Challenges Rwanda

🌍 Proud to highlight ABCD GreatLife, a remarkable horticulture export company in Rwanda, led by the visionary Mrs. Annie Justine UWAMAHORO! Annie’s dedication to agriculture and her advocacy for farmers, particularly women in the agricultural value chain, is contributing to transform the narrative within the sector. Her efforts showcase that women can, and should, lead at all levels in agribusiness. Through her hard work and passion, she was recently voted in to the role of General Secretary for the Horticulture Exporters Association of Rwanda (HEAR), advocating for Rwanda's vibrant horticulture industry on the international stage. ABCD GreatLife specializes in the export of avocados, French beans, passion fruits, and chili peppers, bringing Rwanda’s finest produce to the global market. The company recently became a beneficiary of the KOA Initiative, which provided co-financing for a brand-new cold storage van and access to the Dubai market—an exciting development that supports quality preservation and expands reach to new customers. We are thrilled to have supported ABCD GreatLife and look forward to seeing the continued growth of Annie's business. Annie, we applaud your passion, hard work, and unwavering commitment to agricultural commercialization and empowerment for farmers across Rwanda! 👏 #Agribusiness #WomenInAgriculture #Horticulture #Rwanda #Export #AgricultureInnovation #ChallengesGroup #ABCDGreatLife Vincent Kalimba Yvette Bamurange Mugabukenga Francis Wilson MUHIRWA Peace Amaro Dorcas Amoh Mensah Selasi Fiadjoe Kwizera Rulinda Sabato Ephrem🇷🇼 NIYONZIMA Emmanuel

We are excited to see Challenges Zambia advancing disability inclusion with Sightsavers’ impactful training! Their preparation for the RISE/E Programme is a fantastic step toward inclusive, sustainable employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. At Challenges Rwanda, we fully support our shared mission to build solutions with diversity and equity at their core. Thank you, Sightsavers and Challenges Zambia.

A Game Changer for Rwanda’s Horticultural Exports! Today, USAID Kungahara Wagura Amasoko and #NAEB made a significant stride in bolstering Rwanda’s horticultural export industry. The first batch of 9 refrigerated trucks was handed over to Rwandan exporters. These state-of-the-art trucks will revolutionize cold chain logistics, reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring that fresh produce reaches markets in optimal condition. Claude Bizimana, CEO of NAEB, expressed gratitude to #USAID for their support and reaffirmed NAEB’s commitment to empowering exporters through infrastructure development, capacity building, and market linkages. In her remarks, Titianne Donde , Chief of Party at USAID Kungahara Wagura Amasoko , stated: "We are proud of our strong partnership with Rwandan horticulture exporters. Through a 60-40 co-investment model (60% funded by USAID Kungahara Wagura Amasoko , 40% by exporters), this collaboration exemplifies how public-private partnerships can drive sustainable solutions in Rwanda’s agricultural sector." #Agriculture #horticulture #exporter #Rwanda

Our CMi-certified Managing with Purpose training starts next week, Wednesday, 23 Oct. We still have a few spaces left. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eJtwW-Y9 Chartered Management Institute research shows that organisations that invest in management and leadership development programmes see, on average, a 23% increase in organisational performance and a 32% increase in people performance.

Not only do we work internationally, but we also have an international team - here we have Peace Amaro from Uganda who is working for Challenges Rwanda and was visiting us in Scotland for a week, Martine, a citizen of the world who has lived on three continents and speaks five languages, Cerina Wheatland from Canada who is living in Scotland, and Lynn Houmdi CMgr MCMI, from Scotland who has worked on three continents and learned at least seven languages! Challenges Uganda, Challenges Malawi, Challenges Ghana, Challenges Zambia

Panelist Spotlight: Joining us on the panel tomorrow is Alice Kampire Muwonge, Director and Chief Finance Officer at Ortus Africa Capital, an advisory and investment firm in Uganda specializing in alternative investments across Africa. With over 20 years of experience in audit, financial management, and business development, Alice brings deep expertise to our discussion. Alice provides advisory services in transaction management, investment readiness, and technical assistance for diverse sectors. Passionate about supporting startups and SMEs, she has worked with accelerators and hubs, invested in industries like fintech, agribusiness, and energy, and actively mentors entrepreneurs to drive growth. Tune in for Webinar 2 to absorb Alice's expertise on unlocking financial opportunities for Green SMEs in Uganda’s Green Economy! Time: 11:00 A.M - 12:30 P.M Register here: https://lnkd.in/dBVku5-B The Challenges Group || Ortus Africa Capital || Uganda Green Enterprise Finance Accelerator || Alice Kampire Muwonge || Camilla Shearman || Hendricah Rita || Eoghan Mackie || Shaun McLaughlin || Caroline Wylie || Babra Akori || Challenges Rwanda || Challenges Ghana|| Challenges Zambia || Shortlist Futures || Global Green Growth Institute || Green Climate Fund || UNDP #ChallengesAt25Webinars

