Full details of DFID’s support to Rwanda can be found in the Country Assistance Plan 2003-2006 and the Memorandum
of Understanding. For copies of these, and for further information, go to www.dfid.gov.uk or contact Brendan Stanbury,
DFID Rwanda (Tel: + 250 85771,
b-stanbury@dfid.gov.uk).
UK SUPPORT TO RWANDA
Rwanda Overview
•
The challenge that confronted Rwanda in 1994 was truly extraordinary. Thirty-two
years of state divisionism, eight years of economic collapse, four years of conflict
and three months of savage genocide had left one million people dead, a collapsed
state and economy, infrastructure destroyed and nearly three million refugees in
exile.
•
Rwanda has made considerable progress since then - although the needs still
remain acute. The country is at peace, the economy is stable and growing (real GDP
growth averaged almost 8% per year from 1998 to 2002), and the incidence of
poverty declined from around 70% in 1994 to 60% in 2002 (although statistics are
extremely poor).
•
The key challenge for 2004 will be better service delivery (such as health care and
education) and strengthening the environment for free expression.
Progress in Rwanda
•
Real GDP growth has increased from 6.0% per annum in 2001 to 9.4% in 2002.
(However this has not resulted in significant changes to incomes of rural households,
where over 90% of the population live).
•
Government Social Policy is taking an active approach towards offering equality for
women
in all aspects of Rwandan life – the Constitution mainstreams gender rights
and paves the way for gender equity in all areas of legislation, policy development
and government service delivery
•
Rwanda is making good progress towards achieving Universal Primary Education
by 2015
. Gross primary enrolment has increased from less than 1m children in
1994/5 to more than 1.7m in 2003/4.
•
The net enrolment rate, at 86%, is one of the highest in the region. But low primary
completion rates indicate substantial challenges to improving quality.
•
Rwanda has achieved gender equity in terms of enrolment in primary and
secondary schools. Whilst impressive, this masks large gender differences with
respect to type of school and learning and examination outcomes.
•
2003 saw the culmination of the transition period, a referendum on a new constitution
and the election of a new Government –
the first pluralistic elections in Rwanda’s
history
. Despite mixed reviews, the election process represented a milestone in
Rwanda’s democratic evolution.
•
Rwanda leads the world in the number of female parliamentarians. Rwanda now
boasts 48.8% of the National Assembly, (an increase from 25.7%), and replaces
Sweden (45%) at the top of the table.
•
Government of Rwanda honoured the commitments made in Pretoria on 30 July 2002
and
withdrew its soldiers from Eastern DR Congo in October the same year.
•
Government spending on both education and health care has increased between
1999 and 2003 (from US$ 59.6m to $76.6m on education and from $8.8m to $17.75
on health). Government spending on defence by contrast has halved between 1999
and 2003 as the situation with Rwanda and in the DRC has become more stable
($31.2m to $14.9m).
The Challenges
•
Very low human capacity resources at all levels throughout Rwanda. Many
professionals and qualified people were killed during the genocide or fled the country.
•
There are only 274 qualified doctors in Rwanda. That is 1 doctor for every 14,599
people.
•
Very limited land resources. Rwanda is the most densely populated country in
Africa and the population is still growing.
Full details of DFID’s support to Rwanda can be found in the Country Assistance Plan 2003-2006 and the Memorandum
of Understanding. For copies of these, and for further information, go to www.dfid.gov.uk or contact Brendan Stanbury,
DFID Rwanda (Tel: + 250 85771,
b-stanbury@dfid.gov.uk).
•
Subsistence agriculture remains the mainstay of the rural economy. The potential of
commercial agriculture is poorly exploited
and over 50% of the rural population
is underemployed.
•
40% of all 10-14 year olds are orphans as a result of the genocide and half the
population is under 18.
•
13-14% of children never enrol in school.
•
Prisons are still full of people accused of genocide related crimes. To process them
through the normal court system would take over 100 years.
•
Large numbers of ‘genocidaires’, ex-combatants, refugees and displaced people are
being reintegrated into their communities
- a major challenge for reconciliation.
