Kigali, Rwanda – Today, the Cooking Energy Business Growth Fund (CEBGF) for Rwanda announced the 14 winners selected for grant support for their innovative approaches to environmentally friendly cooking energy solutions. CEBGF is part of the ‘Reducing Climate Impact of Cooking in Rwanda through improved cooking energy systems (ReCIC) Project under the Energising Development (EnDev) Programme. EnDev’s ReCIC Project is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the German government (BMZ).
Today, May 17, 2022, the CEBGF winners were announced at the Sustainable Energy for All Forum (SE4ALL), in Kigali, Rwanda.
Competitors were required to submit an application, screen, complete technical evaluation, due diligence and prepare a business plan. Then, they had to pitch their innovative cooking energy solutions to a panel of experts, including representatives from the Government of Rwanda, the donors, and to be vetted for their business cases. Entrepreneurs presented their innovative solutions to cooking energy and details about how they plan to use the CEBGF grant to grow their businesses to greater profitability.
The fund’s winners include a variety o cooking energy innovations such as improved stove production, stove testing, marketing and distribution of the products. There are eight operations in Kigali City as well as two in the Western Province, two in the Eastern Province, one in the Southern Province, and one in the Northern Province of Rwanda.
These entrepreneurs who received the CEBGF grant funding also received support in business development, including a business analysis, business training, and individual consulting over the past two months. They will continue to receive support from SNV, GIZ, and ongoing follow-up to ensure that their business plans are being implemented.
In line with Rwanda’s Biomass Energy Strategy, which aims to reduce the percentage of households that use firewood by 30% before 2024, and entirely phase-out the use of charcoal in urban areas, the Cooking Energy Business Growth Fund (CEBGF) for Rwanda was created to provide necessary resources to innovative businesses, who are creating solutions to problems created by traditional cooking methods. Today, Rwanda’s traditional cooking methods, such as charcoal and firewood, are used by more than 97%. This has caused many problems, including indoor pollution from firewood or charcoal. It can lead to respiratory problems and can be linked with 1.6 million deaths each year around the globe, disproportionately affecting children and women. As per a 2020 estimate by the world Bank, traditional way of cooking in smoky/inefficient stoves results in poor health (and death), women’s lost productivity, and climate problems, with a global annual cost of USD 1.4 Trillion, 0.8 Trillion and 0.2 Trillion, respectively.
Cooking Energy Business Growth Fund (CEBGF), is made up of several partners to ensure the best possible initiative. Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development, Rwanda’s leading business development provider, offered capacity-building support through an accelerator program, including training, business assessment, investment readiness, and pitch preparation.
SNV will award a grant investment of between 10 and 40 million RWF to each winner to partially support the implementation of the business ideas. During today’s ceremony, the top 3 overall winners, namely 1) Eco-Green Solution Ltd., 2) BioMassters Limited, and 3) Enviro Green Conserve Company Ltd., in the order of ranking received 2 million RWF, 1.5 million RWF, and 1 million RWF, as additional appreciation prizes, respectively.
The remaining 11 winners are 1) EM T Xavier Company Ltd, 2) Ado Green Conserve Company Ltd, 3) Urumuri Energy Group Ltd, 4) Oak Investments Ltd, 5) Muhanga Improved Local Technologies Company Ltd (MILTEC), 6) MPA (Modern Poterie Art), 7) Inganzo Pottery Company Ltd, 8) Energie Domestique (ENEDOM), 9) Quincaillerie Advento Ltd, 10) Green Hanga Ltd, and 11) Safer1 Ltd.
The selection of the 14 winners was made from 89 applicants. There was extensive screening. Next came a technical evaluation for 64 entrepreneurs. Due diligence for 20. Business plan preparation, pitching and approval processes for final winners.
ENDEV AND THE RECIC PROJECT
EnDev is an alliance of like-minded donors and partners that supports access to modern energy. Access to modern electricity is a prerequisite for economic and social development. EnDev has operations in more than 20 countries. In Rwanda, the cooking energy component of EnDev, “Reducing Climate Impact of Cooking in Rwanda through improved cooking energy systems action” (ReCIC) Project, is implemented by GIZ and SNV and funded by the European Union and (EU) Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BMZ).
For more information, please visit: www.endev.info/
SNV
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (Non-Profit International Development Organization) is an international development organization that helps people living in poverty to increase their incomes and get basic services. SNV has more than 1,297 employees and a presence in 24 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. SNV in Rwanda delivers advisory services to local organisations throughout the country, helping to realise the national development goals in the Agriculture, Energy, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene sectors. The company’s core business is strengthening the capacities of local organisations in the private and public sectors to localise capacity development services and upscale activities. SNV employs market-based strategies to reduce poverty and promote good governance.
For more information about SNV Rwanda, visit: www.snv.org/country/rwanda
GIZ ABOUT
GIZ is an international service provider in international cooperation and sustainable development. It has more than 50 years of experience in many areas, including economic and employment promotion, energy, the environment, peace and security, and international education. GIZ works closely with businesses, civil society actors, research institutions, and other organizations to promote interaction between development policy and other policy areas. GIZ employs 23,614 people, almost 70% of which are national staff and work in approximately 120 countries. 483 of our development workers are currently working in partner nations as part of GIZ’s recognition as a development service provider.
For more information on GIZ, please visit: www.giz.de/en
INKOMOKO
Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development is Rwanda’s leading business development service provider that has served the needs of Rwandan businesses since 2012, providing business training, consulting, and access to affordable finance. With over 130 staff in 7 offices, Inkomoko’s business accelerator has helped more than 25,000 entrepreneurs in Rwanda run their operations more efficiently and strategically. On average, entrepreneurs in Inkomoko’s accelerator increase their annual revenues by 80%. Inkomoko is the Rwandan Affiliate of African Entrepreneur Collective. This network of business accelerators, loan funds, and loan funds has a mission to improve lives and create jobs. AEC has operations across Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia.
For more information, please visit: www.inkomoko.com