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M. Tech. Business Information Systems / In the last decade, Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), and Women-owned SMMEs in particular, have significantly increased in many parts of the world. The growing contribution of SMMEs towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), job creation, poverty reduction, social and economic development, can no longer be ignored. In recognition of the significance of SMMEs, many countries in the world have created special mechanisms to enhance and facilitate the creation and growth of SMMEs. Lately, the main support services offered to small enterprises include both business development services and financial services by using the cutting edge of Information Communication Technologies (ICT). However, a review of various writings has revealed that despite efforts by numerous governments to establish a support structure for SMMEs, their efforts have not been very rewarding. SMMEs still complain about the lack of access to government support and services. Issues of accessibility were worsened as female business owners face different challenges than their male counterparts. A review of those challenges was conducted in the context of Rwanda. By using a multiple case study design and an interview method for the collection of data, the study identified the support and services provided by the government and the challenges that women-owned SMMEs encountered in their attempts to access them.

This work is a contextual study of five selected biblical texts from the Fourth Gospel: John 2:1-12 and John 19:25-29; John 4:1-42; John 11:1-12:1-11 and John 18:15-17. Its aim is to read the selected texts with a Rwandan woman’s eyes, focusing on her peacemaking role and her potential as an agent of reconciliation. It is motivated by the context of the Rwandan situation during and after the catastrophic genocide of 1994. This work seeks to open the eyes of Rwandan women toward the role of peacemaking and unity-building by using a combined approach to conflict resolution. This approach includes the application of some theories in the domain of sociology, as well as the contextual biblical approach. Thus, it combines the capacity of awareness of conflicts in the community and its pain in the victim, and strives to restore the broken relationship caused by the conflict. The reading of the biblical texts with Rwandan eyes and the dialogue with the texts pointed out that the women used some tools in the gospel for success in the role of peacemaking and peace-building in their communities. The main tools are listed in the data findings of the exegesis. But mainly the transcendence of conflictual myths of origin to with kinship ties was found to be a major tool for breaking the kind of barriers which could lead to genocide. This research also highlights the failure of women in that domain because of their lack of transcendence of obligations based on regional and kinship ties. They fail to display their ubumuntu and their ubunyampinga. They rather point fingers at the victims instead of siding with or shielding them. Various suggestions are made for women to play a successful role in bringing about true and lasting peace and reconciliation, pointing out some ways in which Rwandan women can help to restore unity and trust among the population. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Nowadays, change becomes more and more a continuous basis of the educational systems for their improvement. People increasingly need to tackle and cope with their organisational environments which are complex and dynamic. However, the problem is to know how to move from the status quo to the situation wherein all stakeholders should work both individually and collaboratively as inquirers and learners to investigate and solve problems. My case study is located at the heart of this context. Its purpose was to investigate why and how the process of curriculum change was managed in the National University of Rwanda from 1995. In addition, it aimed to identify how the University community should come together to handle curriculum change as an ongoing feature of improvement, and as a learning organisation. This research was carried out through a triangulation of participant observation, documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews. Throughout my case study, I observed that orientations and needs for changing the curricula in the National University of Rwanda essentially stemmed from the situation inherited from the war, genocide and massacres undergone by the country in 1994. Furthermore, initiating curriculum change came from the top management, while the basic organ to deal with development and its implementation was the Department. I noted also that it is likely the National University of Rwanda focused more on changing curriculum frameworks than changing organisational habits, behaviours, values, skills and beliefs. Although the shift to the new culture is at the centre of a learning organisation, most of the time this aspect is left untouched in practice. As lecturers in a professional organisation such as the National University of Rwanda have the skills and control over their own work, I conclude that they are in a position to play a vital role to manage curriculum change, learn from it, help students and other stakeholders learn from and take part within it. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Various literature suggest that securing access to land and guaranteeing land tenure security is essential for diverse land-based livelihoods and remains a prerequisite for sustainable agriculture, economic growth and poverty reduction. Secure land tenure is recognized as a key element to meeting the MDG target 11 to achieve significant improvement in the lives of 100 million slums dwellers by 2020. In the case of Rwanda, land tenure reform involves changes in land tenure systems from traditional and customary arrangements to more simple, modern and streamlined land tenure mechanisms guided by a core land registration system which is affordable, efficient and participatory. This development towards change in land registration patterns requires strong instruments for monitoring and evaluation and impact assessment of land registration implementation. The main purpose of this research is to develop key indicators to be used as baseline monitoring and evaluation instruments for land registration implementation in Rwanda, the shortage of time having limited the case study to one, but important District of Rwanda: Gasabo. The conceptual argument follows the logic of thinking that, when land tenure, symbolized by different values is supported by formal or legal land registration procedures, it gives it a dimension of power, insurance, guarantee and security that can be symbolized by different indicators measurable as variables. Seven key indicators were identified. To test the defined baseline indicators for validity, data was obtained from a sample of 150 respondents using a cluster sampling technique and structured interviews. The findings demonstrate the defined indicators could be measured and the quality of measurement (validity) established from statistical behavior of the variables. The results have shown that none of sampled households has a land title, this effect being recognized as a major hindrance to tenure security and to fruitful investment in land. Only those few who had other kinds of documents confirming rights to land, although of lesser weight, were eligible to a loan from a bank. The results have shown that the beneficiaries of bank loans have improved their income by being involved in land transactions and by acquiring a new land as well as buying domestic animals. The results also show that these interactions have brought a significant improvement in land productivity and consequently, raised income. Although household date showed low rate of land disputes, secondary data at district level showed significantly higher rates of occurrence and very low rates of dispute resolution. It is generally observed that land disputes could be avoided or solved if sufficient operational, legal and institutional instruments for disputes resolution and land registration are in place. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

