Speaking during the engagement, Nana stressed the importance of listening directly to youth, especially young women:

“We want to hear your journey—what is working and what challenges you face, particularly as women in agri-food systems.”

The president of the cooperative, Munyaburanga Emmanuel, highlighted the cooperative’s vision of sustainability:

“We put our children together to equip them with skills so they can create jobs and eventually take over the cooperative, which gives hope for sustainability.”

Youth voices: progress and challenges

Participants openly shared both achievements and gaps in support.

Habimana Fidel, alongside his wife Tumukunde Lilian, emphasized the need for more flexible financing and improved farming support:

“We should be given extended time to repay loans so we don’t rush to sell our produce. We also need more training in agriculture practices. The first season had poor weather, leading to low yields—we prefer repayment over one year instead of six months.”

Ndacyayisenga Serverien called for more practical skills:

“The training is not sufficient—we need technical skills, especially in poultry. What we received was mainly in business development.”

Empowerment through Akazi Kanoze Access

The visit also extended to youth and women groups supported by Akazi Kanoze Access under the YEFFA programme through the “Work Readiness Now” and “Be Your Own Boss” trainings.

Fadhila Modeste, a teacher and leader of the AYEP (Agro Youth Empowerment Project) group, described how the programme transformed their mindset and livelihoods:

“Our group started by renting land to grow cabbage. We were trained in saving—we keep money securely before depositing it in the bank. After the training, it’s like our eyes opened. I no longer rely only on my teaching salary—I combine it with farming.”

He added:

“We invested RWF 450,000, sold to one of our members for RWF 700,000, and she later made RWF 1.2 million. However, lack of irrigation remains a challenge.”

Nyirabizeyimana Annonciata shared her personal growth:

“I invested RWF 50,000 and earned RWF 200,000 in three months. Before, I didn’t know how to record expenses and profits, but now I do. I also started with 30 chickens—now I have 100.”

From small capital to growing enterprises

Clarisse Mukamutsinzi highlighted how training unlocked her entrepreneurial journey:

“I started with RWF 250,000 from my husband and family. After YEFFA training in 2024, I opened a small shop and now earn about RWF 100,000 after expenses. I plan to expand and buy land.”

Nzabonariba Jean Providence also shared his transformation:

“The training helped me understand how to manage money and start income-generating activities. I began with RWF 20,000, borrowed from the savings group, and now my capital has grown to RWF 200,000.”

Scaling up in agroforestry

Mukashyaka Nadia, a member of the Twiteze Imbere group, demonstrated remarkable progress in agroforestry:

“After training by Akazi Kanoze, I started a nursery using savings group loans. In July 2024, I produced 16,000 trees at a cost of RWF 150,000 and earned RWF 755,000.”

She added:

“In 2026, I produced 22,841 trees, selling each at RWF 75 and earning over RWF 2.2 million. My plan is to expand and supply more areas, but I always secure the market first.”

A pathway to transformation

The one-day field visit highlighted the tangible impact of YEFFA in empowering youth—especially young women—with skills, confidence, and access to opportunities. At the same time, it underscored persistent challenges, including access to finance, technical training, and irrigation.

As Nana concluded her engagements, the message was clear: youth voices are central to shaping inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems in Rwanda.

From One Cow to a Business Dream

Kashugera grew up in Nyagatare in Eastern Rwanda, in a family that depended largely on cattle keeping. Like many parents in rural Rwanda, his father believed in preparing his children for the future through livestock.

He gave Kashugera five cows.

Instead of keeping them all, the young Kashugera sold one cow and used the money to buy a sack of salt worth 1,550 Rwandan francs. He sold the salt at a profit and reinvested the earnings.

That simple trade became the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

Soon he bought a bicycle and began traveling between villages selling banana wine (urwagwa). Business grew steadily, and one bicycle turned into many. Before long, Kashugera owned 17 bicycles, all used to expand his trade across nearby communities.

