Impact of Public Access to ICT Skills on Job Prospects in Rwanda

The Social Economic Development Strategy of Rwanda specifically highlights the creation of an ICT, knowledge-based society as key to the country's development. Public access venues present a way through which ICT skills can be acquired by a large segment of the population. This chapter presents research on users of such venues and assesses the contribution ICT skills make to their job prospects. The research adopted a case study methodology: a questionnaire was administered in both urban and rural areas, and interviews were conducted with key stakeholders. The research finds that ICT skills acquired from such venues help users to get recruited, although the level of impact is modest because of limited job opportunities in the country and users'gap in satisfying other skill requirements of existing jobs. We recommend that government support of telecenters be continued and that the feasibility of supporting training in private urban venues be assessed.