to visit Cyangugu in the West and Gikongoro in the North. Some projects visited include agri-business, renewable energy (Biogas) and ICT. CEDP facilitates by providing a guarantee (worth of money) that is deposited with a partner Bank (Development Bank of Rwanda-BRD) for winners to access long-term funding of their business plans. Antoine Rutayisire Manzi, the BPC manager is leading the team of evaluators. Ends