Kinyarwanda, Rwanda4 Comments

Kinyarwanda: getting around, instructions to taxi drivers

imadahmed

A conversation with a moto-driver at the beginning of a journey may go as follows: You: Yewe! You: Bitte Driver: Sawa You: Ndashaka kujya kuri Nakaumatt, mu mujji Driver: Yego You: Nangahe? Driver: Magana umanani You: Oya, ibi birahenze Driver: Magana atandatu You: Sawa. Ufite amafaranga mato? Driver: Yego You:  Utware bohoro kandi neza You: Hey! You: Hi Driver: Hey You: I’d like to go to the Nakaumatt in town Driver: Sure You: How much? Driver: 800 You: No, that’s too much Driver: 600 You: Okay. Do you have change? Driver: Yes You: Drive slowly and safely attention! (when hailing … Continue reading Kinyarwanda: getting around, instructions to taxi drivers

Kinyarwanda, Rwanda12 Comments

Kinyarwanda: greetings and pleasantries

imadahmed

greeting for the first time – muraho good morning – mwara mutse hello – mwiriwe have a good day – umunsi mwiza have a good day (16-18h) – umugoroba mwiza good evening – muraramukeho, umugoroba mweza good night – ijoro geza good-bye (to a lot of people) – muririrweho farwell – murabeho go well – urugenda gweza go = genda good weekend – icyumweru cyiza have a good day at work – akazi keza have good weather – mugire ibihe byiza Q: how goes it? – amakuru? A: well  – ni meza Q: abandi baraho? – how are your people? … Continue reading Kinyarwanda: greetings and pleasantries

Kinyarwanda3 Comments

Introduction to Kinyarwanda on this website

imadahmed

First of all, welcome to Rwanda! You’ll enjoy the idyllic weather in this beautiful, clean and safe country. If you’re planning on staying here a while, you’ll probably want to learn the native language Kinyarwanda for your own sanity and as a courtesy to the people here who don’t speak English, French or Swahili. Unfortunately, Kinyarwanda is a difficult language to learn. The language has many idiosyncrasies and irregularities – and not just regarding adjectives and verbs. Even nouns, such as numbers, change, depending on context. It’s also difficult finding written resources that can aid your learning. The approach I’ve taken to … Continue reading Introduction to Kinyarwanda on this website

Finance for PPPs & entrepreneursLeave a comment

Allocating & valuing risk in public-private infrastructure projects

imadahmed

Notes from Timothy Irwin’s  Government Guarantees – Allocating and Valuing Risk in Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects Bordeaux Bridge – early template of public-private partnership – Govt built bridge – Firm maintained and operated it and contributed capital for construction – Firm would get the toll for 99 years. If annual revenue < min., govt would pay the min. If >an amount, govt share half surplus On guaranteeing returns If firms aren’t convinced by the commercial viability of a project and require guaranteed returns, it’s probably not worth doing! On exchange rate risk For free floating currencies – If a govt … Continue reading Allocating & valuing risk in public-private infrastructure projects

Africa, Finance for PPPs & entrepreneursLeave a comment

Frontier market funds

imadahmed

A non-exhaustive (will be periodically updated) list of emerging and frontier market financiers: Government/multilateral development finance institutions and banks – International Finance Corporation (IFC), the for-profit arm of the World Bank – Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), US DFI – CDC Group (formerly Commonwealth Development Corporation), UK DFI – DEG, German DFI – L’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), French DFI for govt projects – Proparco, French DFI for majority-owned private sector projects – FMO, Dutch DFI – SwedFund, Swedish DFI – NorFund, Norwegian DFI – Africa Development Bank (AfDB) – Asia Development Bank (ADB) – European Investment Bank (EIB) – … Continue reading Frontier market funds

Berkeley (blog)1 Comment

Economics Nobel prize by undergraduate institution

imadahmed

The Econ Nobel started being awarded in 1969. I’ve listed the universities with an equal number of Nobels in order of which won a Nobel most recently. Observations: – Momentum has shifted from European undergrad institutions to American institutions. The last time Oxford and Leningrad graduates won the prize were in 1977 and 1975 respectively – No graduates from Stanford or UPenn, but 2 graduatesfrom Amherst and City College of New York each 1) Harvard University, 5 Christopher A. Sims, 2011 Eric S. Maskin, 2007 Roger B. Myerson, 2007 Merton H. Miller, 1990 Robert M. Solow, 1987 James Tobin, 1981 2=) University … Continue reading Economics Nobel prize by undergraduate institution

Finance for PPPs & entrepreneursLeave a comment

Tips for entrepreneurs / business managers seeking equity investments: Part 2

imadahmed

A couple of resources for entrepreneurs, on how to pitch to venture capital funds. The first is how HEC Paris lecturer Serge Desvignes of Iris Capital recommends entrepreneurs format their presentations. In 10 slides: 1 –  Offer your solution to solve problems (needs met, value proposition) 2 – Description of products/services: succinct not over-technical (picture, video, demo) 3 – Competition: how the market is divided, strengths of the competitors, why you will be able to compete successfully 4 – Your team: past successes and experience, why they are qualified for the job (core capabilities needed) 5 – Target customers (first validation … Continue reading Tips for entrepreneurs / business managers seeking equity investments: Part 2

Finance for PPPs & entrepreneurs1 Comment

Tips for entrepreneurs / business managers seeking equity investments: Part 1

imadahmed

Think of the value you create for customers vis-a-vis the competition Working in venture capital / private equity, I come across a number of poorly presented business proposals. The first thing I want to know about a business is whether it will be able to sustain growth and profitability by offering customers something of value that no-one else does – whether it be a product or service that noone else currently offers, a product or service of a higher quality or at a lower price than any competition is able to offer, or whether it maintains a monopoly/competitive edge thanks to the nature of … Continue reading Tips for entrepreneurs / business managers seeking equity investments: Part 1