As part of the Umwuga-Akazi project, funded by the European Union and implemented by SPARK, a field visit took place on Monday, 30 June in Bujumbura, Wednesday, 9 July in Bururi, and Thursday, 10 July in Rumonge. The visit falls under Outcome 2 of the project, which focuses on strengthening the capacities of young entrepreneurs (aged 18 to 35, with at least 50 percent women) through tailored entrepreneurship training, proximity coaching, and improved access to finance, with the aim of fostering sustainable job creation.

The mission aimed to initiate collaboration between business coaches and local vocational and professional training centres — namely the CEM (Centres d’Enseignement des Métiers) and CFP (Centres de Formation Professionnelle). The visit marked an important step towards building a functional synergy to better support young laureates and entrepreneurs in their post-training entrepreneurial journey.

Throughout the three-day visit, stakeholders, including local authorities, centre instructors, business coaches, and SPARK team members, came together to present the project framework and clarify each actor’s role. Business coaches also introduced their methodology and shared their activity plans for the coming months.

The meetings served as a platform to align on the selection criteria for young entrepreneurs and approaches for identifying promising business projects. Participants also explored existing support mechanisms already in place within the centres, such as follow-up services, partnerships, and income-generating activities, while identifying the specific needs of young graduates to help tailor future support.

Looking ahead, the sessions allowed stakeholders to jointly define next steps for collaboration, including the co-facilitation of training sessions and joint monitoring visits to support the entrepreneurial journey of the laureates.

The vocational centres involved in the project include: 

• Bururi; Kiryama, Gitandu/Matana and Rutovu 
• Rumonge: Rumonge/Birimba, Gatete, and Mugara

The visit led to tangible outcomes. Business coaches gained a deeper understanding of the operational context and specific realities of each centre. Common selection criteria and a methodology for identifying promising projects were established. Tools for identifying and following up with laureates were developed and shared with the business coaches. Importantly, formal communication channels were put in place between the business coaches and the CEM/CFP directors to ensure sustained collaboration.

By reinforcing local cooperation, the Umwuga-Akazi project continues to pave the way for a more inclusive and practical support system for youth entrepreneurs in Burundi.