UNDP Rwanda Newsletter , Issue 02/2007

April—June 2007

UNity in Diversity

RWANDA

Good Governance is central to development processes

the people of Rwanda are key

concerns for all of us ‘’said Moustapha

Soumaré, UNDP Resident

Representative”.

The project will support the

development of a responsive and

accountable state, a state which

enters into a social contract with its

citizens, listens to citizens’ voice,

allows itself to be held accountable for

the way in which it develops its

policies and delivers its services, and

a state which protects and upholds

the rights of all. The Institutions

include the Parliament, the Office of

the Ombudsman, the Human Rights

Commission, the National Unity and

Reconciliation Commission, the

National Election Commission and the

High Council of the Press.

The United Nations

Development (UNDP), Ministry of

Finance and Economic Planning

(MINECOFIN) together with some

key national institutions mandated

to promote state accountability and

responsiveness today signed a

project document on Strengthening

Good Governance in Rwanda.

The US$ 10 Million

programme aims at strengthening

accountability and responsiveness

of key state players for delivering

the Economic Development and

Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS)

objectives. It is also meant to

enhance effectiveness and

capacities of key national

institutions mandated to promote

state accountability and responsiveness.

The programme is a result of consultative

efforts between the Government of Rwanda,

DFID and UNDP. “This indicates that good

governance and greater accountability to

The Ombudsman Tito Rutaremara speaking

on behalf of the institutions supported by the

programme

Inside this issue:

Editorial ————————–—–-Page 1

Good Governance is central to

development processes ———–—Page 1

One UN Concept Paper signed - Page 2

They have said——————–— Page 2

Citizens of Nyabihu rejoices as they

receive ambulances donated by

UNDP ——————————–--–Page 3

No sustainable development without

unity and reconciliation——-—-Page 3

Welcome to News Staff ———–—Page 4

Sports News —————–———–Page 4

EditorialEditorialEditorialEditorial

UNDP Rwanda is

moving quietly but

surely towards the

Imp lemen ta t ion o f

the ONE UN, for which

the concept note was signed in April. By

signing this document, the agencies agreed

to the following key principles of the ‘‘One

UN Pilot’, and commit to fulfill their

responsibilities, as laid out in the document,

to ensure the success of the ‘‘One UN’

Pilot’:

- ‘One Programme’: All UN agencies will

work towards the common results defined

in the UNDAF (including annexes), in

accordance with the roles and

responsibilities laid out therein, and through

the coordination structures established to

ensure adherence to the ‘One Programme’.

• One Budgetary Framework: All UN

agencies will ensure that core resources and

vertical funds are fully aligned with the

UNDAF. The responsibility for mobilizing

and allocating additional resources, in

accordance with agreed criteria, will rest with

the UN Resident Coordinator.

- ‘One Leader’: All UN agencies recognize

that the Steering Committee is the highest

supervisory body of the ‘‘One UN’ Pilot’

and that the UN Resident Coordinator, as

Chair of the UN Country Team, is

responsible for ensuring that the ‘‘One UN’

Pilot’ is implemented in accordance with

the Principles laid out in this document.

- ‘One Office’: All UN Agencies will do

their utmost to improve efficiency and

reduce transaction costs, notably by opting

for pooled support services, where

applicable and efficient, and by

harmonizing procedures, reporting

requirement and simplifying interactions

with government and development partners.

UNDP Rwanda will work with other UN

sister agencies as they implement the One

UN programme. We will focus on areas

where we have better expertise but we will

also provide support to some cross-cutting

issues.

Capacity building and advisory services to

the government and people of Rwanda

in areas of Good Governance, public

administration, and environment

protection will be the main areas of

intervention of UNDP.

Moustapha Soumaré

Resident Representative

UNDP Rwanda Newsletter , Issue 02/2007 April-June 2007 Page 2

The UN System and the Rwandan

Government officially signed the

concept paper on the UN Reform to be

implemented in Rwanda as part of the

UN Reform and as recommended by

the recently released Secretary

General’s High Level Panel on UN

System-wide Coherence which

reaffirmed the central importance of

the United Nations System in the

global development architecture. The

r epor t a l so h igh l i gh t ed t he

inadequacies of the current UN system

to deliver on the high level

commitments which have been agreed

upon in the Millennium Declaration

and in subsequent engagements.

According to the UN Resident

coord ina tor in Rwanda , Mr.

Moustapha Soumaré who has been

Research Director of the High Level

Panel on UN System Wide Coherence,

the overall goal of the “One UN” is to

create a better, more efficient UN

whose undivided focus is creating a

better future for Rwanda, and

Rwandans. Moustapha recognized

the commitment and support of the

Government of Rwanda to the “One

UN” ideals.

“Rwanda would not have been selected as

pilot for the implementation of the One UN

Reform without the proactive efforts of its

Government that has demonstrated the

desire and the commitment to play an

essential role as the main owner of the

reforms”, Moustapha said.

