Search this site

Back to News News Rwanda AMI Charts a Path for MSME Growth in Rwanda 28 Jul 2025 African Management Institute (AMI) is pleased to mark a key milestone in its mission to support entrepreneurs and their enterprises on the continent. Two hundred and forty Growth Guides in the Kataza Program are now AMI-trained and deployed in Rwanda to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with business coaching, financial literacy, and access to finance. This initiative is not just another training program; it is a groundbreaking, scalable model for delivering evidence-based business support at an unprecedented scale, unlocking economic resilience and prosperity for communities across Africa. The Mastercard Foundation’s Kataza Program is run in partnership with the Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) along with five key implementing partners: AMI, MVEND Ltd, the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR), Rwanda Men Resource Center (RWAMREC), and I&M Bank Plc. It is designed to equip youth-led and women-owned enterprises with the financial tools, operational knowledge, and digital inclusion needed to scale and thrive. What makes this approach revolutionary is the combination of intuitive technology and community-driven mentorship. We have equipped 240 young Growth Guides from across Rwanda with our AMI App , optimized for offline use. These Growth Guides will support 90,000 young women and men in strengthening their micro businesses, improving their livelihoods, and linking them to finance providers. In just a few days, Growth Guides have already diagnosed almost 100 youth-owned businesses in their local communities, and we are rapidly scaling up, learning and adapting along the way. The Growth Guide model is a transformative approach to business support in Africa, combining grassroots mentorship with intuitive technology to make entrepreneurial resources accessible at scale. This tech+touch model, inspired by the community health worker system, has the potential to revolutionize MSME support across the continent. “Looking ahead, AI integration will further enhance business diagnostics, ensuring that the most promising entrepreneurs receive targeted coaching, financial tools, and access to capital. With its ability to scale and be embedded into government and financial systems, this model aims to provide evidence-based business support for every MSME in Africa, driving economic growth, job creation, and widespread prosperity,” said Rebecca Harrison, emphasizing the Role of AI and Financial Inclusion. MSMEs form the backbone of Rwanda’s economy, yet face persistent barriers to accessing the finance, training, and mentorship necessary for sustainable growth. The Kataza Program is tackling these challenges head-on by deploying Growth Guides across 15 districts to: Provide Business Training: Helping MSMEs build strong financial and operational foundations. Facilitate Access to Finance: Connect businesses with tailored loan solutions via SACCOs, MFIs, and I&M Bank. Enhance Financial Literacy: Empowering entrepreneurs with skills to manage and grow their businesses. Foster Digital Inclusion: Supporting VSLAs and MSMEs in transitioning to formal financial services. William Furaha, Program Coordinator for the Development Bank of Rwanda, emphasized the importance of equipping entrepreneurs with the financial resources, training, and mentorship needed to scale. “Providing MSMEs with access to tailored financial solutions is crucial for economic resilience and job creation. This initiative ensures that small businesses, particularly those led by youth and women, receive the necessary financial support to scale and thrive,” he said. In completing the program, Growth Guides pledged their commitment to delivering with dedication and innovation and to contributing to a more prosperous and resilient community. "As a young mother from Nyamagabe, I never imagined I could be part of something this big. Being a Growth Guide means I can build a better future for my child while helping other entrepreneurs like me grow their businesses. This opportunity is not just about learning—it’s about lifting each other. If I can do it with a 7-month-old in my arms, so can you!" said Francoise Dusabimana. By empowering Growth Guides, the Kataza Program is investing in Rwanda’s future—creating jobs, boosting MSMEs, and building an inclusive economy where young entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive. This is the next frontier in AMI’s quest to scale our proven model for business support. By empowering networks of young people with the right tools, we can reach every community and every MSME and ultimately transform Africa's business landscape. About African Management Institute African Management Institute (AMI) is a pan-African skills development provider dedicated to entrepreneurship, business, and skills development across the continent. AMI's programs combine interactive learning sessions with peer learning and access to a comprehensive learning platform, empowering business owners with practical knowledge and resources for success.

