Where we work

CECI has been working in the Great Lakes region of Africa since the 1980s. We have carried out projects applicable to the entire region (Rwanda, Burundi, and Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in the following areas:

• democracy and human rights promotion (1993–1997)
• support for democratic development (1998–2002)
• civic action for peace (2002–2007)

In this process, CECI has collaborated with one hundred civil society organizations and developed about twenty long-term partnerships, with a particular emphasis on capacity building, context analysis, and action. CECI also supported reconstruction in Rwanda following the genocide. A five-year program to support local rural governance got underway in 2007, led by a consortium of CECI and Experco.

The project is operational in two districts, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru, of the Southern Province.

Context

Starting in the late 1950s, Rwanda was marked by a series of civil and ethnic conflicts, culminating in the genocide of 1994.

Subsequently, the government of Rwanda embarked on a process of instituting democracy and good governance, comprising the following initiatives among others:

• resumption of political party activity;
• instatement of a government of national unity;
• development of a more participatory electoral system;
• development of more inclusive democratic structures;
• implementation of decentralization (since 2002).

With a view to building peace, promoting national reconciliation, and reducing poverty, the government has initiated a number of political, economic, and social strategies (poverty reduction, decentralization, and democratization). One key observation is the need to allow the local population to participate fully in decision-making processes.

The Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy uses consultative processes to focus on six priority areas of work:

1) rural development and food processing;

2) human development;

3) economic infrastructure;

4) good governance;

5) private sector development;

6) institutional capacity building.

In addition, Rwanda’s economy is being revamped through a set of government-initiated reforms that are beginning to yield satisfactory results; for example, annual growth stands at 8%. These advances set the stage for the Infrastructure Development Fund, created as a means of efficiently channeling Rwandan government transfer payments as well as donations, bequests, and other donor funds to the implementation of district development plans.

Rwanda has also adopted a gender policy and specific measures making for women’s equitable representation in decision-making bodies, and especially in government, the parliament, and decentralized authorities. In fact, women now make up 56% of members of parliament.

Challenges

With a population of 8.5 million, Rwanda is one of the most densely populated and poorest countries of Africa. Recurrent conflicts, low levels of human resources development, low farm productivity, demographic pressures, and natural resource depletion have impoverished the people even further.

Among the issues related to transfer of powers from government to civil society, certain challenges persist:

• financing of district development plans;
• consolidation of the recent restructuring process (the districts need the financial resources to sustain the new positions created and withstand the loss of certain powers);
• consensus building among various stakeholders;
• women’s effective participation and leadership, although it must be said that their newfound political representation is a major improvement.

In the environment sector, new legislation provides that the decentralized entities (districts, sectors, and cells) will be responsible for the enforcement and implementation of policies, strategies, programs, action plans, and laws providing for environmental protection, conservation, and management.

The issues in this area are as follows:

• public comprehension of the laws and the rationale behind them;
• enforcement of planned measures.

The PAGOR project assists with the formation of land committees at the local level as well as with public legal education, via the civic participation activities carried out by civil society organizations.

The HIV/AIDS situation prevalent in the area of CECI’s operations is characterized by:

• low levels of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its modes of transmission;
• a higher rate of infection (6.5–10%) than for the rest of the country (2–5%);
• an insufficient number of screening/testing facilities;
• limited access to antiretrovirals;
• lack of socioeconomic opportunities and social measures for people living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Conscious of the likely repercussions of this disease for the labour force and for health care costs, the government of Rwanda created a Ministry of State for HIV/AIDS and other pandemics, as well as a national AIDS commission, which receives substantial funding from the international community. PAGOR collaborates with the commission by promoting awareness raising and volunteer screening activities for priority populations.