Rwanda

Launch of the Global Human Development Report

Kigali, 14 November 2006: The Human Development Report was launched today in Kigali, Rwanda. The report entitled “Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis” was launched officially by the Honorable Minister for Land, Environment, Forestry, Water and Mines, Mr. Christophe Bazivamo and the UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Moustapha Soumaré. The launch in Rwanda follows the global launch of the report that was held in Cape Town, South Africa on 09 November 2006. This year’s Report looks at an issue that profoundly influences human potential and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Under the theme “Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis”, the report analyses the two main aspects of the water crisis, namely Water for life and Water for livelihoods.

The launch in Rwanda has attracted different stakeholders including representatives from the government, the donor community, UN agencies, the academia, the civil society, the private sector and the media. After the official launch of the report by the Minister of Land, Environment, Forestry, Water and Mines, the participants watched the Kibera film on the water and sanitation crisis in Kibera slum of Kenya, and presentations on the HDR 2006 and the current situation of water and sanitation crisis in Rwanda by the Minister of State In Charge of Water and Mines, Prof. Bikoro Munyanganizi. In a discussion that followed the presentations, participants discussed on how the crisis of water and sanitation can be solved. For more information on the report, you can visit the Human development Report website at http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006