Links between Urbanisation and Employment in Rwanda

Abstract

Greater urbanisation is explicit in Rwanda’s plans for becoming a middle-income country by 2020 (World Bank, 2018a). Rwandans living in cities and towns are predicted to double from current estimates of 17% to 35% by 2024 (Gubic and Baloi, 2019). Therefore, the main goal of the Government is to transform Rwanda’s current agricultural-based economy to one that is industry- and service-based. This rapid review focuses on literature related to urbanisation and employment due to rural-urban (“inwards”) movement in Rwanda, rather than migration from neighbouring countries. The evidence used in this rapid review is taken from the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank (AFDB), International Growth Centre (IGC), as well as from peer-reviewed journals and university analysis from Rwanda. However, there was a dearth of literature explaining why people do not decide to move to cities. Limited information was also found for disabled people and links to employment in urbanised areas.