World Vision International and the government Wednesday, February 24, signed an agreement that paves way for the organisation to establish its regional office in Rwanda.

The East African region’s member countries are Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Ethiopia.

The virtual signing ceremony was held between Vincent Biruta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation who signed the pact on behalf of Rwanda, and Dr. Stephen Omollo, World Vision’s Vice President and Regional Director for East Africa.

National directors of regional offices also attended the online event.

In his remarks, Biruta thanked the organisation for choosing Rwanda as the host country for the regional office and pledged full commitment to working to achieve common goals.

He also noted that the agreement comes to bolster the already existing cooperation between World Vision and the government.

"The government of Rwanda and World Vision International have had a long and very fruitful collaboration over the years. This agreement offers an excellent opportunity to further expand and deepen our partnership,” he said.

So far, World Vision is the largest employer among the network of international organisations in Rwanda, with operations in 29 out of the 30 districts making up the country.

According to Omollo, the new agreement will help the organisation to expand its reach in Rwanda and beyond.

"This milestone agreement will augment the work we are already doing in Rwanda, provide additional resources, create more opportunities and enhance social-economic development and growth in Rwanda,” he said.

The East African region works with a total staff strength of about 6,000 and an overall budget portfolio of close to $600 million.

Dr. Omollo also underscored that the deal "will create an enabling environment for the realization of World Vision’s mission,” among other benefits.

Being a Christian-based non-profit organisation, World Vision International mainly focuses on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life.

Last year only, 200,000 people in Rwanda, including refugees, were provided with direct support in form of food and cash.

Health care, hygiene promotion, and sanitation are also among the major scope of work of the non-government organisation. For instance, last year, World Vision inaugurated a project involving the establishment of modern hand washing stations in about 300 health facilities across the country.

According to Sean Kerrigan, the National Director of World Vision Rwanda, the organization’s partnership with Rwanda has been unanimously significant.

"We have seen transformation in the lives of Rwandans over the last 25 years, and we have learned how to serve people in a way that lifts them from poverty and ensures children’s wellbeing,” he said.