ISHEMA project targets economic barriers, civic gaps in Rwanda’s growth drive

By Elias Hakizimana.

Kigali, February 2, 2026 — A new nationwide initiative seeking to strengthen economic freedom, civic awareness and human dignity has been launched in Rwanda, positioning citizens particularly women, youth and small business owners at the centre of economic participation and policy dialogue.

The ISHEMA Project, unveiled on Monday by the Centre for Development and Enterprises Rwanda (CDE Rwanda), aims to address long-standing structural barriers that limit citizens’ ability to engage meaningfully in the economy, despite the country’s steady development progress.

Speaking during the launch in Kigali, Réné Gosciny Bigirimana, Chief Executive Officer of CDE Rwanda, said the project is designed to empower citizens not only to participate in markets, but also to understand and defend their civic and economic rights.

“ISHEMA aims to remove barriers that hamper our development as citizens through a free market,” Bigirimana said, noting that the initiative is being implemented with support from Atlas Network, a United States-based non-governmental organisation.

He added that the project combines civic education, entrepreneurship training and policy engagement to support citizens, entrepreneurs and decision-makers.

The launch event brought together media professionals, civil society organisations and development partners, and was officially opened by Moses Kayitare, CDE Rwanda’s Event Director, who outlined the project’s national scope and long-term vision.

According to CDE Rwanda, ISHEMA will be rolled out in phases, beginning with nationwide capacity-building trainings across all provinces and the City of Kigali. These sessions will engage policymakers, private sector actors and civil society groups, creating platforms for dialogue around economic participation, regulation and market access.

The initiative will culminate in a Rwanda Economic Forum scheduled for September 2026, a full-day conference expected to attract both local and international participants. Organisers say registration for the forum will open in March 2026.

ISHEMA targets at least 10,000 beneficiaries nationwide, with a particular focus on women, youth, informal sector workers and small business owners, groups that often face disproportionate challenges related to taxation, regulation and limited access to markets.

While Rwanda has made notable strides in economic development, CDE Rwanda argues that issues such as excessive taxation and restrictive regulations continue to constrain individual initiative and entrepreneurship.

The project seeks to address these challenges through structured dialogue, advocacy and sustained engagement with policymakers and local authorities.

“Our role is not only advocacy, but also education,” Bigirimana said. “We want citizens to understand their rights and responsibilities, operate within the law, pay taxes and respect trade rules, while also being able to demand fairness, transparency and accountability.”

Beyond policy engagement, the project promotes the free movement of people and goods, framing open and competitive markets as essential to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Through civic education, community dialogues, media engagement and entrepreneurship support, ISHEMA aims to strengthen trust between citizens and public institutions.

CDE Rwanda says the initiative is expected to increase public awareness of economic and civic rights, expand the participation of women and youth in economic activities, and build broader support for inclusive and fair economic policies.

In the long term, ISHEMA seeks to contribute to peaceful, citizen-driven reform by defending civil and economic freedoms, supporting gender equity and restoring dignity in economic participation.

Organisers say the project reflects a growing recognition that sustainable development must be anchored not only in growth, but also in freedom, accountability and respect for citizens’ rights.

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