1. In 2011, an indicative cooperation agreement (ICP) was negotiated between Belgium and Rwanda. It provided for a disbursement of 160 million EUR over a period of for years. Today, 57% of that agreement has been implemented. This was welcomed on 17 December during a successful Country Portfolio Performance Review meeting between Belgium an Rwanda.
2. The 2011 cooperation agreement also mentioned that following a mid-term review a budget increase of a maximum of 40 M EUR could be decided, based on three criteria:
• Satisfactory proceedings of the article 8 dialogue [between the European Union and Rwanda] in 2011 and 2012;
• Progress with respect to the third component of the CPAF, namely Enhanced Gains through Good Governance, as assessed by the Joint Budget Support Review and confirmed by a 75% performance of related indicators.
• Progress with respect to Media Development as assessed by the Joint Governance Assessment and confirmed by a score of 2.5 in the IREX- Media Sustainability Index and Professional Journalism Index. If these indicators are not available at the time of the Mid-Term Review comparable indictors (in terms of content, international acceptance and annual assessment) will be used.
3. After an assessment of those criteria, the Belgian side has found that that extra budget could not be disbursed , since some criteria are no longer relevant and other criteria have not entirely been met. It does not mean that no progress has been made, but instead that the threshold that has been decided upon in 2011 has not been attained. This has been communicated during the last weeks between both countries in a spirit of constructive dialogue.
4. Belgium continues to value the partnership with the Government of Rwanda and commends Rwanda for the impressive results in its social-economic development, the reduction of poverty and the improving living conditions of population. The Belgian government believes that the cooperation between Belgium and Rwanda to contribute to the development of Rwanda has been extremely successful and has benefited the people of Rwanda. To ensure the continuity of the ICP and show commitment to the long-term partnership, Belgium decided this month to allocate 18 million € extra in budget support for the Rwandan health sector.
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