Back to News News Africa Navigating the Energy Sector 3 Oct 2023 In the fast-growing and ever-evolving energy sector, professionals are continually building their careers and skill sets. But there's always more to be done. During Africa Climate Week, AMI Enterprise partnered with POWERHer to host an exclusive event in Kigali, Rwanda tailored to professionals within the energy sector. The event provided a unique opportunity for talent managers, HR professionals and those in the workforce to gain insights and strategies for advancing their careers in the energy industry and as leaders in a broader professional context. AMI's leadership and management programmes have been targeted and customised for the energy sector, including two programmes actively recruiting - Empowering Managers and Future Females in Energy. Connect with the AMI Enterprise team to learn more about our business outcome-focused workplace learning and talent training offerings specifically for Africa's ambitious energy companies. Panelists for the event included: Harold Angila, Sourcing and Activation L ead, AMI Jocelyne UWAMAHORO (MHRM) , Director HR at Rwanda Energy Group (REG) Valerie Okinda , Chief People Officer Ampersand Solar Malik Shaffy Lizinde , Country Manager for AMI Rwanda John Frédérick van Zuylen , CEO of AFSIA (Africa Solar Industry Association)

Experience AMI's unique learning approach designed for Africa's business leaders. We combine research-backed methods with a practical, hands-on approach to drive real results. Discover how we empower individuals and organizations to achieve their goals. The AMI Approach Learning that powers growth. AMI learning delivers outcomes for African business champions and teams. Rooted in research, AMI’s learning approach draws on the simple, and yet powerful idea, that people learn by doing. Designed to meet the unique needs of Africa’s ambitious entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals, AMI’s practical learning approach, guides learners to develop the winning behaviours and practices that power performance and yield business outcomes and organisational success. AMI’s practical approach to unlock results Learning, doing, & performing to power growth. Traditional Training stops at “knowing” “Hit and run” traditional training ends when a learner memorises something they are taught in a passive learning environment. There is no application, no behaviour change and no business impact. Learning, Doing, Performing & Growing AMI’s practical learning approach goes further, guiding learners to implement the winning behaviours and practices that power performance, growth and success. 93% of AMI learners say they have applied what they learned on the job 40,000+ businesses supported in 39 countries since 2013. 86% of businesses report improved performance after engaging with AMI AMI Continuous Learning Model Our Evidence-Based Method: A Four-Stage Process, On Repeat AMI’s continuous learning model follows a four-stage cycle, which repeats over the course of each programme. The ultimate goal is tangible business outcomes, through a focus on the application of behaviours and practices that are proven to win. Our tech-forward approach starts with a ‘Discover’ diagnostic phase to ensure every learning journey is targeted and relevant. Learners then engage in live interactive ‘Learning Labs’ led by Africa’s top facilitators. Between workshops, they access practical tools and training from our digital learning platform, and apply new behaviours and practices on the job, and in the business. The result is improved performance - for learners, and their organisations. Explore the AMI learning experience The AMI Learning Experience & Features Designed to Deliver Outcomes AMI’s 4-stage practical learning approach drives real-world application and outcomes: Discover Diagnostic AMI’s team and diagnostic tools discover and map learning needs to business and organizational goals and outcomes. From there, targeted learning is planned and designed. Diagnostic tools Tailored learning journeys Benchmarking Continuous Measurement Engage Live Learning Learners participate in live workshops led by Africa’s best facilitators, covering practical tools and skills that can be applied on the job and in the business. Experience-driven learning “Learning Lab” workshops Expert, local facilitators Peer learning & role-playing Apply On Demand Access to content on our learning platform and app, helps learners tackle challenges, apply new skills and tools on the job, and measure success through peer feedback. Contextual Content Video-based courses Downloadable tools Web & mobile-enabled Embed On the Job Improved performance is embeded and reinforced with ongoing access to AMI’s library of content, and nudges from our platform and team, prompting regular application of behaviour, tools, and skills. Action learning projects * Change challenges * Accountability partners * Personal development plans * Guided Learning Journeys Cohort-Based Groups of learners are guided by AMI’s facilitators through experiences that emphasize peer-to-peer learning, action learning projects, and networking. Tech-Enabled AMI’s web and mobile apps support learners anytime and anywhere with access to video content, downloadable tools and engagement, throughout their journey. Africa First Our approach and content is built for Africa’s ambitious professionals and teams. With content in 7 languages, African case studies, and experiences led by Africa’s finest facilitators, we put Africa first in everything we do. Expore AMI’s Programmes > A Learning Path for Every Business Journey Our approach empowers Africa's businesses to achieve their targeted goals. Every business or organization is at a different stage in their journey. Likewise, each leader or employee requires different skill sets and ways to win. Our practical programmes focus on introducing new practices and behaviours, targeted for the needs of the business and individual. Entrepreneurship & Business Growth AMI entrepreneurship and business growth programmes help business owners and their teams develop the skills and practices that Africa’s micro, small, and medium-sized businesses need to grow and build resilience. Targeted Outcomes Entrepreneurial & business management skills Increased revenue & profit Business growth Job creation Business resilience & survival Leadership, Management & Professional Development AMI’s leadership, management, and workplace learning programmes support professionals at the continent’s most ambitious companies and organizations, helping them drive performance and results. Targeted Outcomes Professional leadership & management skills Improved individual & team performance Higher employee satisfaction Increased engagement More motivated workforce

