A project aimed at strengthening the role of civil society organisations in monitoring, and accountability in service delivery in different communities has been launched.

The project, named "Efficiency, Accountability and Service Delivery (EASD-R)”, was announced last Friday during a meeting that brought together the Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP) and development partners.

The project will operate in four upcountry districts, namely; Gatsibo in the Eastern Province, Nyaruguru in the Southern Province, Gakenke in the Northern Province, and Ngororero in the western Province as well as in the City of Kigali districts.

The four-year project is expected to empower communities to voice their concerns.

Peace Murungi, the RCSP executive secretary, expects the project to help enlighten ordinary people on their right to service.

The project is estimated to cost about a €900,000 to be spent in three different phases.

It will benefit civil society partners such as Transparency International Rwanda, Pro-Femmes/Twese Hamwe, rights associations CLADHO, and AJPRODHO, and Rwanda Women Network, among others.

Besides the civil society organisations, the European Union, the official sponsor of the EASD-R project, also plans to work with authorities to improve service delivery with the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman among the targeted beneficiaries, according to Emmanuel Jose Amaral, the head of section of economics and governance at the EU Delegation to Rwanda.

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