Burundi

News

11.02.2025

PROMOST IV: Strengthening the Impact of the Dual Apprenticeship Training System

Aristide still remembers the first day he pushed the door of the Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika as an apprentice. His impeccably fitted apron, a mixture of excitement and apprehension in his eyes, he knew that this day marked the beginning of a new adventure. At that time, he was still unaware that ten months later, this same hotel would become his employer.

Like him, other young people have had the opportunity to join a dual apprenticeship training, a program that combines theory and professional immersion. This model is based on an alternation between the Vocational Training Centres (CFP) and partner companies. 80% of the time, apprentices are in the field, confronted with the reality of the profession, and 20% in theoretical training, thus refining their knowledge and skills.

05.06.2024

Defying Odds: The Story of Eliane and Her Entrepreneurship Journey

Eliane's Transformational Journey: From Poverty to Entrepreneurial Success

17.10.2023

"Pascal the unstoppable" – a young man's journey to becoming a carpenter

"Pascal the unstoppable" is what his friends call him. The eldest of six siblings is gradually working towards his dream of becoming a professional carpenter. Seemingly shy, Pascal Ndereyimana has seized every opportunity with determination. From idle youth to self-sufficient young man and candidate for the first edition of the Umwuga Award, Pascal shares his path to the carpentry profession.

Country Programme Manager Burundi

Eva Pressl

Swisscontact in Burundi

Strengthening the TVET system to improve youth yccess to quality skills development

Swisscontact works in Burundi to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system as a whole, with the aim of sustainably and inclusively improving access for young people to quality and labour market–relevant skills development. Its approach focuses on supporting key actors within the TVET ecosystem, including training institutions, public authorities, and private sector partners.

Swisscontact contributes to improving the institutional capacity of TVET providers, promoting inclusive training opportunities, and ensuring that training programmes respond to labour market needs. By fostering collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders, Swisscontact supports more coordinated and effective efforts across the system. Through this systemic approach, Swisscontact helps enable Burundian youth to acquire relevant skills that improve their employability and contribute to economic development.

Promotion of training in marketable skills

The overall objective of the programme is to promote skills development and job creation among young people in Burundi in the provinces of Cibitoke, Kayanza, Ngozi, Muramvya and Bujumbura Mairie, by improving their access to quality, labour market-oriented vocational training.

Project Journey 2012 - 2023

The Great Lakes Region is one of the most densely populated and least urbanised areas on the African continent. In Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), subsistence agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and employs a majority of available labour. At the same time, governments are well aware that in the interest of economic growth, substantial investments in non-agricultural activities are needed to increase employment and incomes.

The governments of these three countries have made skills development their stated national priority and place special emphasis on vocational training and continued education. The creation of a demand-oriented, flexible, inclusive, and high-quality vocational education system is key to rapid economic growth, fair distribution of income, and the development of a healthy society.

Team

The abilities and readiness for action of our employees are decisive for our projects’ ability to achieve sustainable impact, as well as our long-term success. As an attractive employer, Swisscontact invests in a positive management and work culture. This is defined by our fundamental understanding of development intended to serve not only our beneficiaries in project countries but our employees as well.