• Grow 2 Scale

A five-year program under implementation by AFR, Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP), and BPN Rwanda in partnership with Mastercard Foundation.

Grow 2 Scale

A five-year program under implementation by AFR, Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP), and BPN Rwanda in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The program will run through 2028.

High Level Targets

44,600 Youth in Dignified and Fulfilling (D&F) Work (70% women, 5% persons with disabilities and 5% refugees) 

Beyond the direct job impact, the ecosystem changes will trigger long-term impact at scale.

Overview

  • Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are critical in driving inclusive growth and employment for low-income people, especially young people, women, persons with disabilities and refugees in Rwanda. Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality, which are key productive/growth sectors for MSMEs in Rwanda, have the potential to employ many young women and men, the majority of whom have low-income and live in rural areas. However, these sectors continue to face multiple challenges, including low business management capabilities and limited access to appropriate financing, and their potential needs to be harnessed to open opportunities for dignified and fulfilling work for young women and men.
  • The Grow 2 Scale Program aims to address the above-mentioned gaps among MSMEs, through enhancing MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support in Rwanda Agriculture and Tourism and Hospitality Sectors for eradication poverty.

    • Our contribution
    to Grow 2 Scale

    MSME Ecosystem Strengthening

    Improving policy, legal and regulatory environment, and norms

    • Business Development Services (BDS) Standards
    • Entrepreneurship Development Policy (EDP) implementation coordination support to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM)
    • Evidence-based advocacy for a more conducive MSME financing environment
    • Norms transformative initiatives to shift mindsets hindering women entrepreneurs’ financial inclusion and economic empowerment. 

    Research, data analytics, and knowledge to catalyze innovation

    • Spearhead the Rwanda 2024 Finscope Survey including Finscope MSME, gender, youth, refugees and agriculture thematic reports
    • Support improved MSME credit risk rating models
    • Promote Innovative MSME insurance for improved resilience

    Supporting effective provision of Business Development Services (BDS)

    • Providing tailored BDS through Terimbere MSME Support Facility with a focus on gazelles and moderate growth Bootstrappers (Micro and Small Enterprises with Low Growth and Small and Medium Enterprises with moderate growth. 
    • Strengthening the capacity of selected Business Development Services Providers (BDSPs) to serve rural and peri urban SMEs with a focus on Gems (Livelihood sustaining microenterprises) and low growth Bootstrappers
    • Strengthening Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) capability to better support youth owned MSMEs in agribusiness sector.

    Access to Finance

    • Managing the Grow 2 Scale Catalytic Fund
    • Linkages to traditional and alternative finance providers
    • Strengthening Rwanda Bankers Association’s (RBA) capability to support the MSME ecosystem to be more inclusive and contribute to the relief of poverty.
    • Leveraging other AFR’s projects including the Credit Guarantee Scheme and the provision of technical assistance to financial service providers to enhance SME Financing. 

    • Grow 2 Scale Value Proposition
    10,150 Youth in Work
    4,675 MSMEs Supported
    30 BDSPs Supported

    AFR leads the Consortium in line with our market catalyst role and supports policy makers, regulators, relevant associations, Business Development Services (BDS) providers, financial institutions, and other market actors to strengthen the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Rwanda. AFR is also implementing a countrywide SME finance readiness initiative: “Terimbere MSME Support Facility” to ensure that MSMEs benefit from a wide selection of MSME-centric services to support their access to capital, growth, and creation of dignified and fulfilling jobs for young women and men.

    15,450  Youth in Work 
    5,600 MSMEs Supported

    ESP conducts thematic studies to provide insights into the Tourism and Hospitality and Agriculture sectors and its challenges and opportunities. It also works with AFR to engage Financial Service Providers (FSPs) through the Finance S’EngageTM initiative to advance the links between FSPs and MSMEs. ESP is also working to support entrepreneurs from pre-ideation to large businesses (Gazelles) in identifying underlying challenges and curating tailored support to transform them into future champions and to support entrepreneurs from pre-ideation to large businesses (Gazelles) in identifying underlying challenges and curating tailored support to transform them into future champions.

    19,000 Youth in Work
    650 MSMEs Supported

    BPN works with high-potential Bootstrapper and Gazelle entrepreneurs by providing avenues for growth and for scale, job creation, skills development, exposure, access to finance, and investment opportunities to relieve poverty, with a strong focus on women and youth.