For three days, from January 12 to 14, 2026, economic reporters and journalists from different media houses are gathered at the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) headquarters for a training on financial sector stability, a topic often seen as technical, but one that quietly affects the daily lives of millions.
The training was officially inaugurated by the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda,Soraya Hakuziyaremye, who emphasized the critical role journalists play beyond reporting headlines.
Journalists, she noted, are partners in communicating, informing, and educating the population about government programs, policies, and activities, including those related to the financial system.
Bridging expertise and public understanding
At its core, the training acknowledges a simple reality: financial stability is too important to remain the language of experts alone.
Banks, microfinance institutions, insurers, and other financial actors shape how people save, borrow, invest, and survive economic shocks. When these systems are stable, societies benefit. When they are not, ordinary citizens often pay the highest price, through inflation, loss of savings, reduced access to credit, or economic uncertainty.
Yet, financial stability is rarely explained in simple, accessible terms, this is where journalists come in.
By strengthening reporters’ understanding of how the financial sector works, the central bank aims to ensure that economic information reaching the public is accurate, contextual, and meaningful, rather than confusing or alarmist.
What the training covers and why it matters
Over the three days, participants are engaging with topics that go beyond basic financial reporting, including:
- An overview of financial stability and why it is essential for economic resilience
- The structure of Rwanda’s financial sector, including how different institutions interact
- Micro-financial linkages, showing how risks in one area can affect the wider system
- Business models and financial risks, helping journalists better interpret financial data, trends, and policy decisions
These sessions are designed to equip journalists with analytical skills, not just information, enabling them to ask better questions, interpret signals of risk, and explain complex developments in ways that citizens can understand.
From training room to newsroom
The real impact of the training is expected after journalists return to their newsrooms.
For radio listeners, it could mean clearer explanations of interest rate changes,
more nuanced reporting on banking reforms. For online audiences, fewer rumors and more fact-based analysis during moments of economic uncertainty.
In a time when misinformation spreads quickly, particularly around money and markets, informed journalism becomes a form of public protection.
By investing in journalists’ financial literacy, the central bank is indirectly investing in public trust, economic awareness, and informed decision-making among citizens.
Beyond reporting numbers
Ultimately, the training recognizes that economic reporting is not only about figures and policy statements. It is about connecting financial decisions to real human experiences, livelihoods, businesses, savings, and futures.
As participants deepen their understanding of financial stability, the expectation is that their audiences, too, will gain a clearer picture of how the financial system works, and why its stability matters to everyone, not just economists.
