About the program

The Young Economist Program (YEP) gives aspiring Rwandan economists a route into the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) and other government ministries and agencies. It bridges academia, the workplace and policy analysis, and builds a strong understanding of how public policy can sustainably improve people’s well-being.

MINECOFIN and BNR implement the program with support from GIZ Rwanda. Eight cohorts have graduated since 2016 and now serve in MINECOFIN, BNR, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). About 90% of staff in MINECOFIN’s Office of the Chief Economist are YEP graduates.

How YEP 9 works

The 2026/27 program has three components:

• Internship: continuous on-the-job training and mentoring at MINECOFIN, BNR and, where applicable, other agencies.
• Formal training: intermittent group sessions in applied economics, quantitative methods and relevant software.
• Self-study: continuous learning, including a research project later in the program.

Performance is assessed throughout through evaluations and written tests.

What you will gain

Key responsibilities

• Conduct applied economic and policy analysis to support evidence-based decisions and policy formulation.
• Collect, manage and analyze economic data using statistical and econometric tools, including Excel, EViews and STATA.
• Support macroeconomic monitoring, projection and forecasting by analyzing key indicators and emerging trends.
• Analyze developments in the real, fiscal, monetary, external and financial sectors and their implications.
• Apply macroeconomic and econometric models to assess policy options, scenarios and the effects of shocks.
• Prepare analytical briefs, reports and presentations for technical teams and policymakers.
• Support feasibility studies, project appraisal, economic and financial analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and follow-up of government programs and projects.
• Collaborate with government and development partners on research, policy analysis and capacity building.
• Take part in mentoring, teamwork and professional development, and act on feedback from supervisors and mentors.

Who can apply

Qualifications

• Rwandan national aged 30 or below.
• An “A0” (3–4-year undergraduate) or master’s degree in Economics, Development Economics, Macro-fiscal Economics, International Trade/Economics, Monetary Economics, Econometrics or Statistics, or a combination of these. A master’s degree is an asset.
• Understanding of public policy and how economic analysis informs policies affecting living standards (poverty), environmental quality, and access to health, education and economic opportunity.
• Fluent in Kinyarwanda and English. French is an advantage.

Practical skills

• Proven research and data analysis skills, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Thorough understanding of economic models, descriptive statistics, econometrics and regression analysis.
• Knowledge of Excel, econometrics, modelling and data management software.
• Strong English report-writing skills.
• Ability to communicate well, work in teams and prioritize tasks under deadlines.

How to apply

Submit your application by 23 October 2026, 5:00 PM using the Apply button below.