I&M Bank Rwanda has been honoured by Rwanda Women in Business Association (RWIBA) with two distinguished awards, recognising both institutional excellence and leadership in advancing gender equity. The Bank received accolades as a Corporate Champion for Women in Leadership, while Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Mutimura was recognised as a Male Champion for Gender Equity. The annual platform honours outstanding female leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who contribute greatly to Rwanda's socio-economic transformation. Since its inception, RWIBA has created a special space where women from different sectors connect, learn, and celebrate their achievements. The 2026 edition held on April 2, marks five years of promoting women's excellence. Gender inclusion embedded in long-term strategy According to Paulette Mpano, Head of People and Culture at I&M Bank, these recognitions are more than achievements, but they also reflect a deliberate, long-term strategy to embed inclusion within the Bank’s operating model and growth agenda. “This commitment is underpinned by independently validated milestones,” she said. She explained that in 2025, I&M Bank Rwanda was among a select group of private institutions awarded the Gold Gender Equality Certification under the Gender Monitoring Office’s Gender Equality Seal Certification Program. “This distinction affirms the Bank’s structured and measurable approach to gender equity, spanning recruitment, promotion, leadership development, and institutional accountability across all levels of the organisation,” she added. Beyond certification, the Bank continues to build a reputation for strong execution across SME banking, financial innovation, and talent development. Women representation grows across leadership and operations Under CEO Mutimura’s leadership, Mpano noted that gender equity has evolved from a social imperative into a business priority, integrated into governance frameworks, operational design, and customer engagement strategies. “This is reflected in the Bank’s leadership composition. Women currently hold 30 per cent of Board positions and 42 per cent of Executive Committee roles, while also chairing critical committees such as IT, Audit, and HR,” she explained. Mpano added that across operational leadership, women head key functions including Finance, Risk, and Compliance. In client-facing divisions such as Corporate Banking, representation rises to as high as 70 per cent, demonstrating a deliberate effort to ensure diversity is embedded where decisions and client relationships are shaped. “It does not stop at leadership levels,” she said. “I&M Bank Rwanda intentionally invests in building the next generation of women leaders through strategic partnerships with women-centric organisations such as the Gate Consulting Group, as well as curated internal and external mentorship programmes.” “These initiatives allow upcoming leaders to learn directly from those who have already been there and done it,” she added. As noted, a key pillar of this broader commitment is the Women Customer Value Proposition (WCVP) “Berwa”, a targeted initiative designed to unlock growth opportunities for women-led businesses. Positioned within the Bank’s wider inclusion agenda, Berwa extends beyond traditional lending by integrating tailored financial solutions with capacity building and access to business networks. Through this offering, the Bank provides collateral-free facilities of up to Rwf400 million alongside competitively priced financing, enabling women entrepreneurs to scale sustainably and participate more fully in Rwanda’s economic growth. Equally important is the non-financial support embedded within the programme. The WCVP offers structured mentorship, financial literacy training, and networking platforms that connect women entrepreneurs with markets, expertise, and growth opportunities, all under the Women Café initiative. “This integrated approach reflects a clear understanding that access to capital alone is insufficient without the capabilities and ecosystems required to deploy it effectively,” she said. Recognition reflects impact, reinforces commitment to inclusive growth Mpano affirmed that the recognition from RWIBA therefore reflects a combination of strong leadership, institutional discipline, and a clearly articulated strategy for inclusive growth. It highlights the Bank’s role not only as a financial institution, but as a catalyst in strengthening Rwanda’s economy through targeted support to women in corporations and businesses. “For I&M Bank Rwanda, this recognition serves as both validation and momentum. It confirms that its approach to gender equity is delivering measurable impact, while reinforcing its commitment to deepen investment in women-focused initiatives and further scale its Women Customer Value Proposition as a driver of sustainable growth,” she said.
