KIGALI - Local companies and cooperatives are set to train 16, 000 individuals in vocational short courses in what has been dubbed ‘Upgrade Your Skills’ initiative.’

The initiative is sponsored by the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) as part of the Cooperation between Rwanda and Germany in developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country.

The goal of the new initiative is to enhance the quality of services and products delivered by trainees under TVET, and lead to better employability of the participants after the trainings.

WDA and GTZ have set up a common fund to support training initiatives. Speaking to The New Times yesterday, the Director General of WDA, Albert Nsengiyumva, said that the programme is one way of equipping Rwandans with the necessary vocational skills to improve their lives.

Nsengiyumva further called upon all private companies and trainers to join the programme and help more Rwandans get skills, saying that the country is still lagging behind in this field.

He announced that Rwf49m will be withdrawn from the common fund, to facilitate the first batch of trainings to be carried out by 11 private companies over a period of four weeks.

Nsengiyumva was optimistic that the initiative would grow to benefit a large number of Rwandan youth.

"We cannot rely on classic schools to train all Rwandans who need these short courses...we need more people like you to help us train as many Rwandans as possible,” Nsengiyumva told entrepreneurs who had gathered to sign contracts.

Trainings will be offered in car mechanics, construction, carpentry, electricity, water treatment, agro-processing, entrepreneurship skills and hair dressing.

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