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Rwanda : Programme for Strengthening Good Governance
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Background
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In April 2007, DFID and UNDP jointly initiated the “ Rwanda : Programme for Strengthening Good Governance” on the foundation that effective governance is a vital part of the development process. This programme aims at enhancing effectiveness and capacities of key national institutions, mandated to promote state accountability, responsiveness, and transparency. It is built around a shared agenda between the Government of Rwanda, DFID and UNDP that gives weight to the need for the development of a responsive and accountable state in order to promote and strengthen good governance; a state which enters into a social contract with its citizens, listens to citizens' voice, allows itself to be held accountable for the way in which it develops its policies and delivers its services; and a state which protects and upholds the rights of all. The basic assumption is that good governance is central to the development process, and that it requires state capability, responsiveness and accountability as prerequisites.
The institutions to whom support has been provided are: the National Parliament, the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, the National Election Commission (in year one of the programme), the High Council of the Press (years 2-4 of the programme), and the National Women's Council (years 2-4 of the programme). The latter institution has joined the programme under the auspices of the Gender Component, which was introduced in August 2008, as part of an effort to promote gender equality in state accountability and responsiveness. The Gender Component is fully integrated into the PSGG and the purpose of the component is “Strengthened constitutionally mandated institutions increase state accountability, responsiveness and transparency in an engendered manner” and the aim is to focus on a few tangible results that will be reflected in the good governance programme indicators which will be consolidated through the gender audits and the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (PMEP). |
OBJECTIVES
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The project goal is "Strenghened accoutabilitiy and responsiveness of key state players for delivery the Economic Development Poverty Reduction Strategies (EDPRS) objectives.
Its purpose is to
Enhance effectiveness and capacities of key national institutions, mandated to promote state accountability, responsiveness, and transparency.
The project foundation is an agenda shared by the goveranment of Rwanda
(GoR), DFID and UNDP, that effective governance is vital part of the development process.
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| EXPECTED OUTPUTS/INDICATORS |
UNDAF OUTPUTS:
Output 1.1: Capacity of Parliament and relevant government ministries to review and draft laws and policies, and oversee their implementation, including their conformity with human rights and international commitments, enhanced.
Output 1.3: Capacity and mechanisms for conflict prevention, peace-building and reconciliation at district and sector levels strengthened.
Output 1.4: Capacity of Human Rights institutions, Government and civil society to promote, monitor and report on HR, enhanced.
Output 2.2 : Anti-corruption policy formulated and implemented.
Output 2.3: Capacity of national public institutions and local Government in the area of efficient, accountable, and result-oriented service delivery, strengthened.
Output 3.3: Mechanisms for participation of women and gender advocates in democratic structures and processes, enhanced |
Achievements |
National Unity and Reconciliation Commission
Workshops on unity and reconciliation conducted for grassroots women leaders in three provinces.
Seminars conducted to engage primary school Head Teachers about the prevailing genocide ideology.
Stakeholder workshops at the district levels (in ten districts) aimed at dialoguing on the prevalence of genocide ideology.
Capacity building workshops conducted in which 50 members of unity and reconciliation associations were trained in conflict management, good governance, and project management.
Institutional capacity building in public finance management and Human Resource Development. This included conducting staff assessments and developing staff rules and regulations and tools for self-evaluation.
Publication of NURC newsletter.
Media High Council
Nationwide Workshop Seminars on Media freedom to the benefit of district Public Relations Officers, Social Affairs Officers, representatives of security agencies, journalists, central government and private organizations.
Through consultation with stakeholders MHC designed and established regulations governing access to public media by political organisations during 2008 parliamentary elections. The purpose was to ensure equal access to the media for all political organizations.
Related to the above regulations, MHC monitored the elections with purpose to establish the extent to which that regulation was put into implementation by ORINFOR and recently MHC published the report of its findings.
Through consultation with journalists and other media related practitioners, civil society and other stakeholders, the MHC designed and established the media code of conduct during the 2008 parliamentary elections.
With the aim of creating a sustainable regulatory system and developing professionalism, the MHC assisted members of the Rwanda Media Ethics Commission undertake four study tours to Ivory Coast , Burundi , and Ghana --countries whose media professional ethics commissions are well established to assist their peers work professionally.
Through training and media informative programmes. The MHC made a media campaign aimed at mobilising the journalist to effectively play their watchdog's role during the parliamentary elections.
Posters to be distributed to local administrative entities describing the rights of the public in the media, aimed at sensitising the public on their rights were developed, designed and printed.
A weekly one and half hour radio debate on media freedom was launched and is currently broadcast on four radio stations simultaneously (every Sunday from 4:00pm to 5:30pm on City, Flash, Rwanda and Salus) to ensure that a large audience is reached. Staff capacities are being developed in response to some of the weaknesses highlighted by the Harmonised
approach to Cash Transfer (HACT by the UNDP).