Who It's For Managers at different stages of their leadership journey who are responsible for team performance. Executive Leadership (The Visionaries) Senior leaders responsible for strategy, performance, or transformation, including; CEOs, founders, and executive team members Operational & Functional Leadership (The Architects) Department heads and functional leaders including; Senior managers leading digital, operational, or strategic initiatives What Will Be Different in Practice Decisive Application Make clearer, more confident decisions about where and how AI should be applied. Value-Based Prioritization Prioritize AI initiatives based on business value, feasibility, and risk. Strategic Alignment Align AI activity to organizational goals rather than isolated use cases. Tailored Roadmapping Define a clear AI adoption path that fits their organization’s readiness and ambition. Stakeholder Credibility Communicate AI decisions, trade-offs, and risks with greater clarity and credibility. For African Organisations AI Leadership: Building a Winning AI Strategy A practical programme for senior leaders who need to make confident, grounded decisions about how AI should be used in their organisation. Designed for fast-moving African organisations, the programme helps leaders move beyond experimentation and hype to a clear, actionable AI strategy linked to real business value. CATEGORY Leadership DESIGNED FOR Senior Leaders FORMAT Virtual DURATION 6 - Weeks COST $ 250 NEXT COHORT START 10th November 2026 Apply Now How Behaviour Is Built Our approach is grounded in proven behaviour-change techniques and real workplace communication challenges. Facilitated Learning Labs Grounded in real workplace communication challenges and applied learning methodology focused on what actually works. Practice & Application Practical communication tools you can apply immediately, with guided practice between sessions using real work scenarios. Behaviour Embedding One core communication behaviour embedded through repeated use and reflection, building sustainable habits. The tools were a game changer. Before Aspire, we kept postponing decisions while managing daily operations. Now, we have a clear process for making both big and small decisions. As a result, our revenue has grown, and our business continues to thrive. Raphael Opiyo Obiero Business Owner & Entrepreneur East Africa I have attended business programs in some of the best schools in the world. To say that the Aspire program is the most eventful and practically enriching program is an understatement! As a company, we owe you, AMI and Stanford a lot. Dankishiya Saleh Hadi Dankish & Associates Ltd Nigeria Hear From Other Industry Leaders "I have attended business programs in some of the best schools in the world. To say that the Aspire program is the most eventful and practically enriching program is an understatement! As a company, we owe you, AMI and Stanford a lot." Dankishiya Saleh Hadi Dankish & Associates Ltd. Nigeria "The tools were a game changer. Before Aspire, we kept postponing decisions while managing daily operations. Now, we have a clear process for making both big and small decisions. As a result, our revenue has grown, and our business continues to thrive." Raphael Opiyo Obiero Business Owner & Entrepreneur East Africa Programme Details Learning Journey What's Included Who Can Enroll? What's Included Two live facilitated learning labs Practical performance tools and resources Guided practice and application materials Certificate of completion Access to AMI learning platform and community Who Can Enroll? Senior leaders responsible for strategy, performance, or transformation, including: CEOs, founders, and executive team members Department heads and functional leaders Senior managers leading digital, operational, or strategic initiatives Your Learning Journey Week 1 & 2: Kick-off: Setting a baseline Week 3 & 4: Laying the ground work Week 5 & 6: Trouble shooting and embedding changes After Week 6: Sustainability & further growth Investment $250 Comprehensive programme including live sessions, practical tools, and ongoing support Apply Now Click to download the portfolio Programme Details Learning Journey What's Included Who Can Enroll? What's Included Two live facilitated learning labs Practical performance tools and resources Guided practice and application materials Certificate of completion Access to AMI learning platform and community Who Can Enroll? Senior Managers: Experienced managers leading teams or functions who want to strengthen their performance management approach. Team-Leads: Managers navigating difficult leadership transitions and learning to manage performance effectively Your Learning Journey Phase 1 & 2: Kick-off: Setting a baseline Phase 3 & 4: Setting expectations and giving feedback Phase 5 & 6: Trouble shooting and embedding changes After Phase 6: Sustainability & further growth Investment $250 Comprehensive programme including live sessions, practical tools, and ongoing support Apply Now View the AMI Pan Africa 2026 Calendar Click to download the calendar Why It Matters Communication Isn't Clear When communication isn't clear, decisions slow down, accountability weakens, and momentum is lost. Managers Rely on Instinct Many managers rely on instinct, without simple structures that help messages land and lead to action. Influence Remains Inconsistent Without consistent communication approaches, influence across teams and stakeholders becomes unpredictable. How Behaviour Is Built Our approach is grounded in proven behaviour-change techniques and real workplace communication challenges. Facilitated Learning Labs Grounded in real workplace performance challenges and applied learning methodology. Practice & Application Practical performance tools you can apply immediately, with guided practice between sessions. Behaviour Embedding One core performance behaviour embedded through repeated use and reflection. Why It Matters Performance Issues Go Unaddressed Many managers struggle to address performance issues early and effectively, allowing problems to compound over time. Unclear Expectations Team members often don't understand what good performance looks like, leading to misalignment and frustration. Inconsistent Feedback & Coaching Feedback is avoided or inconsistent, and coaching conversations don't lead to sustained improvement. Weakened Accountability Over time, this weakens accountability and team performance across the organisation. Why This Approach Behaviour-Led Learning Focused on real work, not theory. We teach you what actually works in practice. Practical Tools Communication tools you can apply immediately to your team, not frameworks that sit unused. African Context Designed for African organisational contexts and the everyday leadership realities you face. Why It Matters The AI Revolution: AI is already reshaping productivity, decision-making, and competitive advantage. The Implementation Gap Many organisations struggle to turn interest in AI into meaningful results. The Leadership Dilemma: Leaders are often unclear on where to invest, what to prioritise, and how to balance opportunity, risk, and readiness. Risk Mitigation: Without a clear strategy, AI initiatives stall, duplicate effort, or create unintended risk. Why This Approach Behaviour-Led Learning Focused on real work, not theory. We teach you what actually works in practice. Practical Tools Communication tools you can apply immediately to your team, not frameworks that sit unused. African Context Designed for African organisational contexts and the everyday leadership realities you face. Ready to Build a High Performing Team? Start your journey to stronger team performance with practical, behaviour-focused learning. Invest just $250 for 6 weeks of transformative learning. Get Started Today Schedule a Conversation

