UNCDF in Rwanda
East and Southern Africa and the Arab States Region
Loans
Guarantees
Our work
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), in close collaboration with national authorities and development partners, catalyses economic growth, unlocks investment, and creates employment opportunities across Rwanda.
Through innovative blended finance instruments and targeted partnerships, UNCDF is expanding access to finance for women, youth, and entrepreneurs in key sectors such as agribusiness and health, while also advancing digital and financial inclusion for cross-border traders. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how catalytic concessional finance can drive inclusive growth, strengthen market systems, and build resilient livelihoods across Rwanda.
Creating employment opportunities and enabling access to finance for agribusinesses, women, and youth
Through the Rwanda BRIDGE programme, co-implemented with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and supported by the Mastercard Foundation, UNCDF provided a two-year USD 500,000 portfolio guarantee to Urwego Finance to catalyze investment in the agriculture sector.
The guarantee offers partial collateral cover to underserved agribusinesses, particularly those led by women and youth, helping unlock access to working capital and reduce perceived risk. The objective is to expand access to finance, create employment opportunities, strengthen local enterprises, and reinforce agricultural value chains across Rwanda.
As of 30 June 2025, Urwego Finance had successfully disbursed a total of USD 714,000 in loans to 92 beneficiaries countrywide, achieving 100% utilization of the USD 500,000 guarantee. This demonstrates the effective leveraging of the guarantee to mobilize additional financing for the program. This milestone reflects Urwego Finance’s commitment to promoting inclusive financial access across Rwanda.
Of the 92 loan beneficiaries, 17 are women. According to WFP estimates, each loan borrower has generated an average of 10.7 jobs, meaning that the 92 loans issued under the guarantee have created approximately 984 jobs and have developed an average of 33.7 income-generating activities each, resulting in an estimated 3,100 new income-generating opportunities.
As of 30 November 2025, there were 5 non-performing loans (90 days past due), totaling $78.4, representing 16% of the outstanding portfolio of USD 476,000. The non-performing loans (NPL) is due to delays in receiving payments from off takers, while others have been affected by adverse weather conditions that resulted in crop failures and delayed loan repayments.
Woman-led Agro Shop in Rwanda Photo: Urwego.
Grains of an Aggregator in Rwanda. Photo: Urwego.
Digitally enabled access to finance for small-scale cross-border traders
The Joint Programme on Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade (JP) improves livelihoods for small-scale cross-border traders (SSCBTs) in Rwanda, 74 percent of whom are women operating informally—by expanding access to finance and economic opportunities.
The programme leverages digital tools to generate transaction data, enabling financial service providers to design tailored credit products and extend financing to previously underserved traders. It operates across policy, service delivery, and community levels to ensure sustainable impact.
The programme is implemented by ITC, IOM, UNCDF, and UNCTAD with support from the European Union and the Government of Rwanda (MINICOM) through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, UNCDF provides technical assistance and market development support to strengthen the enabling environment for inclusive finance, supporting the design of credit scoring and loan origination tools, and building traders’ digital and financial literacy to enhance uptake and effective use of financial services.
The overall initiative is expected to reach 154,200 traders, of which UNCDF is targeting 25,000 to receive digital and financial literacy training and 3,000 to access micro-loans through partnerships with two financial service providers. Overall, the programme promotes inclusive economic growth by improving market access, expanding digital financial inclusion, and supporting the formalisation of small-scale cross-border trade, strengthening traders’ resilience, participation, and access to capital for business growth.
Digitally enabled finance is opening new opportunities for small-scale cross-border traders, using transaction data to expand access to tailored credit and strengthen business growth. Credit: UNCDF.
Latest news and stories
Our partners
UNCDF’s work in Rwanda is made possible through collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mastercard Foundation, International Trade Centre (ITC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Urwego Finance.
Documents
This section brings together key documents related to UNCDF’s work in the country. It includes a curated selection of publications, papers, and reports that reflect the scope of engagement at country level, from programme design to implementation and outcomes.
These documents offer additional context on how initiatives are developed and delivered, and how partnerships contribute to advancing national priorities. They are intended to support transparency, facilitate knowledge sharing and serve as a practical resource for partners, stakeholders and others seeking a deeper understanding of UNCDF’s work.
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Contact us
For inquiries about UNCDF’s work in Rwanda, including partnerships, investment opportunities, or ongoing initiatives, please contact: esaa.region@uncdf.org.
