Community Health Workers Cooperatives Best Practices

November, 2016Newsletter

Republic Of Rwanda

Ministry Of Health

Key Figures• 45,000 : number of CHWs• 475: number of CHWs cooperatives• 480: number of Health Centres• 12.5 billion RWF: net worth of CHWs

cooperatives• 30,000: number of female CHWs• 15,000: number of male CHWs

• Implement capacity building activities initiatives in order to add value to members. The cooperative created a sub-committee in charge of training that helps in capacity building initiatives.

• Some of the capacity building initiatives the committee has coordinated are study tours and training seminars for the members as well as mentorship for the board of directors

• Inyenyeri y’Ubuzima

Cooperative engaged PSDAG

to support them to acquire

equipment worth 8,000,000

francs to set a potato

collection center

• Taking advantage of support

from partners in form of

trainings and advises

• Tracking of financial inflows

and outflows through mobile

technology applications

and stringent supervisory

mechanism

• The accountant is requested

to check on a daily basis the

operations on the cooperative

accounts, document the bank

account reconciliation report

which is produced monthly to

indicate all banks operations;

the report is submitted to the

GA

Governance and Leadership

Human Resources Management Business Implementation Technical Support

Financial Management

• Smartness of decision

making process informed

by astute market analysis

that lead to business

reorientation

• Study tours to learn

from others in the same

business field

2

• A woman leader with a vision of high standing .....................................4

• Women leadership making difference ..............................................4

• Rewards of good leadership and members unity ....................................6

• Mitigating fraud risks promoted Cooperatives performance .............8

• Perseverance that saved a cooperative ..........................................9

• Adding value through capacity building ..............................................10

• A milk treatment facility worth over 100 million built by CHWs cooperative ........................................11

• Quick facts ..........................................11• A CHW cooperative in coffee

business ...............................................12• Solar energy solution ......................13• Cooperative market analysis

benefits ................................................14• A CHWs cooperative to own an

irish potato collection center ......15

Contents

Best Practices

• Leveraging ICT to ensure

service delivery

• Accountability and

effective governance

structures

• Members’ empowerment

through capacity building

initiatives

• Embracing women

leadership and gender

• Adopting imihigo concept

to enhance performance

3

Rwanda started the Community Health Program in 1995

after the Genocide Against Tutsi . The idea behind creating

the program was to improve access to health care by

bringing services closer to the people while addressing

the shortage of a professional health care workforce. Since

1996, Rwanda adopted a decentralization policy to take

health services closer to the people in order to improve

health from a participatory approach. The Community

Health Worker (CHW) is therefore one of the key players

in the country’s health sector and works under the direct

supervision of a Health Centre.

CHWs remain a critical part of Rwanda’s health system and

continue to make significant contributions in promoting

health services as well as targeted interventions in areas

such as Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM)

of malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea for U-5 children as

well as other community interventions. CHWs played an

important role in helping Rwanda achieve the MDGs on

Maternal Health and Reduction of child mortality as well

as other interventions.

Rwanda experiences a huge gap in human resources

for health but the Ministry of Health (MoH) has been

expanding its community health program since 2007,

eventually placing 3 trained CHWs in every village in the

country by 2009 (MoH, 2013).

Rwandan CHWs have organized themselves into

cooperatives since 2009 and currently, there are 45,000

CHWs countrywide organized into 475 cooperatives.

Each CHW cooperative receives a payment through the

Performance-Based Financing (PBF) mechanism on a

quarterly basis where 70% of these funds are earmarked

for investment in income-generating activities (IGAs)

while 30% is shared among the CHWs. The IGAs are found

in virtually all sectors of the Rwandan economy (e.g.

agriculture such as livestock and crop farming, rental

of commercial houses, handicrafts, transportation and

other services).

The Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the

Rwanda Health Strengthening Systems Activity (RHSSA)

carried out a comprehensive assessment of Community

Health Workers’ Cooperatives performance. The

assessment findings identified CHW’s cooperatives’ best

practices in different thematic areas namely: Leadership

and Governance; Human Resources Management;

Financial Management; Business Implementation; and

Technical Support Effectiveness.

CHWs have registered great success over the years in

terms of both clinical activities as well as consolidating

their economic activities. However, a lot more effort is

needed to address major challenges that affect their

cooperatives such as inadequate capacity in doing

business, inadequate financial management skills

and gaps in accessing good markets. This will ensure

sustainability of the program amidst decreasing external

funding.

