Eighteen Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have received $740,000 (Rwf518 million) grant from the United Nations and Rwanda Governance Board to support their efforts to promote accountable and good governance.

They include four umbrella CSOs that will receive $80,000 each and 14 individual CSOs that will each get $30,000. The recipients were selected from 182 applicants following what organisers described as a highly competitive, transparent and independent evaluation process that started in April.

Each proposal was objectively assessed on its own merit, said Prof Shyaka Anastase, the Chief Executive Officer of RGB. He said the competition was open to umbrella and individual CSOs working in the field of human rights, gender, civic education, social protection, citizen engagement, women/youth employment, culture promotion and media.

Marie Immaculée Ingabire from Transparency International Rwanda, one of the beneficiaries, said they would use the money to take services nearer to communities.

"We are committed to use this grant to expand our presence across the country [and take services closer to the people]. For example, we want to set up office in Muhanga, Karongi, and Gicumbi [so as to make ourselves available] to mobilise the people to fight corruption and advocate for victims of abuse,” she said.

Janvier Murenzi is the legal representative of Pax Press, a media CSO, said they plan to carry out various training programmes for journalists to strengthen media professionalism in Rwanda.

Prof Shyaka said that the project dubbed "Strengthening Civil Society Organizations for Responsive and Accountable Governance in Rwanda” will help CSOs promote transparency and active participation of the people in national social economic development.

"We empower civil society to deliver and foster civic participation to improve livelihood of the citizens by engaging in productive economic activities and promoting citizen participation in social economic development. We advise them to efficiently use the grants in revenue generating activities and enlighten citizens,” he said.

UNDP Country Director, Auke Lootsma, emphasized the need to work with civil society to build a democratic society, good governance and social economic development.

"Without population we can’t rule. We should raise their voices and participation –the youth, women and less advantaged people. CSOs must get capacity to reach people and contribute to good governance.”

The program launched earlier this year, is designed to last until December 2018 with estimated budget of $8.6million.