Celebrating 10 Years as an African Champion for Africa’s Business Champions. Our 2023 Impact Report shares key learnings, inspiring stories, and data-driven insights from our journey. Uncover how we're evolving our model to drive business outcomes through skills development for Africa's champions. Download the AMI 2023 Impact Report (English) Download the AMI 2023 Impact Report (French) Featured Stories From Medical Expert to Business Leader: Liberian medical e ntrepreneur creates 14 new jobs Read Story Harvesting Success: Focused support enables YES group to access finance Read Story Setting clear objectives helped my business thrive: Clementine’s Journey to Success Read Story Brewing a Better Future: The Leadership Transformation at Spring Valley Coffee Read Story Africa’s businesses and employees are the continent’s engines of growth and prosperity. Through our decade of providing Africa’s ambitious businesses with practical tools and training, we know that businesses grow faster and people perform better when they engage in practical business learning that can be immediately applied on the job. We’re particularly proud of our work with thousands of talented women business leaders across Africa. Our latest data shows women and youth outpace the average on all key business metrics, including revenue growth, job creation and access to finance." Read the Report Download the AMI 2023 Impact Report (English) Download the AMI 2023 Impact Report (French) View previous AMI Impact Reports >

Reach for growth with the AMI's Aspire Business Growth Program! This 6-month virtual program, infused with Stanford Seed expertise, empowers business owners and their teams to scale their businesses and achieve their goals. Learn more and apply today! Open Programme Aspire Designed for growth stage business owners and their teams, Aspire blends AMI's practical business growth learning experiences with the world-class expertise of Stanford Seed to accelerate business growth through skills, tools and strategies. CATEGORY BUSINESS GROWTH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP DESIGNED FOR Entrepreneur, Business Owner & Team FORMAT Virtual DURATION 6 Months COST $650 per business * This cost covers 3 people i.e. the business owner plus 2 other senior members of the team NEXT COHORT START Febrarury 2027 Apply here Reach for Growth Infused with Stanford Seed expertise, this unique AMI guided learning journey supports growth-stage small and medium-sized businesses to reach for growth scale, with key business team members learning alongside the business owner. "I have attended business programs in some of the best schools in the world. To say that the Aspire program is the most eventful and practically enriching program is an understatement! As a company, we owe you, AMI and Stanford a lot." Dankishiya Saleh Hadi, Dankish & Associates Ltd., Nigeria Overview For Africa’s Ambitious Business Owners Joining other business owners from across Africa, you will focus on achieving your aspirational business growth goals and improving your business management skills through interactive virtual workshops, practical online tools & courses, and peer-group learning. Infused with Stanford Seed Expertise Unique to the Stanford Seed-sponsored edition of Aspire, your learning journey will include a live guest lecture from the Stanford Graduate School of Business Faculty. Performance Benefits The top 15-20% performing businesses in each cohort will receive pro bono access to Stanford Seed mentors, as determined by the level of commitment. Key Outcomes Establish effective business systems and structures Identify and target the right customer segments Develop impactful marketing and sales strategies Set and achieve measurable goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) Recruit, train, and retain skilled employees Ensure accurate financial reporting and manage cash flow efficiently Focus Areas Addressing Risks & Opportunities Building Grit and Resilience in Leadership Resource Identification Strategic Thinking Strategy & Business Planning Team Building and Empowerment Learning Journey PHASE 1: Get Set Up for Growth: Planning and Money PHASE 2: Lead for Growth: Talent PHASE 3: Identify Growth Opportunities: Customers PHASE 4: Financial Analysis: Money PHASE 5: Build Talent Pipeline: Talent PHASE 6: Plan for Growth: Planning PHASE 7: Growth Network What's Included The program runs for 6 months. Each month includes: 120 min. live learning lab/webinar where the topic/concept for that month is introduced by AMI expert facilitators. An online learning platform where you will be expected to to download tools and resources for continuous learning and A pod this small peer meeting where founders meet to discuss and problem solve. This cycle happens every month and your commitment is 3 to 4 hours per week. During the 3rd month, Stanford Graduate School of Business Faculty provides guest lecture. After the 6 months of learning, you can apply for mentorship and project based consultants from the Stanford Seed, this comes at no additional cost. Who Can Enroll? For Business Owners & Founders The main applicant and participant is the Business Owner, CEO, or Founder of the business For Leadership Team: Business owner accompanied by up to 2 senior leaders Business Profile Years In Business: Business in operation for more than 1 year Revenue: Generated between $30,000 – $400,000 in annual revenue in the last financial year Employees: The business has a minimum of 3 full-time employees Internet Enabled: Smartphone/internet connection to access online tools, courses, and the online community Performance-Oriented: Willing to share key performance/financial data (so that you and we can learn about your growth progress). The Faculty & Team Sam Kimera