The thirteenth edition of the National Dialogue Council (NDC) or Umushyikirano, scheduled to run from December 21-22, in Kigali, will provide an opportunity for Rwandans to articulate their choices for the future they want while moving towards the achievement of globally endorsed development goals.

This is according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that also reveals the theme of the dialogue: "Rwandans’ Choices – Foundation for National Development and Dignity.”

"The National Dialogue will provide an opportunity for Rwandans to learn about the new global goals, integrate them into their own vision and commit to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” says a draft concept note.

Provided for by the Constitution, the NDC is a Rwandan home grown initiative which offers a forum where the President, along with other national leaders as well as ordinary citizens, debate issues relating to the state of the nation, the state of local government and national unity.

Rwanda has registered tremendous political and socio-economic transformation over the past 21 years largely because in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, "Rwandans made tough choices that have allowed us to rebuild the nation.”

"Rwandans chose unity, security and good governance as key ingredients for development, it adds.”

According to the PMO, "the sustainability of our achievements will largely depend on the choices we make today, our ability to uphold them and ensure that what we choose is effectively translated into actions.”

When the 12th NDC under the theme, "Common Vision, New Momentum,” concluded last December, there was a resolve to work harder and smarter and to sustain policies and actions that helped Rwanda recover from the devastation of the 1994 Genocide.

A list of 20 resolutions from the 2014 dialogue, included several which sought the implementation of court decisions on compensation for Genocide survivors, tackling trauma cases related to the Genocide, and sustaining the fight against genocide ideology and denial.

Teddy Kaberuka, a Rwandan economic analyst, says she expects more from this year’s edition. He says he will be looking forward to, among others, how aspects of public finance management and wealth creation are further strapped up.

Kaberuka told The New Times that he hopes Rwandans will also deal with issues such as designing pro-poor social services such as affordable housing; access to capital by entrepreneurs since "bank interest rates are high and this contributes to the death of SMEs,” as well as further reduction of unemployment.

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