Therefore, this newsletter intends to showcase the

activities of CHWs’ cooperatives as one of the ways to

motivate CHWs and also build a sustainable community

health program.

It is also envisaged that the documentation of the success

stories will form the basis of a process of networking

and shared learning between various leaders of CHWs’

cooperatives.

Foreword Dr. Diane Gashumba

Minister of Health

4

KOARUNGE (Koperative y'Aborozi ba Rurenge soon will be KOAIRUNGE "Koperative y'abahinzi n'aborozi b'inkoko ba Rurenge), has 111 members, and 74 are women and their assets worth value is around 55 million Rwandan francs.The Uniqueness of this cooperative is the unity of its members and hardworking but much more high level competence and integrity of its women leadership.As one of their economic activities, the cooperative owns a poultry farm with over 1136 chicken. The vision is to increase production to about 3000 chicken in the next 3 years and at least 3000 eggs daily.Mrs. Bernadette Ugiriwabo, the president of KOARUNGE says ".... The unity of cooperative leaders and independency of committees is our motto..."She further added that they a lot has been done to ensure that mismanagement of the cooperative money is checked. Members of the cooperative testify that it has helped many people in their area in so many ways. Mrs. Belancilla Muhawenimana, the president of the surveillance committee said that her role is to ensure that their assets are protected. She expressed that as leader, she must be a role model.

Ngarambe Augustin the Vice President said that the board meets monthly and every committee is independent.

Leadership and Governance

A woman leader with a vision of high standing

Women leadership making difference

Mrs. Mariam Mukagakwaya (left), the President of Imboni za Nyamirambo and members.

Members of the CHWs Cooperative Kirwa during a consultative meeting .

Community Health Workers Cooperative “Imboni za Nyamirambo” working with Rugarama Health Centre in Nyamirambo Sector, Nyarugenge District, has 102 members with a majority number of women-64 in total. The cooperative’s vision is to build a high rise building in the city of Kigali. It owns various assets that generate over 350,000Frw.“Within 3 years our cooperative will double its assets net

worth and that will help us to build our own high rise building with the support of the banks…” Mrs. Mukagakwaya Mariam, the President of Imboni za Nyamirambo cooperative.Mr. Corneille Kamugunga, the vice president of Imboni za Nyamirambo cooperative says that before investing in real estate a market study was conducted and presented to all members who adopted it as their choice business. The cooperative has bought several residential houses and one commercial building that generate monthly incomes to the

cooperative. “Our plan is to support the vision of City of Kigali and that’s why we plan to build a high raise complex in the next 3 years…” Mr. Kamugunga added. “As a woman leader of the cooperative, I am confident that I have capacity to lead our cooperative to achieve its dreams…” says, Mrs. Mukagakwaya Mariam, the President of the cooperative.

5

Testimonies

Elisabeth Manizabayo, a member of Inama y’Ubuzima Cooperative in Busasaman, Rubavu District.

“….my husband couldn’t further his studies because of funding constraint but the livestock gained from the cooperative enabled him to upgrade his education from A2 to A0 level. Even myself I have gone back to school now I have A2 level certificate. My children are at the university."

Phocas Bizimana, a member of Inyenyeri y'ubuzima Cooperative in Kinoni.

“…, I have secured a loan from the bank with support from our cooperative and built a house… that achievement has transformed my wellbeing. I also have no problem paying medical insurance subscriptions."

Bankundiye Daphrose, a member of Shyigikira Ubuzima/ Nyundo

“The income I generated from cooperative, I invested it in my business; I acquired livestock. My lifestyle has improved. I urge others in the community to join cooperatives because we gain a lot from joining others: new ideas, whether in community health services, or financial gains.”

Fulgence Byukusenge, a member of Shyigikira Ubuzima cooperative in Nyundo-Rubavu District.

“I am delighted my cooperative is among the cooperative that performed better among the 475 cooperatives that were evaluated. I want to seize this opportunity to tell other cooperatives that might be experiencing some management issues, that they should sit together and find solutions to those problems. No challenge should be a reason for a cooperative to collapse...”

Mudaheranwa Didace, the President of COSOBARU-Imboni Rugarama.

