Rwanda: Credit for women's development

In early July, Rwandan officials announced a new programme that aims to strengthen women's economic capacity by providing more access to credit and enabling them to start income generating projects. Rwanda's central bank has been given the responsibility of identifying beneficiaries - the sole criteria being that the projects should be aimed at women's empowerment. On Jul. 7, the Rwandan minister of gender and family promotion, Jean d'Arc Mujawamariya, told members of parliament (MPs) that the fund was working efficiently. Some of the projects that qualified for funding included coffee farms, shops, agribusiness and tourism, according to the central bank. Some MPs, however, pointed out that the selection process was not as rigorous as required - a point that minister Mujawamariya did not challenge. While reiterating the government's commitment to empower women economically in an interview with IPS, François Kanimba, the director-general of the central bank, said, "but we need to make sure that the services given (through the programme) are contributing to promote employment and alleviate endemic poverty in most rural areas."