Through a partnership between government agencies such as RSB and RICA, alongside international organizations including the Mastercard Foundation and TradeMark Africa, 43,000 jobs are expected to be created over a five-year period, with 70% reserved for girls. This initiative aims to address unemployment among girls and women, who research frequently shows face higher rates of joblessness or earn lower wages compared to men.
To bridge this gap, the Government of Rwanda has established programs ensuring that girls study, work, and receive equal pay as men with equivalent qualifications. Young women entrepreneurs committed to investing in the agricultural and livestock value chain are among those prioritized in this project, titled the Value Added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE).
Gaju Yvonne, who works in Kayonza District, states that being employed in a factory that processes milk and fruit blends has increased her self-confidence and income. she notes that to improve their factory operations, they received training through a campaign involving RSB (quality standards), RICA (consumer protection), the Mastercard Foundation, and TradeMark Africa.
Gaju Yvonne confirms that the skills she acquired in school were strengthened by this training, stating: “Following the knowledge we gained from the VIBE program, people will no longer consume milk that has any quality issues.”
William Niyitanga Programme Officer/ TradeMark Africa,explains that they train entrepreneurs to help Rwanda develop a workforce that is highly skilled in the agricultural and livestock value chain.
He emphasizes that the program also plans to build the capacity of 200 young professionals to assist industries in achieving quality standards, 100 of whom will receive formal certification for their expertise.
A unique aspect of this program is that it provides skills to entrepreneurs in agriculture, livestock, and meat processing, women involved in export trade, and those utilizing E-commerce. This comes at a time when unemployment among girls and women in Rwanda remains a challenge; statistics indicate that youth unemployment—particularly among girls—is higher than among older adults, and more prevalent in rural areas than in urban centers.
Girls often face obstacles such as limited access to well-paying jobs, domestic responsibilities that reduce their job-seeking time, and a lack of adequate training in market-relevant skills. Despite these challenges, the Government of Rwanda continues to provide training and loans, enabling many to enter professions traditionally dominated by men, such as technology and construction, through associations and projects that support entrepreneurship.
