• Rwanda signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. technology firm Oracle to launch a nationwide digital skills development initiative.
• Oracle will deploy Oracle Academy and Oracle University programs to deliver industry-recognized training in cloud computing, AI and cybersecurity.
• The initiative targets a skills gap in a country where unemployment reached 40.2% in 2023, while internet penetration stood at 34.2% at end-2025.

Rwanda’s government partnered with U.S.-based technology company Oracle to launch a national initiative to develop digital skills, as Kigali continues to position digital transformation as a pillar of economic diversification. Authorities announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Oracle said the initiative will provide Rwandans with high-level digital training aligned with international standards and recognized by industry. The company will deliver the program through Oracle Academy and Oracle University.

Oracle Academy will operate within educational institutions and equip teachers with updated teaching content, structured resources and access to professional technologies. The program will also provide software tools and professional development mechanisms to strengthen the quality of digital education.

In parallel, Oracle University will offer specialized training and industry-recognized certifications through an e-learning portal. The courses will cover strategic areas including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, generative AI, cybersecurity, programming and business processes. The program aims to prepare learners with skills that employers demand in the labor market.

The program comes as Rwanda, like many African countries, treats digital transformation as a central lever of socio-economic development. The International Telecommunication Union states that digital skills form a core pillar of economic digitization and represent a central component of national digital transformation strategies.

However, a study published in October 2025 by Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT) in partnership with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) identified a gap between skills demanded by employers and those developed in universities. The mismatch creates constraints for industry, and private sector actors have called for stronger academic investment in digital professions.

Teachers and university professors require advanced digital competencies to better prepare students for current and future labor market requirements.

The World Bank estimates that 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030. This trend creates a significant opportunity for Rwanda, where unemployment reached 40.2% in 2023, according to the African Development Bank, which cited skills mismatches as a key driver.

In a 2022 study, the World Bank said about 14% of the labor force remains unemployed and lacks market-relevant qualifications. Youth unemployment stands at nearly 21%. Among those employed, about 60% work in low-productivity jobs, particularly in subsistence agriculture, retail trade and construction.

Although the training will be delivered online and free of charge, effective access will depend on digital device ownership and internet connectivity. DataReportal reported that Rwanda had 5.01 million internet subscribers at the end of December 2025, representing a penetration rate of 34.2%.

Isaac K. Kassouwi