The Government of Rwanda and The Kingdom of the Netherlands, yesterday, signed two financing agreements worth €44.9 million (about Rwf36 billion).

The agreements, which are in form of grants, are Integrated into Water Resource Management (IWRM) which will be funded at a tune of $34.9 million (about Rwf27 billion) and the Netherlands Initiative for Capacity Building in Higher Education (NICHE 2), worth €10 million (about Rwf8 billion).

Both projects will be implemented for the next four years and are expected to bear fruis for sustainable economic development of the country.

The education project will support development objectives in the sector by providing required skills and training by institutions, while the water project will focus on securing and providing adequate quantity and quality of water for socio-economic needs, Claver Gatete, the minster for finance and economic planning, said.

Gatete added that the grant will be used to develop, implement and maintain quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes, specifically focusing on practical skills in agriculture sector.

"This will help produce graduates that respond to the needs of farmers as well as demands of farmer support groups, cooperatives and agribusinesses,” Gatete said.

Leoni Cuelenaere, the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Rwanda, said the project will allow better collaboration between Rwandan stakeholders and Dutch knowledge institutions and also link institutions and individuals in the interest of capacity building.

"They will, in the medium term, open up opportunities for increased investment in water infrastructure, agriculture, and economic development,” Amb. Cuelenaere said.

"The IWRM programme will help Rwanda establish institutions and build capacity. Based on its long experience in fighting water problems, the Netherlands can mobilise knowledge institutions, firms, and individuals who will work closely with Rwandan stakeholders in the Ministries of Natural Resources, of Agriculture, and of Infrastructure, at the district level, and even with private firms,” she said.

Integrated water resource management programme is a relatively new concept that needs all stake holders to work together to be able to achieve best results, Cuelenaere said.

Peter Malinga, the SPIU coordinator at National Capacity Building Secretariat, said the University of Rwanda, University of Applied Science Ruhengeri and Workforce Development Authority are all set to benefit from this particular project.

"The money will mostly focus on capacity building and research, and support farmers to increase productivity,” Malinga said.

Dr Fabien Hagenimana, rector of Ruhengeri Institute of Higher Education, said they will use the money to develop new technologies that will help combat soil erosion.

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