It remains, however, the fifth most aid dependent country in the world and is likely to remain aid dependent in the medium term.
Poverty levels and economic inequalities remain high, and reducing poverty and providing decent employment remain challenges. Despite strong economic growth the tax base remains shallow and narrow, with only 11 percent of enterprises registered with the Rwanda Revenue Authority and only 25 per cent of workers in non-farm work. Domestic savings rates are low with only a fifth of adults having a savings account with most saving to manage short term fluctuations in spending and/or risk avoidance.
Attracting foreign direct investment is proving challenging and with investment well below the levels being attracted to Uganda and Tanzania.
Despite growing exports there has been a worsening balance of trade with the trade deficit widening by 40 percent between 2010 and 2011. Non-farm employment growth, with a growth rate of six percentage points between 2005/6 and 2010/11, needs to be accelerated to meet the numbers of new labour market entrants expected over the next 10 years. There is a need to continue to mainstream gender and introduce gender based budgeting and to fight HIV/AIDS where the infection rate of three per cent has
remained stagnated in recent years.
For more details on who benefits from aid, read the whole report
The research is qualitative study and use variety of methods of participatory approach was used in this study upon different segments of sources of information determined during analysis phase.
The research approaches and tools employed included Stakeholder analysis under which stakeholder analysis of all key players in child protection in Rwanda was made which included Government policy maker institutions (Ministries), Civil Society Organizations (NGOs), Government institutions (implementing institution) and intermediaries.
Participatory consultations were another tool which ensured meetings and interviews of stakeholder to get their input and views on the child protection in Rwanda.
The above was followed by Participatory approach of child Focused Group Discussions where we visited 3 three child centers in 3 provinces and with the help of directors/managers of child centers, we organized and held focus group discussions of about 10-15 children.
In the group discussions, we discussed various protection issues ranging from knowledge of protection laws and rights, the root causes of their situations to their future prospects.
The three child centers visited were from three provinces and they are: FIDESCO-Rugamba Cyprien in Kicukiro, Kigali City, Nyampinga in Huye of South Province and SACCA in Kayonza, Eastern Province).
Literature research and desk review was another important method used in which researched law Libraries and child focused institutions to know and obtain relevant polices and program documents, child protection legal instruments which are in force, those still in legislative processes and conceived ideas for future drafting of child protections related Bills and future child protection policies and programs.
For more details on this mapping exercise on child protection programs in Rwanda click here
Of the respondents, 20.1 confirmed the existence of discrimination, while others said that they are discriminated because they are HIV positive,”.
There are three categories of medical insurance cover. These include people considered to be very poor who pay an annual premium of Rwf2, 000 that is settled by government on their behalf. The rest are expected to pay for themselves with premiums standing at Rwf3000 and Rwf7, 000, respectively based on their category.
Other challenges that were pointed out were the bad attitude of nurses towards Mutuelle de Santé card holders, medicine shortage and stock outs that were said to be common.
The report recommended that management committees of the community based health insurance at cell and sector levels should assure that the categorisation of members affiliated to Mutuelle de Santé is done in transparency.
The history of multi-party elections in Rwanda is relatively short: the first elections conducted in the 1950s for chiefs and sub-chiefs and the referendum to turn Rwanda from monarch to republic were conceived, organized and supervised by the colonial power, with pre-determined results.
Between 1959 and 1994, political leadership took the form of a de-facto single party, which was ethnically-defined, and as a result a portion of the population was systematically excluded from the management and exercise of power.
After the genocide, the government of national unity put in place transitional arrangements for electing leaders with some degree of accountability to their electorates, until the adoption of the constitution in 2003 which established multi-party political system in Rwanda where citizens can elect, renew or withdraw the mandate of the people they voted into power.
The 2008 legislative elections are the second such elections since the enactment of the Constitution.
It is in this context that the Rwandan Civil Society Platform established an election observation mission to conduct impartial, systematic and professional monitoring of key elements of the 2008 parliamentary election so as to enhance the prospects of transparent and credible elections.