Joseph Foumbi, UNICEF Representative signing the

" One UN” Concept Paper. Looking on are Hon. James

Musoni, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning

(center), Moustapha Soumaré (right) and Hamadoun

Touré of ITU (left).

The Government of Rwanda was represented

at this function by the Minister of Finance and

Economic Planning, Hon. James Musoni.

“Rwanda is proud to have been selected as a

pilot country for the implementation of the

UN Reform at country level in 2007. This pilot

was initiated by the Secretary

General of the United Nations is now

endorsed by the Government of

Rwanda”, said Minister Musoni. For

the Minister, the efficiency of the UN

agencies is crucial to the success of

Rwanda’s development endeavors

and fundamentally, these reforms

present an excellent opportunity for

the development of Rwanda and its

people.

The main aim is to improve the

impact, coherence, effectiveness and

positioning of the UN system at

country level, so as to better equip it

to help Rwanda meet the challenge

posed by the MDGs.

All the UN agencies in the country

and some non-resident signed the

concept note which was also

endorsed by the Government of

Rwanda through the Ministry of

Finance and Economic Planning.

Rwanda has been chosen as the UN

Reform pilot country together with

Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique,

Pakistan, Tanzania, Uruguay and

Vietnam.

Government and UN Agencies sign “One UN” Concept Note

They have said...They have said...They have said...They have said...

Climate change and environment

degradation are no longer gloomy outlooks for the next generations. They already affect all of us. In Africa, desertification, land degradation, over-exploitation of natural resources, water and air pollutions urgently call for people mobilization.

Moustapha Soumaré

UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative

Whereas before, the Country Programme Action Plan was Agency-specific, the new format will harness all UN activities in a clear alignment to the UNDAF, and thus to the EDPRS priorities.

Benoit Lar iel le UNCDF Programme Officer & Member of the “Green Office” Task Force

Ban Ki-moon

UN Secretary General

Around the world - including in Africa, where AIDS has wreaked its worst devastation so far - we have seen many examples of effective prevention programmes. These must be scaled up and made accessible to all.

UNDP Rwanda Newsletter , Issue 02/2007 April-June 2007 Page 3

“This support will help us reduce

infant mortality and improve

maternal health”, Ngirabatware

added.

In her address to the residents, the

Minister of Gender and Family

Promotion commended the

cooperation existing between the

Government of Rwanda and UNDP

and thanked UNDP for its

continued contribution to the

development of Rwanda.

“UNDP supported and continue to

support the people of Rwanda in

many development sectors”, the

Minister said. She added that the

ambulances are given to the

population and that they have to

use them and other health services

available to them by the

Government and development

partners. She invited pregnant

mothers to uses these facilities and

to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

A morning not like others for

Jean Désiré Gaseruka,

representative of the Famers

Cooperative Imbaraga. He left his

home early in the morning to

attend the ceremony to handover

four ambulances donated by the

United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP) to the

District of Nyabihu in the Western

Province. For the population of

Nyabihu like Gaseruka, the arrival

of four brand new equipped

ambulances was a reason to

rejoice. “The district of Nyabihu

is mountainous that that the sick

have problems to reach the main

road where they can find

transport. These ambulances will

facilitate the sick people to reach

the health facilities”, Gaseruka

said happily. For him, the

ambulances will help the citizens

of Nyabihu in their economic

development as they used to carry

the sick in traditional stretchers

and this took them five hours to

reach the health centers or

hospital. And many people had to

accompany the sick especially

those who are strong that they

could not do their daily farming

activities. With the arrival of the

ambulances, he thinks they will

continue their work for their own

development.

The ceremony to receive the

donation was attended by various

government and district officials

and a huge number of residents of

Nyabihu district.

Speaking on behalf of UNDP,

Luke Wasonga, Deputy Resident

Representative / Programmes

invited the citizens of Nyabihu to

make good use of the ambulances.

Women in Nyabihu think the

ambulances will solve their

health problems.

Musabyemariya Phernadey is

one of the women who have

been elected at the local level.

For her, the citizens mainly

women had serious problems

to reach far away health

centers. “The ambulances will

help women as they are the

one who had problems to

reach the hospital. Many used

to die before reaching the

hospital and others even died

at home because they had no

means to go to the health

facilities”, Thernadey said.

The four ambulances worth

138,051 US Dollars are part of

the socio-economic

reintegration of displaced

people from the natural forest

of Gishwati project.

Supported by the Government

of Norway, the project has

also constructed 2500 houses

in various districts of the

Western Province, ten water

sources and two health centers

in the districts of Karongi and

Rutsiro. The project has also

provided solar energy

electricity and energy cooking

stoves to 500 houses in the

resettlement site of Arusha in

Nyabihu district.

“I urge the population to use these

ambulances as they are meant for

them, he said. “That is how you will

improve your health and contribute to

the attainment of the Millennium

Development Goals of reducing child

mortality, improving maternal health

and combating HIV/AIDS”, added

Wasonga.

As for Charles Ngirabatware, the

Mayor of the district, he welcomed

the support from UNDP. “We have

been using only two ambulances for

the entire district and it was difficult

to take the sick including pregnant

mothers to the hospitals”, he said.