“We have three legal committees all of them work together to fulfill our mandate, to follow the same vision and helps us to be accountable. In order to solve the problem of understanding, we have initiated a sub-committee in charge of training to rise up the level of understanding of our members in leadership and management because after our terms, we have to elect another committee. It is better to have a strong one which has enough knowledge in management and leadership of cooperative, and it help us to avoid to have leaders whom reflects the development of cooperative.”

6

Groups of individuals having common interests usually work together to achieve them and this is a best practice that makes every cooperative successful. The leadership of “Indatwa za Gikondo”, a Community Health Workers Cooperative based in Gikondo District, is highly recommended for leading the members of that cooperative to work together so that their common interest is attained. The cooperative has set taboos as values for their cooperative and introduced the performance contract concept to promote the growth of their cooperative. Member’s participation in decision making is a culture they have nurtured to ensure that every member is contributing constructively to the success of their initiative.Through the support gained from Ministry of Health (PBF project) the cooperative has invested in a banana plantation. It has hired an entrepreneur that is highly skilled in the business of banana plantation to assist in growing their joint business and he also transfers skills to the members through coaching them including other local persons involved in that business. This sign of good leadership and openness but much more a strategy to attract more members to join the cooperative by showing them the spirit of inclusiveness and support towards the common

good. The banana plantation business rewards each member with an income of 60,000Frw per month, and every member of the cooperative obtains at least 25,000Frw at the end of year as bonus. The incentive of this income plays a big role in maintaining their social works of educating and sensitizing people about health issues.Member’s ownership of the cooperative’s activities is the motto of every member! Because of this, they all make sure that there is a close follow up on the business of the cooperative. The president of the cooperative or the delegated members in case of his absence is obliged to visit the plantation every week-end as a matter of close follow up. To ensure the discipline and welfare of the members, the leadership of the cooperative has put in place the disciplinary committee and the welfare committee as subcommittee.several training have been conducted for the members of the cooperative and this is due to the good collaborations with stakeholders and partners such as Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) and Health Center of Rugarama in Nyarugenge District. As a result of the trainings acquired the cooperative has developed a 3 years’ strategic plan and vision for the growth and sustainability of the cooperative.

The testimonies of the members of the cooperative are so much encouraging. In her own words Mrs Uwanyirigira Beatrice, the president of the cooperative says that “MINISANTE support helped us deeply to make our project stronger. On a monthly basis we deposit 60,000Frw onto our members’ bank accounts earned from the business of the cooperative. In the near future, we envisage to give a cow to every member of the cooperative …. We are thanking MINISANTE for its immeasurable support and we promise that in a few years’ time we shall have a fully sustained business” As a matter of advice to other CHWs she recommends that; accountability, integrity and transparency are key pillars in the growth and development of any cooperative and she is proud that as leader she has practiced those values and she is witness of the rewards it has brought to their business cooperative. As expressed by Kanyamugenge Pheneas, the chairperson of surveillance committee of Indatwa za Gikondo CHWs’ cooperative, the project started in September 2013 in collaboration with Gikondo Health Centre as their direct advisor. They bought land first at six million francs (6,000,000Frw) and they planted banana trees and after that they bought another one. Today their assest is estimated to be above 50 million Rwandan francs. “Good management and leadership made our cooperative develop! We sit together and discuss on the project we need to launch and once the decision is taken, action is expected from all members. The cooperative has assisted me to develop myself and my entire family and it gives me the opportunity to assist my neighbors to develope themselves…” Kanyamugenge added.The cooperative has a membership of about 104 members who contributed an individual share capital of 10,000frw. Last January, they gave out bonus to the members that amounted to around 1,500,000Frw from the profits of their business venture. A testimony by Mukamurigo Diane, a member of Indatwa za Gikondo CHWs cooperative reveals a great personal achievement. “I participated efficiently to develop our cooperative and through lessons learnt, I gained confidence to start my own poultry farming project. That gives me joy to be a role model to other woman in my area…”

Rewards of good leadership and members unity

CAPTION: sumquunt adi aut aut n quiscia pro inimos que di dus que n quiscia pro inimos que di dus

Beatrice Uwanyirigira, Indatwa za Gikondo’s President in the coopera-tive banana plantation in Muyumbu sector, Rwama-gana District.

Leadership and Governance

7

Pictorial

Imboni z’ Ubuzima cooper-ative Kabirizi in Nyaruguru district in poultry farming.

They have 400 chickens, generating at least 300

eggs a day, sold Frw 70 an egg.

