Syndicat des Travailleurs Domestiques et Indépendants de l’Économie Informelle
Better living conditions for street vendors in Kigali.
SYTRIECI (Syndicat des Travailleurs Domestiques et Indépendants de l’Économie Informelle) is a trade union founded in Kigali in 2014 that improves the living and working conditions of informally employed people in Rwanda. With 6,872 members, 85% of whom are women, it represents street vendors, tailors, domestic workers and waste collectors. Central approaches include networking in savings groups and cooperatives, which enable joint savings and access to microcredits, as well as training in negotiation, trade skills and organizational development. In this way, SYTRIECI strengthens the rights of workers, promotes entrepreneurial growth and has already achieved successes - for example through new jobs for street vendors, improvements in labor law and the provision of loans.
Rwanda has made remarkable progress in areas such as infrastructure, security and economic development since the 1994 genocide. Nevertheless, many workers, especially in urban areas, are dependent on the informal sector - particularly in Kigali, a city with strong population growth.
This migration from rural to urban areas has led to high unemployment rates, meaning that many people have to secure their survival in the informal sector, for example through street vending. Street vendors often live in precarious conditions, without social security or access to financial services. Without targeted support, it remains difficult for them to escape poverty.
With the Tuzamukane project, SYTRIECI is strengthening around 900 informally employed people in Kigali, especially street vendors. The aim is to increase their economic resilience, improve access to financial services and promote the right to economic participation. At the heart of the project is training in the Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) method, which enables participants to better manage income, build up reserves and grant loans - a basis for viable small businesses. 30 trade groups are planned, as well as support for 20 VSLA groups in building formal structures. In addition, dialogues with local authorities will take place to improve the working conditions of street vendors in the long term.
The Lemonaid & ChariTea Foundation is financing training for 160 street vendors, the establishment of trade groups and personnel costs.
Jeannette Nyiramasengesho
Mail
Website: https://sytrieci.org.rw/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sytrieci_rwanda/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sytriecinformal/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SYTRIECIRWANDA
