In a significant walk towards promoting job creation interventions and decent work among district stakeholders, as a result of the conducted provincial dialogue held in June 2023, districts in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service and Labour have organized dialogues to discuss how to reinforce and enhance coordination of job creation interventions and promote decent work.  These dialogues at the district level started on 14th August 2023 and ended on 31st August 2023.

The primary aim of these dialogues was to assemble key actors in job creation, enabling them to engage in constructive discussions regarding how to address issues of unemployment, under-employment, and potential labour force as well as youth not in employment, in education, or training. The participants collaboratively devised strategies to effectively address these challenges, pave the way for increased opportunities for employment, and promote decent work.

The dialogues were seen as a remarkable turnout of at least 130 participants from each district among 30 districts of Rwanda, representing diverse categories of stakeholders including the district executive committee, the district council, Private Sector Federation (PSF), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), businesses, faith-based organizations, young entrepreneurs, trade unions, and academia.

Mr. Mwambali Faustin, the Head of the Employment Ecosystem Policy and Strategy Department at MIFOTRA, expressed his commendation for the districts' enthusiastic participation and commitment to fostering employment promotion and decent work. He underlined the pivotal role of the district in executing the national strategy on employment promotion, emphasizing the significance of the dialogues led by mayors, district councils, and a diverse cohort of participants from various sectors.

Mr. Faustin underscored key employment initiatives that warrant attention in local planning, particularly focusing on workplace learning opportunities such as professional internships, dual training systems, industrial-based training, and industrial attachments. He further highlighted the importance of integrating employment considerations into various sectors and advised districts and stakeholders to promote labour-intensive programs aimed at enhancing vocational skills and economic growth.

The closing remarks by The Permanent Secretary of MIFOTRA Mr. Musonera Gaspard in Gasabo   District Dialogue, focused on the general picture and outcomes expected from the district dialogues.

He concluded that “A prevailing observation across all dialogues is the steadfast commitment and ownership demonstrated by districts in their endeavors to foster youth employment, advocate for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and ensure adherence to labour laws promoting decent work. This concerted effort marks a significant stride towards enhancing economic growth and social development through meaningful employment opportunities.”

The national campaign on decent work and employment promotion spanned from August 14 to August 31, 2023, encompassing the entire country. National-level stakeholders including MIFOTRA, MINIYOUTH, RDB, and RTB collaborated closely with districts to organize and host these impactful dialogues, with the support of ENABEL.