The Government and World Bank Group yesterday signed a $95 million (about Rwf70 billion) International Development Association (IDA) credit agreement to support social protection programmes.

The Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Amb. Claver Gatete, told The New Times that this is the second in a series of Development Policy Operations (DPO) supporting Rwanda’s efforts to not only improve the efficiency and accountability of it’s social protection system but also to expand the safety net coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.

"The World Bank support is expected to continue supporting the country’s social protection policy by strengthening the foundations while emphasising the second-generation reforms needed to boost efficiency and keep direct alignment with core national principles and goals,” Gatete said.

He added that the support emphasises the need to boost accountability and transparency, while expanding social protection coverage among poor and vulnerable populations.

According to Minister of State for Local Government in charge of Social Affairs, Alvera Mukabaramba,the programme will focus on core areas of administrative efficiency and programme harmonisation, especially through the Ubudehe database and social protection Management Information System (MIS).

"It will deepen the focus on accountability and transparency with emphasis on accountable governance through improved budget transparency and citizens’ engagement,” Mukabaramba said.

"The programme will also support expanded coverage of the Vision Umurenge Programme as part of continued efforts to reach the poor and vulnerable, coupled with reforms to ensure that social protection efforts are both gender-sensitive and conducive to child development.”

Reducing poverty

Diarietou Gaye, the World Bank regional director for Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Eritrea, commended the government’s efforts to reduce poverty.

According to Gaye, the social protection programs are a strong key pillar to improve productivity.

"Our partnership with the Government of Rwanda is aligned to the country’s vision of reducing poverty, inequality and vulnerability and improvinfs access to essential services,” she said.

According to the fourth Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV4) by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda more than 660,000 Rwandans have been lifted out of poverty over the last three years.

Poverty levels have reduced by 5.8 per cent, raising hopes that Rwanda could succeed in eradicating extreme poverty by the year 2020.

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