Kigali: {The Government of Rwanda and European Union today signed two financing agreement worth €8 million.}
The grant agreements will support land tenure regularization program and technical cooperation to a tune of € 4 million respectively.
Land tenure regularization grant will finance climate proof investments by farmers through improved land administration and land use monitoring capacities at central and local government levels.
Technical cooperation support will provide funding for technical assistance for audit, training, studies, conferences and seminars needed for the implementation of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) national Indicative programs for Rwanda (2014-2020).
Claver Gatete, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said, “Land Tenure Regularization grant will reduce rural population vulnerability to climate change effects and create an improved environment for sustainable investments through increased capacities in land administration, use, mapping, planning & monitoring .”
Michael Ryan, Head of the EU Delegation to Rwanda said: “This €4 million grant to the Ministry of Natural Resources is recognition of the impressive progress made in land registration in Rwanda. We are convinced of the importance of making land administration financially sustainable and accessible to all Rwandans. It means that all land transactions will be recorded. This is a powerful incentive for land owners to invest in developing their land. It will have positive spin-offs for the economy.”
Minister of Natural Resources Vincent Biruta noted that the support will help decentralize land registration services to the sector level and at the same time increase capacity of in land use and planning.
This support is in addition to the €460 million in grant aid to Rwanda provided by EU Member States under the 11th European Development Fund.
The current Division of Labor allows European Union to be active in Agriculture, Energy and Decentralization & Governance. It is silent in Social Protection and provides support to Public Finance Management basket fund as well as provides support to regional projects. (End)
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