ENTREPRENEURIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURS IN RWANDA.

Abstract: This thesis focuses on entrepreneurial infrastructure for the development of entrepreneurs in Rwanda. However, the importance of the components of entrepreneurial infrastructure is new concept in developing countries. Indeed many of developed countries have established sustainable components of entrepreneurial infrastructure that support entrepreneurs to carry out their business activities. That is why we carried out our qualitative research in Rwanda to draw and highlight the link of establishing entrepreneurial infrastructure and the growth of businesses. The research highlights a model of entrepreneurial infrastructure and its fourteen components that could support entrepreneurs’ businesses and also help the rise of nascent entrepreneurs. Furthermore, we conducted five interviews of entrepreneurs who managed to run business in Rwanda. Entrepreneurial infrastructure model was used to draw the questionnaire in order to find out how entrepreneurs in Rwanda have experienced the existing components of entrepreneurial infrastructure and how they are contributing to their businesses. The results from qualitative research show how different components of entrepreneurial infrastructure have contributed to the development of the five entrepreneurs we interviewed. Respondents have revealed eight components that have helped them to grow; those components are ‘Financial Assistance, Training, Cultural and Social Norms, Access to Physical Infrastructure, Network/Connection, Entrepreneurial Policy, Education, and Entrepreneurial Environment’.