Rwanda to pilot global post-MDG devt agenda

Rwanda and Tunisia are the two African countries (out of 10 globally) that will be piloting thematic areas in the post-Millennium Development Goals because of their remarkable performance under the UN development agenda. Among the areas where Rwanda will serve as a model will be on strengthening capacities and building effective institutions for implementation and localisation of internationally agreed and development plans beyond 2015. Speaking yesterday at a forum in Kigali where various stakeholders and development partners shared best practices and lessons from the MDGs process, UN Resident Coordinator Lamin Manneh said the choice of Rwanda as one of the nations to headline the post-2015 dialogue was due to its performance in key areas. Among the areas where the country stands out were aspects related to building and strengthening capacities of national institutions. “For the second phase of the Millennium Development Goals, Rwanda has been honoured as one of only two African countries and one of ten globally that will be piloting thematic areas in the post-millennium goals agenda. On the African continent, Rwanda is one of only five countries are likely to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals,” Manneh said. Other areas that the resident coordinator noted were outstanding and would be used to offer lessons in other countries are rule of law and accountable governance. Sharing for future ideals While piloting the post-2015 MDGs, Rwanda will be expected to identify and share existing and innovative approaches to addressing various institutional and policy challenges to future agenda implementation. Various stakeholders, ranging from public institutions and private sector, to development partners, will in the process contribute ideas, best practices and propose best way forward. Speaking at the national dialogue on the post-2015 development agenda in Kigali, Uzziel Ndagijimana, the State minister for economic planning in the Ministry of Finance, said the country was willing and ready to raise awareness, own and engage the post-2015 development process and see to it that the country’s experience benefits the global agenda. Antonia Mutoro, the executive secretary of the National Capacity Building Secretariat, said the institution had played a major role in improving service delivery in the country. “Our country has achieved a lot thanks to effective institutions, but there is still ground to be covered in strengthening institutional capacities,” Mutoro said. She added that institutional capacity and effective institutions should be at the core of the development agenda of any nation with economic development ambitions. “Strengthening institutional capacities means that a country is able to adapt to global standards and the requirements of globalisation in the economic arena. institutional capacity is where it all begins,” Mutoro said. Proven determination In an opinion article titled, “Rwanda’s track record on MDGs should inspire others,” published in several dailies across the world earlier this year, former European Union commissioner for development Louis Michel said Rwanda had demonstrated how agreed goals and determined actions can deliver real improvements in citizens’ lives and well beings. “I hope its example can provide a positive inspiration to the international community as they decide the sustainable economic, social and environment goals which will drive our collective efforts to build a fairer and prosperous world in the coming years,” Michel wrote. Earlier this year, during a review of African countries progress toward MDGs, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who co-chairs the MDGs advocacy group with President Paul Kagame, noted that Rwanda had made considerable progress towards attaining most with about 500 days left before the elapse of the deadline of Millennium Development Goals. Rwanda has fared well and surpassed set targets in gender equality and women empowerment, education related MDGs, fight against HIV/Aids, ensuring environmental sustainability and the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. Among the post-2015 development goals which Rwanda will facilitate include strengthening the means of implementation of global partnerships for sustainable development, sustainable economic growth and reduction of inequality within and among countries.

News

Rwanda to pilot global post-MDG devt agenda