Fondation Audemars Piguet For Common Good
Swisscontact
Rwanda faces significant demographic pressure from its growing population. In rural areas, young people continue to have limited access to education and employment opportunities. For vulnerable rural youth, vocational training is especially difficult to access due to long distances, high boarding costs, family responsibilities, and lost income during training.
The Dual+ for Rural project builds on the proven effectiveness of dualised training approaches that Swisscontact piloted in Rwanda’s Western Province. While the government is now scaling this model, its focus has so far been on urban settings.
The project develops localised apprenticeship models inspired by the dual-system approach through a multi-stakeholder process. It pilots these models with 500 vulnerable youth in some of Rwanda’s poorest districts, focusing on rural school dropouts, vulnerable young mothers, and people with disabilities. Training modules are designed in partnership with local craftspeople, authorities, and TVET schools (Technical Secondary Schools - TSS / Vocational Training Centres - VTCs).
In close collaboration with the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), the project supports the integration of youth into the local labour market. Several support packages will be tested for effectiveness, each including:
1. Tailored practical training provided by local craftspeople.
2. Short theory sessions delivered by teachers from TVET institutions.
3. Financial literacy and business mentorship for aspiring micro-entrepreneurs.
4. Formal certification by RTB, enabling access to the formal education system and services such as (micro)finance.
The successful two-year pilot will produce a set of tested, customised, and proven vocational training and labour market integration solutions for rural youth. These align with the National Strategy for Transformation’s (NST2) priority to “create decent and productive jobs” and can be scaled across several rural districts in Rwanda. The scalable models will be reviewed with local authorities and the national government for institutionalisation and domestic funding.
Following the training, rural youth will have pathways to enter Rwanda’s formal education system, secure employment, or start self-employment. By the end of the pilot, 350 of the 500 trained vulnerable youth will be successfully integrated into the labour market, enabling them to increase their income and achieve greater financial stability for themselves and their families.