BRD Export Growth Fund: application portal
Designing the website and application portal where Rwandan exporters check eligibility and apply for financing, grants and guarantees under the Export Growth Fund (EGF).
Context
The Export Growth Fund gives export-oriented businesses access to financing, grants and guarantees. Applicants are business owners, often applying for the first time, who need to understand which instrument fits them and then submit a complete, verifiable application.
The problem
A funding application is high-stakes and long. Owners abandon forms that feel opaque, and the fund needs complete, KYC-ready submissions. The portal had to build trust, make the choice between instruments obvious, and let applicants save progress and come back.
The solution
- Eligibility first. The landing page pairs “Apply Now” with “Check Eligibility” so applicants can qualify themselves before investing time.
- Low-friction sign-in. Phone-number login with an OTP code, suited to how most Rwandan users already authenticate.
- Choose the right programme. The application starts by selecting a type: Investment Catalyst Fund, Matching Grant, Export Credit Guarantee Facility or Industrial Start-Up Fund.
- Progress you can see and save. A stepper (personal details, KYC information, upload files), “Save & Close” and “Next Step”, plus a profile completion prompt on the dashboard.
Outcome and what I learned
Delivered a complete flow from landing page to the first application step, in a dark, high-contrast brand style for the public pages and a light, form-friendly workspace once the applicant is signed in. Lesson: split the experience by mood. Persuasion pages can be bold; form pages must be calm.
Next step I would take: design the document-upload step and the application status tracker, and test the stepper with first-time applicants.