Recently, an MoU was signed between the Office of the Ombudsman and Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD), that will see them partner in seeking solutions to land disputes in the country.

Since land disputes constitute more than 90 percent of the petitions received by the Office of the Ombudsman, it calls for more than this particular office to single-handedly deal with the issue.

The fact then that RISD, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has joined efforts to solve these disputes, should serve as an example to other organisations  to always endeavour to work closely with government institutions to seek solutions to pressing social problems.

Fragmentation of efforts by both government institutions and other players like CSOs is seen as an impediment to solving problems instead of being part of the solution.

One example where coordinated efforts by all stakeholders could have helped, is the One Cow Per Poor Family programme that nearly failed because of the uncoordinated way the project was managed.

Had there been coordination in the management of this project, non-deserving beneficiaries would not have been among the recipients.

The permanent cooperation between RISD and the Office of the Ombudsman should, therefore, set precedent for further cooperation between government institutions and CSOs to bolster the country’s development.

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