The Ministry of Youth and Arts (Miniyouth) has unveiled a five-year strategic program worth over RWF 49 billion, aimed at transforming the lives of young people in Rwanda through job creation, innovation, skills development, and improved well-being.

Launched in 2024 and set to run until 2029, the program seeks to reduce poverty and youth unemployment, boost access to finance, promote digital innovation, support talents in sports and culture, and increase youth participation in governance and entrepreneurship.

According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), youth unemployment currently stands at 15.4%, with many young people out of school or work.

Key Pillars of the Program:

1. Reducing Youth Unemployment

• Reduce unemployment among youth from 20.8% to 10.85%.
• Lower the percentage of youth not in school or employment from 32.9% to 20.4%.
• Create 200,000 new jobs annually.
• Increase youth access to loans and financial services.
• Boost access to training, education, and internships by 5% annually.

2. Improving Youth Well-being

• Decrease HIV infection rates in youth from 2.4% to 0.6%.
• Halve unintended pregnancies among youth from 5% to 2.5%.
• Reduce the number of youth living under the poverty line from 29.6% to below 20%.
• Address mental health issues and increase access to reproductive health services.

3. Promoting TVET and Technical Education

• Raise enrollment in technical and vocational education (TVET) from 43% to 60%.
• Increase TVET graduates securing jobs from 62% to 72%.

4. Enhancing Digital Skills and Innovation

• Raise digital literacy among youth from 13.1% to 63%.
• Create 1,500 tech-based jobs through training and startup support.

5. Promoting Modern Agriculture Among Youth

• Increase youth participation in agriculture from 18.7% to 32%.
• Train 5,250 youth in modern insemination techniques.
• Train 12,000 youth in modern livestock farming.
• Support 150 youth cooperatives involved in agribusiness.

6. Boosting Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement

• Increase youth representation in leadership from 20% to 30%.
• Grow YouthConnekt participation from 36,892 to 51,558.
• Expand the number of youth involved in volunteerism for national development from 1.3 million to 1.6 million.

7. Supporting Talented Youth in Sports

• Help 250 young athletes sign professional contracts.
• Equip 15% of youth centers with improved sports infrastructure.

8. Integrating Youth in the Economy

• Increase youth participation in industries from 5.6% to 6.8%.
• Raise the share of youth employed in the services sector from 41% to 51%.
• Promote youth engagement in mining, manufacturing, and trade.

9. Climate Action and Environmental Education

• Train 4,800 youth in climate protection and sustainability.
• Support 228 climate-friendly youth projects.

10. Preventing Youth Violence and Abuse

• Reduce the prevalence of youth-targeted violence from 31.2% to 10%.
• Provide education on gender-based violence and safe spaces for vulnerable youth.