Gleaming new business centre to boost job opportunities for entrepreneurs around refugee camp
EnergyPress release
A brand-new enterprise hub is set to transform the way refugees and residents in and around Rwanda’s largest refugee camp earn a living.
The Mahama Business Centre will formally open at an event on Thursday, January 16, giving people the chance to run a range of businesses in a fantastic, modern setting.
The opening event will mark a significant milestone in Practical Action’s efforts to breath life into local economies in camps around the country, and support self-reliance among refugee and host communities through renewable energy.
The Mahama Business Centre is an important part of a programme of work introduced by Practical Action, in partnership with refugees and communities living near camps throughout Rwanda.
The project, known as Renewable Energy for Refugees, showcases the power of modern energy to boost job opportunities. It works with existing local businesses to help more than 113,000 refugees and 34,000 local community members access reliable energy to power businesses, ensuring they have access to reliable grid-connected electricity, enabling them to expand their operations, improve profitability, and create jobs.
Transforming Lives through Energy Access
The Mahama Business Centre is one of three newly established grid-connected business centres across Rwanda’s refugee camps under the Renewable Energy For Refugees initiative. These centres are designed to support 300 entrepreneurs, providing them with access to energy-powered appliances, safe workspaces, and business development services. The initiative also emphasizes gender and disability inclusion, ensuring all community members can benefit from these opportunities.
Denyse Umubyeyi, country Director of Practical Action in Rwanda said “Reliable energy access is a cornerstone for building sustainable livelihoods, and the opening of this business centre is a real milestone in demonstrating just how powerful it can be,”
“It demonstrates how important good facilities, investment and the involvement of the local private sector can help refugees be self-reliant and integrate into local economies, creating a brighter future for themselves and the people living nearby.
“I am so proud of my colleagues, and all of the people they work with who have had the vision and determination to make this happen – and I am incredibly excited at what the future holds.”
The Mahama Business Centre has been funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented in partnership with the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) and UNHCR.
The inauguration event will bring together key stakeholders and partners to:
- Highlight the impact of reliable energy access on businesses and communities, highlighting the role of the Mahama Business Centre as a catalyst for sustainable development.
- Foster partnerships with government, development organizations, and private sector actors to strengthen support for refugee self-sufficiency and local economic integration.
- The venue, located in Munini Cell, Mahama Sector, will be set up to ensure accessibility for all, including persons with disabilities.
The event will be attended by a representative of MINEMA, serving as the Guest of Honour. Additional distinguished attendees include:
The Ambassador of Sweden in Rwanda
Governor of Eastern Province
UN Resident Coordinator
UNHCR Country Representative
Representatives from development agencies, NGOs, financial institutions, and refugee and host communities.
For more information about the Mahama Business Centre inauguration event or Practical Action’s work, please contact: [email protected]
Phone: +250 7861 42017