Facilitator Baba Shiv Stanford Guest Lecturer Themba Nkomo Aspire Learner Success Manager Rehema Kamotho Aspire Growth Marketing Manager Chialuka Anele Aspire Growth Marketing Manager Jeffrey S. Prickett Global Director, Stanford Seed Guided & Supported Learning Journeys Cohort-Based Groups of learners are guided by AMI’s facilitators through experiences that emphasize peer-to-peer learning, action learning projects, and networking. Tech-Enabled AMI’s web and mobile apps support learners anytime and anywhere with access to video content, downloadable tools and engagement, throughout their journey. Africa First Our approach and content is built for Africa’s ambitious professionals and teams. With content in 7 languages, African case studies, and experiences led by Africa’s finest facilitators, we put Africa first in everything we do. Explore AMI's Learning Approach A word from Aspire Alumni We had an ambitious vision to improve healthcare in Ethiopia, but the way we operated wasn't built to scale. AMI's Aspire Programme helped us build the systems, strategy, and the leadership we needed to grow sustainably. Today, Waliif Healthcare has grown from 35 employees to more than 250, with annual revenue exceeding US$5 million. We're now sharing what we've learned, with other Ethiopian businesses coming to us to strengthen their own systems and ways of working. Eng. Workineh Gudissa Learn More Book a Consultation Connect with our Enrolment Team Connect on Whatsapp Certificate of Completion Start Your Learning Journey Today Apply for Aspire About AMI and Stanford Seed’s Collaboration Close Stanford Seed is collaborating with African Management Institute (AMI) to provide an exclusive offer for early-stage founders and business owners. The goal of the AMI and Stanford Seed relationship is to help your business achieve its aspirational growth objectives by blending AMI’s business growth programme with Stanford Seed’s expertise. Scholarship Support For a limited time, Stanford Seed is providing partial scholarships for the Aspire Business Growth programme to qualified applicants.

Naome Uzayisenga District - Rusizi The Impact Footprint Growth Guide: Naome Uzayisenga, 26 Location: Western Province, Rusizi District, Giheke Sector, Kigenge Cell, Rwamiho Village Total Ecosystem Portfolio: 250 Youth MSMEs Trained & Mentored Demographic Breakdown: 165 women, 85 men Naome Uzayisenga stepped into the role of Growth Guide with a clear purpose — to help young entrepreneurs better understand business and gain the confidence to engage with financial institutions. She recognized that many youth had potential but were held back by limited knowledge and hesitation when it came to formalizing their businesses or approaching financial services. Her work focuses on closing that gap by building both understanding and confidence. So far, she has supported over 300 young people, and one of the most noticeable changes in her community is the shift in how youth approach their businesses. Many are moving away from informal practices and beginning to keep written records, organize their operations, and take steps toward engaging with financial institutions. This growing sense of structure shows that mindset change is already taking place, even before access to finance becomes a reality. A key part of her approach is creating direct connections. By linking young entrepreneurs with managers from financial institutions, she helps make these spaces feel more accessible and less intimidating. Although the youth she supports have not yet accessed loans, the groundwork is being laid — they are becoming more prepared, more informed, and more confident to take that step when the opportunity comes. Through this role, Naome has also learned that change takes time and consistency. Not everyone applies what they are taught immediately, which has shown her the importance of continuous follow-up and encouragement. This has strengthened her approach, making her more patient and more intentional in how she supports others. Looking ahead, she hopes to see young people not only running businesses but also building strong financial habits, especially around saving. She believes that combining entrepreneurship with discipline in saving can create more stable and sustainable progress for youth. Her message is simple but grounded in experience: believe in your ability, start with what you have, and keep working toward your goals. For her, confidence and consistency are what turn small beginnings into real growth. Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Back to News News Rwanda Energy Private Developer (EPD) Association Partners with African Management Institute to Upskill Rwanda's Energy Sector 13 Nov 2024 Rwanda’s industry leaders in the Energy Sector are set to advance their workforce’s professional development as a result of a new partnership announced today between the African Management Institute (AMI) and the Energy Private Developer (EPD) Association. Made possible by the Energy Access Talent Initiative (EATI) Programme funded by UKAID, this partnership will equip leaders and managers within the energy sector in Rwanda with the essential skills and tools to drive growth in their companies. “We are excited to work closely with the EPD Association to uplift the capabilities of Rwanda's energy sector,” Malik Shaffy, Country Manager, AMI Rwanda. “By empowering managers with practical skills, we are supporting the expansion of energy access and driving meaningful, lasting change in Rwanda’s energy landscape.” Serge Wilson Muhizi, CEO at EPD, added, “Capacity building and skills enhancement are core focus areas for EPD, this partnership with AMI is a significant step towards strengthening Rwanda's energy sector. We are confident that our collaboration will contribute meaningfully to the development of expertise within the industry, and we look forward to working together on more impactful capacity-building initiatives in the future.” As part of this initiative, EPD members will gain exclusive access to AMI’s Empowering Managers Programme , a practical and results-focused training designed to enhance management capabilities in the energy sector. The programme is tailored to address the unique challenges faced by sector professionals, including effective team supervision, project management, and strategies to manage geographically dispersed teams. The African Management Institute (AMI) enables ambitious businesses across Africa to thrive, through practical tools and training. AMI’s practical and experience-driven learning approach supports individuals to improve performance and develop essential winning behaviors and practices. This methodology encourages learning from data, feedback, live experiences, and implementation, ultimately propelling organizational success. EPD represents over 200 private energy companies in Rwanda, and plays a pivotal role in advancing the nation's energy sector by supporting capacity building, promoting renewable energy, and facilitating access to finance and trade opportunities. By strengthening leadership within the energy sector, this partnership plays a critical role in advancing sustainable energy solutions, improving livelihoods, creating jobs, and fostering economic opportunities in Rwanda. Participants of the programme will receive subsidised pricing, making it more accessible to EPD’s membership base. EPD members can start enrolling in the Empowering Managers Programme in January 2025. For more information, please visit https://africanmanagers.com/programmes/empowering-managers-rwanda/