He said the transport for sick people

from health centers to the hospital

for appropriate treatment was a big

challenge for the citizens.

The district has 15 health centers

and one hospital and the two

ambulances were like a drop in the

ocean.

UNDP donates ambulances to the district of Nyabihu

Minister Valerie Nyirahabineza, Luke Wasonga and the Mayor of

Nyabihu cutting the ribbon at the handover ceremony

On Saturday 23r June the “2007 Solidarity

Camp (Ingando)” was officially launched at

Nkumba, in the Northern Province. The

ceremony was attended by the Minister for

Education, provincial and local leaders as well

as Commissioners of the National Unity and

Reconciliation Commission (NURC).

In is remark, Mr. Luke Wasonga, UNDP

Deputy Resident Representative/ Programme

commended the Commission for taking the lead

in mobilizing communities on unity and

reconciliation and the promotion of mutual trust

among Rwandans.

“I encourage the Commission to have all those

good initiatives documented and to do further

research on unity and reconciliation”, he said.

He emphasized the importance of unity

and reconciliation which is related in many

aspects to sustainable development.

In her address to participants, Hon. Jeanne

d’Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Education,

explained the challenges faced by Rwanda

and in particular by the youth as well as the

strategies put in place by the Government to

mitigate these challenges. She urged

participants to fight genocide ideology and to

put into practice what they learn in their daily

life.

The solidarity camp tackles themes such

as the analysis of Rwanda’s social and

economic issues Rwanda and Africa; human

rights, citizens’ obligations and duties as well

as leadership. The participants to the solidarity

camps are students who are joining the various

official universities in Rwanda.

UNDP supports the National Unity and

Reconciliation Commission in capacity

building initiatives.

No sustainable development without unity and reconciliation

This newsletter is published quarterly by the United Nations Development Programme in Rwanda,

P.O.Box 445 Kigali, Rwanda

Director of publication: Moustapha Soumaré

Editor: Jean de Dieu Kayiranga

For more information: Please contact <jean.kayiranga@undp.org> ,

Tel.(+250)590440, (+250) 08455778 — Website: www.unrwanda.org/undp. ©UNDP 2007

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience

and resources to help people build a better life.

In Rwanda, UNDP is an effective partner of the people of Rwanda in the accomplishment of national priorities and the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) through strengthening national capacities and governance for sustainable development.

By 2015, we can achieve the Millennium Development Goals if we Keep the Promise:

UNDP Rwanda Newsletter , Issue 02/2007 April-June 2007 Page 4

W e l c o m e t o N e w S t a f fW e l c o m e t o N e w S t a f fW e l c o m e t o N e w S t a f fW e l c o m e t o N e w S t a f f

M r . J o h n V .

Musemakweli joined

UNDP Rwanda in

June 2007.

Before joining UNDP ,

he was Program Assistant for Multicultural

Student Services at

Iowa State University in the United States.

He also worked in different

capacities for various ministries in Rwanda.

John holds a Masters in International

Development from Cornell University

(USA) and a PhD in Agricultural Extension

from Iowa State University.

He will head the Sustainable Livelihoods

Unit.

Mr. Luke Wasonga

joined UNDP Rwanda in May 2007 as Deputy Resident Representative/ Programme ai.

Before joining the Rwanda Team,

Luke worked as Senior Capacity Development Advisor and Coordinator of Strategic Analysis Unit at the Regional Service Centre, Johannesburg .

Luke has more than 20 years extensive experience at middle and senior managerial level on programme and projects management. He holds a Masters in Economic Planning from York University, Canada.

Ms Eliane Edembe

joined UNDP Rwanda Country O f f i c e i n April 2007 as Finance Officer.

Before joining the Rwanda ,

Eliane worked for UNDP Gabon as Finance Associate and Global Payroll Administrator. She brings with her a vast experience in Finance, Human Resources and Administration.

Eliane holds Technical University Degree in Finance and Administration from Institute Limayrac, France.

Chrysanthe Birasa, one of the best

performers of the Championship.

The “survivors” of the semi-finals will

meet on for the finals on 2 July 2007.

The third place was discussed between

Joseph Gatongore and Fidele Habimana.

Fidele won the by 2 sets to 1. The final

will oppose Chrys Birasa to J.D.

Kayiranga in a match which is expected

to be extremely intense as all players have

potentials to win.

Asked what he thinks about the

championship, Chrys said the most

important for him is to play for a better

health and to socialize with colleagues.

“This is a team building factory for us”,

he said, adding that winning the game is

also important as in all other games.

As part of the Work/Life Balance

initiative, the UNDP/UNOPS/UNFPA

Staff Association in Rwanda has

organized a Championship of Ping-

Pong. The initiative helps staff

manage stress and become healthier

while socializing.

The first round of games started

with 16 players. The winners of the

first round met for the quarters finals

which eliminated 4 players. The semi-

finals were very challenging for

remaining players as the scores were

always very close and each players

was not sure of the outcome of the

game.

Time for SPORTS