As a result of the war and genocide of 1994, there was a total breakdown of institutions, systems, structures and human capacity in Rwanda. Since then, the country has gone through a painful challenge of rebuilding the whole governance infrastructure. From the period of emergency, through the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase up to the current effort of long-term development, a considerable amount of work has been done in the spheres of re-establishing and strengthening good governance.
Presidential and legislative elections were held in 2003, important reforms like decentralization, public sector reform and justice sector reform are underway since a couple of years and transparency and accountability institutions like the Ombudsman office and the Auditor general office are in place.
The major areas of interventions (through the implementation of projects) include: Support to Decentralization (MINALOC); Support to local development– UNCDF; Public Sector Reform; Strengthening the Parliament; Support to the National Unit and Reconciliation Commission (NURC); and Support to the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
The Programme support for Good Governance aims at improving accountability and responsiveness in the Country. The program covers 6 institutions follow up on issues of the electoral process, Human rights and conflict prevention, anti corruption, support to the media and parliament. A gender component has been added to the programme in this year to mainstream gender and supports the national women's council. Under the portfolio, UNDP provides support to governance issues related to coordination of HIV response issues especially at the district levels.
The justice program under the portfolio supports the justice sector; five National institutions are supported with the aim of capacity building to the institutions and enhance access of justice to the poor and most vulnerable (Implementing partners are; the supreme court, the Ministry of Justice, the National Prosecution Office, The Gacaca court and the Rwanda National Police initiative in community policing). UNDP is the CO-chair for the justice sector working group where the roadmap to the swap is in its final stages
Rwanda