The Civil Society Election Observation Mission has sought to identify the strengths and weaknesses of this electoral process in order to contribute to possible improvements in future electoral processes.
The CSEOM has used a comprehensive methodology to benchmark law, procedure and practice against international electoral standards.
These standards, derived from international legal instruments, can be summarised as the requirements for periodic and genuine elections; citizens’ right to stand for elections; universal suffrage; the right to vote; equal suffrage; respect for the secrecy of vote, and respect for the expression of the will of the voters. These standards are relevant to all stages of an electoral process.
The CSEOM has conducted the observation mission:
As the government of Rwanda’s ability to organize and finance elections improves, donor funding meant for elections should be channeled to voter education and media, especially private media.
Rwanda’s Vision 2020 and its Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) aim at the development of a knowledge-based and technology-led economy.
In this context, Rwanda has embarked on reforms aiming at improving every aspect of quality education. In line with these efforts, the government of Rwanda has focused on aligning curriculum, teaching and learning, and assessment to ensure that the education system is producing the kind of citizens the country desires.
The second pillar of the Vision 2020 highlights the general need to regularly examine curricula in terms of their relevance to assist in the achievements of education and national development goals and objectives. While curriculum is not the only factor influencing education quality, it is the core of the entire education system.
Rwanda’s government remains committed to achieving UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) number 2 and 3, which call for the opportunity for all children to complete the full course of primary education and for gender disparities in primary and secondary schools to be eliminated by 2015 respectively. The country has made great strides in achieving these goals, with a net primary school enrolment rate of 91.7% . It appears that by 2015, Rwanda will have achieved, or, at least, have come very close to achieving MDG 2 and the education aspects of MDG 3.
In addition to meeting the education policy goals set forth by international organisations, Rwanda maintains its own strategic goals as discussed in the two primary documents, the Rwanda Vision 2020, and the EDPRS. The former emphasizes education’s role in creating human capital to bolster Rwanda’s economy. The policy calls for training and educating people at all levels, including adults that lack the basic education and skills necessary for employment. The EDPRS policy echoes the need for access to quality education at all levels, with the addition of high level objectives related to educational effectiveness, the strengthening of science and technology teaching, and the widespread use of ICT.
In summary, the policy goals of Rwanda’s education system are aimed at creating an educated workforce with the technological knowhow to engage in service sector employment. These goals reflect the government’s overall plan for Rwanda to become a technology hub in Africa, which is based on the fact that the nation’s limited stock of natural resources and arable land necessitate its transformation into a knowledge economy rather than one based on industry or agriculture.
Civil Society Election Observation Mission Final Report on the Rwandan Parliamentary Elections 2013. Civil Society Election Observation Mission Final Report on the Rwandan Parliamentary Elections 2013.
The third parliamentary elections after the 2003 adoption of the Rwandan Constitution have shown how well the country has developed its electoral framework and progressive organizational improvement in the National Electoral Commission.
The 5th Civil Society Public Policy Dialogue at the Kigali Convention Centre. The Public Policy Dialogue is an annual event organized by the Rwanda Civil Society Platform as a space for discussions on issues facing the society. This year’s theme was: “Analysis of land expropriation and transfer process in Rwanda”.
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The Civil Society Election Observer Mission followed the 2017 Presidential Election and this report presents the findings of the mission and the ensuing recommendations to the different stakeholders to the electoral process in Rwanda.
Analysis of the Implementation of National Policy against Gender Based Violence
Policy/Prevention Section in Rwanda: Case Study of GAKENKE, NYAMAGABE, NYANZA, NYARUGURU & RULINDO Districts.
In-Depth Study on “Analysis of Value Chain for Intensified Crops and Market Price in Rwanda; The case Study: IRISH POTATOES, MAIZE and RICE”
The Civil Society Election Observation Mission followed the 2018 Parliamentary Elections and this report presents the findings of the mission and the ensuing recommendations to the different stakeholders to the electoral process in Rwanda.
