Rwanda has marked 25 years of implementing its decentralisation policy, with the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) and civil society organisations acknowledging notable progress in bringing public services closer to citizens, while also highlighting persistent challenges in certain sectors.
These reflections were shared during a national dialogue held on December 17, 2025, which brought together MINALOC officials, Transparency International–Rwanda (TI-Rwanda), civil society organisations, local government leaders, and governance experts.
The dialogue aimed to assess the contribution of civil society to decentralisation, citizen participation, and policy accountability.According to MINALOC, since the decentralisation policy was launched in 2001, more than 41 percent of public services have been devolved and are now accessible at the cell and sector levels, as well as through the national e-government platform Irembo. This shift has significantly reduced the distance—both physical and administrative—between citizens and essential services.
MINALOC officials emphasised that the government’s long-term ambition is to ensure that most public services are accessed remotely through digital solutions.
Under the “Byikorere” programme, the use of Irembo has helped reduce the costs citizens incur—such as transport expenses and time spent seeking services—by up to 71 percent. The goal is to make nearly 90 percent of public services available directly via mobile phones.
Despite these gains, participants acknowledged that some sectors continue to face challenges, particularly land administration. Local leaders noted that land-related disputes and complex procedures often prompt citizens to escalate their grievances beyond local authorities to district or higher levels.
In response, MINALOC announced an ongoing national meeting of district land officers aimed at harmonising guidelines to address land conflicts and urban planning issues.
From the civil society perspective, TI-Rwanda highlighted the impact of the Public Policy Information Monitoring and Advocacy (PPIMA) programme, which has been implemented for 15 years to strengthen citizen engagement in governance processes.
Supported by international partners including UK International Development, Norwegian People’s Aid, and the Embassy of Denmark in Rwanda, the programme has empowered citizens to monitor public service delivery, participate in budget processes, and engage in local development planning.
A key achievement of the PPIMA programme is the Community Score Card (CSC), a widely recognised social accountability tool that enables citizens to assess public services and engage constructively with authorities. While impact assessments show strong results, stakeholders stressed the need for coordinated efforts to sustain and potentially institutionalise the CSC nationwide.
Discussions also highlighted the “Indi Ntambwe mu Kwiyubakira Igihugu” project, which supported the development and testing of the Decentralisation Assessment Framework (DAF) in the health, agriculture, and environment sectors. Civil society organisations called for increased district autonomy to ensure that citizen priorities identified at local levels are fully reflected in planning and service delivery.
Overall, the dialogue underscored that while Rwanda has made substantial progress in decentralisation ntralisation, continued reforms, stronger local autonomy, and sustained citizen engagement remain essential for deeper impact.
Gabriel UZABAKIRIHO / KIGALI TIMES