Rwanda: The World's Social Innovation Capital

There's a ton of social innovation going on in Uganda too - perhaps an East African phenomenon. Through www.onemangotree.com we're connecting Ugandan tailors and artists with the global market - Ugandan organic cotton t-shirts and aromatherapy products coming soon!

Rwanda is a great hotbed for social innovation. For example Cards from Africa (cardsfromafrica.com) employs orphaned youth to make handmade greeting cards, and was a finalist in the BBC/Newsweek World Challenge competition. One difficulty of socially-oriented businesses, however, is that while Rwanda is very welcoming to non-profits, it is still not easy to do business there.

I'm not quite so sure Rwanda can be the social innovation capital without freedom of speech, don't you think? I'm an expat living in Rwanda and Kagame has done a wonderful job of being a benevolent dictator. He's all but banned opposition parties, speaking out against him or his views is a crime, and the media that isn't state controlled cannot say anything that the state controlled media doesn't approve beforehand. If you publicly insult Kagame, you'll be hauled off without trial and tortured. As an American, I think our guilt should run dry after 15 years and we should force Kagame to change. After all, over 1/3rd of the national budget is USAID! To be fair, he has done a good job of reducing corruption, though it is still not even the best in sub-Saharan Africa. Rwandans have been hoodwinked by their Museveni clone, and Kagame's recent outspoken stance *against* the indicment of a suspected Sudanese genocidaire, President Bashir, just go to show how far he's strayed from his genocide-stopping ways. Now, he's OK with letting them run amok in their own country. Bashir only killed 300,000 people, right?

Since when insulting a president is a sign of democracy and freedom of speech? I wonder why many multinationals are relocating to China, too many strikes in Europe where people want more pay with less working hours. France's strikes is sign that some democracy's principles need to change!

Don't compare rwanda media with western because they have clients with different level of education and civilization. I don't think florida people would kill Texas' ones just because CNN influenced them to do so... it's a different case in Rwanda, Kagame knows the impact the negative media has had before and during the genocide... The UN, USA or these useless HRW could not stop or prevent it so give peace to a man who said saved his people! At least you recognize he's done a great job fighting corruption but it still seems not enough for you but it's good you always expect him to be Number 1 (not even the best in sub-saharan).

1/3rd of budget: He's tired of your aid and working towards greater financial independance but first i think it's better to start telling US to stop forcing China to buy your US debt...

Sudan or Zimbabwe... well we all know that all the noise from non-profit orgs or western countries to harm african presidents does not mean you really care for african people. We've had enough of your schoolin speeches; I am sure you were chewin a burger when the rwandan genocide occured... so don't let us breathe!!!!

I totally agree with what Patrick said and I also understand where Jeff is coming from. But Jeff please remember that Rwanda cannot be compared to the great and mighty US and any other European countries. If you're an American then you ought to be extremely proud of your country but you also understand that you guys didn't achieve democracy, freedom of speech and justice and equality for all, overnight. It was through blood, sweat and tears that you became what you are now. Please give us a chance too! Mr. Kagame has achieve a great deal in such a short period of time, especially given the country's history. Freedom of speech will come later, not now. The population needs to get educated first before exercising that right. As you know, Rwanda's literacy rate is not that high but it's improving. Speech is a powerful tool and when it is exercised in the wrong way or by ignorant people, it can destroy a nation and that's exactly what happened in Rwanda.

People really miss the point when it comes to the media in Rwanda. There is a difference between negative media and media which is a watch dog. The watch dog is allowed in any kind of democracy be it in the West or in Africa. I don't like it when we hide under what the media did during the 1994 genocide....that is mixing issues. Watchdogs do checks and balances they dont necessarily have to be hate media. Anyway back to the issue. I am a foreign journalist and i work for a multinational based in Kigali. My opinion is that the situation in Rwanda has been over hyped. For example Rwandans have been made to believe that they are the ICT hub. But then how can you be an ICT hub when you don't have more than 2 million phone subscribers? And when out of a population of 8 million Internet penetration is at 7 percent. Rwanda's coffee progress is hyped .... yet the country is not even the first twenty producing in terms of quantity. The happens in all sectors but the problem comes back because the press cant do checks and balances and so there is self belief in a society which is largely controlled ......

Well said Patrick! Well said!

Well said Patrick!

So far Sustainable Health Enterprises (http://sheinnovates.com) has had a good experience with being incubated by the Rwanda Workforce Development Authority. We are launching a low-cost sustainable sanitary pad business in Kigali. The sanitary pad both generates income for the women who produce it and prevents girls from missing school when they are menstruating.

