Empowering Young Women Entrepreneurs: A celebration of progress and community impact in Gakenke

As Women’s Month ends, a powerful testament to resilience and entrepreneurship unfolded in Gakenke. Through ESP’s Grow 2 Scale (G2S) initiative, young women entrepreneurs not only celebrated their achievements but also witnessed a milestone in their community—the inauguration of a drinking water facility that promises healthier working conditions for all. Grow 2 Scale (G2S) is a five-year program implemented by Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. It focuses on supporting a unique category of entrepreneurs known as Gems—micro and small businesses that play a critical role in their local economies by sustaining livelihoods and creating jobs. While many of these businesses are necessity-driven, they have strong potential to scale and become sustainable, long-term enterprises. The program places special emphasis on supporting young women entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills and resources to grow with confidence. ESP’s approach is rooted in empowerment, offering tailored interventions to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses with clarity and purpose. In Gakenke, ESP has supported 147 participants—62% of whom are women. These women are not just small business owners; they are bold decision-makers, strategic thinkers, and community pillars. Their journey has been supported through needs-based interventions. From foundational financial literacy and simplified accounting practices (like tracking expenses, separating personal and business income, and pricing for profit), to market readiness and customer acquisition strategies. In line with this year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” the event also celebrated a major milestone in the community, the inauguration of a new drinking water tap at the local market. While modest in appearance, this addition is monumental in impact, helping ensure that women entrepreneurs operate in healthier, safer environments. Marie Therese, Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs at Gakenke district, said: “I thank ESP for your work in Gakenke. From the 147 participants you have trained so far, I do not doubt that they are catalysts of change not only for their families and the society, but also for the economy. From some challenges shared, I am sure that through the collaboration with ESP and other partners, we will find a solution to address them. [... addressing the participants] You have talked about expanding your market to Kigali, but you should also think bigger and think of crossing borders; I believe you have what it takes to do it.” She also commended ESP’s initiative to provide clean water to drink at the market, which will help not only the Gems, and other vendors and customers at the market but also protect their kids from diseases that come from drinking dirty water. Vivian Kayitesi, ESP Country Lead in Rwanda, reflected on the significance of the entrepreneurs’ journeys: You are the reason we do this work. Your ambition, resilience, and determination to grow your businesses are what drive ESP every day. Seeing you take bold steps, expand your markets, and transform your communities is our greatest inspiration. We remain committed to standing by you, supporting you, and celebrating your success. For many of these women, entrepreneurship is more than just a business venture—it’s a path to financial independence and community transformation. “I never imagined my small fruit business could grow this much,” says Laissa Tuyishime, one of the program's beneficiaries. “Now, I supply multiple districts and employ four people. This program didn’t just teach me—it transformed my business.” Market expansion efforts were also highlighted during the celebration, recognizing the importance of connecting rural entrepreneurs to sustainable, scalable opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings. This forms a key part of ESP’s long-term commitment to ensure that Gems can confidently serve new customer bases and build networks that sustain them. About Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) aims to enable innovative, scalable, and profitable enterprises to build prosperity. Our mission is “to foster entrepreneurial solutions for prosperity.” ESP enables people, firms, institutions, and nations to articulate and implement solutions to their economic challenges. ESP’s approach is to provide Intelligent Capital™—the right combination of insights and capital—to address critical societal issues. We provide consulting and strategic advisory services to diverse clients, including governments, businesses, and development partners in Africa. We support innovative models and provide leadership training and entrepreneurial boot camps. With offices in Abidjan and Kigali, ESP has been in operation since 2011. For more information, visit www.espartners.co About Mastercard Foundation The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org ESP contact Christian Kitumaini Grow to Scale Senior Program Manager Email: ckitumaini@espartners.co

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Empowering Young Women Entrepreneurs: A celebration of progress and community impact in Gakenke