Apefe Rwanda

What Apefe Rwanda does

APEFE (Association pour la Promotion de l'Education et de la Formation à l'Etranger), commonly referred to as APEFE, is a Belgian non-profit international cooperation agency (asbl) established in 1976 and institutionally integrated within the official international relations framework of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and Wallonia. For over 50 years, APEFE has implemented development programs across eight partner countries — Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Morocco, Palestine, DR Congo, Senegal, and Rwanda — addressing poverty and inequality through individual, organizational, and institutional capacity strengthening. Core thematic areas include social inclusion and education (TVET, workplace learning, distance teacher training), economic inclusion (women's entrepreneurship, agricultural development, irrigation), environment and climate (Great Green Wall reforestation, sustainable land management), and health and rehabilitation (physiotherapy training and rehabilitation center establishment).

The organization does not sell commercial products or services. Its business model is institutional grant funding rather than commercial revenue: APEFE receives programmatic financing from the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD), the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, AWAC, the Wallonia Region, and the European Union, implementing bilateral and multilateral programs through local field offices and partnerships with government ministries, NGOs, and educational institutions. Signature programs include IGIRA KU MURIMO (workplace learning in Rwanda with MIFOTRA and the Private Sector Federation), Min Ajliki and Jigeen Ñi Tamit (women's entrepreneurship in Morocco and Senegal), PADI (irrigation development in Burundi's Kirundo province, 2022-2026), IFADEM (Francophone distance teacher training), the Great Green Wall Initiative in Burkina Faso, and physiotherapy/rehabilitation programs through ESK Benin and ENKR Burundi. APEFE operates under the umbrella of Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) and is led by Directeur Général Benoît Stiévenart; the Rwanda office is one of eight country offices focused on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and entrepreneurship coaching.

Name

Apefe Rwanda

Legal name

APEFE asbl

Website

https://apefe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

APEFE is a Belgian non-profit international cooperation agency, operating since 1976 across 8 partner countries, implementing development programs in TVET, women's entrepreneurship, agriculture, climate adaptation, and health/rehabilitation, funded primarily by Belgian institutional donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Country Development Assistance Programs (Bilateral ODA) (BPADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE), Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF), Climate, Environment & Natural Resource Management Aid Programs (BPADABAI)

Keywords

• International development cooperation
• Vocational training programs
• Workplace learning apprenticeships
• Women entrepreneurship support
• Capacity building development

Headquarters

HQ city

Kigali, Ville de Kigali

HQ country

Rwanda

HQ region

Africa

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

APEFE implements international development cooperation programs across four thematic areas — Social Inclusion & Education, Economic Inclusion, Environment/Climate, and Health & Rehabilitation — in 8 partner countries through bilateral and multilateral partnerships with governments, NGOs, and educational institutions. Apefe Rwanda specifically delivers TVET and workplace learning (IGIRA KU MURIMO) in partnership with MIFOTRA and PSF Rwanda. Programs are funded by institutional donors (DGD, Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, AWAC, EU) and delivered through local field offices rather than as commercial offerings.

Product overview

APEFE (Association pour la Promotion de l'Education et de la Formation à l'Etranger) is an international cooperation agency of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and Wallonia, active for over 50 years in developing countries. Rather than a single product, APEFE operates as a portfolio of development programs and projects organized across four thematic sectors: Social Inclusion and Education, Economic Inclusion, Environment/Climate, and Health and Rehabilitation. Key programs include workplace learning initiatives (IGIRA KU MURIMO in Rwanda), women's entrepreneurship support (Min Ajliki in Morocco, Jigeen Ñi Tamit in Senegal), irrigation development (PADI in Burundi), teacher training (IFADEM), Great Green Wall environmental initiatives, and physiotherapy/rehabilitation training programs across multiple African countries. The organization does not offer a commercial tech product but rather implements bilateral development cooperation projects funded by Belgian development cooperation (DGD), Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI), and other institutional donors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IGIRA KU MURIMO: Workplace learning support program in Rwanda
• Jigeen Ñi Tamit
• Min Ajliki
• IFADEM
• PACERD

