By Emma-Marie
As Rwanda pushes forward its financial inclusion and gender equality agenda, ASA International Rwanda is emerging as one of the institutions showing how access to credit can empower women, strengthen households, and support broader economic growth.
Since launching operations in 2016, the institution says it has reached more than 48,000 members through over 37 branches and disbursed more than $6 million in loans, with women receiving 70 percent of the financing. These figures reflect not only the scale of its outreach, but also the growing role of financial inclusion in advancing women’s economic participation.
The impact of this model was highlighted during an International Women’s Day event that brought together beneficiaries and stakeholders to reflect on how access to finance is helping transform lives at household and community level.
For many women, access to finance is more than just receiving capital. It can be the beginning of a new chapter.
One of the beneficiaries, Devotha Mukarusagara, shared how a loan of Rwf200,000 helped her start an agricultural activity that has since grown into a stable business.
“Before, I stayed at home without any source of income,” she said. “Today, I can pay school fees for my children, I have increased my capital to Rwf1.5 million, and I have even been able to buy a cow.”
Her story reflects how sustained access to financial services can help women move beyond vulnerability towards greater stability, self-reliance and growth.
Beyond the economic gains, Mukarusagara said the support also helped her grow in confidence and take on a stronger role in her community.
“It is not only about getting out of poverty,” she said. “It also helped me gain confidence and become a Community Health Worker. Women must find solutions within themselves because they are in them.”
Her experience highlights an important reality in development work: when women gain financial power, they are often better placed to participate in community leadership and decision-making.
The initiative has also drawn recognition from government institutions, underlining its relevance to Rwanda’s broader gender equality and development agenda.
Silas Ngayaboshya, Director General in charge of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, said women’s empowerment must be nurtured across all parts of society.
“The value of women is built everywhere in homes, in schools, in the media, in churches and mosques,” he said. “We need to ensure that both men and women are part of this transformation.”
He also acknowledged the significance of ASA Rwanda’s work and called for continued dialogue to strengthen alignment with national priorities.
For development stakeholders, ASA Rwanda’s approach offers a practical example of how targeted financial services can generate both economic and social returns.
Christian Salifou, Managing Director of ASA International Rwanda, said the institution’s model is rooted in long-term empowerment rather than short-term assistance.
“Giving is not just an act of charity; it is an investment in women’s capacity,” he said. “When a woman has access to capital, she can grow her business, support her family, and contribute to the economy.”
His remarks reflect a broader shift in development thinking, where sustainable empowerment is increasingly tied to investing in people’s productivity, resilience and potential.
ASA Rwanda is also working to strengthen gender inclusion within its own structure, where women currently make up 30 percent of staff and 27 percent of leadership.
While progress is still ongoing, these figures point to an effort to ensure that the institution’s internal practices reflect the values it promotes through its work.
As conversations around inclusive growth and gender equality continue, ASA Rwanda’s experience highlights the importance of models that combine access to finance with long-term and measurable impact.
Its work shows that when financial inclusion is implemented strategically, it can go beyond poverty reduction to support economic participation, social empowerment and stronger communities.
For stakeholders across the development space, the message is clear: empowering women is not only a social priority, but also a pathway to broader economic transformation.
