Proparco and I&M Bank Rwanda partner to advance MSME financial inclusion

A leading banking institution in Rwanda, I&M Bank Rwanda serves a broad client base ranging from retail customers to large corporates, with an increasing strategic focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

In this context, Proparco intends to provide two portfolio guarantees totaling EUR 25 million. The first will support the strong growth of the bank’s MSME portfolio. The second will foster the development of high-impact segments - including women- and youth-led businesses, startups, and sectors, such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and green activities.

Through this facility, Proparco aims to support the scaling up of the MSME segment, which is central to the bank’s strategy, while directing more financing towards higher-impact sectors and priority segments. As part of this partnership, I&M Bank Rwanda will further enhance its lending marking a significant step in addressing one of the biggest barriers faced by MSMEs: access to collateral. By easing this constraint, the initiative will enable more entrepreneurs, particularly those with strong growth potential but limited assets, to access the financing they need to scale, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to Rwanda’s economic development.

For Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, “We are delighted to initiate this collaboration with I&M Bank Rwanda, a leading player in Rwanda’s financial sector. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to scale up MSME financing and to channel more resources towards women and youth entrepreneurs, as well as underserved sectors with high development impact. This financing benefits from the support of the European Union and reflects the strong commitment of the European Commission as well as France to fostering sustainable and inclusive development.”

Benjamin Mutimura, CEO of I&M Bank Rwanda, commented: “MSMEs are a key pillar of Rwanda’s economic transformation and a central driver of our strategy at I&M Bank Rwanda. This partnership with Proparco reinforces our commitment to building the country by expanding access to finance for entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth who are at the heart of innovation and job creation. By leveraging the IMPACT+ facility, we are not only strengthening our support to the SME segment but also addressing long-standing barriers such as collateral requirements, enabling us to scale our impact and empower more businesses to grow sustainably.”

The IMPACT+ program, implemented by Proparco under the EU’s EFSD+ instrument, helps unlock new financing for small and growing businesses in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, especially those that struggle to access credit. By encouraging financial institutions and investors to support entrepreneurs, the programme strengthens local value chains, promotes employment and economic inclusion, and expands opportunities in underserved markets. As part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, IMPACT+ supports sustainable and low carbon growth by boosting private investment where it can have the greatest positive impact, helping businesses innovate, become more resilient to climate change, and contribute to long term social and economic development.