Access to Finance Rwanda
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersKigali, Rwanda
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Access to Finance Rwanda firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Access to Finance Rwanda
- Legal name
- Access to Finance Rwanda
- Website
- https://afr.rw
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Access to Finance Rwanda is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kigali
- HQ country
- Rwanda
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices6 records
Markets served
Access to Finance Rwanda business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donor Grants and Development Funding: AFR is a not-for-profit company established in March 2010. It is funded by development partners including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Sweden, USAID, Mastercard Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. AFR does not generate commercial revenue; it functions as a grant-funded market facilitator.
- Facilitation and Market Development Services: AFR stimulates financial sector development by partnering with financial institutions and other stakeholders. It identifies and addresses constraints that prevent the financial market from reaching Rwanda's low-income population, promotes innovations, and generates sustainable change in the financial sector. Revenue is generated through programme fees and facilitation rather than direct product sales.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Access to Finance Rwanda product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is a not-for-profit market-systems development facilitator that designs, pilots, and scales financial inclusion programmes in Rwanda. It builds digital platforms (Terimbere MSME Facility, eKash, iHuzo), pioneers national schemes (Ejo Heza pensions, National Agriculture Insurance Scheme, Grow 2 Scale), conducts the FinScope demand-side survey every four years, and partners with FSPs, the National Bank of Rwanda, and MINECOFIN to expand access to and usage of financial services for low-income populations, women, youth, farmers, refugees, and persons with disabilities.
Product overview
Access to Finance Rwanda operates as a market facilitation organization rather than a direct product provider. Its portfolio consists of flagship programs and platforms aimed at expanding financial inclusion: the Terimbere MSME Facility (digital and physical platform for MSMEs), the National Digital Payment System (eKash), the Grow 2 Scale program, the iHuzo e-commerce project, the Ejo Heza pension scheme, and the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme. Supporting these are FinScope Survey research products and targeted financial product suites for SACCOs. The organization also runs policy advocacy, gender inclusion initiatives, and coordinates with financial service providers including banks, mobile money operators, and SACCOs to drive inclusive finance across Rwanda.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Terimbere MSME Facility: Platform connecting MSMEs to tailored business growth services and access to capital, with focus on rural and peri-urban areas and sectors including agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.
- Ejo Heza
- National Agriculture Insurance Scheme
- iHuzo
- eKash
- Grow 2 Scale
Products and services
- Terimbere MSME Facility Platform connecting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Rwanda to tailored business growth services, qualified service providers, and capital providers. Offers both digital platform access and five satellite offices in rural districts. Targets MSME owners in agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.
- National Digital Payment System (eKash) National digital payment platform that enables instant, interoperable transfers across banks and mobile money networks, supporting Rwanda's shift toward a cashless economy. Used by banks, mobile money operators, and end consumers in Rwanda.
- Grow 2 Scale Programme Five-year programme implemented by AFR, ESP, and BPN Rwanda in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, focused on scaling MSME growth and access to finance. Targets Rwandan MSMEs.
- Ejo Heza Long-Term Saving Scheme Pension scheme addressing retirement security for informal sector employees, created to expand Rwanda's pension system beyond formal-sector workers. Delivered through partner financial institutions for informal sector workers.
- National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) Insurance scheme protecting farmers against agricultural risks through innovative agricultural coverage, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources in partnership with AFR. Targets Rwandan farmers and agriculture sector participants.
- iHuzo Project Digital commerce initiative helping Rwandan MSMEs embrace e-commerce and recover from COVID-19's impact on traditional business operations. Implemented with ICT Chamber and BFA Global. Targets Micro and Small Enterprises and iWorkers.
- FinScope Survey Comprehensive demand-side survey conducted every four years since 2008 to assess access to and utilization of financial services in Rwanda, producing thematic reports that inform policy interventions. Commissioned for government, regulators, and development partners.
- SACCO Financial Products Suite Suite of financial products developed for Savings and Credit Cooperatives including Nkungukire (fixed account), Mbikira (term deposit), Inguzanyo Yihuse (quick loan), Hinga Ahanguse (agriculture loan), Cyuruza (business loan), and Wige Nawe (education loan). Delivered through partner SACCOs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Financial inclusion increased from 93% (2020) to 96% (2024), with 7.8 million Rwandan adults now financially included
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Access to Finance Rwanda
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Access to Finance Rwanda technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
Access to Finance Rwanda partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN)coreAFR aligns all interventions with national policy frameworks including the Financial Sector Development Programme and National Strategy for Transformation. MINECOFIN is a key partner in FinScope surveys and policy development.
