Impacts and Achievements

NIRDA OPEN CALLS PROGRAM

Achievement

NIRDA has managed to support a number of private sector players in acquiring Machinery/Technology, Technical assistance and business development services in the garments, Banana sector and also in Agriculture which includes; Animal feeds, Poultry, piggery and Urbanization sector include stone and Clay value chains.

Future

NIRDA Open calls program proposes a “replication model” to continue interventions to support private or potential actors in the sector by introducing specialized incubation, and acceleration services.

INCUBATION AND ACCELERATION FACILITY

The NIRDA Incubator / Accelerator Facility, currently specific to the Rwandan Wood Value Chain and related value chains such as lather, texture, metal works for the furniture sector, is a tool to move the wood sector towards higher capacity in terms of SME management levels, innovativeness (products, processes, and finance), as well as via a feedback mechanism to the market and government institutions. It is supported by the GIZ SD4T Programme.

The main objective of the Incubation/Acceleration Facility (I/AF), located is to improve the competitiveness of start-ups and companies in the wood value chain. In order to achieve the objective, I/AF offers a set of customized services for start-ups, companies and cooperatives from the wood sector including business advice, entrepreneurship and business management training, coaching and mentoring, access to technical infrastructure, technical assistance, market information services, marketing assistance, facilitation of financial and investment linkages as well as facilitation of linkages for technological upgrading and access to a wide network of investors and financiers and partner organizations (e.g. governmental organizations, NGOs, business associations, business development agencies, and universities).

Achievement

IAF selected companies received a 12 month I/A business advisory, coaching on the top of different technical training in each business’s special needs; such as kiln drier, CNC, CAD, carpentry technics, and a study tour to Germany to attend fairs and visit carpentry units with adequate standards.

Through incubation and acceleration support at least 31 selected wood companies are linked to potential financiers and/or investors to present their business plan through tailored pitching sessions across the country.

Future

The Incubation acceleration facility project, with GIZ support will keep up its technical support through high level local and international expertize exchange during the coming 3 years

Community Processing Centers (CPC) Program

Establishment of Community Processing Centers (CPC) initiative came to act as a framework to boost SME processing capacity and productivity for recapturing local and international markets.

It is a “design, build, and pass on model” to the private sector after they have matured and proven to be viable and profitable. The strategy is anchored on District industrial projects dealing in various aspects of industrial production

Currently, NIRDA supports three (3) Community Processing Units;

  • Rutsiro Honey Ltd
  • Nyabihu Potato Company
  • Rwamagana Banana Wine

The Burera District Dairy and Nyanza ceramics were handed over to private operators and are currently self-reliant.  

TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO INDUSTRIES

Provide technical assistance and advisory to industrialist through:

  • Technical Assistance- we link Technical Experts to Industrialists. 
  • Industrial process engineering - we advise on industrial process improvement and resourceful skills.
  • Facilitations in quality assurance, certification and compliance - we make it accountable to support private firms on how better to acquire and maintain the standards of there products

CLEANER PRODUCTION AND CLIMATE INNOVATION CENTRE (CPCIC)

The CPCIC is a new Centre under Nation Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) established by the cabinet on April 3rd, 2019 and registered under Rwanda Development Board on November 07th, 2019 as private company owned by Government.

The vision to become a Centre of excellence and merit for cleaner production, climate innovation and prosumer economy, the mission to promote cutting edge, modern access to green technologies and business services for enhanced productivity, the circular economy, climate resilience, competitiveness and environmental compliance in Rwanda. Values: Professionalism, Accountability and Firmness.

The Centre works to better position the country on a green economy pathway. CPCIC ensures that all technology, processes and service choices made by the private and public sector embrace the best green practices in terms of climate change resilience, circular economy, cleaner production, resource efficient practices and Technology. The center also provides a platform to support private sector initiatives to protect the environment, through support and delivery of projects.

CPCIC Service package

  • Provide policy advice - Policy guidance to creating an enabling environment for private sector investment in green and climate resilient technology
  • Technical training - Training, skills development and harmonization of green initiatives implementation like circular economy, industrial symbiosis and RECP
  • Business advisory - Business and consultancy services related to green technology need within communities, private and public sector
  • Green financing - Access to finance to address finance barrier in climate resilience and cleaner production issues in the private sector
  • Facilitate access to global and regional networks - Networking, knowledge management and information dissemination
  • Increase opportunity for women, youth and other special groups - Special mentorship and planning opportunities for access green business opportunities are availed

CPCIC technical assistant achievement:

Sustainable economic

Progress

Net income

$ 6,579,962

Total investment

$ 5,185,805

Return on investment  

>$1M

Environment protection

Progress

Carbon Dioxide emission

30,402 Tons of CO2 emissions reduced per year

Global warming prevention

41,053,247 Megajoules energy in reduced per year.

Other milestones

  • 644 persons, 134 industries, 13 districts, 5 academia institutions, 29 public institutions were sensitized on environmentally sound and cleaner production system;
  • 46 Local experts trained on cleaner production;  
  • 115 Industries were trained to implement cleaner production, resource efficiency, circular economy;
  • 92 Industries assessed on RECP; 
  • 2 Public institutions assessed.

ENTERPRISE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The business advisory service division support to industrialist provide:

  • Advisory services on commercialization of NIRDA developed products to private enterprises
  • Business planning and analysis to orient how to better plan for industrialist businesses
  • Sales and marketing facilitation, and skills development
  • Regulatory burdens management and facilitation
  • The division is providing high level training and coaching services on Business development services to industrialists.
  • Market research and dissemination of market information

Currently, NIRDA offers training to selected companies in wood processing, Fruits and vegetables enterprises; Poultry and Piggery rearing houses; Animal feeds manufacturers, Stone and clay processing units; banana wines and garment manufacturers.

Adapted training modules are developed to insure successful increase competitiveness and job creation among local enterprises