GITEGA, November 7th (ABP) – The Ministry of Civil Service, Labor and Employment, in collaboration with the Burundian Employment and Manpower Office “OBEM”, organized a forum on entrepreneurship, vocational training and employment from November 6 to 8, 2024 in Gitega (central Burundi), under the theme: “Together for the promotion of entrepreneurship, vocational training and employment”, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
The Forum was attended by young entrepreneurs, those working in the vocational training sector and informal trades.
Venuste Muyabaga, Minister in charge of the Civil Service, noted that the event marked a high point in the fight against unemployment in Burundi, particularly among young people and women, as employment was a key factor in improving living conditions and reducing poverty. He asserted that access to stable, well-paid employment can transform lives and foster sustainable economic development.
Minister Muyabaga pointed out that the Burundian government considers young people to be a precious human resource, indispensable to the country’s economic progress, which is why, in his view, strengthening vocational training is essential to increase the employability of that category of the population.
As a remedy, he announced the creation of vocational training centers in every commune, currently totaling 216 Trade Training Centers (CEM) and 16 Vocational Training Centers.
The Minister in charge of the Civil Service, did not forget to point out that to face up to the persistent challenges linked to unemployment, the Government of Burundi has put in place several policies to support the employment of young people and women.
Those include the Politique Nationale de l’Emploi (PNE), the Politique Nationale de la Migration de la Main d’œuvre (PNMMO) and the Politique Nationale de la Protection Sociale (PNPS). The latter, he continued, aim to promote inclusive socio-economic integration.
Minister Muyabaga also pointed out that the Burundi government has set up the Rusi Public Polytechnic Training and Vocational Retraining Center for young people who have been unable to access higher education. That center provides technical and vocational training programs, enabling them to acquire the skills they need to meet the needs of the job market.
Finally, he called on young people to work more closely with development partners and the private sector, stressing that the government alone cannot solve the problem of mass unemployment.
He encouraged local and international players, in particular the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to pool their efforts and resources to support national initiatives.