I'd recommend a multi-sector approach though. We also have been working with the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology who has been helping us on the R&D side.

It is a shame for this article to dismiss the incredible efforts of Rwandans who are working hard to rebuild their country, which was completely devastated in the 1994 genocide. Although the work of charitable organizations and individuals from the West is making a difference, it is wrong to solely give them credit for all of the progress that has been made in Rwanda. It is a fallacy to reduce President Kagame’s vision for Rwanda to attracting Westerners help through guilt.
And Jeff: you said, “If you publicly insult Kagame, you’ll be hauled off without trial and tortured.” If you really are an American expat currently living in Rwanda, you are either lying about the situation, or you’re very stupid because you just publicly insulted President Kagame.
BTW – I’m also an American expat currently living in Rwanda and the country you’re describing doesn’t seem to be the one that I live in.

Dear readers, for those of you who have not beeen to Rwanda, I advise you to visit. It is a country on the move. I commend President Paul Kagame and his government for showing extraordinary leadership in healing the nation that had been declared a failed state. People like Jeff and Kenny need to use facts instead of genberalizing issues with the purpose of misleading the readers. Rwandan Government has been working to reform its governance system, justice and socio- economic system . The Example given by Jeff about media freedom surprised me ! Does he know that prior to 1994 Rwanda had only one national Radio and now there are about 13 private radio stations? Regarding insulting the President which Jeff finds normal, can he give a specific case or evidence? Why should someone go online to waste his time and the readers time cooking stories aimed at merely turnishing the name of the President and the people of Rwanda? This world is full of educated idiots!We Rwandans can proudly say that in a period of 15yrs Rwanda has made tremendous progress and everybody should be proud of these achievements.Whether someone thinks the achievements are hyped or not we are less interested to get your credit...in any case the struggle continues

Whenever I visit the web, I find some interesting blogs worth reading and others which are posted by people who are either ignorant of the fact or deliberately write what they know is wrong. I personally like many others who follow closely what is taking place in Rwanda can testify that social innovation is going on well in Rwanda. I agree with the author of the article that this is because of the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame.

In consultation with the general population, the government under President Kagame’s leadership crafted the vision 2020 which seemed more ambitious but today I can see it is achievable. How dare can some one just say that Rwandans have been made to believe that they are the ICT hub. Rwanda is not an ICT hub for the entire African continent but it is a hub within her region. Challenge me if there is any country doing better than Rwanda in the region. Rwandans know when the was no internet in the country in 1994 and they can now surf the web in all cities and most towns.

One may criticize the quantity of coffee Rwanda exports but find out the quality of Rwandan specialty coffee. May be in future Rwanda will be able to produce in more quantities but I am personally proud of the number one quality produced by Rwanda.

Rwanda media has come from far way but it still has a long way to go. That is why under the MCC threshold program training will provided to people in the media industry.

I haven’t seen a country under this globe which shares power like Rwanda. Where else would you find the winning party only taking 50% of the cabinet posts? In USA which is considered advanced democracy the opposition party has two Secretaries.

Every one might have their own views with regard to the opposition parties in Rwanda but I am personally convinced that the Rwandan constitution provides for political pluralism and that is why today 9 political parties are fully registered and operating freely.

I hate people who write things for the sake of tainting African leaders. Rwandans saw enough, they know where the country is coming from and fortunately enough they are committed to rebuilding their motherland. The rest of the blogger s you can write but Rwandan are happy with their president.

Dear blog contributors, unfortunaletey I was in Rwanda just once in my life in 2006, but the outsider’s opinions towards that country is enormous!! it’s no longer an issue of contest that Rwanda under the leadership of Paul Kigame is viewed as a a promised land/ State and a role modal in different social innovations not only across Africa but in many other regions of the world, a case in point being a health insurance plan for all Rwandans, that have led to most of the countries in the region took advantage of a study tour on how such implementation and comprehensive strategy for health care delivery was a success for such a poor country like Rwanda. Imagine you guys being nationals of such a promising State. You shouldn’t therefore be discouraged by comments as one made by our colleague Jeff since they are intended to serve people of the same negative mind like him, Let him accept changes or else accept to get changed by changes.