•
Civil society is weak and poorly represented at policy levels. This presents
challenges to the expression of citizen demand and the realisation of human rights.
•
Human Rights – ensuring that in striving for national unity, inclusion and equality, the
government pays particular attention to the diversity that exists amongst Rwanda
citizens and their many vulnerabilities.
UK Support to Rwanda – Overview
The
UK is Rwanda’s largest bilateral development partner providing high, predictable
levels of resources in support of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. This support will increase
from £37m in 2003/4, to £42m in 2004/5, and £47m in 2005/6. A
new DFID Rwanda office
opened
in January 2004, signaling UK’s intention to continue our long-term partnership with
Rwanda.
The Government of Rwanda has a developed an internationally agreed
long-term strategy
to reduce poverty
. The UK provides support for the basic processes of government, crucial
to the successful implementation of this strategy. The UK provides 2/3 of its financial support
to bridging the financing gap for implementing Rwanda’s poverty reduction strategy.
The UK Government partnership with the Government of Rwanda is based on the
UK/Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2004. The MoU underpins the
UK/Rwanda bilateral relationship, and provides a sound basis for constructive dialogue and
assessment of progress on social, economic and political developments.
In order to make sure that UK support has the greatest impact on reducing poverty in
Rwanda, priority has been given to building capacity in the areas of strategic planning and
budgeting, rural livelihoods and education. These are the areas that present the biggest
challenges to Rwanda’s continued development. The UK has agreed to:
•
Support International and regional initiatives aimed at securing peace and stability
in central Africa;
•
Increase our engagement on economic and social policy issues affecting Rwanda;
•
Promote aid co-ordination, harmonisation, and alignment;
•
Provide support for the basic processes of government, which are crucial for the
successful implementation of the PRS;
•
Continue our significant support to education and gender equity;
•
Seek strategic engagement in rural transformation (the highest priority for
Government action to reduce poverty in the PRS) and
security sector reform;
•
Continue to help combat HIV/AIDS through the Rwanda component of the DFIDsupported
International Partnership Against Aids in Africa programme;
•
Embark on a long-term initiative to enable Rwanda citizens to progressively realize
their
human rights, through engagement with Government, development partners,
and civil society.
Full details of DFID’s support to Rwanda can be found in the Country Assistance Plan 2003-2006 and the Memorandum
of Understanding. For copies of these, and for further information, go to www.dfid.gov.uk or contact Brendan Stanbury,
DFID Rwanda (Tel: + 250 85771,
b-stanbury@dfid.gov.uk).
Examples of UK support to Rwanda
Support to Education
UK is Rwanda’s main bilateral partner in the education sector. With UK support, the education
sector now has a realistic plan for the achievement of the
goals for education for all.
Teacher qualifications are being upgraded, and the curriculum is undergoing revision.
Through UK/French Cooperation joint support, the textbook:student ratio was improved to 1:3
in 2002. Further large
textbook purchases in 2003/4 will improve this ratio further to 1:2.
Tax Revenue
UK has been Rwanda’s main partner in the establishment and development of the Rwanda
Revenue Authority (RRA). Since its creation in 1998,
tax revenue as a percentage of GDP
has increased from less than 9% to more than 12.5%
during the period to end 2003,
exceeding targets set during this period.
Peace and stability
The Rwanda
Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme (RDRP) co-ordinates the
demobilisation, reinsertion and reintegration of ex-combatants from the Rwandan Defence
Forces, the Forces Armees Rwandaises and ex-members of other armed groups. 46,000
soldiers have been through the demobilisation process since 1997.
The RDRP works under the framework of the World Bank's Multi-Country Demobilisation and
Reintegration Programme and within the terms of the Lusaka and Pretoria Agreements,
covering the cessation of hostilities in DRC, withdrawal of foreign forces and the
disarmament, demobilisation, and repatriation of armed groups. UK support (£5.5m in 2002-
2003) and input is aimed at ensuring that the plans for the successful reintegration of excombatants
into the communities is effected.
UK facilitates bi-annual meetings between the Presidents of Rwanda and Uganda. This has
played an important part in working towards reconciliation and peace between the two
countries.
