| Project Detail |
Rwanda has achieved notable progress with regard to socioeconomic development and improved social cohesion. However, the role of citizens in decision-making and in holding leaders to account remains insufficient affecting the sustainability of results. This programme will increase the capability of the 30 districts in Rwanda to properly engage citizens in decision-making processes and will strengthen local conflict-resolution mechanisms, hence contributing to improved accountability and lasting social cohesion.
Since 1994, Rwanda looks up to its traditional homegrown governance mechanisms to improve citizens’ ownership and active involvement in its ambitious transformational agenda. The decentralisation policy and other regulatory tools embody the principle of citizen-centredness and mechanisms such as Imihigo (performance contracts), citizens’ assemblies and Abunzi (community mediators) all created at the local level put citizens at the centre of governance and conflict resolutions. Every year, Districts are evaluated by the Central level on how they achieved citizen participation. Districts as decentralized entities are responsible for implementation of policies decided by the Central government. They manage considerable amounts of financial resources received in capital, mostly earmarked grants. Generally, management of public finance is effective and exhibits limited leakages or corruption. Despite the policy and institutional set-up, citizens have little influence over priorities, expenditure and allocation decisions, and do not have yet the culture of holding their leaders to account. Past efforts by civil society to strengthen citizen participation have enabled thousands of citizens to have a say but face the challenge of replicability, scale-up and sustainability. Failure to institutionalize citizen participation may result in continued low citizens ownership of development outcomes and have a negative impact on lasting social cohesion. An informed and active citizenry capable to participate and challenge their leaders constitute a key pillar for Rwanda’s democracy, inclusive development and lasting peace. This programme therefore aims to support the operationalization of the policies aimed at enabling citizen influence in local governance in a systemic institutionalized manner.
Objectives The overall goal of this programme is to increase the capability of local governments in citizen-centred governance and in alternative conflict-resolution for improved citizen participation, service delivery, accountability and social cohesion. |
