Oxfam-Rwanda Programme has announced a $20-million (about Rwf14.7 billion) contribution toward promotion of livelihoods, participatory governance and gender justice in the next five years. 

Speaking at a news conference in Kigali on Wednesday, Patrick Wajero, the Oxfam country director, said he is optimistic that Rwanda will be a middle-income country by 2020.

"Poverty is not a way of life and we can get rid of it. The world has enough resources to eradicate poverty but the challenge still resides in how the available resources are distributed. So, Oxfam works to ensure that poor men, women and youth enjoy equal rights and benefits from inclusive development,” he said.

More than 600,000 Rwandans have been uplifted from poverty in the past three years, according to the latest fourth Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey report.

Wajero said it is promising that the country is on the right track to get rid of poverty.

"Oxfam will support over one million small-scale farmers in the next five years and women will comprise sixty per cent of the beneficiaries. We will focus on livelihoods promotion by creating sustainable and decent employment, particularly for women and youth. Our programme will also promote participatory governance and gender justice to ensure that women’s rights are honoured,” he said.

Immaculée Mukampabuka, the head of gender justice at Oxfam Rwanda Programme, said they offer training to key players in gender equality because it had been noticed that the country has good laws on gender justice but implementers lack capacity to make good use of those laws.

Oxfam International currently operates in 90 countries. The NGO marks 40 years’ anniversary in Rwanda today.

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