CHWs cooperative in Karon-gi “Abakunda Ubuzima “ invested 6.5 million franc to become a member of

Union that build a commer-cial building. (Pictured here,

it is its architectural plan.)

Some of the houses owned by CHWs cooperatives .

8

Financial Management

Shyigikira Ubuzima Cooperative in Nyundo sector, Rubavu district of the Western province started its business activities in the year of 2009. To date it has acquired assets, mainly two houses in Rubavu District (Gisenyi) town worth thirty-eight million francs (38 M frw) in spite of the hardship it went through. The houses are worth 27 million francs and rented and Frw 11 million generating over 200,000 Rwf in rent every month.Also, the cooperative owns a land worth 3.42 million francs.With its fluorescent business, the cooperative leant the hard way to set strategies to mitigate fraud that was a potential risk to its survival. Hategekimana Donatien, the president of the cooperative says that “it was necessary to have firm checks and balance systems to daunt potential fraud and mismanagement of cooperative funds…”One of the strategies is the establishment of a supervisory committee that routinely audits the cooperatives operations to insure transparency and accountability.The other strategy is to leverage mobile technology application to track financial inflows and outflows of the cooperative.Byukusenge Fulgence is a member of the cooperative recalls how the cooperative experienced hard times in its beginning, but he considers those challenges as opportunities that have made it possible for their cooperative to perform better.Due to tracking of financial inflows and outflows through mobile technology applications and stringent supervisory mechanism, transparency and accountability has been made possible. The improved performance of the cooperative is proven by a report that evaluated the 475 CHWs cooperatives and Shyigikira Ubuzima was among the best performing.Mr. Hategekimana Donatien, believes that hardships that cooperatives went through ought not be a source of discouragement for cooperatives, rather an opportunity to set strategies to enhance and strengthen the cooperative’s performance.

The Supervisory Committee of Shyigikira Ubuzima cooperative supervises the management of the cooperative at least once a quarter or at any time it is considered necessary. They make a report that is submitted to the members of the governing body. Also the accountant of the cooperative is requested to check on a daily basis the operations on the cooperative accounts and is supposed to document the bank account reconciliation report which is produced monthly to indicate all banks operations. The report has to match with all documents justifying the expenditures and income to make sure that any risks of fraud are mitigated. These are some of the measures that have helped in counter-checking the effectiveness and respect of the guidelines set up by the General Assembly. In that case it is easy and possible to discover funds embezzlement before it becomes too late according to the members. “We meet once every three months, but when there is an emergency to take care of, we can have a meeting in a month to check the status of the cooperative finances. We meet and examine whether the books of account are filled properly…” says Agnes Mukandutiye the secretary of the supervisory committee. The supervisory committee also verifies whether the Board and other organs of the cooperative such as the tender committee implement all the decisions made in order to protect the general interests of the members.The other role of the supervisory committee is to control the assets of the cooperative and the supervision of the implementation of the decision of the General Assembly.Members of the cooperative have reaped benefits from their cooperative and they are proud of that as testified by Nyirabizimana Vicentie: “…the Performance Based Financing (PBF) helped me a lot because it enabled me to pay the school fees of my children. Also the cooperative gave me a goat. …. Even when my husband sees this he gets the impression that my services as a community health worker are worthwhile.”

Mitigating fraud risks promoted Cooperatives performance

Nyirabizimana Vicentie is proud of Shyigikira Ubuzima.

These houses generate at least 200,000 a moth to Shyigikira Ubuzima.

9

Cooperative members of "Ubuzima Umusingi w’Amajyambere” in Gihundwe sector of Rusizi district in Western Province are into serious business whereby they are earning over 1 million francs from their fixed interest account ventures with KCB and rentals. Ubuzima Umusingi w’Amajyambere Cooperative is a Community Health Workers Cooperative who initially started doing business in maize farming project but latter failed.“Without the perseverance of its members, the cooperative would have gone bankrupt” says the president of the Cooperative Mr. Nduwimana Jean Paul.The cooperative stands still to date due to astute business decisions. “We started our cooperative business project by cultivating maize for commercial purposes, and we realized that we were making losses. The general assembly decided to stop the business since it had realized the project was not generating profit... We are now looking to fish farming.”Following bad business seasons, the general assembly decided to invest its money in other possible productive ventures and that is how it bought

