Friday 25th 2025
Kigali
BY WAKIBI GEOFFREY
On hearing the announcement by the host of the day that they had received an award at this year’s Rwanda Women in Business and Conference (RWIBAC) Awards Ceremony, a lot of joy filled the entire team to such an extent that it was hard for them to mask their excitement On Thursday 24 2025.
Empower Rwanda team pose for a photograph after receiving the crystal award
Elegantly clad in black T-shirts, the jolly team led by Mbabazi Speciose, a board member who also represented the Chairperson of Empower Rwanda at the event, proudly raised to go and receive the crystal prize praising the organization’s FICCARS Program as winners of the AWARD of the best Women’s community program of the year 2025. The entire crowd of guests in Plenary conference hall at Lemigo hotel applauded them, clapping hands as they moved all the way to the podium, it was amazing. This is the second time Empower Rwanda is reorganized in the RWIBAC competitions, following the one in 2024.
“Our gratitude goes to Thousand Hills and the National Women’s Council (NWC) for recognizing our efforts and initiatives and presenting us with this prestigious award. Receiving this award is truly humbling, and we are immensely thankful for the recognition. Your support means the world to us. We are overwhelmed with gratitude that our FICCARS program has enabled us to be elected as the recipient of this noble award,”
Over 200 people including winners of different categories, female activists, government officials and well-wishers of gender equality initiatives attended the big ceremony. Ms. Shakila BISHUMBA, chairperson of the National Women’s Council, Women Mobilization Specialist, The Rwanda National Commission for UNESCO Secretary General Mr. Albert Mutesa, Rwanda Men Resource Centre Executive Director Mr. Fidele Rutayisire, a representative from RDB office, blessed the event.
The event ended with a very wonderful gala dinner.
A section of the guests
Empower Rwanda’s Women Community Program of the year
According to Dr. Olivia Promise Kabatesi, Executive Director of Empower Rwanda, FICCARS (Financial Inclusion for Clean Cooking Access in Rwanda and Sierra Leone) aims to empower low-income women by providing access to clean cooking solutions through tailored financial services. The 36-month program aims to support the development and expansion of financial inclusion products for clean cooking in urban informal settlements. The program aims to lay the foundations for growth of a sustainable market by supporting women to secure a foothold in the markets of Sierra Leone and Rwanda with their financial inclusion and clean cooking products.
The program supports women in Rwamagana and Gasabo districts to inclusively access finance and cooking solution/services. “This program has enhanced their financial literacy, economic independence, reduced health-related issues, boosted business growth and greatly contributed to the prevention of Gender-Based Violence,” she explains. “Big thanks to our donors,” she appreciates.
Through the program, Knowledge has been shared on women’s experiences and perceptions for using financial services for modern cooking access and other activities.
For the beneficiaries the program targeted 8,000 women living and working in urban informal settlements to have a clean cooking product in their home, accessed through financial inclusion, with 30% of these women going on to access additional financial inclusion products.
4000 women are trained on financial inclusion and clean cooking and 2,000 women trained on business skills and income generation opportunities. In addition, 400 women who start or operate small businesses receive business mentoring, and 600 jobs are created for women in the clean cooking value chain all because of financial inclusion.
Empower Rwanda actively intervenes in the project, working with local leaders and community volunteers to support women shift from charcoal and firewood use and other inefficient, unhealthy fuels to cleaner, more effectual cooking solutions like gas, while also building their credit history.
FICCARS is implemented by Energy 4 Impact with support from Jersey Overseas Aid. In terms of benefits, FICCARS improve women’s health and livelihoods by reducing the time spent collecting firewood, elevating opportunities for income-generating activities and strengthening family economies.
RWIBA & the Conference
Rwanda Women in Business Awards and Conference is an annual event; a prestigious multidisciplinary event celebrating the outstanding achievements of women. The purpose of these Awards is to raise awareness, recognize and honor the hard work and valuable contribution women in leadership, all sectors and professional fields.
The best women from across the country are recognized and celebrated. After public nominations and voting, the judging committee conducts a thorough investigation and selects the winner. Winners receive an award that they can display in their office, but also a badge for their website and print materials to show off to the world that they are an award-winning business.
In the conference, active female business leaders connect to keynote speakers share their expertise and exhibit with their business experiences. Different kinds of corporate establishments and facets of businesses gather for a day of business networking and giving chance to explore some of their business needs. Spend an hour working.
