For many young people entering Rwanda's labour market, finding a job can be as challenging as acquiring the skills needed to perform it. Employers, meanwhile, often struggle to find young talent with the communication skills, adaptability and workplace readiness required to meet their needs. Since beginning its work in Rwanda in 2018, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator has worked with employers and other partners to bridge this gap by connecting young people to available opportunities and helping employers find the talent they need. A pathway to employment For Ghislaine Igiraneza Mugisha, Harambee supported her move from part-time work into a full-time role at CCI Rwanda, a Global Business Services (GBS) company. In 2025, she joined Harambee's Work Readiness Programme after completing the required assessments, including an English proficiency assessment. Thereafter, she applied for a position at CCI, which was recruiting at the time, and secured the job through the company's recruitment process. She said her experience reflects a common challenge for young graduates, who are often required to have work experience before securing their first job. It's always been a difficult thing, especially when you're young, you're a student, you're in university. You're looking for jobs where they're requiring job experience, she added. Harambee helped her prepare for workplace expectations through soft skills including communication, interview preparation, confidence and professionalism. These are skills that are not in the textbook, she said, emphasising the importance of being open to learning and adapting. You're not expected to be the best. They're just expecting you to be you. Be present, be coachable, she added. How Harambee Works Ali Ndizeye, Harambee Rwanda Country Manager, said the organisation was established to connect young people with employment opportunities by addressing gaps between their skills and employers' needs. Since 2018, our work in Rwanda has been focused on unlocking economic opportunities for young people by strengthening the systems, partnerships and pathways that connect them to earning opportunities, he said. In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Harambee works with public and private sector partners, including the Government of Rwanda, particularly the Ministry of Youth and Arts, focusing on the GBS and digital sectors, which offer opportunities for youth employment. To date, Harambee has supported more than 3,000 young people to develop employment skills in Rwanda, Ndizeye said. He added that Rwanda's GBS sector has created employment opportunities for close to 5,000 young people, with some former programme participants advancing into management and other senior roles. Building on this momentum, the organisation aims to reach more than 20,000 young people over the next three to four years, expanding focus on the GBS and digital sectors, while ensuring refugees, persons with disabilities and young women are not left behind. Harambee supports young people aged 18 to 35. Depending on the role, employers may require specific education levels, language proficiency and other skills. For young people who need additional support, Harambee works with partners to strengthen areas such as language proficiency. Participation in Harambee's programmes does not automatically guarantee employment. Why employers partner with Harambee At CCI Rwanda, the partnership has become a key source of entry-level talent. Freddy Isabane, Head of Human Resources at CCI, said the company began working with Harambee when it launched operations in Rwanda in 2023. Its workforce has since grown from about 25 employees to more than 1,500. We have partnered with Harambee over the years to help us source young talent, particularly candidates who speak English and French, alongside computer literacy, empathy and customer-service skills, he said. More than 80 per cent of CCI's recruits come through Harambee, according to Isabane, who said the candidates have already received preparation in areas such as workplace discipline and resilience. CCI expects to grow its workforce to about 2,000 by the end of 2026 and around 3,000 in 2027, creating further demand for young talent. Connecting Employers to the Right Talent For employers such as NCBA Bank Rwanda, the partnership offers a way to streamline recruitment while accessing candidates who have undergone initial screening. Eric Muganga, the bank's Head of Human Resources, said NCBA shares its competency requirements with Harambee, which helps identify and pre-screen candidates. We have worked with very competent candidates because they actually help us with the screening interviews. So far, this partnership has supplied entry-level direct sales agents deployed across the bank's 10 branches, he said. Muganga said the partnership helps the bank access candidates who already demonstrate key workplace qualities such as communication, adaptability, professionalism and a willingness to learn, making recruitment and onboarding more effective. Recruits also access the bank's internal learning opportunities and can compete for vacancies alongside other internal and external candidates. Some have already progressed to higher positions. NCBA is looking to expand the partnership beyond sales into operations and control functions. Future of Work: Preparing for an AI-driven workplace As employer expectations continue to evolve, particularly as artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, organisations are increasingly looking for talent with the skills, adaptability and confidence needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world of work. Sandra Mukesha, Site Manager at TeKnowledge, said the company's work supporting AI transformation for governments and businesses gives it insight into changing workplace demands. Every day, we see how AI is changing the workplace, she said. This means that we move from preparing young people to get their next job, to equipping them with the skills, adaptability, and confidence to stay relevant in the workplace. TeKnowledge has partnered with Harambee to access young talent, and the collaboration is expanding to include AI skills training for young people supported through Harambee programmes. The aim is to help address emerging gaps between the skills industries require and those young people bring to the labour market. Building Rwanda's workforce together As Rwanda's economy continues to grow, creating stronger connections between employers and young people will remain critical. By working closely with employers and partners, Harambee is helping expand access to employment opportunities while supporting businesses to source and develop the talent they need to grow and succeed. Looking to grow your team or connect with young talent? Contact Harambee Rwanda at info@harambee.rw or visit www.harambeerw.com to learn more about partnering with us.
