Press Release
1 March 2006
Rwanda's remarkable recovery leads UK to commit funds for next 10 years
The governments of the UK and Rwanda have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to take forward their partnership to reduce poverty and help
Rwanda achieve substantial development results over the next 10 years.
The MOU provides guidelines for cooperation between the two countries. It
says that, subject to Rwanda honouring its commitments, the UK will provide at
least £460 million in development assistance over the next 10 years. The
partnership focuses on poverty reduction and the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals in Rwanda, as well as the promotion of peace and stability in
the Great Lakes region.
Rwanda is one of the poorest countries in Africa and is still recovering from
the devastating civil war and genocide in 1994 during which more than 800,000
people were killed. It resulted in the destruction of infrastructure and
institutions and put nearly three million refugees in exile.
However, this small nation has made extraordinary progress since then. The
new MOU will help the country build on recent development successes, such as:
- An economic growth rate of over 10% a year between 1994 and 2004 –
the second fastest in Africa.
- The largest number of female members of parliament in the world -
with 48.8% of the national assembly being women.
- The first pluralistic elections in Rwanda’s history, held in 2003.
- Major achievements in the education system. In 2006 more children
are in school than in 1990. Primary education is compulsory and fees
were abolished in 2003. The rate of enrolment stands at 91% of children
of the relevant age, and equal numbers of boys and girls begin primary
school.
Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn said:
“Rwanda is serious about its development and the UK government will continue to
help the country take further steps forward in the fight against poverty.
“Britain strongly supports Rwanda, having given £200 million over the last ten
years and I want to see us continue to work together to build on Rwanda’s
remarkable transformation.”
Welcoming this long term support, Rwandan President Paul Kagame commented:
‘We have an obligation to make a difference for our people. We must succeed. We
must solve the country’s problems and continue to earn the support we are
given’.
Notes to Editors
1. The UK has been providing humanitarian and development assistance to
Rwanda since 1994. The UK is Rwanda’s major bilateral development partner,
providing high, predictable levels of resources in support of Rwanda’s Poverty
Reduction Strategy.
2. The UK’s bilateral programme has provided around £200 million to Rwanda over
the past 10 years. The UK currently provides bilateral assistance totalling £46
million each year, of which about £31 million is provided as direct support to
the Government of Rwanda’s budget. The focus of UK bilateral assistance is on
poverty reduction, especially in the area of education.
3. The UK is committed to providing £1.3 billion of development assistance to
Africa by 2007/08 to help the continent reach the Millennium Development Goal of
reducing poverty by half by 2015. Peace and stability in the Great Lakes region
are essential elements of achieving this goal.
4. 1994 saw Rwanda’s education system in a state of collapse – it is estimated
that 600 primary schools were destroyed and some 3,000 teachers were killed.
5. The UK will press the international community to implement the agreements on
Africa reached at the G8 summit held at Gleneagles in the UK in July 2005. This
includes the commitment to double aid to Africa by 2010.
For further information, contact 020 7023 0600, e-mail
pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our
Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
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