HUYE – In a bid to further improve the social welfare of Rwandans, the government has introduced a programme that will see households sign performance contracts (Imihigo), which they will strive to fulfill within a given time.Imihigo is a programme modeled from the traditional practice where people present before a leader their targets to be achieved over a period of time, after which an evaluation is conducted. The programme was launched at the weekend in Huye District by the Minister of Local Government, James Musoni.Under the programme, residents are presented with a performance contract notebook (Ikayi y’umuryango) in which their commitments are outlined.Each family elaborates a list of targets in the domains of economic development, social welfare and good governance. They set a timeline for realisation and come up with strategies which will guide them throughout the process.Every step is written down in the notebook, which will act as a tool that local leaders will use to monitor each family’s achievements.According to Musoni, the decision to introduce household performance contracts was driven by the spirit of encouraging individuals’ involvement in their own development.Speaking in Rusatira sector where the event took place, Musoni said: "We want Rwandans to move from one point to another, and for this to be achieved, citizens must get involved much more in the process."We want planning to be at the centre of all activities and we need everything to be carried out with a target”.For instance, the minister explained, if one is a farmer and needed to increase production, one needed to elaborate a set of strategies that will help him or her reach their goals, and all that must be written down for future self-evaluation."We need a strong and developed society which relies on its strength to develop. Opportunities are there, we only need to seize them,” he pointed out.The Governor of the Southern Province, Alphonse Munyantwari, noted that local leaders will assist residents in the realization of their contracts through regular monitoring sessions. "Leaders will conduct monthly evaluation sessions to see what is progressing well and what is not. They will then provide advice on how the challenges encountered can be defeated to help families reach the targets they committed themselves to”.   Residents welcomed the move, noting it would improve their lives.Pierre Celestin Habimana, a resident of Kiruhura Cell, observed: "The performance contracts that we will now have to sign will stir the spirit of excellence among us. Working under commitments will result into the improvement of our social wellbeing”. Emma Marie Bugingo, the Executive Secretary of Profemme Twese Hamwe, an umbrella association of women associations, lauded the programme saying the system would ensure that each family develop financially. "Members of a family will be closely monitored by a third party who will give women an opportunity to equally share the family income with their spouses,” said Bugingo. "The other important item in the family performance contracts is that they will ensure ownership and equal participation in all family initiatives and development,” Bugingo added. In an Interview with The New Times, Cyrille Turatsinze, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, said that a policy document on the family performance contracts was being developed and will be approved by the Cabinet before the end of June this year. "We want to localize the Millennium Development Goals to the family level and ensure the welfare of the people start from the smallest unit of society,” said Turatsinze.He added that some other items will also be incorporated in the policy document like ensuring that every family has a savings account. Regarding the scope of coverage of the contracts, the Permanent Secretary said that the plan is to have the contracts signed by all families in the country but that currently, the initiative will begin with families that, need a boost to develop. The signing of performance contracts started at a leadership level and proved to be effective in the areas of development.