How I&K and BOOST are powering green jobs and nutrition in Kigali
- Thamires Pecis
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
Through the BOOST project, local businesses in Rwanda are finding new ways to combine green mobility, job creation, and social impact. One of these businesses is I&K, a Kigali-based enterprise specialising in sustainable egg delivery.
Founded three years ago in Kimironko, I&K started as a small operation delivering eggs by traditional bicycle. Today, with BOOST’s support, the company employs 15 young men and women, is expanding the use of electric bicycles, and is improving access to nutritious food through deliveries across Kigali. The plan is to increase its workforce to more than 60 employees as it opens new branches in Kicukiro, Gikondo, and Kimisagara.
“BOOST aligns perfectly with our mission to ensure efficient egg delivery while creating jobs for young people,” says Issai Kwizera, Managing Director of I&K. “This partnership is helping us grow our workforce and sustain our operations.”
Green mobility as a choice
Initially relying on traditional bicycles, the company has since invested in electric bikes to increase speed and capacity while maintaining its environmental commitment. This shift supports Rwanda’s national goals to promote sustainable transport and reduce carbon emissions.
“Electric bikes are cost-effective, efficient, and perfect for Kigali’s urban mobility needs,” says Kwizera. “With more support, we can replace all our traditional bikes and make our delivery system fully sustainable.”
For I&K, the environmental benefits go hand-in-hand with social impact. The company’s delivery service helps make eggs more accessible, directly addressing malnutrition. I&K is considering launching a campaign to collaborate with school feeding programs, proposing that each child receive one egg per week as part of their lunch, a simple but powerful step towards better nutrition.
Women at the centre of the change
Gender equality is part of the company’s DNA. Women work in customer service, logistics, and management, and are equally considered for leadership roles. This inclusive approach is transforming perceptions about who can thrive in delivery and logistics work.
Immaculée Nyiransengimana, Customer Relationship Manager at I&K, shares how joining the company changed her trajectory:
“I went from staying at home all day to becoming an active contributor to my household income. Now I can support my family and even buy small but important things for my child, like fruit. This experience gave me confidence and ambition to one day start my own business.”
Her story is echoed by many women in the company. Women contribute to deliveries, manage customer relationships, and play a key role in business development.
“The most important thing is confidence,” says Kwizera. “Women can do this work just as well as men, and they bring discipline and strong management skills to the table.”
Long-term impact
The collaboration between I&K and the BOOST project is designed not only to grow the business in the short term but also to ensure lasting employment beyond the project’s lifetime. By providing resources and strategic guidance, BOOST supports I&K’s efforts to professionalise its operations and create stable, long-term jobs. As Issai Kwizera says:
“I believe that the BOOST project, as its name suggests, is meant to boost our initiative and help keep our work moving forward. Our ambition is to continue growing and sustaining our business. The end of BOOST support does not mean the end of our work. Instead, it marks the beginning of a more sustainable phase where the jobs created continue beyond the project period.”
With its mix of green mobility, nutritional impact, and inclusive employment, I&K is showing how local businesses can become drivers of systemic change. Its partnership with BOOST is a model for how targeted support can help small enterprises grow while contributing to national development goals.
Comments