FAO supports youth and women entrepreneurs as drivers of agrifood systems transformation in Rwanda

Youth and women entrepreneurs from across Rwanda completed a business incubation workshop last week under the FAO HASTEN project, gaining new skills to grow their enterprises and drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event also rallied national stakeholders around a shared commitment of support to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises as part of Rwanda’s agrifood systems transformation.

HASTEN — Harnessing SDG-based Agrifood System Transformation through the Empowerment of the Next Generation of Agrifood Leadership in Africa — is an FAO initiative operating in Rwanda, Lesotho, and Sierra Leone. The project places youth at the centre of agrifood systems transformation, by building their skills in systems thinking, fostering collaboration among governments, academia, and the private sector, and supporting eco-inclusive and social enterprises that generate jobs and sustainable development gains.

The business incubation component of HASTEN is designed for early-stage, eco-inclusive youth- and women-led enterprises. The week-long workshop in Kigali, facilitated by FAO together with international and national coaches, guided 10 entrepreneurs through value proposition development, market analysis, scaling strategies, impact monitoring, and financing. It also provided space for peer-to-peer exchange and networking.

“This HASTEN business incubation workshop is building the skills and connections that young entrepreneurs need, while also creating stronger links between governments, investors, researchers, and communities,” said Dr. Nomathemba Mhlanga, FAO Representative a.i. in Rwanda. “Real transformation in agrifood systems requires changes in people, processes, and markets, and HASTEN is helping Rwanda take important steps in that direction.”

For the participating entrepreneurs, the week provided practical skills, expanded networks, and clearer strategies to enhance their impact. Niyigena Hawa, WhizUpp Ltd, noted: “The workshop helped us refine our business strategy and connect with the right partners to grow.”

Felice Karangwa, Coffee Connect Centre LTD, added: “As a social enterprise, we have always aimed to create positive change, but this training showed us how to go further. We learned how to track not only our economic performance, but also our social and environmental impact in relation to the SDGs, which helps us measure and strengthen the difference we are making.”

On the final day, entrepreneurs pitched their business models to national stakeholders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda, the University of Rwanda, civil society organizations, private sector organizations, and businesses. This was followed by a dialogue on how to strengthen the wider ecosystem for agrifood MSMEs. The discussions concluded with the endorsement of an Expression of Intent recognizing youth- and women-led enterprises as key drivers of innovation, food security, and improved nutrition. The Expression of Intent also set out a strong interest to help expand access to finance and services for rural and youth and women-led MSMEs, accelerate innovation and technology adoption, address systemic barriers, and strengthen collaboration across sectors.

Dr Chantal Ingabire, Director General of Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda, emphasized, “Youth and women-led enterprises are central to our food security and resilience. By committing to support them, we are laying the foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable agrifood system in Rwanda.”

Dr Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, underscored, “As the United Nations family in Rwanda, we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting the Government and all stakeholders in accelerating progress toward the SDGs. This includes mobilizing technical expertise, strengthening delivery systems, and leveraging innovative financing to unlock private and public capital for sustainable development. We will continue to foster partnerships that empower youth, women, and vulnerable groups, while promoting climate resilience, digital transformation, and inclusive growth. In doing so, we aim to ensure that Rwanda’s national priorities, anchored in Vision 2050 and NST2, are fully aligned with the global development agenda, leaving no one behind.”

The Rwanda workshop was the second to take place under HASTEN, following the one in Lesotho in September. A final national workshop will take place in Sierra Leone later this year.