2,150 Miners Get Certified as Rwanda Accelerates Skills Recognition in the Extractive Sector
Rwanda, on December 4, has marked another milestone in upgrading the professionalism and dignity of its mining workforce as 2,150 mineworkers graduated under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program during the 2025 Rwanda Mining Week at the RP-Kigali College Stadium.
The cohort, the fourth and largest since the program began, is part of a national effort to close long-standing skills gaps in one of Rwanda’s most economically vital sectors. Although the mining industry employs 92,000 workers, most entered the field through practice rather than formal schooling, leaving their expertise undocumented and limiting their mobility, safety, and bargaining power.
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Alice Uwase, CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), praised the workers for upgrading their competencies.
“Someone can steal your money, even destroy your house, but no one can take away the knowledge you have. Skills give dignity, and they give employers confidence to reward you fairly.”
She also reminded mining companies of their duty to provide employment contracts, fair pay, and safe working conditions.
A certificate that changes everything
For miners like Wellars Nsengiyumva, from Ruhango District, who has spent 15 years in mining without any formal credential, the certificate represents long-awaited validation.
“Working without a certificate made it hard to prove the skills we had. Now our knowledge has value. With this certificate, if I need to move to another company, it will speak for me.”
Devota Uwizeyimana, with 11 years of experience in mining, shared similar excitement after finally receiving official recognition.
“I used to hear about certificates from others, but never imagined having one myself. It gives us confidence and dignity. This will help me in my job and motivate many others who believed they couldn’t advance because they didn’t study in school.”
A national partnership to uplift skills
The RPL program is led by the Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union (REWU) in collaboration with the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), RMB, MIFOTRA, universities, mining associations, and development partners including the World Bank and the European Union.
Since 2022, 4,850 mineworkers have been certified through RPL, a process that evaluates real-world skills gained on the job, without requiring traditional classroom learning.
In 2025, support from the Priority Skills for Growth and Youth Empowerment (PSGYE) program and an EU-backed decent work project enabled the assessment of 2,150 workers (243 women, 1907 are men) in core mining skills including blasting, drilling, ore extraction, underground support, and mineral washing.
Eng. Andre Mutsindashyaka, the Secretary General of REWU, emphasised how RPL is transforming lives and the industry.
“Over 80,000 miners had no document proving their skills. If a miner moved from one site to another, it was almost impossible to verify what he or she could do. RPL solves that problem.”
He said the certificates pave the way for workers to sign formal contracts, join pension schemes, and access stronger labour protections.
“This is how we reduce poverty, by giving miners the recognition and legal status they deserve. Mining is advancing with new technologies, and our workers now have the competencies to keep up.”
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European Union Ambassador to Rwanda, Belén Calvo Uyarra underscored the program’s impact on inclusion, fairness, and resilience.
“Today we celebrate much more than certificates. We celebrate empowerment and stronger communities. RPL values skills earned through years of hard work, often in hazardous conditions.”
She described the program as a model of successful collaboration among government, unions, private companies, and development partners.
Eng. Paul Umukunzi, Director General of the Rwanda TVET Board, said the government plans to extend RPL to all major occupational sectors.
“More than 52,000 people have already benefited across different professions. The goal is to empower youth and workers in hospitality, construction, carpentry, and many other fields.”
Mining remains a key pillar of Rwanda’s economy, generating 1.75 billion dollars in 2024, its highest revenue to date. As demand for critical minerals rises globally, the professionalisation of the workforce is seen as essential to improving productivity, safety, and global competitiveness.
For the 2,150 workers, many of whom had never stepped into a classroom, the day was more than a graduation ceremony. It was a moment of recognition, dignity, and hope.
REWU says RPL is not just about certificates, it is about transforming lives and ensuring that every miner’s knowledge is valued.
With each cohort, Rwanda is taking a decisive step toward building a more skilled, equitable, and modern mining industry.
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