REQUEST FOR APPLICATION(RFA) CALL FOR APPLICATION TO IMPLEMENT INCLUSIVE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (HRM) CAPACITY BUILDING FOR PRIVATE SECTOR COMPA…

Request For Application (RFA)

Call for Application to Implement Inclusive Human Resource Management (HRM) Capacity Building for Private Sector Companies and their Umbrella Bodies to enhance the quality of working conditions.

Feed the Future Rwanda Hanga Akazi (HA) Activity is a 5-year USAID-Funded Activity designed to facilitate growth leading to inclusive job creation and entrepreneurship development in Rwanda’s agri-food system. Using a market systems approach, the Activity aims to collaborate with private and public sector to support access to productive resources for enterprises and entrepreneurs in the agri-food system that are poised to grow and hire. The Activity seeks to address the challenges of limited employment opportunities and entrepreneurial success for Rwandans, which hinder both economic growth and the nation's development goals. A core focus of HA is addressing the barriers to inclusivity in Rwanda's private sector. This involves raising awareness of the social and economic benefits of inclusivity—particularly for women, youth, and persons with disabilities —and supporting organizations to create inclusive work environments that promote equitable employment opportunities. The overarching goal is to catalyze sustainable, inclusive economic development in alignment with Rwanda's Vision 2050 and USAID’s mission to foster resilience and self-reliance.

The Activity intends to partner with training providers, NGOs and other private sector entities operating in the Human resources management and human capital development sector in the implementation of inclusive Human Resource Management (HRM) capacity-building initiatives within Rwanda's private sector. The goal is to build the capacity of at least 100 private sector companies and sectorial umbrella bodies on promoting the adoption of inclusive HRM policies and practices in their businesses. The intervention will enhance the quality of working conditions by promoting the adoption of inclusive HRM policies and practices, focusing on sectors with high potential for systemic change, such as hospitality, processing, and manufacturing. The Activity has no geographic restrictions and is open to partnerships throughout the country.

Final funding levels will depend on quality of applications received, number of fundable applications received, market needs, availability of funding, suitability of the application in line with Hanga Akazi’s scope of work and competing priorities. Grants will be awarded competitively in amounts commensurate with their impact but shall not exceed the maximum amount of RWF 60,000,000.

Title

Feed the Future Rwanda Hanga Akazi Call for Partners

RFA No

RFA-HA-2024-008

To download the RFA Application form

RFA Application Forms are posted in: www.rti.org/rfp

RFA Application Forms can also be requested at CGF-Grants@Hanga-Akazi.org

Any questions please email

CGF-Grants@Hanga-Akazi.org

Submit RFA Package to

CGF-Grants@Hanga-Akazi.org

Date of Issue

January 15, 2025

Deadline to Submit Questions

January 22, 2025

Response to Questions published

Responses to questions will be published at www.rti.org/rfp on the dates indicated below and also sent via email.

January 27, 2025

Date of Application Closing

February 03, 2025

Background

Rwanda's private sector has demonstrated increasing interest in adopting inclusive HRM policies. However, systemic challenges such as limited knowledge and awareness, deep-rooted cultural biases, and inadequate training on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles have hindered widespread implementation. HA's interventions in Year 1 and Year 2 revealed significant willingness and knowledge gaps, with many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) unaware of unconscious biases in recruitment or the broader benefits of inclusivity.

In response, HA partnered with local HRM firms to pilot and scale interventions, reaching over 100 SMEs across key sectors. The hospitality sector emerged as a priority due to its documented challenges, including incidents of sexual harassment and other forms of workplace discrimination. Through personalized coaching and capacity building, HA has demonstrated that inclusive HRM practices can drive positive mindset shifts and enhance compliance with regulations, ultimately improving working conditions. Some of the key achievements included;

Transforming Workforce Inclusivity: Participating SMEs embraced inclusive hiring by recruiting individuals with disabilities. This led to visible success stories, inspiring sector-wide adoption of similar practices.Significant Job Creation: Over 521 new roles were created, and 531 existing roles were improved through better working conditions, such as contracts, insurance schemes, and leave policies.Mindset Shift Towards Inclusivity: The intervention changed private sector perceptions, establishing inclusivity as a business asset that improves productivity, reputation, and customer satisfaction.Strengthened HR Practices: Companies sought advanced HR services, signaling industry-wide commitment to improved HR operations and compliance with labor laws.Increased Legal Awareness: SMEs improved adherence to labor standards, reducing legal risks and enhancing ethical employment practices.

Building on this foundation, HA will launch Phase 3 of its inclusive HRM capacity-building initiative. This phase will focus on equipping key actors, such as umbrella bodies and sector associations like PSF, Rwanda Hospitality Associations with the tools and knowledge to promote and capacitate their private sectors members on inclusive HRM policies and practices.

Problem statement

Despite these successes, significant challenges remain. Over 60% of SMEs lack inclusive HRM policies, leaving employees vulnerable to workplace abuses such as discrimination and harassment. Cultural biases and misconceptions about the costs of inclusivity exacerbate…