What Imbuto Foundation does

Imbuto Foundation is a non-profit charitable foundation headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, founded in 2001 by H.E. Mrs Jeannette Kagame, the First Lady of Rwanda, who continues to serve as Chairperson. Originally established as PACFA (Protection and Care of Families against HIV/AIDS) under the Office of the First Lady, the organization diversified its mandate in 2007 and now operates eight flagship programs organized across three pillars: Education, Health, and Youth Empowerment. Key programs include the Imali Agribusiness Challenge (a youth agribusiness competition awarding Rwf 10 million in seed funding per winner), the iAccelerator entrepreneurship program, ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi (a creative arts program partnered with the Ministry of Youth and Arts since 2018), the Best Performing Girls Award under the Promotion of Girls' Education Campaign, the Edified Generation Scholarship Project, and multiple health programs including the Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) Programme (with 300 clubs including 107 in schools), Early Childhood Development, and programs for first-time young mothers and EMTCT (Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV). The foundation operates without proprietary technology; program delivery is human-led and embedded in schools, community-based organizations, and government partnerships.

The foundation's business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial. It receives financial and strategic support from government ministries (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Youth and Arts), multilateral institutions (UNDP Rwanda, EU in Rwanda, FAO Rwanda, UNHCR), and donor vehicles such as Friends of Imbuto. Beneficiaries receive services free of charge. Distribution is direct via school-based forums (e.g., 20 secondary schools with IZIFE clubs), community-based organizations, and government-implemented programs. Geographic scope is exclusively domestic (Rwanda). The recently launched RISE (Resilience in Secondary Education) Programme in March 2025 represents the newest addition to the portfolio, extending the foundation's reach into second-chance secondary education and practical skills for at-risk youth.

Strategically, the foundation competes on political-capital association and institutional access rather than on commercial differentiation. Its competitive position is anchored by the Chairmanship of Rwanda's First Lady, formal government ministry partnerships, and a diversified multilateral donor base. The organization has no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no AI/technology product surface. Its principal risks are donor-dependency concentration, political-cycle exposure tied to the Office of the First Lady, and the absence of a revenue-generating model that could buffer against grant cycle volatility.

Name

Imbuto Foundation

Legal name

Imbuto Foundation

Website

https://imbutofoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Imbuto Foundation is a Rwanda-based non-profit, founded in 2001 and chaired by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, that runs eight flagship programs in Education, Health, and Youth Empowerment, funded by government ministries, UN/EU bodies, and donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Impact Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Social impact programmes
• Youth empowerment initiatives
• Girls education support
• Adolescent reproductive health
• Agribusiness entrepreneurship

Headquarters

HQ city

Kicukiro

HQ country

Rwanda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding and Donations: Imbuto Foundation operates as a charitable organization funded through partnerships with government ministries, international organizations, and donors. Revenue is not generated through commercial means but through grants, donations, and strategic partnerships.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Imbuto Foundation is a Rwanda-based non-profit organization that delivers social impact programmes in three pillars: Health, Education, and Youth Empowerment. Its offerings include scholarships and awards for girls (Best Performing Girls Award, Edified Generation Scholarship), adolescent sexual and reproductive health programs (ASRH, Tuganire Mwana Wanjye, Peer Education for EMTCT), youth entrepreneurship and agribusiness initiatives (Imali Agribusiness Challenge, iAccelerator, ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi), and support programs for families and first-time young mothers. All programmes are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through grants, donations, and strategic partnerships.

Product overview

Imbuto Foundation operates as a non-profit organization offering a diverse portfolio of social impact programs rather than a technology product platform. The foundation runs eight flagship programs organized across three pillars: Education, Health, and Youth Empowerment. Key products include the Imali Agribusiness Challenge (youth agribusiness competition), iAccelerator (entrepreneurship accelerator), ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi (creative arts program), Best Performing Girls Award (girls' education initiative), Edified Generation Scholarship Project, and various health programs including Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH), Early Childhood Development, and maternal health support. The foundation also operates the Imbuto Hub as a resource center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Imali Agribusiness Challenge: A program dedicated to empowering young entrepreneurs in agriculture, providing training, mentorship, and financial support to address youth unemployment and food security in Rwanda.
• iAccelerator
• ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi
• CYRWA
• Faces of Imbuto
• First Time Young Mothers
• Best Performing Girls Award

Products and services

• Imali Agribusiness Challenge A nationwide competition inviting Rwandan youth aged 18-35 to present innovative agribusiness projects; provides Rwf 10 million seed funding, mentorship, and access to boot camps and learning opportunities.
• iAccelerator An accelerator program providing mentorship and support for youth entrepreneurs, particularly focused on health innovation and ASRH services.
• ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi Creative arts programme launched in 2018 in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Arts to nurture artistic talent among Rwandan youth and support the creative industry.
• Best Performing Girls Award Annual award under the Promotion of Girls' Education Campaign recognizing academic excellence among girls at primary and secondary levels; includes Rwf 50,000 cash prize, books, scholastic materials, and laptops for senior-level recipients.
• Edified Generation Scholarship Project Scholarship program sponsoring the education of brilliant but economically disadvantaged secondary students in Rwanda.
• Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) Programme Program promoting behavior change and HIV awareness and increasing access to family planning services for adolescents; includes 300 ASRH clubs with 107 in schools for peer education.
• Tuganire Mwana Wanjye Parent-Adolescent Communication (PAC) forum program to empower adolescents with reproductive health knowledge.
• Peer Education for EMTCT Program aimed at achieving Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV using peer education in Rwanda.
• Malayika Murinzi Initiative to raise Rwandan children in safe and secured environments.
• Mubyeyi Tera Intambwe Program contributing to curbing school dropout rates in Rwanda through support to families.
• First Time Young Mothers Support program for first-time young mothers in Rwanda.
• RISE (Resilience in Secondary Education) Programme Resilience in Secondary Education programme launched in March 2025 providing youth with second chances and practical skills, in partnership with Rwanda Youth Arts and EU in Rwanda.
• Imbuto Hub A center providing resources and support for youth empowerment and development activities.
• ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi KABC Store Store showcasing crafts by up-and-coming Rwandan artists who have established themselves through the ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 innovative agribusiness projects awarded Rwf 10 million each in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Ministry of Agriculture (Rwanda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Imali Agribusiness Challenge program, providing comprehensive support including training, mentorship, and financial support to young entrepreneurs in agriculture.
• FAO RwandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in the Imali Agribusiness Challenge, contributing to youth empowerment in agriculture and food security initiatives.
• Ministry of Youth and Arts (Rwanda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2018 for the ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi programme to nurture artistic talent and support creative industry development among Rwandan youth.
• UNDP RwandaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the AGUKA/YouthConnekt Award and other youth empowerment initiatives, celebrating young Rwandan achievers.
• Mount Kigali UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Early Childhood Development training, where 23 caregivers from Imbuto Foundation supported ECD centers were awarded certificates.
• Rwanda Youth ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 2025 AGUKA/YouthConnekt Award celebrating youth achievements in arts and entrepreneurship.
• UNHCR (Building Better Futures campaign)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincess Marie-Chantal of Greece serves as founding member of UNHCR-backed Building Better Futures campaign, partnering with Imbuto Foundation offices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Imbuto
• Facebookfacebook.com/204014500096
• LinkedInrw.linkedin.com/company/imbuto-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/imbutofoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Imbuto Foundation