The World Bank defines civil society as the wide array of non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations that have a presence in public life, expressing the interests and values of their members or others, based on ethical, cultural, political, scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations. It defines civil society organizations as a wide array of organizations: community groups, NGOs, labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, and foundations.”
The main objective of this report is to highlight the contribution of both national and international Non-Governmental Organizations to the development of Rwanda post the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. It focuses on the key sectors of “agriculture”, “education”, “WASH”, “governance”, “women empowerment”, and “justice and peace building” and how CSOs have impacted communities in these sectors. It was commissioned through a partnership framework between the Network of International None Governmental Organizations (NINGO) and the Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP).
The Governing Board throughout this period played its key roles of providing oversight, creating nurturing relations for RCSP and providing guidance to the executive team led by the Executive Secretary. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the member of the Board for altruistic contributions.
I also would like to congratulate our technical and executive team at the platform for their embodiment of the core values of volunteerism and excellence in service, going the extra-mile on each and every task and never tiring. Thank you and may the achievements of the past six months and those of the years before provide you and us all the courage to scale higher, knowing that it is indeed possible.
The Rwanda Civil Society Platform as the apex body in the country’s civil society sector has been an influencing voice in national policy, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of Rwandans are voiced and advocated for with duty bearers.
I am happy to report that during the challenging social and economic circumstances of the past half-year, we have engaged with the Government of Rwanda on a number of issues, resulting into better policies and approaches.
Not only have we gone to Government to raise issues, they have on several instances come to us; engaging us to ensure that in key decisions, all stakeholders and voices are accounted for and have a say in the outcome.
We similarly grateful for the Government’s continued investment in the strengthening of Rwanda’s civil society sector; ever improving the regulatory environment, allocating capacity building resources and partnering with us and our member organisations to deliver services to the people. While this remains a long journey, we are convinced in the Government’s willingness to work with us in making the requisite strides.
Our gratitude also goes to colleagues in INGOs and Development Partners who have been reliable partners in the last six months.
With our internal and external stakeholders, I am happy to note that inspite of the challenges faced these past six months, RCSP has moved forward, it is stronger and we are more resolved in our commitment to making significant contribution in improving the quality of life for Rwandans, Africans and our collective global human family.
The year 2019/2020 will be a memorable one for the Rwanda Civil Society Platform for several reasons for particular but also general reasons shared by the rest of Rwanda and the world.
Foremost, this year was the beginning of the implementation on our five- year strategic plan 2019/2023, which was developed as a guiding tool for consolidating and accelerating contributions by Rwanda’s civil society to national transformation and development.
It is also this year during which our institutional capacity development plan became operationalized.
Concisely, this year was a foundational year for our journey of the next five years. It is a period during our contribution to the national strategy for transformation as Rwanda builds a foundation for the implement ation of Vision2050 and accelerates towards higher middle income and high-income status by 2035 and 2050 respectively must be
became known as COVID19. This global pandemic that has ravaged the world, Rwanda inclusive has impacted every aspect of life and every human industry, civil society included.
The effects on civil society organisations have first been structural given the intrinsic nature of civil society approaches that to include riding on the rights to assemble people and work across communities. Due to restricted movements and the national lockdown, many organisations struggled to continue serving their constituencies, having to make quick changes to adapt to new and unprecedented realities and models including among others quick adoption of new technologies to facilitate association.
The half-year in review completed the second year of implementation of RCSP’s Strategic Plan 2019/2023, which was developed through a broad consultative process to ensure that this timeframe makes significant inputs into the building of a strong foundation for Rwanda’s civil society.
This report is therefore structured along the six strategic axes of the Strategic Plan and shares the progress garnered in each of these areas, all of which are key to delivering the expected outcome of the plan. These pillars are:
1. Organizational capacity building
2. Coordination of members and affiliate CSOs
3. Advocacy, policy influence and contribution to the overall development process
4. Partnerships and collaboration
5. Learning, Knowledge Management and feedback mechanisms
6. Sustainability
