Digital Skills for Employability to equip 10,000 Young People in Rwanda with digital and entrepreneurial skills to secure dignified and fulfilling livelihoods in the digital economy

KIGALI, Rwanda, October 17, 2024 — Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda

We are excited to announce the launch of the Digital Skills for Employability (DSE) program, a transformative initiative contributing to the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy. In partnership with Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda (DOT Rwanda) and in collaboration with a consortium of local youth-serving organizations, including Intango Technical Secondary School (TSS), Igire Rwanda Organization (IRO), Knowledge LAB (kLab), and SOLVIT Africa, the DSE program will equip over 10,000 young people—particularly young women—with the digital and entrepreneurial skills necessary to secure dignified and fulfilling livelihoods in Rwanda’s digital economy. Working together, we will provide hands-on digital and entrepreneurial training, fostering the development of future-ready skills for youth in both urban and rural areas.

Rwanda faces a pressing challenge in its youth labor market. According to the Labour Force Survey 2022, 35.6% of the country’s young population (16-30 years) is categorized as neither in employment, education, nor training (NEET). The gender disparity is concerning, with young women experiencing a 41% NEET rate, compared to 29.9% for young men. Without access to digital skills and technology, these young people, particularly youth in rural areas and women in general, are increasingly left behind as Rwanda transitions into a knowledge-based economy.

“At DOT Rwanda, we believe that equipping young people with digital and entrepreneurial skills is key to unlocking their potential and fostering sustainable livelihoods. Partnering with the Mastercard Foundation, we are privileged to lead a consortium of local youth-serving organizations through the Digital Skills for Employability (DSE) program. Together, we are working towards our shared goals of empowering young people and vulnerable groups across Rwanda, helping them take control of their futures within the digital economy.”

Violette Uwamutara, Vice President, Sub-Saharan Africa and Country Director, Rwanda

The DSE program is addressing this gap by focusing on vulnerable groups such as young women, youth in rural areas, refugees, and people living with disabilities. By empowering these groups, the program will break the cycle of underemployment, ensuring that they gain the skills needed to secure sustainable livelihoods and thrive in the digital economy.

Two targeted pathways will ensure that the DSE program equips youth with the skills and support they need to succeed in the digital economy:

• Beginner Digital and Business Skills: This pathway, delivered by Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda and kLab, supports young entrepreneurs and those operating necessity-based businesses by providing fundamental digital literacy, entrepreneurship training, and skills in financial management and marketing. Participants will receive personalized coaching, mentorship, and access to finance and supportive business networks. With a strong focus on young women, the program targets youth who are not engaged in education or employment, as well as those underemployed, particularly in rural areas.

• Intermediate and Advanced Digital Skills for Digital Jobs: This pathway, delivered by Intango Technical Secondary School (TSS), Igire Rwanda Organization (IRO), Knowledge LAB (kLab), and SOLVIT Africa, focuses on equipping youth with high-demand technical skills such as software development, cybersecurity, data analysis, and UI/UX design. Participants will also receive support for internships, apprenticeships, and job placements. The program specifically targets young people who are not currently engaged in education or employment and are interested in pursuing formal careers in the ICT sector.

The DSE program is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy which aims to enable 300,000 young people in Rwanda to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. 

The Digital Skills for Employability (DSE) program is an example of the Foundation’s belief in young people and our goal to enable 300,000 young women and men to access dignified and fulfilling work opportunities in Rwanda by 2030, through industry-relevant and industry-key skills for the 21st century. We are pleased to partner with Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda and the consortium of youth-serving organizations that will make this vision a reality.

David Rurangirwa, Rwanda Country Director, Mastercard Foundation

By focusing on entrepreneurship, digital skills, and leadership, the DSE program ensures that Rwandan youth—particularly women—can access opportunities in the IT sector, start and strengthen businesses, and future-proof their careers. Stay tuned for updates as we begin this journey toward empowering the next generation of Rwandan leaders in the digital economy!

For further information, please contact:

Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Rwanda

Violette Uwamutara, Vice President, Sub-Saharan Africa and Country Director, Rwanda

E-mail: rwanda@dotrust.org

Mastercard Foundation

Nicolas Emane, Partner Program Communications, Rwanda

E-mail: nemane@mastercardfdn.org