Inspired Managers Keep Rwanda’s Hospitality and Tourism Industry Flying High All Case Studies Case Study Impact at Scale Inspired Managers Keep Rwanda’s Hospitality and Tourism Industry Flying High Background RwandAir, established in 2002, is one of Africa’s fastest-growing airlines, serving 26 global destinations. It promotes Rwanda as a luxury eco-tourism destination, contributing significantly to the hospitality and tourism sector, which represented 49% of the country’s GDP in Q4 2021. Challenge The COVID-19 pandemic grounded RwandAir’s fleet and workforce, impacting not just the bottom line due to reduced tourism and flights, but also the management of teams and productivity as remote work changed operations. Solution Seventy RwandAir leaders participated in AMI’s Inspiring Managers Programme to boost their skills in Rwanda's hospitality and tourism sector, focusing on better communication and team motivation to adapt to new work environments. Results Participants reported improved competencies, with 85% indicating enhanced skills after completing the programme. Managers learned to effectively delegate and share responsibilities, leading to better team efficiency and customer service delivery. When our team shifted to a hybrid work setup, we had fewer staff in the office while others worked remotely. By learning from the programme how to communicate effectively, I became confident to empower my teammates to accomplish their daily tasks properly irrespective of us being in the office Anthony Gatsinzi Cargo Planning and Pricing Manager RwandAir The story behind the journey As RwandAir returns to the skies and tourism slowly returns to pre-Covid levels, one thing passengers can count on is that behind the inspired RwandAir experience is an inspired manager. Over the last two decades, Rwanda has positioned itself as a leading luxury eco-tourism and events destination. RwandAir, the country’s national airline, has been central in promoting tourism and trade in the country. When Covid-19 hit, the RwandAir fleet and workforce were grounded, after several months the airline’s management was able to navigate these challenges and come out even stronger thanks to the skills gained through AMI’s Inspiring Managers programme. Established in 2002, RwandAir is one of Africa’s fastest-growing airlines. The airline serves 26 destinations across 21 countries throughout western, central, eastern and southern Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. With more than 700 employees, the airline also plays a central role in the country’s thriving hospitality and tourism industry. In the fourth quarter of 2021 alone, hospitality and tourism services generated 49% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a result of foreign currency revenues and job creation. However, Rwandan businesses of all sizes were not immune to the impacts of Covid-19. For RwandAir, it wasn’t just the bottom line that took a hit due to reduced tourism and flights. Challenges were also felt as remote work changed how the company managed its teams and ensured productivity. Fortunately, 70 RwandAir leaders from across the company had enrolled in AMI’s Inspiring Managers Programme. Designed for businesses in Rwanda’s hospitality and tourism sector, Inspiring Managers has been offered by AMI since 2019 in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The programme supports organisations and companies in the sector to upskill managers and bolster a key sector of Rwanda’s economy as a result. “When the pandemic broke out, we had to reduce the number of staff at the office and the rest worked remotely. By learning from the programme how to communicate effectively, I became confident to empower my teammates to accomplish their daily tasks properly irrespective of us being in the office,” says Anthony Gatsinzi, Cargo Planning and Pricing Manager at RwandAir. Focused on equipping emerging and established managers with skills to improve their capacity and motivate their teams, Inspiring Managers also provides access to practical tools to help participants apply the skills gained in their workplaces. In the three years of the programme being delivered in Rwanda, more than 20 leading hotels and other institutions companies have participated. Eighty-five percent of participants who completed a recent survey indicated that their competencies have improved. “Before the AMI Inspiring Managers Programme, I was the kind of person who did all my tasks alone, but after the training, I learnt how to communicate effectively and share responsibilities with my team. These days, I use this new approach with the staff that I lead,” says Assia Uwimana, Customer Relations Manager at RwandAir. After completing the programme, she learnt how to share responsibilities with her team and delegate tasks which made the work seamless. “RwandAir’s partnership with the African Management Institute has empowered our managers, which improved the efficiency of the teams they manage,” says Yvonne Manzi Makolo, Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir. “We have started to experience great changes at our workplace including better delivery of customer service, which is our number one goal,” she says. “For me, the African Management Institute came at the right time,” says Aloys Musoni, Customer End-user Outreach Station at RwandAir, who believes managers need more professional skills to help them carry out their daily duties and inspire their teams to deliver and offer better services to the customers. “AMI has helped our teams to be in a better position to achieve RwandAir’s main objective of providing world-class services to our passengers,” says Aloys. As RwandAir returns to the skies and tourism slowly returns to pre-Covid levels, one thing passengers can count on is that behind the inspired RwandAir experience is an inspired manager. As the AMI and Mastercard Foundation continue to support the hospitality and tourism sector to rebound, we look forward to more inspired managers enabling the sector to reach new heights.