National Parliament
Approval of Draft Bill for the Protection of Genocide Sites by the Committee on Unity, Human Rights, and the Fight Against Genocide
Development of Parliamentary Research Unit.
Security Committee visited five districts to sensitize security committees at the District level on security issues.
Support to the African Parliamentarians Network against Corruption (APNAC) to develop a five-year Strategic Plan and 2008 Action Plan Draft feasibility report on establishment of Parliament Radio.
Training of 26 technical support staff on ratification of international conventions.
Production of a Legislative Drafting Manual.
Public Finance Consultant to assist Budget and Asset Holdings Committee in analysis of Auditor General's Report Vol 1 and II.
Development of Job Descriptions for Researchers.
Training on Intellectual Property Law for Technical Staff.
Field Visits by Security and National Integrity Committee to border districts.
Training Technical staff in Ratification of International Conventions.
Ombudsman's Office
Registration and annual school fees for Masters degrees at the National University of Rwanda have been paid for four members of staff.
Induction program for 43 persons (English and French course) is ongoing and from 1st quarter until now.
Tender process and contract for different studies on corruption have been signed; the surveys have already begun and will going on until December 2008.
Selection of dramas on anti-corruption skills campaign to be played through radios and public has been completed and the presentations and broadcasting are ongoing.
2000 copies each quarter of Umuvunyi Magazine published and distributed to public institutions, local government leaders at all levels, and to schools.
Public Administration course completed for all members of staff.
Exchange trips and twining meetings with South Africa, Botswana , Ethiopia by 4 members of Staff.
Registration and school fees for annual post-graduate certificate in corruption studies in Hong Kong have been paid and the course will take place in November according to schedule.
A Youth conference on fighting against corruption and injustices took place with a complete success.
National Human Rights Commission
Production of training manuals on Human Rights.
Training teachers on the basics of Human Rights.
Organization and training of youth organizations and local defence forces.
Organization and training of religious leaders.
Publication of the NHRC message in the press and in calendars.
Countrywide training and support of Human Rights volunteers.
Broadcasting Human Rights messages on radio.
Participation in study visits and international meetings.
ICT and Language training for relevant staff.
Training on human rights of historically marginalised Rwandans ( Batwa ) in the context of labour unions.
Design of a strategic plan (2009-2012).
Design and update of the NHRC website.
Monitoring elections activities.
An NHRC workshop was held for the NHRC staff and Commissioners in which an evaluation of the 1 st Quarter's activities was carried out.
Procurement of various Office Equipment (Computers, photocopier, stationeries, etc).
Support to a consultative meeting of institutions working in human rights domain.
National Electoral Commission
Elaboration of the Strategic Plan for the Electoral Commission for 2008-2011.
Strengthened the civic education programme by training 27,000 youth from the cell level to the district level.
Produced 9,500 voter registration forms and elaborated an electoral list and voter information.
Acquired IT equipment in order to collect and maintain data on elections (electoral lists, voter registration cards, etc). As a result, information is now computerized, centralized, and safeguarded.
Began the process of establishing a Call Center .
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| FUTURE PLAN |
| Activities will continue as they have thus far for each institution. In addition, the NWC will begin the implementation process of its planned activities. At the Programme level, the focus will be on continuing to develop and implement a results-based performance measurement system capable of truly assessing the impact of the Programme |
RELATED DOCUMENT |
1. Download program's document
2. Gender Addendum to PSGG |
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| Project ID: |
00046259 00057139 00057833 00059293 00060184 |
| Status: |
Ongoing |
| Duration: |
Apr. 2007- Apr. 2011 |
| Management Arrangements: |
NEX |
| Total budget |
USD |
10,259,856 |
Source of funding:
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USD
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8,384,856(DFID)
1,875,000(UNDP) |
| Total expenditure 2008 |
USD |
2,352,386.30 |
| Democratic Governance |
| Country wide |
PARTENERS ON THE GROUND |
| National Parliament, Ombudsman's Office, National Human Rights Commission, National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, National Women's Council |
RESPONSABLE PARTIES |
| National Parliament, Ombudsman's Office, National Human Rights Commission, National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, National Women's Council, UNDP |
EDPRS THEM |
Good Governance |
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| 1. Good Governance Enhanced and Sustained and sustained. |
Outcome 1: Rule of Law: Capacity of Government and partners to sustain a peaceful state where freedom and human rights are fully protected and respected enhanced.
Outcome 2: Decentralization accountability and transparency: Effective, accountable and transparent management of public resources and services at national and decentralized levels, enhanced.
Outcome 3: Participation in Democratic Governance: People's participation in democratic processes and structures at national and decentralized levels, increased. |
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Rwanda
