Rwanda’s vision 2020 highlights on agricultural production as key component to sustainable economic development. The government of Rwanda aims at replacing subsistence farming with commercial production by 2020. To achieve this, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) incorporated different strategies and policies, including;
• Institutional and legal reforms, to ensure security of land;
• Development of the market in land assets
• Extensive research and extension services
• Use of high yielding varieties and intensive use of inorganic fertilizers
• Promotion of agro-based manufacturing including coffee washing stations
• Environmental control measures to regulate a decline in soil fertility; radical
terracing
• Rural financing schemes and markets such as SACCOs.
Rwanda is further committed to United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 1 which calls for the eradication of extreme poverty and subsequently reduces the number of people living on 1.25 dollars a day, reduce the number of citizens suffering from malnutrition and hunger, and achieve decent employment for women, men and young people. This is reflected by the ever growing Rwanda’s GDP per capita rated at 632.76 US dollars by World Bank report .
According to the Economic Development Poverty Reduction Strategy (EPDRS) II , the Government of Rwanda emphasizes on the use of fertilizers and improved seeds to boost agricultural sector. It also acknowledges that low levels of agricultural productivity in Rwanda is due to low level of agriculture technology use, therefore EDPRS II puts emphasis on the improvement of modern agricultural technology adoption and use. In order to promote the use of improved seeds, the Government of Rwanda elaborated the seed policy; which aims to promote the collaboration between public services and private sector, to ensure adequate production and supply of quality seeds. It also involves awareness of farmers about the importance of quality seeds in agriculture production. This policy has the following specific objectives:
To promote regular introduction of high performing and adaptable varieties;
Promote the central role of private sector in production of quality seeds and;
Build national capacity related to seed commodity chain coordination, seed quality control and certification.
The public policy dialogue meeting will be held on 03rd February 2015, at KIGALI SERENA HOTEL, from 8H: 00AM to 4H: 00 PM.
For more details on this important event for the Rwandan Civil Society, download here the concept note
2. Objectives of the Civil Society Public Policy Dialogue
2.1. The overall objective
The overall objective of the dialogue is to provide a face to face interaction and a space for dialogue between various actors for discussing the issues observed in the land expropriation and transfer process for them to take adequate measures.
2.2. Specific objectives
1. Provide space for citizens to present issues encountered in the land expropriation process and suggest alternative solutions to decision makers and other stakeholders.
2. Provide space for citizens to present issues relating to land transfers and suggest alternative solutions to decision makers and other stakeholders.
3. Solicit the commitment of decision makers towards resolving the issues highlighted in the land expropriation and transfer process.
4. Call up on different stakeholders including government and private sector to jointly take corrective measures in order to conduct expropriation projects for the public interest while considering the continuous welfare of the citizens to be expropriated.
3. Expected results
1. Common framework for engagement on land expropriation and transfer issues is strengthened to build synergies for effective socioeconomic development of the citizens and the country in general,
2. Solution paths for addressing the issues observed in the land expropriation and transfer process are identified and discussed for the betterment of a clear implementation of the law,
3. Commitment of all stakeholders towards advocating and executing recommended policy actions as formulated from the bottlenecks identified in a bid to promote a citizen centered framework in the land expropriation and transfer process.
4. Target Participants
The Civil Society public policy national dialogue is targeting high officials representing ministries and other Government institutions,Civil Society Organizations (both national and international),Embassies, Development partners, local authorities (all districts), academia and ordinary citizens.
5. Language of the Dialogue
– English, Kinyarwanda and French will be used with a simultaneous interpretation .
6. Date and Venue
The Civil Society public policy national dialogue on the land expropriation and transfer process in Rwandawill be held on30th November, 2017 atKigali Convention Centre (KCC)from 8: 00AM to 4: 00 PM.
LIST OF INVITEES TO THE CIVIL SOCIETY PUBLIC POLICY DIALOGUE.
MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
MINIJUST
MININFRA
MINAGRI
MINALOC
MINECOFIN
Minister in the President’s office
Minister of Land and Forestry (Guest of Honor)
Senate/ Socio-Economic Commission
Chamber of deputies / Socio-Economic Commission
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS
RWANDA LAND MANAGEMENT AND USE AUTHORITY
RTDA
RDB
RGB
REG
WASAC
OMBUDSMAN OFFICE
CITY OF KIGALI
Mayors and Directors of District One Stop Center
EMBASSIES
BELGIUM Embassy
GERMAN Embassy
NETHERLANDs Embassy
UK Embassy
USA Embassy
SWEDISH Embassy
SWITZERLAND Embassy
BRITAIN Embassy
KENYA Embassy
UGANDA Embassy
JAPANESE Embassy
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
CESTRAR HDI
RWANDA RELIGIOUS LEADERS Forum PAX PRESS
NEVER AGAIN RWANDA IMBARAGA
IRDP TUBIBE AMAHORO
LAF COPORWA
ADENYA GLIDH
ADI- TERIMBERE
AJPRODHO
RWANDA WOMEN NETWORK
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL RWANDA
RALGA
PRO-FEMMES TWESE HAMWE
CLADHO
CCOAIB
NUDOR
RRP+
RNGOF
RENGOF
RYOF
IBUKA
IPAR
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS AND INTERNATIONAL NGOs
NPA
DFID
Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)
RCN
UNDP
EU
TRADE MARK EAST AFRICA
NINGO Representatives
PALLADIUM Group
WORLD VISION RWANDA
Plan International Rwanda
PSF
TROCAIRE
GIZ
OXFAM
WORLD BANK
KOICA
JICA
USAID
UNDP
DAI
UN HABITAT
CARE INTERNATIONAL RWANDA
IOM
BTC/CTB
African Development Bank Group
Academia
ULK IPRC KIGALI
UNILAK UTB
UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA KIM UNIVERSITY