Drive business growth in Nigeria with AMI's  impactful training programs and resources. We support ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs in Nigeria to drive growth and achieve their goals. Start your Impact Growth Journey in Nigeria today! Enabling ambitious businesses across Nigeria to thrive AMI’s business support and workplace learning programmes are powering the growth of Nigeria’s ambitious businesses, managers, and workforce. Nigeria’s trusted training & learning partner We believe that skilled people build thriving businesses, thriving businesses create quality jobs, and quality jobs drive prosperity and dignity. Nigeria Entrepreneurship & Business Growth Programmes AMI Nigeria collaborates with development partners to empower youth-owned small businesses through comprehensive training programs. Grow Your Business A practical blended programme to empower SMEs with tools and habits for the next level of growth. Learn More Micro-Enterprise Accelerator Strengthen micro-enterprises by developing effective organizational practices for resilience and growth. Learn More Aspire with Stanford Seed This programme will enable you to boost revenue, reduce costs, and create a plan to scale your impact. Learn More Nigeria Workplace Learning Programmes Practical learning solutions for established and growth-stage organizations in Nigeria with programs on productivity, communication, teamwork, and sector-specific skills. Management Development Programme A blended learning programme that equips middle managers with the skills they need to empower their teams and drive performance. Learn More Changing Gears A short programme to support Nigeria's first time managers master the most essential skills to be high-performers who drive results. Learn More Leadership Development Programme A tailored programme for senior leaders to build advanced skills for leading change, driving collaboration, and boosting organisation-wide performance. Learn More Focus Area Partnering for Impact Across Nigeria AMI Nigeria works to scale impact across the country working with partners, government, and investors to scale small and medium sized businesses with our programmes. Learn More Learning that powers growth. Our practical programmes drive individual performance, business growth, and organizational success. The AMI Learning Approach Featured Story Poultry business growth has ripple effects for Nigerian smallholder farmers Adebayo Awoyele, the owner of Ensapuh Veterinary Services, enrolled for Grow Your Business in 2021. Ensapuh saw revenue growth from $106k to $178k (67%) from 2021 – 2022, raised investment in 2022 and created 5 full time jobs and 7 part time jobs. Read the Full Story Latest from AMI Nigeria News & Updates Articles & Insights View all Update 10 June 2026 AMI's Evidence-backed Support for MSMEs at Scale News 5 February 2026 African Management Institute Launches Its Series of Transformational Short Programmes News 3 February 2025 AMI Nigeria Recognised for Driving SME Growth at BusinessDay Top 100 SMEs Conference View all Leadership 9 June 2025 From Chaos to Clarity: Leadership Skills That’ll Get You Through H2 (New Managers) Leadership 9 June 2025 Leading Through Complexity: Strategies for H2 (CEOs) AMI Insights 2 August 2023 Transforming Workplace Learning in Africa Upcoming Events From Strategy to Results: Executing 2026 Priorities in the Nigerian Market Learn more Event Recap ‘Winning Behaviours’ Diagnostic Tool Launch See all events About AMI Nigeria We are a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering exceptional service. Constantly innovating and going the extra mile, we look forward to working with you. Download 2025 Training Calendar AMI Nigeria Office Impact Hub, 22 Glover Road Ikoyi, Lagos +2349137829840 Nosa Omusi Country Lead, Nigeria Meet the AMI Nigeria Team Ambitious learning for an ambitious Africa Whether you’re looking for workplace learning for five to five hundred, or customized programmes that drive impact locally or across Africa, AMI’s learning solutions are tailored to meet your unique needs. Connect with our learning advisors to discover how our ambitious learning programmes can help you achieve your ambitious goals. Connect with AMI in Nigeria

Powering the M-Gas growth force in Kenya with management skills All Case Studies Case Study Workplace Learning Powering the M-Gas growth force in Kenya with management skills Background In Dar es Salaam, Andron Mendes and engineer Sebastian Rodriguez-Sanchez founded KopaGas to tackle high cooking gas costs. They created a pay-as-you-go service, which led to KopaGas's acquisition by Circle Gas in 2018, boosting clean cooking technology. Challenge As M-Gas expanded rapidly in Kenya, growing from 50 employees in 2020 to 1,200 by mid-2022, the company faced challenges in managing its increasing workforce effectively, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Solution M-Gas partnered with AMI to provide management training for 60 managers, including workshops, online courses, projects, and mentorship. The program focused on communication, problem-solving, accountability, feedback, and team building. Results All participants graduated and reported improved performance as team members. Training increased trust and collaboration. Additionally, 42% of participants noted personal career progress, such as salary increases, promotions, or new job opportunities. I learned how to delegate effectively and build trust within my team using practical coaching tools. The