12th September 2025 — A total of 700 young entrepreneurs operating in the informal sector across Kigali City have successfully completed the Basic Business Training program, implemented under the Rwanda TVET Board’s Skills Development Fund (SDF).

The training, designed to equip young Rwandans with practical skills in financial literacy and business management, aims to strengthen their entrepreneurial capacity and promote sustainable livelihoods. Of the beneficiaries, 52% were female and 48% male, underscoring RTB’s commitment to inclusivity and gender balance in entrepreneurship promotion.

Delivered in close collaboration with financial institutions and microfinance organizations, the program ensured that participants not only acquired knowledge but also gained access to essential financial services.

The program has already demonstrated tangible results, with participants reporting notable improvements in their business practices:

• 26 savings groups were established, collectively saving 3,358,000 Rwf.
• Over 50% of graduates opened personal or business bank accounts.
• More than 75% began recording their business transactions accurately.
• 30% adopted online business platforms to expand their market reach.
• 75% registered their businesses, creating pathways for formal growth and new opportunities.

To ensure lasting impact, all graduates will continue to receive coaching and mentorship over the next four months. This follow-up support is intended to help them apply their newly acquired skills, strengthen their ventures, and progressively transition from informal to formal enterprises.

The Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), through the Skills Development Fund (SDF), signed agreements with 282 training institutions on 28th March 2025, officially launching Phase III of the SDF. This phase places particular emphasis on empowering youth in the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) category. Implemented under the Priority Skills for Growth and Youth Empowerment (PSGYE) Program, the SDF aims to train over 70,000 individuals within a four-year period, offering diverse programs aligned with individual preferences and labor market demands.

The previous two phases trained 23,296 individuals, of whom approximately 84% secured employment within six months of completing training (Graduates’ Tracer Survey, May 2023).