🚀 Exciting Conversations on Refugee Employment in Rwanda! 🌍 Last week, the Challenges Worldwide team had the privilege of participating in a dynamic business roundtable in Kigali, organized by the The Amahoro Coalition and Alight. This incredible event brought together leaders from the private sector, refugee entrepreneurs, and development partners to explore innovative solutions for boosting employment opportunities for forcibly displaced people. 💡 Key Question: How can businesses in Rwanda become employers of choice for refugees and drive job creation in forcibly displaced communities? The discussions were full of fresh ideas, collaboration, and forward-thinking strategies. A special highlight was when our very own Yvette Bamurange, Associate Trainer, shared her inspiring personal journey. Yvette shed light on the real challenges refugees face when seeking employment and highlighted the types of support that have made a real difference in her journey—support that could be scaled to benefit even more refugees in Rwanda. It was a powerful reminder that together, we can create inclusive opportunities and pathways to dignified work for all! #Inclusion #JobCreation #RefugeeEmployment #PrivateSectorImpact #BusinessForGood #ChallengesWorldwide Vincent Kalimba Yvette Bamurange Mugabukenga Francis Wilson MUHIRWA Peace Amaro Dorcas Amoh Mensah Selasi Fiadjoe Kwizera Rulinda Sabato Ephrem🇷🇼 Emmanuel Niyonzima

I found myself reflecting on a journey that had once seemed impossible.  The room was filled with leaders, partners, and change-makers discussing innovative ways to bridge the employment gap for refugees. It was an honor to be among them, representing not just my own story, but the countless others who continue to fight for a better future. As a refugee living in Rwanda, I shared my personal journey, shedding light on the real-life challenges refugees face when seeking employment. From navigating the unfamiliar job market to facing rejection after rejection, the search for stability often felt daunting. But instead of losing hope, I leaned on the power of persistence, refining my approach with each setback. I spoke about the strategies I applied—building connections through networking, enhancing my skills with free online courses, and tailoring my resume to stand out in a competitive job market. These efforts eventually paid off, leading to meaningful opportunities that helped me rebuild my life. The outcomes? Not just personal employment success, but also a growing passion to empower other refugees to overcome similar hurdles. I left the event inspired, knowing that my story—and the stories of so many others—could shape a brighter future through private- sector partnerships, giving refugees the chance to thrive, not just survive. Challenges Rwanda The Amahoro Coalition Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency Alight UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Rwanda Kepler College Communications #PrivateSector #EconomicInclusion #RefugeeEmployment #AmahoroCoa Dorcas Amoh Mensah

Our 25th birthday celebration allowed us to bring people together to collaborate. We also had time to reflect on the work we do. When Eoghan Mackie founded The Challenges Group twenty-five years ago, the aim was to help people create impact through their purpose-led businesses and, from those learnings, to help others set up new purpose-led enterprises. Twenty-five years on, we continue to support enterprises to deliver better solutions to global challenges, and we continue to learn and adapt in how we do this, basing our programmes and services on what we have learned over the last 25 years. Watch our video to learn more about our 25th birthday event, the approach we take to supporting organisations, and our plans for the future

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲!🏆Their expertise and many insights will be essential to this #competition, which will showcase innovative and inspiring enterprises while also highlighting the need for greater investment in resilient agri-food businesses. The extensive combined expertise and profound insights of the jury will guide the selection of the competition's 3 winners. This initiative showcases the 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 in food systems. The Award Ceremony will take place in #Kigali, #Rwanda, on December 3rd, 2024, where top agroecological enterprises will be recognized. 🎉 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆: Betty Kibaara– Rockefeller Foundation 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 – African Development Bank (AfDB) Henry Kahira , MBA – Rabo Foundation Jayadeep Akkireddy – Welthungerhilfe  Ruth Nabaggala – African Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) Shiru Mwangi– British International Investment // Gather Ventures 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆:   "The AFFP will serve as a vital platform for showcasing innovative practices and the positive impacts of these enterprises, offering investors a comprehensive understanding of their contributions." - 𝙍𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙉𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙖   "We see a huge transformative potential in agroecological principles that go beyond farming-fairness, knowledge sharing, synergies, recycling. We are open to all kinds of innovations (Al, technological) that can be combined with these 13 principles." - 𝙅𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝘼𝙠𝙠𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙙𝙮 We look forward to an inspiring journey with these #leaders toward a more sustainable, resilient future! 🌍 #Agroecology, #FoodSystemsTransformation, #SustainableAgriculture, #InvestingInImpact, #AgroecologicalFuture Stefanie Pondini, Hans von Zinkernagel