African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) — Africa’s self assessment for improved good governance visited Rwanda on March 27, 2013 to assess and discuss Rwanda’s Governance success story in the context of Vision 2020.
The team members who were preparing a documentary film for the celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of APRM existence this year, met with the Minister of Local Government, Hon James Musoni at the Ministry Offices in Kigali where they discussed issues on Rwanda’s Constitution and Vision 2020 among others.
APRM filming crew was mostly interested in knowing what APRM has achieved in terms of improving governance in Rwanda in particular the journey it has gone in governance, key mechanisms that the country has put in place to promote broad-based participation in the development process, Decentralisation implementation experience and sharing with them on Rwanda’s home grown solutions like Imihigo and National Dialogue –Umushyikirano.
Minister James Musoni reaffirmed to the APRM Team that Rwanda acceded to be a member of African Peer Review Mechanism in 2003 and was the second Country to be peer reviewed after Ghana in 2006. Immediately after being peer reviewed, Rwanda aligned national APRM implementation program with its national development strategies.
According to Minister James Musoni, “the APRM came to complement and strengthen our governance process and the fact that APRM principles are embedded in our National Constitution, Vision 2020 and EDPRS is a clear indication of Rwanda’s commitment, alignment and ownership of the APRM”.
The Rwandan Constitution and Vision 2020 confirms to APRM principles, values and standards with the view to deepening democratic practices, strengthening good governance, sustainable socio-economic development and accelerating regional integration. This is a reason why Rwanda voluntarily embraced APRM as an instrument for monitoring performance in our governance process.
Minister Musoni informed APRM Team that Rwanda has also focused on translating its vision 2020, national development strategies and programs into practical implementation. This has drastically reduced poverty and improved socio-economic transformation of Rwandans in general.
“As we celebrate APRM Anniversary with the theme: APRM Working for the Peoples of Africa: A decade for Self-Assessment; Rwanda’s story of governance has been successful as a result of citizens and stakeholders’ active involvement and ownership of the entire process that has inspired national pride, confidence and dignity of Rwandans”, said Musoni James.
Hon. Minister of Local Government briefed them on how Rwanda, in its’ way of promoting the culture of transparency and accountability, has put in place various governance assessment reviews that inform on the country’s best practices as well as areas that need further improvement in its’ governance systems and practices.
Governance assessment reviews are done through Joint Governance Assessment (JGA), Rwanda Governance Score Card, Citizen’s Report Card, Reconciliation Barometer, Rwanda Media Barometer, Human Rights Annual Report, Corruption Perception Index Surveys and Annual Auditor General’s Report.
Minister Musoni further affirmed to the APRM team that Rwanda’s success story in Governance process is largely attributed to political will and commitment, inclusive governance, effective implementation of decentralization policy, use of Home Grown Solutions (Performance contracts (Imihigo), Umuganda, National Dialogue, VUP, Girinka, Ubudehe, Volunteerism, Universal Health Insurance -Mutuelle de Sante, Civic Education Program (Itorero) & Agaciro Development Fund), involvement of public, private and civil society in governance and socio-economic development, resilience of Rwandans and transformational leadership focused at citizens centered development.
“As APRM marks its 10th Anniversary in 2013, it becomes imperative to consolidate its achievements, address its challenges with the view to improve its tools and processes, popularize the APRM process to the grass root level, re-think APRM to make it more innovative and relevant to African citizens over the next decade,” asserted James Musoni.
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