As his profits increased, he upgraded from bicycles to motorcycles and later ventured into small-scale currency exchange and retail trade. Eventually, he purchased a Daihatsu pickup truck, using it to transport agricultural products to Kigali and bring clothing back to Nyagatare.

When Success Became Suspicious

But in those years, a young man becoming wealthy in rural Rwanda often attracted suspicion.

Kashugera’s business activity and growing financial success caught the attention of government spies. They noticed his frequent trips between Nyagatare and Kigali and began monitoring his movements.

Strangers would often approach him asking for rides to Kigali or Nyagatare. Some of them, he later learned, were informants.

One day, security agents arrested him.

They interrogated him about the source of his money.

Kashugera explained that his capital came from cattle his father had sold and given him to start his business.

The agents refused to believe him.

Instead, they accused him of receiving financial support from the Inkotanyi, the rebels who would later lead Rwanda’s liberation struggle.

“They told me my money was ‘Inkotanyi money,’” Kashugera later recalled.

Blindfolded, he was taken to several detention locations in Kigali — including Gikondo, Nyamirambo, Muhima, and even near the former presidential offices in the city center.

Eventually he was released. Rather than giving up on business, Kashugera decided to move his operations to Kigali and continue working.

Building a Lifetime in Business

That decision changed everything.

Over the years, Kashugera expanded his business activities and formed long-term partnerships. One of the most significant has been with Bralirwa, Rwanda’s leading beverage company.

For 37 years, he has worked as one of the company’s distributors, a role that eventually required him to invest in large trailer trucks to manage deliveries.

In total, Kashugera has now spent 47 years in business.

Despite his success, he believes the rules of business remain simple.

“Business speaks,” he often says. “You only need to listen carefully to what it tells you.”

According to him, success is built on honesty, discipline, and saving money wisely.

Honoring His Father’s Legacy

Behind Kashugera’s achievements lies a deep respect for his father.

Before passing away, his father gave him one important piece of advice: never abandon cattle.

Kashugera kept that promise.

Today, he still owns cattle descended from the herd his father once raised. In fact, he even moved his father’s grave closer to his pasture — a symbolic gesture that reflects his strong connection to his roots.

He says that spending time among those cows gives him more satisfaction than any business deal.

A Message to the Next Generation

Kashugera also has a direct message for Rwanda’s youth.

He believes success requires discipline and effort — something he feels many young people underestimate.

“Many youths today are lazy,” he says candidly. “They focus on sleeping instead of working. In the 47 years I have been in business, the time I spent sleeping is very small.”

His advice is simple: respect work and avoid shortcuts.

Wealth Beyond the Individual

Despite building a successful business career, Kashugera believes wealth is never purely personal.

For him, money should contribute to national development.

Pointing to a glass of water during one interview, he once said:

“This water we are drinking — that is ours. But money belongs to the country.”

The buildings he helped construct, he says, are not just private property but part of Rwanda’s national pride.

“They are the beauty of the country.”

And perhaps that is the greatest twist in his story.

The man once accused of having “Inkotanyi money” eventually used his success to help build the very nation that accusation once tried to silence.

End

The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with a broad coalition of partners including the Mastercard Foundation, UN Women, the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), Business Professionals Network (BPN), CARE Rwanda, SNV, World Food Programme (WFP), AFR, and ESP, among others, reflecting a growing multi-stakeholder commitment to strengthening women’s role in agri-food systems.

Positioning women at the center of agri-food transformation

Rwanda’s agriculture sector remains a pillar of the economy, contributing about 25 percent of GDP and employing nearly 69 percent of the population. Women make up the majority of the agricultural labor force, yet their presence in leadership roles and structured markets remains limited.

AGRA Rwanda Country Director Jean Paul Ndagijimana said the organization has broadened its approach from focusing solely on productivity to strengthening the entire agri-food system.