- National Bank of Rwanda (BNR)coreBNR is a core partner in FinScope surveys, payment system strategy, and regulatory framework development. AFR supports BNR's Payment System Strategy and Law No. 061/2021 mandating interoperability.
- National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR)coreNISR is a partner in FinScope surveys, providing sampling frames and data benchmarking for Rwanda's financial inclusion research.
- Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) NetworkcoreAFR is a member of the FSD Network, which connects financial sector development organisations across Africa. In 2019, AFR engaged with FSD Network to develop FSD 2.0 strategic direction.
- Women in Finance Rwanda (WIFR)coreAFR signed a gender parity charter with WIFR on May 21 to promote gender balance in Rwanda's financial services sector. The partnership includes scholarships for AFR women staff to pursue financial certifications.
- Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP)coreESP partners with AFR on the Grow 2 Scale programme and the Finance S'Engage Initiative, contributing to MSME financing research and data for growth reports.
- BPN RwandacoreBPN Rwanda co-implements the Grow 2 Scale programme alongside AFR and ESP in partnership with Mastercard Foundation.
- ICT Chamber RwandasecondaryICT Chamber partnered with AFR on the iHuzo Project, contributing to digital commerce ecosystem development and platform capacity building.
- BFA GlobalsecondaryBFA Global partnered with AFR on the iHuzo Project, providing expertise in digital financial services and market systems.
- CenfrisecondaryCenfri partnered with AFR and Yego Moto to research digital platforms as distributors of financial services in Rwanda.
- National Union of Disability Organizations of Rwanda (NUDOR)secondaryAFR partnered with NUDOR and Mastercard Foundation to convene a High-Level Policy Dialogue on financial inclusion for persons with disabilities.
- FinMark TrustcoreFinMark Trust is a member of the FinScope Steering Committee providing technical guidance and overseeing FinScope-related activities.
- MTN Rwanda and Airtel RwandacoreMobile Network Operators MTN Rwanda and Airtel Rwanda are the primary providers of mobile money services that drive Rwanda's digital financial inclusion. AFR supports digitisation through these platforms.
- Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA)secondaryCBA integrated with CSTCR SACCO through MOBICASH mobile payment system, enabling the SACCO to collect and submit health insurance subscriptions and earn commission.
- Association of Microfinance Rwanda (AMIR)coreAMIR represents Rwanda's 460 microfinance institutions. AFR partnered with AMIR to conduct surveys on the impact of COVID-19 on the microfinance sector.
- Rwanda Bankers Association (RBA)coreAFR partnered with RBA to conduct a rapid survey on the impact of COVID-19 on Rwanda's banking sector.
- Yego MotosecondaryYego Moto partnered with AFR and Cenfri to research the financial needs of e-hailing drivers in Rwanda and develop tailored insurance products.
- AUB FinancesecondaryAUB Finance is an international consultant assigned by AFR to train and work with local consultants on institutional assessment, due diligence, governance, product development, and strategy for SACCO capacity building.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Access to Finance Rwanda competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Access to Finance Rwanda social profiles
Digital presenceAccess to Finance Rwanda financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Access to Finance Rwanda leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Access to Finance Rwanda funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Access to Finance Rwanda M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Access to Finance Rwanda
What does Access to Finance Rwanda do?
Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is a not-for-profit market-systems development facilitator that designs, pilots, and scales financial inclusion programmes in Rwanda. It builds digital platforms (Terimbere MSME Facility, eKash, iHuzo), pioneers national schemes (Ejo Heza pensions, National Agriculture Insurance Scheme, Grow 2 Scale), conducts the FinScope demand-side survey every four years, and partners with FSPs, the National Bank of Rwanda, and MINECOFIN to expand access to and usage of financial services for low-income populations, women, youth, farmers, refugees, and persons with disabilities.
Is Access to Finance Rwanda a public or private company?
Access to Finance Rwanda is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Access to Finance Rwanda founded?
Access to Finance Rwanda was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Access to Finance Rwanda based?
Access to Finance Rwanda is headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, in the Africa region.
How does Access to Finance Rwanda make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donor Grants and Development Funding is the primary driver. The others are facilitation and Market Development Services.
Does Access to Finance Rwanda have an API?
No public API is recorded for Access to Finance Rwanda.