a house at 27.1 million francs which is earning the cooperative 300,000 Frw per month from rents while the rest of their capital is earning interests from a fixed account in KCB and Bank Po...“We have deposited 18 million on a fixed interest account at the Kenya Commercial Bank, and the cooperative is being paid an interest of Frw 1 million each year,” says Mr. Jean Paul Nduwimana, The President of the Cooperative, that has other 18 million francs deposited at Banque Populaire du Rwanda and SACCO Umurenge.The cooperative has a functional supervision committee that examines the books of accounts and produces reports every three months to the general assembly, while the accountant is asked to produce a financial situation report of the cooperative every month.The cooperative started in 2005 and obtained its legal status in 2013. It has 90 members including women (60 in total). The members’ testimonies are that their cooperative activities have positively impacted their lives.

Godelieve Mukandori says that the Cooperative gave her Frw 100,000. She built a pig pen at Frw 50,000 from the money, spent other Frw 30,000 to purchases two pigs.“That has changed my life,” she says. “Now my family situation has improved, I pay our medical insurance subscription without any difficulties,” she added. To instill a spirit of hardworking the cooperative has a system of rewarding the best performers. Usually best performers are rewarded by giving them goats, and the poor performers pictures are displayed at the cooperative office. The poor performer picture can only be removed from public display by the decision of the general assembly.

Perseverance that saved a cooperative

Without the perseverance

of its members, the cooperative

would have gone bankrupt.

Nduwimana Jean Paul, the coopera-tive president.

The house owned by Ubuzima Umusingi w’Ama-jyambere in Rusizi town.

10

Human Resources Management

A commercial building of CHWs Rugarama next Rwagitima market.

COBOSARU-IMBONI in Rugarama Sector, Gatsibo District is among the few cooperatives established by Community Health Workers to implement capacity building activities initiatives in order to add value to its cooperative members. The cooperative created a sub-committee in charge of training that helps in capacity building initiatives.Some of the capacity building initiatives the committee has coordinated are study tours and training seminars for the members as well as mentorship for the board of directors. According to Mudaheranwa Didace, the President of COBOSARU-IMBONI, the committee in charge of training has been a key in the development of the cooperative in rising up the knowledge of 174 members. The conducted induction trainings have been so helpful enabling the members understand the structure of the cooperative and mandate of every committee and members’ duties.The committee sets an annual agenda of training and every member is called to attend and that helps to be on the same level of understanding. “…. we have initiated a sub-committee in charge of training to rise up the level of understanding of our members in leadership and management…” Mudaheranwa said.A study tour to COPRORIZ Ntende was organized to learn on how to improve on the management and leadership style of cooperatives. Also a trainer has been hired to train the members on management skills for cooperative in general.The surveillance committee and tender committee have also been created by the cooperative members and they are supposed to be independent while serving the cooperative. The cooperative has assets worth over 50,000,000 Frw these include commercial building, plots in Rwagitima market, a

residential house, storage facility, car washing bay, etc. Within 3 years they plan to buy a truck for supporting their business to outsize the market. Monthly reports are shared with the district administration offices and a copy given to the Health Centre Management and sector administration to ensure that transparency is maintained. A special feature of this cooperative is that its president is also the chairperson of CHWs at district level.

Asiimwe Joy, a member of COBOSARU-IMBONI, says that gender participation in the decision making process of the cooperative is given great consideration. “Women in our cooperative have been empowered and have capacity and confidence to compete and lead…” Asiimwe said.

Adding value through capacity building

Members of COBO-SARU-IMBONI in discussions.

A milk treatment facility worth in excess of 100 million francs and built by the Union of coopera-tives in Huye district.

11

Quick facts

Business Implementation

Fifteen Community Health workers’ cooperatives in Huye district formed a cooperative Union to known as “Agira Gitereka “which built a milk collection and treatment facility worth over 100 million francs. The decision to create a union has led to value generation, increase in cost efficiency and market share for the milk production business of the cooperative. Each cooperative paid 13 million Frw to become a member. Pierre Niyonsenga, the cooperative Union vice president says: before the Union was formed and the facility built, cattle farming was not generating income as it is now…” As usual business merges hardly benefit the public and that is why Pierre Niyonsenga added that “…. before one liter of milk was being sold between 150 Frw and 170 Frw, and now the liter is at 210 Frw.” The Cooperative Union has a capacity to stock milk harvest for three days before it is sold, while it also has milk curding machines as it is in its initial