“We started with agriculture only looking at productivity, then we said agriculture is bigger than just producing,” Ndagijimana said. “Today we are focusing on the agri-food system, and we are calling on women, especially young women, to consider opportunities across the value chain—from production and trade to processing and market engagement.”

He noted that AGRA has committed to creating 132,000 jobs in agriculture over the next five years, with 70 percent targeted at young women.
“Agriculture offers opportunities in at least five different areas of the value chain. We want young women to see the sector not only as farming, but as a dynamic ecosystem where they can build careers and businesses,” he added.

Expanding access to finance and markets

Equity Bank Rwanda emphasized that financial inclusion will be critical in enabling women entrepreneurs to scale their agribusinesses.
Equity Bank Rwanda Managing Director Hannington Namara highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving inclusive economic transformation.

“Equity Bank is a vehicle for transformation and giving people livelihoods,” Namara said. “Because of our vision and mission, we get excited when we see partners joining hands to make this journey easier and deliver results faster.”

“We know we do not have the power or resources to change the world alone, which is why we are very happy to work together with partners like AGRA and Lead Access,” he added. “By working together we can achieve much more.”

The bank’s social impact arm is also supporting programs designed to equip women entrepreneurs with financial skills and access to credit.
Loyce Bamwine, Director of Social Impact and Investment at Equity Bank Rwanda, said the Women’s Month activities are part of broader efforts to empower women and youth economically.

“Championing this initiative in partnership with different stakeholders is a privilege for us,” Babmwe said. “Beyond banking, we approach this from a social impact perspective. Through Equity Foundation Rwanda we design innovative programs that transform lives and livelihoods.”

She explained that the bank supports women through financial literacy training, entrepreneurship development and tailored financial products.
“Our focus is inclusion—helping women move from one level to another by giving them access to finance and working with partners to provide de-risking mechanisms that make loans more accessible,” she said.
Building a strong ecosystem for women agripreneurs
Lead Access CEO Iris Irumva underscored the importance of collective action in advancing women’s leadership in agriculture and other sectors.

“We know that institutions like AGRA and Equity are supporting women, but we also recognise that progress requires allies,” Irumva said. “As women, we cannot do this alone—we need the ‘He-for-She’ champions and partners who stand with us.”
She praised AGRA’s continued collaboration in promoting women’s participation in agriculture.
“AGRA has been a pillar in this journey. This is the third year we are partnering with them, and we are grateful for the impact this collaboration continues to create,” she said.

Irumva noted that the initiative is helping shift perceptions among young women about careers in agriculture.
“Many young women used to see agriculture as unattractive, but today we talk about it as ‘ag-tractive.’ We are seeing more women entrepreneurs entering the sector and being recognized for their innovation and leadership,” she added.

Women’s Day celebrations and national engagement

As part of the Women’s Month activities, partners also announced that International Women’s Day on 8 March will be marked through participation in Kigali’s bi-monthly Car Free Day, where stakeholders will deliver messages aligned with this year’s global theme on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The event will provide an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of women’s leadership in agriculture and economic development while engaging the public through sports and community participation.

A national platform for action

The March 25 workshop will serve as a national platform to strengthen coordination among government, financial institutions, development partners and private sector actors. Participants will include young women agripreneurs aged 18–35, investors, export agencies, and agribusiness leaders engaged in horticulture value chains such as production, aggregation, processing and export.
The event will feature policy dialogue, mentorship sessions, enterprise exhibitions and business matchmaking opportunities linking women entrepreneurs with buyers and financial institutions.

Organizers say the workshop will also conclude with a Women in Agri-Food Systems Commitment Moment, where stakeholders—including development partners and financial institutions—will announce concrete actions to support women-led enterprises and expand their access to markets and finance.

By positioning women as leaders across the agri-food value chain, AGRA and its partners aim to strengthen Rwanda’s agricultural competitiveness while ensuring that the sector’s transformation remains inclusive and sustainable.

The visit is part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral ties, with a strong focus on areas such as military training, healthcare collaboration, and joint defence initiatives.

