The Chief Executive of ActionAid International, Joanna Kerr, has commended the government’s efforts in fighting poverty. She said this yesterday after holding a brief discussion with Local Government Minister, James Musoni, at his offices where the minister highlighted various programmes aimed at eliminating poverty.

Her visit coincided with the release of findings of a survey indicating that poverty in the country dropped by 11.8 percent since 2006, a rate said to be six times faster than achievements realised between 2000 and 2006.

The survey however indicates that 45 percent of the country’s 10.7 million people remain under the poverty line compared to 57 percent five years ago.

She pledged her organisation’s continuous support to eliminate poverty, especially among the elderly, adding that such people need intensive care.

Musoni hailed the organisation for the existing solid relationship with the government, adding that since they started operating, more peoples’ lives have been transformed.

"In all the sectors where Actionaid is operating in the fight against poverty, people’s lives have changed and we appreciate their interventions and are ready to work together for the benefit of Rwandans,” he said.