Democracy and Governance
Officially titled “Improved Governance through Increased Citizen Participation” and unofficially known as “Democracy and Governance” (D&G), the program is currently funded by USAID at almost $11million over five years and focuses on governing justly and democratically, and peace and security.
In November 2006, the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) announced that Rwanda would be one of three new 2007 Threshold countries, joining 17 others that are on the threshold of Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) eligibility to receive Compact status assistance. Threshold countries must demonstrate a commitment to reforming specific policy weaknesses identified by the MCA eligibility criteria. In the case of Rwanda, the identified weaknesses come primarily under the heading of “Ruling Justly” in the areas of political rights, civil liberties, government effectiveness, rule of law, and voice and accountability. While the Government of Rwanda (GoR) disagrees with this assessment, the Threshold program does offer USAID/Rwanda the opportunity to work with the GoR to address these areas.
Within “governing justly and democratically”, current USAID-funded, partner-implemented projects support the GoR’s local government and decentralization plan, and the strengthening of civil society. Peace and security projects emphasize conflict mitigation, and peace and reconciliation processes as Rwanda rebuilds following decades of war and the 1994 genocide.
As both the national government and general population become more comfortable with a new, decentralized government administrative system, the Twubakane (“Let’s Build Together” in Kinyarwanda) project is gaining momentum in building the capacity of local governments, Working at the district and sector levels in 12 of the country’s 30 Districts, Twubakane supports anti-corruption, government accountability, budgeting and financial management, and disburses District Incentive Funds to help district mayors implement the performance contract each has signed with the President of Rwanda. Twubakane also combines resources from the D&G and Health teams to increase access to and improve the quality of comprehensive health services provided at local levels of government.
The Civil Society, Governance and Reconciliation (CSGR)/Seruka project is designed to build Rwandan civil society by bringing together communities, grassroots organizations, and local government authorities. Another civil society-building project supports the National Unity and Reconciliation Committee’s (NURC) efforts to determine public opinion vis à vis reconciliation efforts, such as the Gacaca “people’s court” system, land issues, and governance.
The Integrated Outdoor Adventure Therapy Program (IOATP) was designed to promote and facilitate the Government of Rwanda’s initiative to bring healing and reconciliation to the nation once divided and traumatized by the tragic events of 1994. The ultimate goal of the project is to promote unity, peace, self worth, hope and development, among the youth and the society of Rwanda. The project has managed to support 1400 youth through outdoor experiential training. A total of 1999 secondary school student have been trained through camp togetherness. Twenty-six youth groups have been formed and are currently engaged in income generating activities in the southern province of Rwanda.
Youths in the same age range are also peace-building across the airwaves, as part of “Génération Grands Lacs”, the weekly, live, call-in radio program that airs simultaneously on four popular independent radio stations in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi. For one hour, listeners share their thoughts on such topics as stereotypes, authority, communication, and handling misinformation.
Scheduled to start soon is the Associates in Rural Development (ARD) project that will support reconciliation programs and activities that bring together people in Rwanda of different ethnic, religious, or political backgrounds. In a country where land is at a premium and there are conflicting claims to it, this project will focus on reducing and settling land disputes, and will design and train conflict mediation programs and facilitators.
Democracy and Governance Fact Sheet