phase of installing advanced milk processing facilities. The union of cooperatives has empowered the members to raise their standards in cattle farming. Veterinary doctors freely provided by the cooperative union to the members ensure that the growth of their members’ cattle farming is attained. Also, their milk products are bought by the union at a competitive price. Virginie Mukantazinda a member of the Union “Agira Gitereka” says that the Union has changed the way people in the area perceive cattle farming. “Before people thought that milk was for domestic consumption without knowing that it can generate income. But now they are selling milk to this treatment facility of the Union and they are generating money,” she said. The Union has generated profits to be shared with members as dividend at the end of the year.

A milk treatment facility worth over 100 million built by CHWs cooperative

Ubuzima Umusingi w’amajyambere(Rusizi)

Started in 2005 and obtained its legal status in 2013. It owns a house in Ru-sizi town bought in 2012 at 27,1 mil-lion francs and generating Frw 300,000/month in rent. The cooperative has 36 million francs as deposits on its accounts

at BPR and SACCO Umurenge.

Abakunda ubuzima(Karongi)(Karongi)

The cooperative started in 2008, and it owns a seven-hectare land worth 10 mil-lion. The cooperative is in coffee plan-tation business, and it is a member of a

Union of cooperative in Karongi.

Shyigikira Ubuzima(Rubavu)

The cooperative started in 2009 and it owns two houses in Rubavu town worth 38 million francs. The cooperative has a piggery pen with 26 pigs, and owns land

in Rubavu district.

Inama y’ubuzima Busasamana(Rubavu)

The cooperative was created in 2009. It owns three houses in Rubavu town worth 49 million francs. They generate 275,000 Rwf per month in rent. These assets wear gained from the Irish potato

farming business of the cooperative.

Inyenyeri y'ubuzima(Burera)

The cooperative was established in 2008and it own a three-hectare land worth Frw 12 million. In the recent sea-son, they harvested 45 tons of Irish pota-toes sold at 8 million francs and making

a profit of 1, 4 million francs.

12

Business Implementation

Community Health Workers Cooperative in Mwendo sector, Karongi district, in Western province known as “Abakunda ubuzima Cooperative” is success story in the coffee business since 2006.The cooperative owns a coffee plantation on a seven-hectare land worth 10 million in Mwendo sector.Members of this cooperative proudly believe in themselves for greater achievements and this is a best practice they possess.

For instance, they are aiming at raising the bar by installing a small scale coffee washing and processing factory to counter low value prices they are getting for the coffee they produce, from local buyers.To acquire knowledge that will enable them improve their products, members of this cooperative undertake study tours which exposes them to other peoples’ way of doing business.

Learning from others is a policy they have integrated within their cooperative. In a study tour they conducted to

Mubuga where there is a local coffee washing

and processing factory they acquired shared knowledge that will help them achieve their next plan of installing their own small scale coffee washing and processing factory.

The Cooperative Vice President Josephine Tuyisenge is proud of the direction the cooperative is taking whereby they aim to generate more income from their cooperative business by investing heavily in coffee value chain.

In order to raise its profile, the cooperative has paid six million and five hundred thousand francs to become a member of a Union of cooperatives in Karongi District.

The union is building a business house that the cooperative president says it will bring benefits for the members.

Benefits Sticking together has led to greater rewards for the members as testified by some of the members of the cooperative. Bankundiye Daphrose, 42, confesses that before she joined the cooperative, it was very difficult for her to acquire the basic needs for a living but now her lifestyle has improved.

She emphasizes: “before I didn’t have any single source of income but now, I receive an income which enables me to cater for the family’s basic needs”

Habimana David, 40, say: “I have achieved some targets since I joined the cooperative. I acquired some livestock which I sold afterwards to buy a land worth Frw 50,000. Before I joined the cooperative, it was really hard for me to achieve anything. But since I joined the cooperative my lifestyle has changed.”Theogène Ndungirije,41, has been in the cooperative for seven years. From the PBF he received, he says he was able to acquire a plot of land worth 280,000 Frw while Deborah Mushimiyimana, 35, says with savings from the cooperative totaling Frw 100,000, was able to connect her house to an electricity grid.In union with other twenty-two cooperatives in the region, Abakunda Ubuzima Cooperative is planning to build a business complex worthy 330 million francs.

