The African Development Bank Group, in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), launched the country’s Centre of Excellence for Aviation Skills (CEAS) Project recently.
The project is a five-year sovereign investment worth US$26.6 million to build a skilled workforce to meet national and international aviation training standards and industry demand.
Specifically, the project will aim to improve institutional capacities to deliver high quality training through accreditation and certification with international accrediting bodies such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
It will further aim to increase the pool of domestic certified aviation experts through quality training that meets international standards and enhance institutional capacities and frameworks of training as recommended by global aviation best practices.
The CEAS will offer different aviation courses such as pilot training, maintenance training, cabin crew, dispatch, ancillary courses, air traffic management courses, aeronautical information services, aeronautical meteorological services, aeronautical communications operations, communication navigation, and surveillance, airport emergency services (operations), and other supporting programmes.
The training facility, expected to be completed in 24 months, will cater for a maximum of 490 students. The project will also see the set-up of an aircraft hangar, serving as a shelter for aircraft and a facility for technical activities, at Kigali International Airport.
The project is designed with the development aspirations of Rwanda’s National Vision 2050 which underpins the need for core skills and competencies as a prerequisite for the country to become an upper middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income country by 2050.
Furthermore, the project will contribute to the African Union Agenda 2063, specifically Goal 2 that envisages an Africa with well-educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology, and innovation.
RDB CEO, Francis Gatare, said: “This unique investment will usher in a new era of opportunity and progress for Rwanda’s aviation sector. By establishing a cutting-edge centre of excellence, we are not only building infrastructure; we are nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and charting a course towards sustainable development. We are optimistic the centre will position Rwanda as a beacon of excellence in the skies of Africa and beyond, propelling the economy to new heights.”