Products and services

• IGIRA KU MURIMO Workplace learning and apprenticeship support program in Rwanda focused on technical and vocational education and training (TVET), implemented with MIFOTRA and PSF Rwanda to connect youth with private-sector employment opportunities.
• Min Ajliki Women's entrepreneurship support program in Morocco focusing on women entrepreneurs, including those in difficult situations, implemented with the Moroccan Ministry of Labor and ANAPEC.
• Jigeen Ñi Tamit Women's entrepreneurship program in Senegal supporting female entrepreneurs in fruit/vegetable processing, dairy, and fishery sectors, implemented with the Senegalese Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection.
• Programme d'Appui au Développement de l'Irrigation (PADI) 5-year irrigation development program (2022-2026) in Burundi's Kirundo province, improving agricultural producers' revenues through marshland development for rice production, capacity building, and support to the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock (MINEAGRIE).
• IFADEM (Initiative Francophone pour la Formation à Distance des Maîtres) Francophone initiative for distance learning for teachers, supporting countries in defining and implementing continuing education strategies for primary school teachers using ICT-based distance learning methods.
• Programme d'Appui au Développement de la Médecine Physique et Réadaptation (PAD-MPR) Physical medicine and rehabilitation development program in Burundi, implementing physiotherapy training, establishing rehabilitation centers, and supporting community-based rehabilitation strategies.
• Initiative Grande Muraille Verte (IGMVSS) Sahel and Sahara Great Green Wall Initiative support program implemented primarily in Burkina Faso, focused on combating desertification and supporting sustainable land management through reforestation and community-based land restoration techniques, with the 2019 campaign producing 127,570 forest plants (106.3% of target).
• Programme d'appui à la pisciculture villageoise dans le Kongo Central Village fish farming support program in DR Congo's Kongo Central province, supporting the emergence of 50 fish farming enterprises and improving fresh fish supply in a deficit market.
• Kinésithérapie / Réadaptation Médicale (ESK Benin) Physiotherapy and medical rehabilitation programs supporting ESK in Benin (the only university-level physiotherapy school in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa), training physiotherapists and producing ~200 graduates serving Benin, Burundi, and Burkina Faso, with curriculum aligned to European BMD standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 121 first-cohort graduates successfully coached in entrepreneurship and business development in Rwanda
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution overseeing APEFE as part of the international relations framework of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Provides institutional support and coordination.
• Fédération Wallonie-BruxellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional framework within which APEFE operates as an international cooperation agency. Provides government-level backing and strategic direction.
• AWAC (Agence Wallonne de l'Air et du Climat)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalloon agency for air and climate providing co-financing for climate change adaptation and environmental projects, particularly in Burkina Faso and Burundi.
• Enabel (Belgian Development Agency)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian development agency implementing development programs. Collaborates with APEFE on programs including Junior Expert placements and shared development initiatives.
• UCLouvain (Université catholique de Louvain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian university providing academic expertise for physiotherapy and rehabilitation training programs. Supports curriculum development aligned with European BMD standards.
• ESK (Ecole Supérieure de Kinésithérapie), BeninmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher institute for physiotherapy training in Cotonou, Benin. Only university-level physiotherapy school in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. Trains students from Benin, Burundi, and Burkina Faso.
• MIFOTRA Rwanda (Ministry of Public Service and Labour)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment ministry in Rwanda co-implementing the IGIRA KU MURIMO workplace learning program alongside APEFE and private sector federation.
• PSF Rwanda (Private Sector Federation)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRwanda's private sector federation collaborating on workplace learning and entrepreneurship programs to connect trainees with employment opportunities.
• WDA Rwanda (Workforce Development Authority)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRwanda government body responsible for workforce development and technical-vocational training. Partner in Belgian common program for TVET support in Rwanda.
• Tiipaalga (ONG Burkina Faso)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBurkinabè NGO specializing in sustainable land management and reforestation. Implements Grande Muraille Verte reforestation activities including village forestry and land restoration techniques.
• COPED (Burundi)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBurundese NGO 'Conseil pour l'Education et le Développement' partnering in the PAD-MPR physiotherapy and rehabilitation development program.
• MINEAGRIE Burundi (Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBurundi government ministry co-implementing the PADI irrigation development program in Kirundo province alongside APEFE.
• Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection, SenegalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSenegal government ministry partnering on the Jigeen Ñi Tamit women's entrepreneurship support program implemented by APEFE.
• ESK Benin / Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Abomey-CalavimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution for physiotherapy training in Benin. APEFE has supported ESK since early 2000s, helping it evolve toward master's level academic recognition.
• OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Francophone organization providing technical partnership for vocational training programs in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
• IFADEM (Initiative Francophone pour la Formation à Distance des Maîtres)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrancophone initiative for distance teacher training, supported by APEFE in DRC and other countries to improve primary teacher competencies.
• CN-IGMVSS (Coordination Nationale Initiative Grande Muraille Verte Sahara et Sahel, Burkina Faso)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational coordination body for the African Union's Great Green Wall Initiative in Burkina Faso. APEFE provides technical and financial support through capacity building programs.
• ADEPS (Administration Générale du Sport, Belgium)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWalloon sports administration providing carbon offset financing through APEFE for tree planting in Burkina Faso to compensate for Point Verts event travel emissions.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lux-Dev (Luxembourg Development Cooperation): Luxembourg's bilateral development agency implementing multi-sector programs in partner countries. Closely comparable scale and bilateral ODA mandate from a small European country.
• VVOB: Belgian Flemish development agency focused on education and teacher training, co-implementing the Belgian common TVET program in Rwanda alongside APEFE. Direct peer in the Belgian education/development cooperation ecosystem.
• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Dutch development NGO with strong presence in agriculture, climate, and youth employment across Sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable multi-country, sector-focused project portfolio and donor-funded operating model.
• Enabel: Belgian Development Agency implementing Belgian bilateral cooperation programs. Direct peer sharing the same Belgian government funding ecosystem, similar multi-country African footprint, and overlapping sectors (TVET, agriculture, health).

Broad incumbents

• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme): UN agency implementing multi-sector development programs in the same partner countries. Comparable country-office model and thematic focus on poverty, governance, environment, and capacity building.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German bilateral development agency with global footprint and substantially larger budget. Operates in similar sectors (TVET, environment, health) across the same African geographies, often as competitor for donor co-financing.
• Agence Française de Développement (AFD): French bilateral development agency active across Francophone Africa — APEFE's core geography. Comparable sectoral focus (education, agriculture, climate) and bilateral ODA mandate from a neighboring European government.
• Expertise France: French public agency for technical expertise and international cooperation. Shares the Francophone Africa focus and technical-assistance delivery model with APEFE, particularly in capacity-building programs.
• Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF): International Francophone organization providing technical partnership for APEFE's vocational training programs in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Overlapping Francophone mandate and education-sector programming.

Emerging players

• Solidarités International: French humanitarian and development NGO active in WASH, food security, and livelihoods in fragile African states. Partial overlap with APEFE's water/sanitation and agriculture programming in Sahel and Great Green Wall contexts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apefe-rwanda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Apefe Rwanda