A coffee plantation owned by Abakunda Ubuzima Cooperative in Karongi district.

A CHW cooperative in coffee business

Deborah Mushimiyimana connected her house to an electricity grid.

13

Community Health Workers in Gakenke district, Janja sector in Northern Province depend on mobile communication technology in delivering their community health services.They use it to collect data from the members of the community through the use of RapidSMS, especially regarding information related to risks of maternal deaths, and health issues of children less than two years (age, weight, nutrition, height, etc). all information gathered is sent to the central server managed by the Ministry of Health.Nevertheless, due limited electricity in the area, they found difficulties to recharge their cell phones whenever their batteries went down. This affected their reporting rate supposed to be shared through RapidSMS.Given that challenge, the “Abakunda Ubuzima” cooperative decided to assist some of its members to get access to solar electricity to enable them perform their duties effectively. Agathe Mukakabera,50, a member of the Abakunda Ubuzima says that “I got solar electricity with support from the cooperative which has enabled me to Rapidly report by use of SMS….”In solving the electricity energy problem, “Abakunda Ubuzima” cooperative spent about 800,000frw to help their members solve the problem through provision of solar energy as an alternative. Almost 16 of its members that were finding it more difficult to report using the mobile technology were relieved of the challenge. Mukakabera adds: “We were told (by the cooperative) to get solar electricity and that required personal efforts; I couldn’t get

the required 100,000 Frw. The cooperative said it shall lend us 50,000 Frw, and we contribute the rest. The cooperative lent me that money, and I have started to repay. I can recharge my phone battery now, I have light, I thank the cooperative for this,” Nsabimana Gaston, secretary of the cooperative’s board, says that “now we always have fully charged phone batteries and producing Rapid SMS reports on time and the ultimate profit is that lives are saved and also our families have electricity. It is a big credit to the cooperative.” The RapidSMS reporting has been effective in communication especially when reporting cases of malnourished children. Whenever it is detected that there is weight faltering or any other issue, the message is sent to the central server for immediate action. Owing to lack of electricity in the area yet most the cell phone batteries need to be recharged to keep their RapidSMS reporting service operational, the cooperative decided to facilitate its members with solar panels and this has been of great help. CHWs no longer travel long distances to look for electricity to recharge their batteries. The members of Abakunda Ubuzima cooperative are thankful of this intervention as a result of a return on investments the cooperative made in its various income generating activities. The cooperative started in 2009 in livestock but changed its business concept to selling fertilizers. After realizing that goat farming wouldn’t get the cooperative to higher heights, members say that they realized that there is demand for fertilizers within their local markets and decided to go for that.

Solar energy solution16 members of the cooperative received a

solar panel.Quick facts

Cooperative COBOSARU (Gatsibo)

Started in 2010. They have a huge commercial building and other ac-tivities generating incomes, next to a known market of Rwagitima. Their assets are estimated at above 50 Rwandan Francs. Apart from the ordi-nary committees, they added anoth-er one which is in charge of trainings for capacity building of all coopera-

tive members.

Imboni za Nyamirambo(Nyarugenge)

Started in 2008. Starting with a can-teen at the Rugarama Health cen-tre, every member paid a share of 5,000Frw each. They have a commer-cial building and two for habitation with an income of 350,000Frw per month. They have 3 undergraduate’s level members, which help them to achieve their targets. Their assets are valued at over 60 million Rwandan

Francs.

Amizero y’ubuzima Musambira(Kamonyi )

Started in 2009 and it was given a le-gal status in 2014. They started with a project of 950 chickens produced of 600 eggs per day. Their target is 3000 chickens by end of this year. Month-ly, the Cooperative gets 300,000Frw and houses generate 79,000Frw. The asset of cooperative has a value of 43

million Rwandan Francs.

KOARUNGE/KOAIRUNGE( Ngoma )

The cooperative started its activities in 2008, they have a big shelter con-taining around 1136 chicken, the tar-get is more than 3000 modern chick-ens and at least produce 3000 eggs per day. All committees are headed by women. Their assets are valued at around of 55 million Rwandan Francs.