This engagement reflects both countries’ commitment to regional peace, capacity building, and strategic partnerships within Africa.

Speaking at the celebrations, Christine Nkulikiyinka, Rwanda’s minister of public service and labor, said the campaign aims to mobilize, engage, and raise awareness among institutions, employers, workers, development partners, and the private sector about their shared role in promoting decent and sustainable employment.

“Today, Rwanda joins the international community not only to honour the dignity of work, but also to celebrate the resilience, talent, and aspirations of the Rwandan workforce. More than a celebration, this is a day and a moment of reflection, of gratitude, and renewed commitment,” she said.

Nkulikiyinka noted that between 2017 and 2024, Rwanda more than doubled its annual job creation capacity—from nearly 156,000 to 360,000 jobs.

“There is no greater investment in our nation's future than investing in productive, decent, and sustainable employment, particularly for youth. Jobs are not only about livelihoods; they represent dignity, security, opportunity, and national transformation,” she added.

The event also featured the official unveiling of the National Employment and Skills Strategy (NESS 2024–2029)—a bold, forward-looking action plan to guide Rwanda toward a more inclusive, adaptive, and resilient labour market.

According to the Ministry of Public Service and Labor, the NESS is designed to foster a dynamic skills and employment ecosystem in Rwanda by improving the quality and market relevance of training programs, supporting business growth and entrepreneurship, and strengthening job-matching mechanisms at the institutional level.

The strategy’s overarching goals align with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) target of creating 1.25 million productive and decent jobs and the Productive Skills Development and Youth Employment (PSDYE) Strategy objective of reducing the unemployment rate to 12 percent and the youth NEET rate to 25 percent by 2029.

“We continue to face major employment challenges. These include a growing youth population seeking opportunities, particularly in the city of Kigali; a mismatch between graduates' skills and labour market needs; persistent informality and limited social protection; and global trends from digital disruption to climate change that are reshaping the world of work,” Nkulikiyinka emphasized.

According to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), the employment-to-population ratio rose to 56.0 percent in the February 2025 quarter 1, up from 53.1 percent during the same period in 2024, a positive sign of progress.

Her Excellency, First Lady Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, took to the stage with a message of unity, resilience, and hope. She began by acknowledging the significance of the day—31 years since the horrific genocide—and the importance of remembering the youth who perished. “We do not only remember today,” she said. “Our loved ones live on in our hearts, and Rwanda is reborn.”

Her speech was one of strength, calling on the youth to hold on to the truth of their history, emphasizing that genocide denial must never be tolerated. “Jenoside was not an illness or a sudden disaster,” she declared. “It was a calculated plan, carried out systematically, and it began with words that dehumanized a people, creating a foundation for hate.”

The First Lady's words were a stark reminder of the power of ideology and the responsibility of the youth to safeguard the future. She spoke candidly about the dangers of misinformation, especially in the age of social media. “You are surrounded by many voices, some claiming to speak for Rwanda. But not all of them wish us well,” she warned. “It is up to you to discern the truth, to understand the consequences of embracing lies.”

As she spoke, the crowd listened intently. The youth understood the urgency of the message. They were not just passive recipients of history—they were active participants in shaping a new future for Rwanda, a future grounded in unity, truth, and progress.

The First Lady encouraged them to stand firm in their identity as Rwandans. “In the face of adversity, it is your choices that will define our nation. Will you choose peace, or will you allow divisive forces to tear us apart again?” she asked.

Her words resonated deeply with the young attendees, many of whom had been born after the genocide and now found themselves tasked with carrying the torch of remembrance and reconciliation. Her challenge was clear: to safeguard the values of unity and to continue the work of building a country that cherishes its diversity while honoring its painful past.

As the event concluded, the youth of Rwanda left with a renewed sense of purpose. They understood that their generation held the power to shape the destiny of their nation. With determination, they would fight against genocide ideology, uphold the truth of their history, and honor the memories of those who had given everything for the Rwanda they now called home.