Growth Mindset Learning Lab also helped me improve my presentation skills, making our meetings more engaging. As a result, attendance grew from 100 to 695 in a short time. Anne Njoroge Learning & Development Assistant M-GAS The story behind the journey Nine years ago, in the tropical leafy neighbourhoods of Dar es Salaam, Andron Mendes needed to refill his cooking gas for his new family. The cost was expensive. Able to afford the refill, he wondered how families without the resources could afford the cost when faced with a similar decision. With that thought, Tanzania’s KopaGas was born as an idea. It became a reality when he started working with mechanical engineer Sebastian Rodriguez-Sanchez to make a pay-as-you-go cooking gas service. By 2018, KopaGas was making sales and history in Tanzania, selling the company to United Kingdom-based Circle Gas. At the time the acquisition was heralded as “the largest ever pure private equity investment in the clean cooking technology sector.” Circle Gas, which now operates M-Gas Solutions (formerly KopaGas) in Tanzania and M-Gas in Kenya, is known for the innovations Mendes and Rodriquez-Sanches led to develop smarter meters for liquid propane gas (LPG) cylinders linked to payments made through East Africa’s robust mobile payment services. In Kenya, M-Gas has a strategic operating agreement with Safaricom. The expansion that happened since 2018, across Tanzania and into Kenya, also came with rapid growth in management teams more specifically for the Kenyan team. The company has gone from 50 employees in 2020 to 1200 by July 2022 in just the last year and a half. This expansion to Kenya in January 2020, came with its own challenges, happening just as the unexpected global pandemic reached East Africa. And yet, despite Covid, demand for M-Gas’ products remained high and the company adapted and continued operations. That’s when M-Gas turned to AMI to support and power up their growing workforce. AMI collaborated with M-Gas to deliver management training to 60 managers, with more signing up for the MDP. The programme focused on equipping their new and middle managers with the tools they needed to communicate effectively, problem solve, take ownership and accountability for their work, give and receive feedback and build strong teams. In addition to a customised core curriculum of in-person workshops and online courses through AMI’s online learning platform, the programme also featured an on-the-job project, also known as a change challenge, which is a practical project that allowed the participants to put into practice what they were learning while using practical resources provided to them to demonstrate their understanding. Through the programme the participants also received mentorship through an accountability partner model integrated as part of the programme. The impact on the M-Gas team was significant. 100% participants graduated from the programme where they reported improvement in their own performance as team members. “I was able to encourage task ownership and increase trust and collaboration within the team using the “Who’s got the monkey” and coaching tools. The growth mindset learning lab also helped me rethink my HSSE M-Gas presentation making the weekly TOOL BOX TALKS (TBT) meetings more exciting. Over a short time, the attendance increased from 100 attendees to 695 attendees,” said Anne Njoroge, the then Learning & Development Assistant at M-Gas who has since been promoted to HSSE officer after graduating from the AMI program. In addition, the team projects helped address real challenges in the organisation and even saw 42% participants report personal progress at work either through a salary increase, promotion or new job. “The overall team performance has improved which has led to improved customer experience and growth. The self-paced learning was amazing and I would absolutely recommend AMI,” concluded Maranga. For M-Gas in Kenya, the proof is in the results; to power the growth of your company you need to refill your tanks with the most important fuel, the skills to power your people.

Strengthening company culture through staff development All Stories Craig Stuart Position: Culture manager Company: Private Property Programme: Country: South Africa Working in the real estate industry can be high-pressure—and culture manager Craig Stuart of Private Property, South Africa, knows his team needs to be well supported. “As we’ve grown the business, the culture has evolved and developed. It’s a space that has become very pivotal to our business,” he explains. Private Property turned to AMI for an in-house, customised Management Development programme. The different learning approaches worked well for his staff, giving them opportunities to connect through the workshops and peer support groups, but also providing flexibility to learn online at their own pace. Craig has seen significant changes in his team. “The individuals that we backed to do the course have all grown considerably. The changes I’ve seen in individuals have been notable,” he says. The participants agree with his assessment, with 94% reporting improved effectiveness at work, and 87% saying that they were able to apply what they learned. According to Craig, “There was great value in the online content. There was great value in the facilitated session to make it simple for people to learn. That is not something you stumble upon every day.” He and Private Property are already looking ahead to collaborating with AMI again in the future.