Rwanda

<p>The project &ldquo;Rwanda: Value-added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) for Women-led Businesses&rdquo; aims to support 150 women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the horticulture sector (green beans, passion fruit and chili) to access new market opportunities and generate USD 10 million value of sales. The following describes planned areas of intervention during the project timeframe:</p><ol><li>Increasing market access, knowledge and business information.</li><li>Providing a market-access training programme to respond to specific market-related challenges faced by women-led MSMEs.</li><li>Offering a digital and marketing training programme to strengthen digital identity and asset of women-led MSMEs.</li><li>Providing peer-to-peer learning sessions, mentoring and networking activities by leveraging regional and international networks of the ITC SheTrades Initiative between Rwandese women-led MSMEs and others countries where ITC set up SheTrades Hubs.</li><li>Facilitating business generation for the horticulture sector through international and regional trade fairs, inward trade missions, and B2B meeting opportunities (online or in-person).</li><li>Strengthening the capacity and leadership of the SheTrades Rwanda Hub, hosted by the Private Sector Federation (PSF) Specialized Cluster to create a community of partners and foster an enabling environment for women-led MSMEs in Rwanda.</li></ol>

<p>The VIBE - REMI in Rwanda project will support 900 refugee youth in agricultural sectors, both those that are self-employed and part of MSMEs and cooperatives, to increase their competitiveness and participation in local and regional trade in Rwanda. The key areas of intervention are described below:</p><p>1. Strengthen market linkages between refugee-inclusive MSMEs and businesses</p><p>2. Enhance inclusive and enabling business and market ecosystems for refugees</p><p>3. Improve policy around refugee market and employment inclusion</p>

<p>A country diagnostic for Bangladesh, Rwanda and Uganda, including an analytical and a survey component, will build the evidence base to understand the value-added trade diversification opportunities and the required actions to materialize those.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) aims to promote economic growth in the East African Community (EAC) through private sector development and export promotion. It seeks to enhance sustainable and inclusive intra-African trade, pan-African trade, and trade with the European Union (EU). MARKUP II will address trade barriers, value addition, compliance, trade facilitation, investment, technology transfer, and institutional support. The programme has a total budget of &euro;40 million, funded by the EU under the Sub-Saharan Africa Multi-Annual Indicative Programme from 2023 to 2027. The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the only implementation agency, working in partnership with the EU regional Delegation, the EAC Secretariat and the governments of six EAC member states. MARKUP II builds on the achievements of its predecessor, MARKUP I, streamlining procedures, supporting enterprises, and facilitating international trade. The sectors of intervention are: avocado, cocoa, coffee, essential oils, French beans, gum Arabic, horticulture, leather, packaging, spices and tea.</p>