Strengthening the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and supporting the establishment of an integrated TVET system in Rwanda

Sector

Economic growth and private sector development

Project budget

The maximum total budget for this project is € 4 million, with € 1 million allocated for a first phase of two-years. Upon successful completion of this phase, an additional € 3 million may be granted for a second phase of up to four years.

Organisations

This project has been developed by the Workforce Development Authority (WDA). The tender for this project expired on 7 May 2010. Nuffic awarded this tender to BMB Mott MacDonald, which has formed a consortium with the BBC World Service Trust, the Centre for Employment Initiatives and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Project description

The structure of Rwanda’s economy is critically unbalanced in terms of skills. Artisan skills account for 76% of the workforce while technical and professional skills account for only 7.7% and 14.2%. There is a significant gender gap in engineering-related fields.
 
Filling these skill gaps is crucial to the realisation of the objectives of Rwanda’s Vision 2020 and the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) 2008-2012.

This project seeks to address the shortage of mid-level skilled labour by strengthening the capacities of the key public institutions responsible for ensuring the provision of technician level skills training.

This the project will enable WDA and Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centres (IPRCs) to manage Rwanda’s integrated Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. 

As the apex body of Rwanda’s TVET system, WDA has the gigantic challenge of steering the TVET system. But WDA is a young organisation that still faces various capacity shortages and weaknesses.

Only two of the five IPRCs that are expected to be the key implementing institutions within the TVET structure are operational. And only one of them currently offers technician level skills training.

The main objectives of this project are to:

• strengthen the organization and management capacity of WDA and IPRCs;
• establish a sustainable training of trainers system at the A1 (post-secondary) level of TVET;
• establish an overall TVET National Qualifications Framework starting with pilot projects at the A1 level in three occupational areas: Construction; Hospitality & Tourism, and Agriculture.