Government policy analysts and researchers will be expected to perform their roles better following a 10-day training by the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR) to enhance their competencies.

Speaking at the opening of the training in Kigali on Monday, Eugenia Kayitesi, the IPAR executive director, said the training also aimed at addressing the shortage of economists in the public and private sectors.

"The training is targeting 40 econometrics and research professionals in the coming months.” 

She said strengthening the capacity of professionals in the different sectors of the economy was important "because it improves the policy-making process, enabling both government and private institutions to make informed decisions.”

Kayitesi said the first group of trainees were drawn from government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Rwanda Development Board, the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda and the University of Rwanda, all of which are part of the Economic Policy Research Network, formed about four years ago.

The training is being funded by the African Capacity Building Foundation.