Improving skills for holistic employment in modern agriculture

Context

Rwanda's Vision 2050 is an ambitious long-term development strategy aimed at transforming the country into a high-income nation with high living standards for all citizens. A key challenge is transforming the agricultural sector, which currently employs 69% of the population, to increase productivity and sustainability while reducing the percentage of people working in subsistence agriculture. This requires significant innovation in agricultural practices and a strong focus on developing high-quality agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to equip workers with the necessary skills for a more productive agricultural sector. Empowering women and youth is crucial, as they represent a significant portion of the agricultural workforce and play a vital role in driving innovation within their communities.

Project aim

The project aims to sustainably transform agricultural systems in Rwanda and improve livelihoods for women, youth, and persons with disabilities through enhanced climate-resilient TVET in agriculture. 

To achieve this, the project will establish TVET Centres of Excellence (CoEs) that provide high-quality skills training and formal certification in agriculture, food processing, and animal health. The project will also focus on enhancing mechanisms for agricultural innovation and job placement in the agricultural labour market.

By aligning training programs with industry needs and fostering connections between CoEs and the economic ecosystem, the project seeks to empower graduates, support rural communities, and contribute to the overall modernisation of Rwanda's agricultural sector.

Expected results

Expected results are:

• a strengthened Governance of central and district institutions to provide better guidance and oversight for TVET schools, ensuring curricula align with economic needs;
• the establishment of 3–5 TVET CoEs with conducive learning environments that incorporate modern teaching methods for long-term training programs and short courses for upskilling, ensuring alignment with market demands;
• the establishment of production units within the TVET CoEs to provide practical training and commercial services to enhance student employability;
• the assessment centres will be set up to facilitate Recognition of Prior Learning, allowing individuals to gain qualifications based on their existing skills;
• to improve Labor Market Insertion, the project will enhance mechanisms for workplace learning and career guidance, connecting graduates with employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.