Lucy Uzamukunda, a refugee in Mahama camp in Kirehe district, is running a thriving tailoring workshop thanks to the support she got from Jya Mbere project.

The Social Economic Inclusion of Refugees and Host Communities (SEIRHC) project dubbed Jya Mbere project, implemented by the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), was designed by the government of Rwanda through the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) with the aim of improving access to basic services and economic opportunities for refugees and host communities.

Beneficiaries are entrepreneurs from the refugee population, or Rwandan host community, who have business ideas that they can implement in the five districts hosting refugee camps – Gatsibo, Kirehe, Karongi, Nyamagabe, and Gisagara, as well as refugees in urban areas in the City of Kigali, Bugesera and Huye Districts.

Beneficiaries can be cooperatives, individual entrepreneurs, and companies, mainly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-entrepreneurs.

Joint activities between refugees and host communities were also supported.

Uzamukunda was among the beneficiaries with business ideas financed by the project.

Those supported got capacity building to improve business and entrepreneurship skills and finance in terms of matching grants to subsidize the loans through commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs).

"The business idea started off out of a need for personal growth to be lifted out of poverty and loneliness. In the beginning, I had a Rwf1 million investment. After a while, the business value rose to Rwf2 million, thanks to the support,” she said.

The entrepreneur encouraged other refugees to work hard and pursue any project idea that could help them become self-reliant.

"When people develop business ideas and work hard, it brings personal development and development for others,” she added.

Aboubakar Macumi, another refugee, was struggling before obtaining support from Jya Mbere project.

"My business successfully grew after receiving funding from Jya Mbere project. We have increased the number of employees. I managed to take care of my family and the other people we work with. With the development, I expect to do even better,” he said.

After getting the benefits, Macumi urged other refugees to approach financial institutions for support to create or boost their businesses.

"I worked with Inkomoko and received funding from it through Jya Mbere project,” he said.

Inkomoko is an advisory firm and impact investor that helps entrepreneurs in Rwanda and some other African countries successfully grow their businesses to create thriving communities. It works with micro and small entrepreneurs, including refugees, to create jobs, improve livelihoods, and develop thriving communities across Africa.

Macumi said he managed to pay back the loan at a lower interest rate.

He added: "I would like to also advise everyone who requests support from financial institutions to maintain the repayment process on track because it will keep their growth on track as well.”

Kirehe Rice Company, a company in the host community in Kirehe District, got support from Jya Mbere project through BPR Bank. The Managing Director of the company, Protogene Ndahayo, said that after a meeting held at Kirehe District office together with the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management and BRD staff, the company learned about Jya Mbere project.

"They explained all about the project to us and we realized that it was going to facilitate refugees and host communities to develop and live in harmony. BPR Bank informed BRD that our company was eligible to be part of Jya Mbere project,” he said.

As noted, the company requested for a Rwf300 million loan from BPR Bank for the business development.

"We needed more workers. We then reached out to Mahama refugee camp to get refugees who can work. The labour force included Burundian and Congolese refugees. The refugees feel at home with the same rights as those enjoyed by host communities,” Ndahayo said.

Eventually, he noted, the project matching grant has boosted the company’s operations.

"We have now recorded growth and we are able to apply for more loans to expand the business to help acquire more land for rice cultivation. The project ensures social and economic development. Most businesses thrive thanks to loans and I would encourage others to do the same to create employment for refugees as well. Jya Mbere project is a very good initiative,” he said.

Project’s achievements

The project supports the implementation of the government’s commitment to improving refugee self-reliance. It seeks to expand economic opportunities and increase access to finance and encourage self-employment or job creation projects for refugees and the host communities.

The implementing agency transfers matching grants to participating financial institutions which give them to beneficiaries.

A subsidy of 30 percent is given to beneficiaries with a loan amount above Rwf25 million; 40 percent is given to beneficiaries with a loan amount above Rwf5 to Rwf25 million; and 50 percent is given to beneficiaries with a loan amount of Rwf5 million or below.

According to BRD, Rwf2.5 billion has been distributed to 3,097 beneficiaries, so far. A related report shows that 8, 174 people got jobs from businesses that were given matching grants.

Currently, BRD is working with 10 financial institutions including Inkomoko Capital Ltd, BK Plc, BPR Plc, RIM Ltd, Tsimbura SACCO, Umutanguha Finance Company, Umurage SACCO, Cogebanque, Equity Bank, and Bank of Africa.

The total targeted beneficiaries were 8,800 and, so far, the number has increased to 11, 271 beneficiaries, including those who were given matching grants as well as those who got jobs.

A BRD statement adds: "We urge the beneficiaries who got the support to make use of it in expanding their businesses for self-reliance given that external aid to refugees is decreasing.”

Since its inception in 2019, the project is providing over 450,000 Rwandans and refugees with better access to basic services such as health, education, and clean water.

The project also supports job creation through economic infrastructure such as roads and markets, technical and vocational training, and funding for local businesses in the six districts that host refugees in Rwanda.