Four incubation hubs being developed under Rwanda’s government initiative are poised to revolutionize opportunities for young innovators in the country’s secondary cities. Launched in 2021 in collaboration with the European Union, these hubs, known as ‘Hanga Hubs’, are currently being established in Rubavu, Rusizi, Muhanga, and Nyagatare districts.
The initiative aims to bridge the digital skills gap and tackle unemployment by providing entrepreneurship support services to technology-driven startups in secondary cities. Pascal Murasira, Technical Advisor to Hanga Hubs, emphasized the importance of decentralizing these services to support talented innovators across Rwanda, not just in Kigali.
Murasira anticipates that the new incubation hubs will encourage innovative responses to emerging challenges.
“Issues like food security, healthcare quality, energy accessibility, the digital divide, and climate change are all opportunities for young entrepreneurs in these districts to develop creative solutions,” he observed.
The Hanga Hubs project draws its inspiration from the successful K-lab model under the ICT Chamber. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT & Innovation, emphasized her ministry’s and its implementing agency RISA’s commitment to expanding essential infrastructure that supports Rwandan youth in their innovation and entrepreneurial endeavors.
“Innovation is flourishing across Rwanda. Through partnerships with entities like the EU, we’ve established Hanga Hubs. We currently have seven hubs and plan to expand further,” she explained.
Daniel Kazungu, the SPIU Programme Manager and Coordinator at Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), highlighted that the chosen districts for the hubs have unique economic foundations that offer valuable opportunities for young innovators.
“Rubavu and Rusizi districts are driven by tourism and cross-border trade, Nyagatare district’s economy is largely agricultural, and Muhanga district is known for its textile and mining industries. Our aim is to harness these economic drivers to cultivate innovation,” Kazungu stated.
EU Financial Support
The Hanga Hubs project in Rwanda has received a substantial investment of 4.8 million Euros from the European Union, according to Daniel Kazungu, SPIU Programme Manager and Coordinator at Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA).
“Of the 4.8 million Euros, funds will be allocated towards physical infrastructure development, technology procurement, equipment acquisition, capacity building, operational expenses, and community outreach,” Kazungu explained.
Ambassador BelénCalvoUyarra, Head of the European Union Delegation to Rwanda, emphasized the EU’s expectation that the project will foster job creation, empower youth, and enhance overall economic resilience in Rwanda.
“The European Union is proud to collaborate with Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT on the Hanga Hubs initiative. This partnership underscores our commitment to promoting sustainable development and economic empowerment through innovation and entrepreneurship,” Ambassador CalvoUyarra stated.
“With Hanga Hubs, we aim to cultivate a sustainable ecosystem that supports youth as catalysts for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth in Rwanda well into the future, beyond the duration of EU funding,” she added.
To ensure the project’s sustainability post-EU funding, the European Union has outlined strategies focusing on capacity building, fostering partnerships, and generating revenue.
Establishing Capacity
The Rwanda ICT Chamber, representing private ICT firms in the country, is collaborating with Hanga Hubs to deliver digital skills and accelerator programs.
Alex Ntale, CEO of the ICT Chamber, stated that as part of their partnership with Hanga Hubs, they have launched a training initiative that has already attracted over 1,800 young participants.
The program aims to equip successful applicants with various skills: digital literacy for secondary school students, computer programming and software development for bachelor’s and master’s level ICT graduates, and digital entrepreneurship for those focused on innovation and self-employment.
Despite comprehensive training programs, many startups struggle to survive.
“Over the past 4-5 years, the startup survival rate in the country has ranged from 40-45%. Effectively organizing value chains is essential to ensuring these startups not only survive but thrive,” Ntale emphasized.