In the 1994 Rwandan genocide, rape was widely used as a strategic weapon against Tutsi women. This study explored the long term psychological effects of rape experienced by these women in order to develop a middle range theory to guide the management of the lasting psychological effects of rape in the context of genocide. A Grounded Theory approach using Strauss and Corbin’s paradigm (Strauss and Corbin, 1990) was used. Data collection entailed in-depth interviews of twenty nine participants, twelve of whom were rape survivors, ten were women who had not been raped, and seven were men from their community. Open coding, axial coding and selective coding were used to analyse the data. The results have shown that women were negatively affected, physically, psychologically and socially, by the rape. Genocide Rape Trauma emerged as a concept that defines these outcomes. It includes unbearable memories, overwhelming feelings, sense of helplessness, somatic distress, negative self-image, altered intimate relationships and social isolation. The extreme brutality, the humiliation that accompanied the experience of rape and multiple losses were reported as risk factors for the lasting psychological effects of rape. These negative outcomes were maintained by poverty, poor physical health, the burden of raising the children born of rape, hostility and stigma from their community, and lack of appropriate support and effective health care services. Facilitating the management of Genocide Rape Trauma emerged as the core category of the middle range developed theory. Recovery from Genocide Rape Trauma required formal and informal support, including psychological and medical care, sensitivity in dealing with genocide rape survivors, and advocacy. Economic empowerment was a key element, while educating the community contributed to the social integration of rape survivors and their children born of rape into their community. Women had developed coping mechanisms of their own to attain psychological relief, and had organized themselves into support groups. This study contributed to clinical practice by providing a holistic approach to taking care of rape survivors. The inclusion of such theory in the curriculum of health care professionals should contribute to the understanding of the lasting impact of rape and how to handle it in an efficient manner. Key words: Rwanda, Genocide, women survivors, Genocide Rape Trauma, Management of the long term psychological effects of rape and Grounded theory. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Ce travail qui est une recherche qualitative sur l'ethnicité au Rwanda nous a montré que les critères d'autodéfinition, d'auto-attribution ou d'attribution par les autres à une catégorie ethnique ainsi que la dichotomisation « nous » versus « eux » font que les Hutu, les Twa et les Tutsi sont groupes ethniques distincts malgré la communauté de culture et d'espace géographique. La recherche nous a montré ensuite que les drames répétitifs (pogromes, exils, génocide) qui ont endeuillé le peuple rwandais pendant plusieurs décennies ne sont pas dus à une haine atavique ou viscérale entre les Hutu et les Tutsi mais à une idéologie raciste dont les origines remontent aux temps de la colonisation. La recherche nous a montré enfin que le problème ethnique se pose chaque fois que le pouvoir monopolisé par une poignée de politiciens (Hutu ou Tutsi suivant les époques), commence à être mis en cause. In this work I use qualitative documentary research to explore the problem of ethnicity in Rwanda. I find out that self-definition, self-attribution, and attribution by others, as well as the dichotomization of “us versus them” are sufficient criteria f categorize the Hutus, Tutsis, and Twas as distinct ethnic groups in spite of the community of culture (language, custom, and religion) and of geographic space.My research also shows that the continual conflicts (pogroms, exile, and genocide) that have plagued Rwandan people for several decades are not due to an atavistic or visceral hatred between Hutus and Tutsis, but rather the result of a racist ideology whose roots lie deep in the colonial period. This work has allowed me to confirm the thesis of my research, that the “problem of ethnicity in Rwanda is stoked by an elite (whether Tutsi or Hutu depending on the era) who set their sights on seizing and maintaining power”.