To further understanding and reconciliation UK is providing £500,000 to assist with the
rebuilding and rehabilitation of
memorial centers at Ntarama, Nyarabuye and Murambi and
support the involvement of the local community in the centers. UK is also providing £200,000
to the Rwanda 10 Committee to promote youth involvement in the commemorations, to
promote reconciliation among youth and young people and £30,000 to support UK/Rwanda
business linkages.
UK support to HIV/AIDs
UK provides support to the International Partnership against AIDs in Africa (SIPAA) which is a
three year programme being implemented in four core countries including Rwanda. The
overall budget for Rwanda is £2.9m for the enhancement of nationally led efforts to control the
spread of HIV and support the development and implementation of the national strategic plan.
The Government of Rwanda is working with a number of major international partners
including the Global Fund, the Clinton Foundation, and MAP, to implement their HIV/AIDS
Strategic Plan. UK is working with the Government to strengthen their capacity to manage the
implementation of the Strategic Plan. We are also exploring with the UN and other
development partners, the possibility of accelerating the rollout of access to anti-retroviral
treatment in Rwanda.
Support to Survivors groups
The Ministry of Local Government has the mandate for social protection of all vulnerable
groups. Survivor groups are a special group amongst the poorest and most vulnerable in the
country. UK support is directed to identify survivors of genocide and their needs. We are
Full details of DFID’s support to Rwanda can be found in the Country Assistance Plan 2003-2006 and the Memorandum
of Understanding. For copies of these, and for further information, go to www.dfid.gov.uk or contact Brendan Stanbury,
DFID Rwanda (Tel: + 250 85771,
b-stanbury@dfid.gov.uk).
presently undertaking a detailed review of progress that has been made towards meeting the
needs of this special group over the last ten years. We will use this to target the £600,000 the
Secretary of State has already committed to helping support this vulnerable group of people.
Our later support will be directed to helping develop the Ministry’s Policy Framework for the
social protection for all vulnerable groups, including survivors.
Support to Civil Society
UK is giving support to civil society organisations working towards the Unity and
Reconciliation programme. Other support is directed to Penal Reform International focusing
on research on the traditional form of justice, Gacaca (£750,000 June 2003- June 2004). A
major programme on Human Rights and Citizenship is under design. The programme will
increase and mainstream DFID support to the broad range of civil society activities which
contribute to the development and implementation of Rwanda’s poverty reduction strategy.
Support to Gender
UK is considering further support to the Ministry of Gender and help the Ministry into changing
the Policy of Gender into Action. UK has provided two phases of technical and budgeted
support to the Ministry of Gender since 1997. The Ministry has achieved impact in getting
women’s rights recognized and mainstreamed gender into various and important Institutional
Policy such as the Rwandan Constitution, the Rwandan Budget and this has contributed to
ranking Rwanda the first country in the World with a record of 48% of Women
Parliamentarians and 30 % of Women as Members of the Government. But like some other
areas of Government, the Ministry has a high turn over of expertise and finds it difficult to
institutionalise the roll out of Gender policy. The progressive realization of Women’s rights
have a high priority in UK’s commitment to the Government and people of Rwanda.
Support to Media Sector
DFID is providing support to the media sector to develop a strategic plan for regulatory and
licensing procedures, build capacity of the school of journalism at the national University in
Butare, and hold awareness seminars for media professionals (£200,000: June 2003 –June
2004). Support to the media sector is in line with Government of Rwanda’s commitment to
provide a Policy Framework that will lay the foundations for a free and independent media
within the broad bounds of responsible journalism.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK Government
that manages Britain’s aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty.
The central focus of the Government’s policy is a commitment to the internationally
agreed Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015. These seek to:
- Get rid of extreme poverty and hunger
- Make sure that all children receive primary education
- Promote sexual equality and give more power to women
- Reduce child death rates
- Improve the health of mothers
- Combat HIV, AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- Make sure the environment is protected
- Develop a global partnership for development
DFID works in partnership with governments, business, civil society and the research
community, as well as international institutions such as the World Bank, United
Nations agencies such as UNICEF, and the European Community.
Website: www.dfid.gov.uk