Skills Development Fund

#HappeningNow: Rwanda TVET Board, in partnership with @giz_rwanda, is hosting the Eco-Emploi and Skills Development for Economic Transformation (SD4T) Programme Steering Committee Meeting & Closure Event. This session reflects on 15 years of impact, celebrates key achievements, and reinforces dialogue on sustaining partnerships and advancing skills development beyond the programme.

Today, we proudly graduated over 340 learners through our Short Course programs: 228 in Culinary Arts and 112 in Warehouse Management, under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative. Congratulations to all graduates! 🎓

The two-day event brought together delegates from five countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Kenya, Poland and Rwanda to accelerate innovation, sustainability and stronger Africa Europe collaboration in agricultural TVET.

In the late afternoon, all delegates visited EFA Nyagahanga TSS to experience how the school delivers training in agriculture-related trades and to facilitate best practice exchange.

The official opening of the Africa Europe Skills Forum was followed by discussions that highlighted TVET’s strategic role in sustainable development and the need to strengthen Africa–Europe partnerships in vocational training. #NanjyeNdiTVET

It was followed by the Industry–Academia Collaboration in Agriculture panel, which stressed how partnerships modernize training, align curricula with industry needs, and open doors to employment.

Discussions shifted to digital innovation and skills development in vocational education and training, with a focus on expanding access to digital tools and technologies. Panelists emphasized the importance of modernizing curricula, strengthening industry collaboration, and equipping learners with the skills required to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

The ISHEMA Project Steering Committee convened today at Kinazi TSS to review progress and share key updates on the initiative aimed at establishing three TVET Centres of Excellence in Agriculture. The steering committee also received updates on the Ubuhinzi Skills+ project, which aims to establish two additional TVET Centres of Excellence in Agriculture, and toured the school to assess ongoing developments and ensure alignment on next steps.

The Africa-Europe Skills Forum, that has been taking place in Kigali over the past two days, wrapped up with DG @PUmukunzi thanking participants for their insights and commitment, urging all partners to turn dialogue into action to advance future-ready skills across both region.

Today, Rwanda TVET Board, in partnership with the MeOut Group through the EU-funded PRO S Initiative (Promoting Sustainability and Innovation in Agriculture TVET through Cross Sectoral Cooperation Project), opened the Africa Europe Skills Forum in Kigali. The meeting was officiated by @pgatabazi Chief Technical Advisor @Rwanda_Edu .

This afternoon, a World Bank delegation led by Mr. Qimiao Fan, Division Director For Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda; and Sahr Kpundeh, Rwanda Country Manager, visited C&D Products Rwanda, a clothing company that trains and employs Rwandan youth in garment manufacturing through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Program. The purpose of the visit was to observe the progress achieved and the tangible impact of the program on skills development and employability. C&D Products Rwanda currently employs more than 7,000 people, with plans for further expansion. Notably, 3,227 employees have been trained and hired through the SDF program since the partnership began in 2020. The overall objective of @SDF_Rwanda is to support the development of a dynamic, skilled, and competitive workforce in line with Rwanda’s National Skills Development and Employment Promotion Strategy (NSDEPS).

Today, we received a Swiss delegation led by Piero Marchesi, a member of the National Council of the Swiss Parliament. The delegation visited Gacuriro TSS, one of 16 schools implementing Dual TVET under the project “Contribution to Support the National System of Dual TVET in Rwanda,” supported by the Government of Switzerland through @SwissDevCoop. During the visit, the delegation toured the school and engaged with students, who showcased their competencies and demonstrated how the Dual TVET model combining classroom learning with workplace-based training, is equipping them with industry-ready skills and preparing them to thrive in a competitive job market. The delegation commended the strong partnership and joint efforts contributing to the strengthening of Rwanda’s national Dual TVET system.

Today, a delegation of partners led by the World Bank’s Regional Director for Human Development, Daniel Dulitzky, visited @GarageAtecar to engage with trainees enrolled in the @SDF_Rwanda . The delegation toured the workshops, where trainees showcased the practical skills they have developed through the program. In the first two phases, the Skills Development Fund (SDF) trained 23,296 beneficiaries, 84.3% of whom secured employment. In this third phase, the program aims to train more than 70,000 beneficiaries over the next four years.

@TemacoBuilders is honored to host trainees from @RTB_Rwanda and @SDF_Rwanda , providing them with practical, industry-based training in fiberglass production and paver manufacturing.This initiative reflects our strong commitment to knowledge transfer, job creation and innovation

Through our partnership with @RTB_Rwanda under the SDF program, 20 students at our VTC in @RubavuDistrict have completed 3 months of classroom learning in tailoring. They’re now starting their 3-month internships to sharpen their skills and confidently step into the job market.

🚨 Big shoutout to @visionjeunesse2 ,@RTB_Rwanda & @SDF_Rwanda for empowering 20 youth at VJN VTC in Nyundo, @RubavuDistrict! 3 months of tailoring mastery down, now onto 3 months of internship! 🥼👔 🎉Thank you for equipping young people with skills for jobs & self-reliance. #VJNEmpowers

🎓 Vocational training is a game-changer! Empowering youth with skills like tailoring opens doors to jobs & self-reliance. 🎉 Kudos to @visionjeunesse2, @RTB_Rwanda & @SDF_Rwanda for supporting brighter futures!

Today, the Director General @PUmukunzi welcomed Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Executive Chairman of the National Skills Council of Malta and Guardian of the kENUP (Africa) Foundation. During the meeting, possible avenues of collaboration between Rwanda and Malta in the field of TVET and skills development were explored. Recently Dr Pullicino Orlando has also been appointed by the Maltese Parliament as High Commissioner to Rwanda.

Over 150 tailoring professionals have,for the first time,received certificates from @RTB_Rwanda under the #IgireKumurimo program by #Mifotra partnership with #RTA and @PSF_Rwanda with support from the @GermanyinRwanda 🇷🇼#Rwanda #SkillsDevelopmen #TVET #YouthEmpowerment

Yesterday, 400 skilled carpenters earned National Certification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program in our collaboration with @RTB_Rwanda & Skills Development Fund. Their experience, talent & dedication are now officially recognized. #SkillsMatter