PRESS RELEASE from MINALOC

THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
P.O Box 3445 KIGALI
Website: www.minaloc.gov.rw
Email: communications@minaloc.gov.rw

July 12, 2011

From July 11-12, 2011, the Ministry of Local Government hosted a two day meeting at Lemigo Hotel to discuss on the following:

• The outcome of 2010/2011 performance contracts evaluation; setting priorities for the preparation of 2011/2012 performance contracts;
• Progress on the implementation of social sector programs (FARG, VUP, Rural settlement –Imidugudu-, Nyakatsi eradication, Community health insurance scheme –mutuelle de sante-;
• Food security assessment in the country and strategies to maintain, and post harvest management;
• Education and family programs.

The meeting brought together the Ministry of Local Government, all Provincial Governors and the Mayor of Kigali City, all district Mayors and Vice Mayors in charge of Social Affairs together with all provincial and district Executive Secretaries and Heads of Agencies and Projects affiliated to the Ministry of Local Government.

While officiating the opening of the meeting, the Minister of Local Government, Honorable James MUSONI, urged local government leaders to be more responsive to the population needs and be more result oriented in their planing and day to day activities, by setting specific, measurable, ambitious and achievable, realistic and timebound targets.

He said that the Government expected the meeting to bear fruitful results. Local Government leaders and other stakeholders would share experiences, challenges and opportunities and draw lessons from the past experience and success stories.

The meeting discussed on accelerating the implementation of different government programs through performance contracts, more specifically on evaluation of performance contracts –Imihigo- 2010/2011 and set priorities for 2011/2012 targets.

Based on the feedback from the national evaluation team, there was a remarkable progress in the implementation of the 2010/2011 performance contracts, compared to previous years. Participants commended the role of performance contracts and in national development.

Recognizing the positive role of Imihigo in national socioeconomic transformation in different sectors, participants analysed the challenges and weaknesses observed in the process of preparation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of performance contracts.

The meeting agreed on the guidelines for the better preparation of 2011/2012 performance contracts and set mechanisms for proper monitoring and evaluation for the coming years.

Participants also discussed deeply on social sector development with focus on organized rural settlement –imidugudu-, thatched houses –nyakatsi- eradication, community health insurance scheme –mutuelle de sante- and Vision 2020 Umurenge programs.

Participants commended progress that has been achieved. It was agreed that all social protection services must be coordinated at local level for effective and efficient management of available resources and to enhance service delivery for the vulnerable people.

Special emphasis and appropriate measures were taken to empower people with special needs including vulnerable genocide survivors, historically marginalized groups, people with disabilities and scaling up VUP programs.

The meeting discussed on issues of food security and post harvest management, education and gender and family promotion programs, afforestation and road maintenance. In a special way, the meeting pledged more efforts towards promotion of child’s rights, gender and to enforce discipline in education schools.

Participants expressed satisfaction because Rwanda is a hunger free country and pledged more effort in post harvest management aiming at protecting farmers and consumers. They pledged also to promote cooperatives as a way to increase productivity and improved market access management.

They pledged also to embrace the use of ICT in their daily activities, and to take advantage of the existing ICT infrastructure for the promotion of e-governance and economic development.

While closing the meeting, the Minister of Local Government, Honorable James MUSONI commended local government leaders for the good work being done to promote socioeconomic transformation.

“Local government leaders are key for national development. Performance contracts are important tools of measurement, and they need proper tools of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Good governance is for development, and we need social and economic sectors for national stability and security, food security and socioeconomic transformation. We expect the forthcoming performance to be developed in a better way with SMART objectives, capable to lead Rwanda towards Vision 2020”, Minister James MUSONI asserted.

Ends

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