YES Leader: Mr. Mukama Frank
Email : Frank@yesweb.org
Website : www.yesweb.org

Vision : To realize full employment of youth in Rwanda through partnerships that creates an enabling environment for job creation

Background : Rwanda is a post-conflict country with physical and socio-economic infrastructure that was destroyed during the civil war. It is estimated that over 100,000 young people enter the labour market every year in Rwanda but less than one percent of them find gainful and sustainable employment.

About the Network : The network has the support from 60 youth, 3 ministries, 5 civil society members and 2 private sector partners. YES Rwanda is registered as a non governmental organization with five members of Board and 10 full time staff supported by Volunteers.

Current Major Initiatives:

• Coffee-mushroom-animal feed production centers are being set up.
• Projects aimed at regeneration of rain forest, water and biofuel
• A series of spore banks and mycelium production centers are being set up.
• Some of the other initiatives include activities such as conducting needs assessments for youth entrepreneurs; undertaking feasibility studies for youth enterprises; forming a network of youth entrepreneurs and support agencies.
• Business Incubator is being set up, where young business entrepreneurs who are beginning their entrepreneurial journey could avail an existing facilities i.e. common office space, internet, telephone, fax, photocopier at a cost effective manner.
• Country-wide Youth employment Research is being planned to collect data about the social economic and political situation of the country and how it affects the employment. This data is analyzed, interpreted and applied for facts and statistics in addressing the situation of youth and employment Challenges.
• Policy Advocacy- Using the research data to lobby with the government and other stake holders to address youth employment issues.ent

Key Accomplishments :

• Successfully advocated for formulation of a comprehensive US$77 million Plan on Youth Employment
• Has launched a physical and an online Youth Employment Service (Job Desk)
• Has brought youth employment high on government agenda
• YES Rwanda’s direct youth service (youth livelihoods) benefit over 100 vulnerable youth
• Rwanda is rated by the Youth Employment Network (YEN) as one of the rapidly progressing and best performing countries in terms of the NAP (National Action Plan on
  Youth Employment).