Kenny of whoever you are, wake up and smell the coffee!
When you say “Rwanda’s coffee progress is hyped”, then you are in the wrong trade (journalism) or your analytical skills are null and void and, probably blind, groping in the dark to justify your slanted thinking. But let me just give you some free lessons on what you, as a self professed “journalist”, should have known in the first place:
Coffee is not about quantity but QUALITY. That is why in the last coffee cupping competition foreign firms were falling all over their feet to be the first to get their hands on the SPECIALTY COFFEE. If you were a “journalist” working for “multinational based in Kigali” then you should have known that for the first time in history, the auctioned coffee blew the $100/ kilo record, and still counting.
That was about the same amount that bought half a TONNE of the same in the famous Mombasa auction of pre 1994. In simple economics, it’s known as ADDING VALUE.
Speaking of the other “Hype” of “Rwandans have been made to believe that they are the ICT hub”, those are your own words. Rwanda IS ASPIRING to be an ICT hub, we are not yet there, but we are on track.
Did you know that by December the 1,700 kilometres of fibre optics will have been laid all over the country? If you are living in Rwanda as you claim, then you would not have failed to see the ongoing works, and you would have known that is its being carried out by Korea Telecom.
And belittling our 2,000,000 telephone subscribers earns you another lesson, this time, “History of Telecommunications in Rwanda 101” and it is very short: In 1994, Rwanda had 25,000 (twenty five thousands subscribers ONLY!
Go back to school

Well said Nsabimana! well said!

Well said Nsabimana! well said!

Steve Hamm’s story of social innovation in Rwanda as exemplified by the Liquidnet-supported Agahozo Shalom Youth Village is a great example of a mutually beneficial partnership between a progressive private company and government that is mindful of the needs of Rwandans that has changed the lives of the 125 vulnerable young people now living at the village.

However, the country has a long way to go in order to improve lives and create lasting prosperity for all citizens. The primary responsibility for this task lies with the people of Rwanda who have made a determined break with the past by rallying around a common vision of national unity and development.

In 1994, 90% of Rwanda’s budget was funded by foreign aid – today this has dropped to 44%. This is the result of the hard work and resilience of Rwandans, the country’s far-sighted leadership and commitment to private sector growth as the engine for economic development and prosperity.

Rwanda will continue to need assistance from donors to maintain the country’s development but we know that what works is “good aid”, meaning budget support that is predictable, tied to specific agreed actions and whose disbursement, use and impact is jointly monitored and assessed by recipient and donor country.

The government of Rwanda’s relationship with the UK government is a good example of bilateral cooperation that features effective use of development aid, beneficial impact and accountability for all stakeholders.

Indeed the international community watched as an otherwise preventable genocide took a million lives. It is important to note that Rwanda today neither expects nor wants guilt-driven charity, but instead welcomes partners who identify, want to be associated with, and can also benefit from our vision for social and economic development, wealth creation and ultimately independence from foreign aid.

What kinds of freedoms are whites preaching to us? Have the prisoners at guatanamo had fair justice? When bush invaded iraq did the majority Americans approve the invasion, did the majority of the british approvea?
As the west have their interests and priorities as well as individual challenges and so do we.
Rwanda`s measure of success and progress(all levels) do not have to be approved by foreigners,but rather by the Rwandans!

Kenny is absolutely right: someone is clearly missing the point when it comes to the media in Rwanda. He is... Yes, there is a difference between negative media and watch-dog media. If and when you decide to open your eyes and get rid of your Human-Rights-Watch-like bias against Rwanda/Kagame/RPF, you will realize that the latter category has been emerging and making some undeniable progress. How many top (RPF) government officials have been exposed in the media for corruption or other abuses? The US may afford to have Rush Limbaughs or Glenn Becks call for "vigilance against the enemy from within" on US TV or radio. Rwanda can not. Not when, 15 years ago, those same words were used effectively by the media to turn people against their neighbors. So yes, the crimes of "Divisionism" or "Genocide ideology" may not make sense to western ears. Those same words do make a lot of sense for whoever was in Rwanda during those 100 days and the years that preceded them.
When,in 1993, western diplomats asked President Habyarimana to take RTLM off the air, he replied that he did not have the power to do so anymore. He had moved to democracy as requested by Western powers. And Democracies guaranteed "free speech"...
And Kenny, you will not be able to appreciate the progress achieved in the fields of ICT or Coffee until you get rid of the shallowness and/or ideological bias that is so typical from people who learned about the 1994 genocide through movies but are convinced that they understand its impacts better than those who lived through it. Some of us still remember that in the aftermath of the genocide, Rwanda seemed doomed to be another Somalia or Sierra Leone. 15 years later, internet penetration may not be as high as you wish but, looking back, we have done pretty well. Those who are willing to genuinely support us on the path towards progress and away from mass murder are welcome. And the others? Screw them! History as shown that they do not remain with us when things go wrong.