Texte remanié de: Thèse--Anthropologie--Montréal--Université de Montréal, 1980. / Bibliogr. p. 255-261.

Thesis (MTech(Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / Rwanda is a low income, landlocked and heavily populated country in Sub-Sahara Africa. Regardless of its majestic landscape, rich history and culture, it is not a country that is recognized as a tourism destination. Instead, Rwanda has become known for the genocide that took place in 1994 when over one million people were killed in within a hundred day period while the rest of the world watched in silence. Since then, Rwanda has been trying to uplift its image and economy. However, unlike other African countries, Rwanda does not have mineral resources and has to focus on improving its tourism to attract more people and thereby more funds into the country. Developing tourism can play a major role in reducing the poverty level, creating employment as well as contributing to the country’s revenue. So far Rwanda has strongly relied on its famous mountain gorillas to attract tourists which can be an expensive exercise for tourists in Rwanda. By creating a more diversified number of attractions, the number of tourists to the country should increase thereby injecting much needed capital into the economy. After the 1994 genocide, Rwanda inherited several genocide sites that have been preserved by government to remind people of the massacre that took place. Even though these sites are not used for tourism gain, they are acquiring popularity as tourists to Rwanda become aware of them and the history applicable thereto. This study has been undertaken to find ways to conserve, protect and market the genocide memorial sites as tourism destinations. It is important that these heritage museums be acknowledged through the World Heritage Organisation as authentic and educational facilities for future generations to enjoy. The research project was conducted in the Kigali and Bugesera areas. A sample of three hundred and sixty (360) questionnaires was given out to participants, and a total of a hundred and fifty-seven (157) were returned, coded and analysed. Data analysis applying descriptive statistics was utilised to acquire the frequencies, which were conveyed in percentages. The study disclosed that generally tourists were impressed by the genocide memorial sites and felt that it would be of great use to protect and market them as tourism assets as they believe that many people will learn from the harsh historical event that took place in Rwanda. This investigative study could strongly benefit Rwanda in planning and deciding on an appropriate tourism marketing strategy for the genocide memorial site. The Rwandan Government, policy makers and tourism stakeholders have a lot to gain by addressing the issues that are slowing down the tourism industry. It is anticipated that when these barriers have been removed, it will add toward sustainable tourism development in Rwanda.

Thesis ( M Tech( Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / This study investigates the perceptions of the accommodation sector regarding the tourism value chain in the Western Province of Rwanda. The fact that the study could assist local communities with poverty alleviation in Rwanda has raised the issue of how the perceptions of the accommodation sector could be used to enhance the value chain so that it would benefit all the participants in the industry in that province.The study is undertaken to improve the understanding of the perceptions held by accommodation service providers regarding the tourism value chain. In order to achieve this, the researcher set out to gain a greater knowledge of tourism development planning, as well as to investigate the possible socio-cultural, economic and political impacts that could follow the effective implementation of the tourism value chain on the accommodation sector. Both the positive and the negative impacts of a tourism value chain on the local communities in Western Province of Rwanda were examined.In terms of the national tourism policy, tourism has become a priority. It is regarded as an economic activity that can contribute more than any other sector to poverty alleviation. This study therefore examines the current perceptions held by the practitioners of the industry as they develop tourism products and services in the country. In addition, the study examines the key benefits and concerns of the accommodation establishments about the tourism value chain