Overview
Access to finance remains one of the most critical constraints facing smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and agri-SMEs in Rwanda. NIRAM Ltd designs and facilitates financial inclusion programs that bridge the gap between rural actors and formal financial services.
The Challenge
Despite significant growth in Rwanda's financial sector, rural and agricultural actors remain largely excluded. High transaction costs, lack of collateral, low financial literacy, and perceived risk by financial institutions create persistent barriers that limit investment in the agricultural sector.
Our Interventions
- Financial Literacy Training: Building knowledge and skills for informed financial decision-making
- Savings Group Strengthening: Supporting VSLAs and SACCOs to improve governance and services
- Value Chain Finance Facilitation: Connecting buyers, aggregators, and financial institutions around embedded finance models
- Business Plan Development: Helping cooperatives and agri-SMEs prepare bankable investment proposals
- Digital Finance Integration: Promoting mobile money and digital payment solutions in agricultural transactions
- Linkage Banking: Facilitating relationships between cooperatives and commercial banks
Results
Our financial inclusion programs have helped over 200 cooperatives access formal credit for the first time, mobilized over RWF 500 million in agricultural investment, and trained more than 10,000 rural actors in financial management.
When farmers have access to the right financial tools, they invest in their farms, their families, and their communities — and the entire agricultural system grows stronger.