Fighting Poverty in Rwanda

Facts about Rwanda

Rwanda has struggled with its legacy of ethnic tension associated with the traditionally unequal relationship between the Tutsi minority and the majority Hutus. In 1994, a state-sponsored genocide led to the deaths of up to a million Rwandans, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population. Rwanda is striving to rebuild its economy, with coffee and tea production among its main exports. The World Bank has praised Rwanda for its remarkable development successes since that time.

Rwanda, along with much of sub-Saharan Africa, is on the verge of a crisis. By 2035, the International Monetary Fund estimates the number of Africans joining the working age population will exceed the rest of the world combined. To fill this surge, 18 million new jobs will have to be created each year for the next 20 years across sub-Saharan Africa. In the meantime, Rwandans rely on the informal sector for a chance to earn a living. In addition, access to basic services, like energy, water and sanitation, education, health care and agriculture, is often inadequate.

When poor people have access to financial services and life-enhancing products, they can earn more, build their assets, create jobs and cushion themselves against external shocks. FINCA is helping Rwandans improve their lives by supporting access to basic services through FINCA Ventures.