Gicumbi District and Village Enterprise have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a pilot program designed to lift vulnerable households out of poverty, in alignment with Rwanda’s national strategy for sustainable graduation and Vision 2050.

The agreement, signed by Gicumbi Mayor Emmanuel Nzabonimpa and Village Enterprise Rwanda Country Director Jean Pierre Sibomana, seeks to integrate Village Enterprise’s poverty-graduation model with the financial services offered through the Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP). The pilot will be used to gather evidence that could inform future national scaling.

Village Enterprise will lead participant identification, capacity-building, monitoring and evaluation, and provide targeted business and savings training to vulnerable households. The organization says its approach is designed to build long-term resilience among beneficiaries.

“Village Enterprise supports low-income households by equipping them with the knowledge and mindset needed to develop profitable businesses, save consistently, and set goals that enable long-term progress. Our training and support will accelerate development among VUP beneficiaries. This project with Gicumbi District aligns fully with Rwanda’s national strategy for sustainable graduation from poverty,” said Jean Pierre Sibomana, Rwanda Country Director of Village Enterprise.

Gicumbi District will support implementation, coordinate with public institutions, and facilitate VUP-Financial Services disbursement to targeted beneficiaries. Mayor Nzabonimpa said the District views the partnership as a strategic tool in its broader anti-poverty agenda.

“This collaboration strengthens our district’s commitment to helping families move out of poverty through practical skills, financial inclusion, and continuous support. By working with Village Enterprise, we expect to empower our citizens with sustainable livelihoods that will transform their welfare for years to come,” said Mayor Emmanuel Nzabonimpa.

Since beginning operations in Rwanda in 2021, Village Enterprise has supported participants in Rulindo, Burera, Gicumbi, and Nyagatare Districts to launch 9,281 micro-enterprises, empower 27,843 entrepreneurs positively impacting more than 117,600 lives. This project contribute to Village Enterprise’s strategic goal to lift 20 Million people out of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa.