Rwanda

UNDP’s renewed support initiative for the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice and the Gacaca Jurisdictions is aimed at strengthening the capacities of these institutions in the overall process of reforms leading to good governance for poverty reduction as outlined in the 2002-2006 National Program for Strengthening Good Governance for Poverty Reduction in Rwanda. At the end of 2001, the Government of Rwanda, following extensive consultations with national and international partners has launched the 2002-2006 National Program for Strengthening Good Governance for Poverty Reduction in Rwanda. As the Government envisions good governance as a precondition for poverty reduction and development, the program aims at strengthening the country’s governance institutions, and completing and supporting the goals for poverty reduction that are identified in both national instruments, such as Vision 2020, the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Decentralization Strategy and international instruments like the United Nations Millennium Declaration and NEPAD. This four-year program is based on lessons learned from initiatives taken between 1998 and 2001 and builds upon what has been achieved then. The program also outlines the Government’s view of the links between good governance and poverty reduction and how the objectives outlined in both national and international planning instruments can better be achieved through strengthening cross-sectoral good governance.

The overall objective of this programme is to empower the poor and facilitate their participation in the economic development of the country through building the human, material and financial capacities of governance institutions. All projects in the program are set up following the same sub-objectives:

• Needs assessment carried out
• Training sessions and other capacity building activities performed
• Skills and competencies strengthened
• Institutional capacity building.
  
  Ministry of Justice:
  UNDP is supporting the ministry of Justice to bring fair and equitable justice and to deliver justice to the poor, as a co-chair of the Justice sector coordination group (JSCG) the justice sector coordination. This coordination organ brings together all institutions and actors in the area of Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order for purposes of harmonization of efforts, efficiency and effectiveness of the Justice Sector. In line with the evolutions in the JSCG UNDP will continue to strengthen the capacity of the classic judiciary system and ensure effective delivery of fair, rapid, and accessible treatment under the rule of law.
  
  Gacaca Jurisdictions:
  In line with the evolution in the National Service in charge of Gacaca courts, UNDP supports the process by strengthening the capacity of the Gacaca courts and their jurisdictions to enforce popular and participatory justice processes. Support is provided for training of the Gacaca judges the INYANGAMUGAYO information dissemination and collection of data on Gacaca to help them share experiences with other countries.
  
  Supreme Court:
  In line with the evolutions in the JSCG UNDP supports the strengthening of capacity of the Provincial and District Courts by providing training to their Judges and provide them with basic equipment and transport fund in order to facilitate timely access to justice by all Rwandans.

Support the development and implementation national strategies and plans of action for the ministry of justice 2. Support the creation of integrated and sex disaggregated databases for the effective planning and coordination of all activities of the justice system 3. Provide technical and other support to facilitate the integration of ICT including information exchange, networking between different institutions of the justice sector4. provide technical assistance to strengthen and professionalize law enforcement agencies.