14

A Community Health Workers Cooperative in Cyeza Sector known as “Akeza k’i Cyeza” in Muhanga District, has a small number of members but productive. The cooperative has a majority number of women compared to men that is 34 to 17 women and men respectively. After forming their cooperative they conducted a market study to inform their decision on which business to invest in. Their decision to orient their business into maize flour production was informed by a market study and analysis as explained by the President Mr. Bizimutima Vedaste. “We realized that no one in the area was trading in maize flour and yet

there was demand for the product. We took the decision to start up a maize milling business. Today our product ‘Akeza k’i Cyeza’ is remarkable and our customers in Muhanga and Kamonyi districts like it. Our product is in fact an answer to the people who used to shop maize flour from Muhanga which is a long distance…” says the President of CHWs’ cooperative.According to Mr. Bizumutima, “it takes teamwork, transparency, accountability and commitment to sustain the survival of a small membership cooperative like ours, and this is what has kept “Turengere Ubuzima Cyeza Cooperative performing.”

He further advises: “the cooperative is not a one -person b u s i n e s s - t h e Chairperson, but all m e m b e r s . W i t h o u t o w n e r s h i p and close follow up by all members t h e

cooperative may collapse any time…” The cooperative member’s and mostly women confess that their cooperative has helped them develop leadership qualities which they end up applying in the communities they live in to transform others people’s lives. These women are role models in the community and have been empowered to take on important decisions even without consulting their partners. Their ideas are valued by the community because of the confidence and self-esteem they demonstrate. Uwamahoro Rosette, a member of CHWs’ cooperative Turengere Ubuzima Cyeza, expressed: “I am

confident to stand in front many people without fear, and share with them my views without fear. I am committed to give all my effort to develop my cooperative and to work hand in hand with fellow members.” She further says that she feels totally different from other women who do not join cooperatives and serve as Community Health Workers, because her mind is open and her entire family is healthy. Besides benefiting from the cooperatives business financially, every member receives a sac of maize’s flour to share with their families, and also market the product to their family members. The cooperative has also expanded and diversified its business into other ventures such as piggery and cereals milling business.Rutobwe Health Centre has been so helpful in supporting the cooperative to operate as a healthy business guided by strategic and action plans and market studies. Every member of the cooperative is expected to receive 10.000frw and 25 Kgs of maize flour from the cooperative on a quarterly. Members have confidence in their leaders because they believe in their planning and visionary capacities to maintain the growth and

development their cooperative.

Cooperative market analysis benefits

The produc-tion house of Turengeru-buzima Cyeza Cooperative.

Business Implementation Business Implementation

Maize flour “Akeza k’i Cyeza” attracts many admirers in Muhanga and Kamonyi Districts.

15

Inyenyeri y’Ubuzima Cooperative in Kinoni sector, Burera district, in Northern province is investing in a facility that will serve as a collection center of irish potatoes. This initiative is a milestone achievement that will add value to the produce of irish potatoes in the area and hence increase the market to yield profits.The cooperative engaged PSDAG- a Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth project supported by USAID to support them to acquire of equipments worth 8,000,000 francs to set a potato collection center in order to facilitate value chain with stakeholder’s contribution 50% of the total value.The cooperative took the advantage of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce’s new strategy of marketing Irish potatoes in Rwanda through potato collection centers and this is intended to increase small scale farmers to address the challenges in selling their produce at a fair price. According to its members, Inyenyeri y’Ubuzima cooperative had difficulties to stock its harvest and used to find it difficult to get seeds for the new season, as they didn’t have a means to stock the produce. In some cases, they had to sell the harvest on losses, rushing to exhaust it before it gets rotten, thus selling at low prices. But now the cooperative president Charles Nsabimana says that the collection center and storage facility will enable the cooperative to over those challenges. “The equipment will insure potato produce is properly sorted, weighed, and packaged according to the standards” says the President.The cooperative facility, is going to

have greater impact as the cooperative is looking to buy produce from local farmers, stock the produce and resale it to processing factories.The cooperative’s produce in the resent season was 45 tons of irish potatoes

which earned the cooperative around 8,000,000 francs. The Irish potatoes plantation is on an eight-hectare land including three hectares registered in names of the cooperative while other five hectares are leased.

A CHWs cooperative to own an irish potato collection center

Charles Nsabimana , Inyenyeri y’Ubuzi-ma president.

Technical Support Effectiveness

“As Health Workers, you

are charged with fighting

diseases and ensuring

improved health of the

population. However,

you are also responsible

for other developmental

programs of the country”.

H.E President Paul

Kagame addressing the

Imbangukiragutabara,

August 2009.