On a sunny afternoon in Nyakarambi, Samuel Saidi , a young man from Nasho Sector, eagerly approached an exhibition tent at the Kirehe Job Fair. As a farmer, he welcomed the chance to learn from agribusiness professionals. “I farmer, but I still lack the knowledge to do modern agriculture. Here I’ve met people who can help me. They should hold this event often because it really helps us,” he said. The job fair was organised connect job seekers with employers, as part of a project co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ through the Skills Development for Economic Transformation Programme. The Dutere Intambwe Project focuses on refugees in Kirehe District and seeks to strengthen their resilience, empowerment, and economic inclusion alongside host communities. On Thursday, September 25, the fair’s second edition brought together 100 companies and 504 job seekers, including refugees from Mahama Refugee Camp, which hosts more than 69,000 people. The initiative supports government plans, such as the Joint Strategy on Economic Inclusion of Refugees and Host Communities and the Refugee Sustainable Graduation Strategy. District leaders use such events as a key tool against unemployment. “We fight unemployment by motivating youth to work, discouraging idleness, and connecting them with financial institutions ready to support them. At events like this, youth meet potential employers and also access training opportunities,” said Désiré Nsabimana Ruregeya, the District’s Investment Officer. Despite creating 9,325 new jobs in 2024, demand for employement in Kirehe District continues to exceed available opportunities. Youth, women, and refugees remain the most affected. For 25-year-old Eliane Ndayishimiye, a Burundian refugee, the job fairs create a link between job seekers and employers. After finishing secondary school, she struggled to find work until she attended a job fair in Mahama. Today, she works as a front desk manager for an audiovisual company in Kirehe. “I managed to go to school, and the job has helped us to become more self-reliant. I am now saving for my university studies,” said Ndayishimiye, who arrived in 2015. Kirehe District and its partners continue to push business development services, expand access to finance, and promote labor market opportunities through regular events linking the youth and employers. Job fairs also provide job opportunities. The one held in Mahama Refugee Camp drew over 400 participants, producing seven full-time jobs, 72 part-time placements, and dozens of internships opportunities. The Dutere Intambwe Project will run until 2026.
