Aid Effectiveness Network news
New long-term Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda
The Governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Rwanda have
concluded discussions on extending their development partnership and have signed
a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
(321
kb) to this effect. The new MoU was signed
on 13 February by Sir Suma Chakrabarti, DFID Permanent Secretary and Charles Murigande, Rwandan Foreign
Minister. The new MoU supersedes the previous MoU originally
signed in 1999.
The new arrangement reaffirms and extends the UK’s development partnership with Rwanda for a further 10 years, from 2006 to 2016. It sets out shared commitments as well as specific commitments made by each side. Arrangements for monitoring and review are described. Finally, as well as noting the expected 10 year duration of the Understanding, the MoU also specifies circumstances under which the UK’s development assistance may be interrupted or reduced.
We intend that the MoU will be underpinned by a set of specific, monitorable benchmarks, to be agreed with the Government of Rwanda. These will provide a clear basis for monitoring adherence to the MoU as well as the progress of our development partnership with Rwanda.
In recent years, the United Kingdom has provided substantial development assistance to Rwanda. There have been good results in the form of substantial development progress, with improvements in the quality of life of Rwanda’s people, as well as increased peace and security.
Since 1999, the UK’s long-term development partnership with the Government of Rwanda has been framed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This set out clearly not only commitments and obligations shared by the Government of the UK and Rwanda, including shared commitment to poverty reduction, but also particular commitments made by the respective Governments.
The MoU has provided a sound basis for constructive discussion and dialogue between our Governments, especially during our annual partnership talks.
Following an independent review of the MoU in 2005, the two governments decided that it would be helpful to update the arrangement to ensure that it was consistent with the evolving policy frameworks in our respective countries and, in revising the framework, to ensure that the document was concise and that the various commitments would be readily monitorable.
