The World Bank Country Representative Victoria Kwakwa has called upon donors to scale up grants to Rwanda.
Kwakwa said that Rwanda deserves more grants as it puts grants to good use.

 She was speaking on Thursday at Serena Hotel Kigali during the launch of e-Rwanda Project, which recently received a $10m World Bank grant.

 "E-Rwanda, being only $10 million in value, cannot do all that is needed to help Rwanda achieve its long-term strategic vision,” she said.

She cited some areas that need more funding notably energy, public sector capacity building, regional communication and infrastructure.

"Like other donors notably the SIDA, EU, USAID supporting Rwanda in the ICT area, we encourage other partners to step up to the plate and help close the NICI funding gap,” she urged.

E-Rwanda is a long term government project that will use ICTs to improve efficiency and effectiveness of government delivery of services to the citizens, particularly rural areas.

She said the World Bank wishes to see impact and results of the project to Rwandans.

State Minister for Energy and Communications Eng. Albert Butare who presided over the launching ceremony said the government enjoys trust from donors.

"We are happy that even today if we accomplished our project, we can easily go for more money.”

Minister Butare said since the government has set a roadmap to make the economy information based, the e-Rwanda project comes in to implement all national the projects to achieve Vision 2020.

"It is in this regard that we are happy to partner with the World Bank, which is providing assistance to Rwanda to help her fight poverty and improve the lives of the citizens,” the minister said.

The government submitted a proposal for e-Rwanda project in 2005 and the World Bank approved it early this year.

Kwakwa said that the project is among those approved for funding by the Britton Woods institution within short time.

"It is a proper e–Government project with all the elements which are very concrete,” Arleen Seed, WB’s e-Rwanda project Task Team leader said.

She said the Bank is pleasured that the project would help address several issues raised during the just-concluded ‘Connect Africa’ summit in Kigali.

Antoine Sezibera, a specialist on the project said it will have a mass rural impact by 2010.

"The application of this project will assist improve the delivery of services to the citizens in the agricultural, health and education sectors especially in the rural areas.”

The grant will cover a period of four years but Kwakwa said it’s upon the government to request for more funding.

"The envelope is there for them.”

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