Expression of Interest For Consultancy Services For Providing Certified Drone Pilot And Operator Training For Women

Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services for Providing Certified Drone Pilot and Operator Training for Women in Rwanda. Location: KIGALI Deadline: Sunday, 06/09/2026 23:59 Introduction The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZs portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region. Context Rwanda has established itself as a continental leader in leveraging emerging technologies to accelerate socio-economic transformation, with drone technology becoming an increasingly important enabler across strategic sectors such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, land administration, public safety, healthcare logistics, and disaster risk management. As drone adoption expands, there is growing demand for skilled and certified drone professionals capable of supporting safe, compliant, and impactful operational deployment. As part of its institutional mandate, the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) is responsible for building national digital capacity and strengthening public sector readiness through the training and professional development of government officials and public professionals in technology-related programs and emerging digital competencies. This includes facilitating specialized technical training that enhances institutional capability and supports Rwandas broader digital transformation agenda. In response to increasing institutional demand and the need for inclusive participation in emerging technology sectors, the "Women in Drone Pilot Training Program" is a targeted initiative aimed at equipping women professionals from public institutions with certified drone piloting skills. This initiative aligns strongly with Rwandas National Strategy for Transformation (NST-2), the ICT Sector Strategic Plan, Rwandas National Gender Policy, and national commitments to womens empowerment, digital inclusion, and workforce diversification. While womens empowerment is a central objective, the program is intentionally designed to ensure that training leads to practical operational utilization. The key measure of success will not only be the number of women trained, but the number of women actively applying drone capabilities within their institutional roles after certification. About the GIZ Digital Transformation Center Rwanda The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ has worked in Rwanda for over 30 years. The primary objectives between the Government of Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Germany are poverty reduction and promotion of sustainable development. To achieve these objectives, GIZ Rwanda is active in the sectors of Decentralization and Good Governance, Economic Development and Employment Promotion, Energy, and ICT (Information and Communications Technology). The Digital Transformation Centre is a Rwandan German initiative to develop impact-driven digital solutions in Africa at regional and continental levels. Therefore, it provides advisory services, training for government institutions and local tech companies, and a modern space to boost creativity and collaboration. The Digital Transformation Center is also a space dedicated to delivering impact-driven digital solutions, developing the capacities of the local innovation ecosystem, and replicating and scaling up digital solutions at the regional and continental levels. Innovation is implemented at the Digital Transformation Center in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and its implementing agency. The Digital Transformation Center supports public and private sectors in transferring knowledge and skills and developing organizational, structural, and technological capacities. The Digital Transformation Center is an innovative hub that provides a range of facilities, including boardrooms, event spaces, and innovation labs. It is a collaborative space for Africans to develop and contribute to digital solutions tailored to the continent. The centre hosts events on current ICT topics, provides training and capacity development opportunities, and facilitates networking among industry professionals. About the Triangular cooperation for Digital innovation Made in Africa The project "Triangular Cooperation for Digital Innovation Made in Africa main goal is to strengthen the application of data-centric digital innovations proudly labelled "Made in Africa" within the framework of triangular cooperation in East and West Africa. The project involves partners from Rwanda, Côte dIvoire and Germany with inter-changing roles depending on the topic. In the triangular cooperation, each partner has a different role: a lead partner who primarily contributes knowledge and expertise; a beneficiary partner who derives significant benefits from both financial support and knowledge transfer; and a supporting partner who facilitates exchange processes through facilitation, networking and the provision of financial resources. The focus is on the societal level, in particular the design of sustainable, cooperative triangular relationships with the aim of creating framework conditions for the application of data-oriented digital innovations, e.g., regulation of drone flights, capacities for data analysis and the use of digital data. Accordingly, the main goal is to strengthen the application of data-oriented digital innovations "Made in Africa" within the framework of triangular cooperation in West and East Africa. In this context, we are working in 3 key areas: Use cases of data-driven digital innovations "Made in Africa", with a focus on gender equality and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Cross-national cooperation for data-oriented, digital innovations "Made in Africa" between Rwanda, Côte dIvoire and Germany. Strengthen the capacities of local actors including local developers, universities, companies and start-ups, governments, and civil society in developing and applying data-oriented civilian use of drones. Tasks to be performed by the contractor Objectives of the training Program Overall Objective To empower women with certified professional drone piloting skills to strengthen the participation in Rwandas operational drone ecosystem. Specific Objective The primary objectives of the women drone pilot training program are: Build certified female drone pilot capacity in public institutions; Strengthen institutional operational readiness for drone deployment; Increase practical utilization of drone skills after training; Advance Womens inclusion in emerging technologies. Training Program Components The training program is designed specifically for female professionals nominated by public institutions. Participants must currently serve roles in which Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) deployment can directly enhance operational effectiveness and mandate delivery. GIS and mapping specialists Surveying professionals Agriculture officers Environmental and conservation officers Infrastructure and inspection personnel Disaster management professionals Communications and media officers Data collection and field operations staff To ensure the sustainable impact of this training, nominating institutions will be required to demonstrate: Defined Use Case: A clear, strategic justification for the institutional application of drones. Deployment Strategy: A formal plan outlining how the nominee will be utilized following the completion of the program. Institutional Support: A documented commitment to supporting the trainees post-training utilization and integration of drone operations into their daily professional functions. Training delivery and Curriculum The program will be executed using an RCAA-approved professional drone pilot curriculum. The training methodology employs a blended approach, integrating rigorous theoretical instruction with intensive practical flight training to ensure comprehensive competency. Core Curriculum modules UAS Fundamentals: Aircraft systems and technical foundations. Regulatory Framework: Rwandan UAS regulations and airspace compliance. Safety & Risk: Aviation safety protocols and risk management strategies. Mission Planning: Operational procedures and strategic mission development. Practical Flight Training: Hands-on experience focused on Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) operations. Emergency Management: Incident reporting and emergency procedures. Data & Ethics: Responsible drone use, data handling, and ethical standards. Assessment: Standardized written examinations and practical flight assessments. Partners To ensure the success of this capacity-building initiative, a collaborative governance structure has been established to align strategic vision with operational excellence. The following framework outlines the key partners involved in this program, along with their specific roles and responsibilities in facilitating the professional development and deployment of female candidates. The contractor shall train a cohort of up to 20 participants, comprising 100% women, nominated by participating institutions in coordination with RISA. Prior to training commencement, the contractor shall conduct a baseline assessment of each participants existing drone piloting competencies and define Tender Link : https://www.jobinrwanda.com/job/expression-interest-eoi-consultancy-services-providing-certified-drone-pilot-and-operator