News
Sunday, October 05, 2014
Belgium in $17m pact with Rwanda
KIGALI, Rwanda - Belgium is continuing its support for Rwandan development by releasing another euro 13.5 million (about $17 million) as part of its Indicative Cooperation Programme (ICP 2011-2014) worth euro 160 million.
The money will be used for decentralization programmes in Rwanda. “Decentralization has been a key policy of the government of Rwanda since its start and the country is seeing a lot of progress,” Amb. ClaverGatete, the Finance and Economic Development Minister said after signing the agreement with Belgium Ambassador to Rwanda, Arnout Pauwels.
Pauwels said, “The decentralization process is considered by government of Rwanda as key to achieving sustainable economic development plus poverty reduction for all.”
He said this was the way forward to rebuilding trust so as to give local community greater voice.
The grant is aimed at helping Rwanda’s Governance and Decentralization Sector Strategic Plan which was developed in the framework of the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy2 (EDPRS2).
The Belgium ICP dedicated Euro 28million to supporting decentralization programmes of the Rwanda, Euro 55million going to the energy sector and Euro 55million to the health sector.
“Gatete said Belgium supporting the energy sector which is one of the big priorities for economic transformation was very critical to make sure that they can really impact positively not only the economic transformation but also rural development.
“Capacity development will be delivered through supporting and strengthening existing capacity building strategies of sector institutions combined with a mix of long term and short term technical assistance,” he said.
Gatete said the government was now implementing the third phase of decentralization focusing mainly on consolidating achievements made so in governance and service delivery.
By Agnes Bateta, Sunday, October 05th, 2014