I&M Bank, Rwanda Green Fund partner to drive agritech SMEs’ growth

Rwanda’s agritech sector has received a financing boost as I&M Bank Rwanda Plc and the Rwanda Green Fund sealed a partnership agreement aimed at accelerating innovation, climate resilience and unlocking growth capital for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Signed on February 17 in Kigali, under the second cohort of the AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge, the agreement introduces a blended finance and risk-sharing model designed to make agritech businesses more bankable, investment-ready, and resilient to climate shocks. The initiative is led by the Rwanda Green Fund through its blended finance facility, Ireme Invest, in partnership with the CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF), facilitated by Impact Hub Kigali and supported by the Gates Foundation. Ireme Invest is an investment facility that works with Rwanda’s private sector to support green business growth and boost the country’s response to climate change; while CGIAR is the world's largest public global agricultural innovation network. ALSO READ: I&M Bank surpasses Rwf 1 trillion in total assets, reports 46% profit surge The initiative targets five selected agritech SMEs whose innovations span precision agriculture, digital weather solutions, sustainable post-harvest processing, green technology importation and export-oriented value chains, all aimed at strengthening climate resilience and productivity within Rwanda’s agricultural sector, according to its developers. Under the partnership, I&M Bank Rwanda will serve as co-administrator of the recoverable grants, working alongside the Rwanda Green Fund to manage disbursement, oversee structured repayment arrangements and monitor project performance. The collaboration also introduces a climate and credit risk insurance facility financed upfront by the Rwanda Green Fund and administered in coordination with I&M Bank. This positions the bank not only as a financing partner but also as a provider of structured finance expertise and risk management support to enhance SME bankability and long-term growth. ALSO READ: I&M Bank Rwanda records Rwf5.4 bn profit after tax in first quarter of 2025 The Chief Executive Officer of I&M Bank Rwanda, Benjamin Mutimura, said that the partnership demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when public and private institutions align their capabilities toward shared national priorities. He underscored that SMEs remain central to Rwanda’s economic growth and that equipping them with the right mix of finance, technology and climate resilience tools strengthens not only individual businesses but the wider agricultural value chain. “Our work with the Rwanda Green Fund demonstrates what is possible when public and private institutions combine strengths. SMEs are central to Rwanda’s growth story, and when we equip them with the right tools such as finance, technology and climate resilience instruments we strengthen not only their businesses but the entire agricultural ecosystem. Our collaboration reflects a common commitment to innovation and national development,” he said. He further highlighted that agriculture contributes nearly a quarter of Rwanda’s Gross Domestic Product and is undergoing significant transformation driven by technology. ALSO READ: I&M Bank Rwanda concludes Customer Service Week with week-long engagement, community impact As the sector evolves, he stressed, agritech will increasingly become the engine of productivity and resilience. Through the collaboration, he added, I&M Bank Rwanda is positioning itself to ensure that innovative SMEs at the forefront of this shift receive structured financial support and risk management solutions necessary for sustainable growth. Teddy Mpinganzima Mugabo, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Green Fund, said the partnership reflects the Fund’s mandate to mobilise and catalyse sustainable finance in support of Rwanda’s transition to a climate-resilient and green economy. Through the AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge, she stated, the Fund is supporting high-potential agritech enterprises while strengthening the broader ecosystem needed for climate-smart solutions to scale effectively. “At the Rwanda Green Fund, our mandate is to catalyse sustainable finance and accelerate Rwanda’s transition toward a climate-resilient and green economy,” she said. “Through the AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge, we are not only supporting promising agritech enterprises but also strengthening the broader ecosystem that enables climate-smart solutions to scale.” ALSO READ: Rwanda Green Fund celebrates a decade of impact She indicated that partnering with I&M Bank Rwanda allows the Fund to blend public catalytic capital with private-sector expertise in structured finance and risk management. This model ensures that selected SMEs receive not only recoverable grant financing but also access to additional financial instruments and risk mitigation mechanisms that enhance their bankability and long-term sustainability, she observed. “By working together, we are creating a practical pathway for innovative agribusinesses to grow, attract investment, and contribute meaningfully to Rwanda’s climate adaptation, food security, and inclusive economic development goals,” she said.

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I&M Bank, Rwanda Green Fund partner to drive agritech SMEs’ growth