In Rwanda, a group of women are establishing themselves as motorcycle taxi drivers. In the process, they overcome stereotypes and develop new business ideas.
In the sprawling city of Kigali, thousands of motorcycle taxi drivers, known locally as “motari”, have become the quickest way to navigate the gridlock of the city. Among them is Dativa, one of the few female taxi moto drivers, who has found her niche in a field traditionally dominated by men.
For nearly two years, Dativa has been transporting people across Kigali, mostly ferrying people from their homes to their workplaces. “I loved hands-on work since I was young. But I never saw women driving motorcycles, so I didn’t consider it an option”, she recalls. “There are only a few women moto drivers in Kigali, but this is a viable career and a way to achieve financial stability. Other women need to recognize that.”
Training female moto drivers to foster their economic empowerment
Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ has been supporting the training of female motorcycle drivers since March 2019. The project, which is co-financed by the European Union (EU) promotes the skills development necessary to explore and do business in taxi moto transportation. These skills range from professional driving training to courses in basic English, city navigation, customer care, first aid and more. GIZ has been working with a local moto provider that provides electric motorcyles on loan at discounted rates to the women. Partnerships with delivery companies also present an additional source of income.
Skills development fostering new synergies
Encouraged by the project’s success, 46 women have formed a new business: Ndabaga, a company that is pioneering a new concept in Kigali’s tourism sector: The Kigali Women-led e-Moto Tour. This initiative aims to promote local tourism, creating employment opportunities and improving the livelihoods of women involved.
“Joining Ndabaga brought me a sense of belonging and friendship”, Dativa says. “It’s not just about work; we support each other emotionally and encourage one another”. As Ndabaga continues to mobilize more women to join the transport sector, Dativa concludes with pride: “The transport sector is full of opportunities, and women are just beginning to tap into these resources. I’ve joined, and I am truly enjoying my job.”
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