Creating sufficient opportunities for employment and income generation remains a major challenge on Africa’s as well as Rwanda’s path to sustainable development. The Government of Rwanda has set itself the ambitious target of creating 214,000 jobs annually until 2024. In the face of the country’s growing population and young demographic, this creation of jobs is essential for the population’s future and economic security.
Guided by the principle that targeted investments create jobs, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) launched the Special Initiative “Decent jobs for a just transition”. Under the brand Invest for Jobs, the Special Initiative seeks to promote investments by European and African companies in selected countries across the continent, including Rwanda. It also seeks to improve working conditions, increase opportunities for professional development or vocational training.
As one of several organisations implementing the Special Initiative, GIZ offers a range of measures to boost investment activities and support small- and medium-sized enterprises in Rwanda. This namely includes comprehensive advice, stakeholder engagements and financial support to overcome investment barriers. In addition to its ongoing collaboration with the Rwandan government, GIZ closely collaborates with the private sector and companies from Germany, Europe and Africa. While the Special Initiative in Rwanda engages with all sectors that have a high growth potential, it also more specifically strengthens the special economic zone in Kigali and supporting the development of Global Business Services (GBS).
Besides, the Special Initiative is also tasked to support the Rwandan Government to support the development of the pharmaceutical and biotechnological sector which is one of the focal economic areas Rwanda sees promising opportunities in the future.