
High rates of youth unemployment and inadequate employment opportunities continue to pose a significant challenge in Rwanda. Despite the government’s implementation of various youth employment programs and policies (YEPs), these initiatives have not been sufficient to meet the growing demand for jobs. A team of local PEP researchers evaluated these YEPs and found that while individual programs are effective, their impact is limited due to a lack of coordination, insufficient funding, and gaps in skill development.
The researchers identified key barriers to youth employment, including a mismatch between education and labor market needs, limited access to capital for youth entrepreneurs, and weak awareness of existing employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas. Additionally, challenges in the sustainability of youth programs and inadequate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms were found to hinder long-term success.
To enhance youth employability, the team proposed several recommendations. These include strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to bridge the skills gap, fostering youth entrepreneurship by improving access to funding, enhancing coordination mechanisms across YEPs, and developing a comprehensive communication strategy to raise awareness about employment programs. They also emphasized the need for sustainable funding mechanisms and stronger partnerships between public and private sectors to create more job opportunities.
Find out more about the research methods, findings, and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications:
Working Paper: Coming soon | Policy Brief | More about the What Works for Youth Employment in Africa initiative, supported in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation