Author: IGIHE

Under the report released on Thursday by World Economic Forum (WEF), Rwanda comes in first positions which are dominated by Western countries.

Meanwhile, Iceland tops the list, Norway is the 2nd, Finland 3rd, Rwanda 4th and the 5th is Sweden.

No country has been able to close gender gap completely in all sectors, but Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Rwanda, Nicaragua and Slovenia have been able to close them to above 80%.

The report was conducted to 144 countries and focused on four sectors, which are gender equality in economic development, education, health and politics.

“Rwanda continues its steady climb since first entering the Index and has now closed 82% of its overall gender gap, scoring narrowly behind Finland” reads the report.

The report says that Rwanda’s progress is mostly due to continued progress on its Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex score, on the back of improved parity in estimated earned income and, particularly, a significant narrowing of its gender gap in the number of women in ministerial positions.

“Combined with being the country with the highest share of female parliamentarians in the World (61%), it advances five spots on the political empowerment sub-index, where it is now ranked third globally” report reads in part.

The report says that Rwanda has also fully closed its health and Survival gender gap for the first time, although its Educational Attainment gender gap remains open.

As Rwanda ranked in the top 10 globally, in Sub-Saharan Africa, they remain gender gap of 32%.

The report says that the Sub-Sahara is characterized by high female labour force participation with nine countries from Sub-Saharan Africa in the global top 20 on this indicator.

Mozambique, Burundi, Malawi and Rwanda demonstrate a higher representation of women in the labour force than men which translates into a high regional average on the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex.

Report says that Rwanda consolidates its position as the region’s top performer and the only country from the region ranked in the global top ten.

Meanwhile in African countries, Namibia is the 13th, South Africa is 19th, Burundi 22nd, Mozambique 29th, Uganda 45th, Tanzania 68th and Kenya 76th on the global index.

The United States of America was ranked 49th, Russia 71, China 100 while the last on the list is Yemen.

The discussions between the two leaders focused on how to advance and strengthen gender equality.

Premier Ngirente commended the good existing relations, partnership and cooperation between Rwanda and IMF.

Selassie expressed his gratitude to the Government of Rwanda for having accepted to host the Gender Equality Peer Learning Conference (November 2nd – 4th 2017) and described it as a good opportunity to learn what Rwanda has achieved in advancing gender equality.

“I came here to meet the Prime Minister in order to get perspective on how he sees IMF policies and challenges on Rwanda”, IMF’s Abebe said.

In terms of partnership, the Government of Rwanda is currently implementing its second three-year Policy Support Instrument, focusing on private sector development; export promotion; domestic resource mobilization and financial sector development.

Abebe Selassie was appointed Director of the African Department (AFR) at the International Monetary Fund on 19th September 2016.

Shyaka was speaking to both chambers of parliament during the presentation of RGB’s 2016/2017 activities report and 2017/2018 performance contracts.

He said that in their research, people expressed much satisfaction to community health workers’ service among six home grown solution that they scrutinized.

“Though 6% still have some doubts about this service, majority (94%) commend it compared to how they perceive other services. This is a good rate that indicates how this initiative is important. We, leaders also know that it is really important,” he said.

Other home grown initiatives that RGB conducted the research about are health insurance, local mediators, Girinka Programme, Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) and Social Categories locally known as Ubudehe

According to Shyaka, 90% of population commends Health Insurance (Mutuelle de Sante) services, but 10% are not satisfied with some services, a reason that Shyaka says they need some improvements.

He said that people commend services of local mediators at above 88%, but 11% still question these services.

He said that one or two people in four criticize bad services in VUP , Girinka Programme and Ubudehe. He said that 26% criticize Girinka, 33% VUP and 47% Ubudehe services.

“We should note that they don’t criticize these initiatives, but they criticize bad services inside them” Shyaka noted.

Kagame was speaking on Thursday in an interview in Dubai

The growth rate is expected to increase by 7% in 2018 from about 6% this year. That compares with 2016’s growth rate of 5.9 percent, which was a three-year low. Output already increased in the second and third quarters after slowing last year after infrastructure projects were completed, he said.

“The driving sectors are services; financial services, tourism, they are all combined to make this high growth. We are seeing mining activity growing very fast. We are seeing agriculture making a very good contribution, construction has picked up again,”Kagame said

{{IMF Estimate}}

The International Monetary Fund estimates growth in Rwanda will reach 7.5% by 2022, compared with a forecast 6.8% in 2018. Expansion this year could be revised downward by a percentage point to 5.2%, Mission Chief Laure Redifer told reporters in Kigali on Wednesday.

Growth is also being supported by stronger domestic demand and improved prices for metals the country produces including tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold, Kagame said.

“We have seen low demand for these commodities, but we see commodities are picking up again. But what is powering and driving growth is mainly the domestic demand,”Kagameadded.

Rwanda has no immediate plans to tap international capital markets. It last raised $400 million in a Eurobond offering in 2013.

There is “nothing on our minds right now because there isn’t as much compelling need as we had that time,” he said.

Moody’s Investors Services rates Rwanda’s debt at B2, five levels below investment grade and cites its “robust institutional framework” as an important credit strength. Economic growth is being buttressed by infrastructure projects including the construction of the $700 million Bugesera international airport in Eastern Rwanda.

One of the risks the economy faces is its dependence on donor funding for about a fifth of government revenue, according to Moody’s. The government is planning to reduce that reliance, which has already been lowered from more than 70%, Kagame said.

“We want to continue to reduce that as we continue to grow our economy,” he said.

Speaking to the delegation yesterday, the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General, Johnston Busingye said that Rwanda’s justice system is independent and uses their independence to serve on one purpose.

He said that in Rwanda, they found it necessary to give free justice to poor people through giving them prosecutors and legal advice.

He said that good environment of Rwanda’s justice system comes from partnership between different all levels.

“In our independence, lawyers and judges serve on common purpose. We take one day a year and sit together to examine every institution’s progress and what they need. Though we are independent, there is no one person or institution providing justice, Justice is the combination of our activities the reason why we all need to explain what we do that result in justice. When one institution is not performing well justice cannot be delivered” he explained.

The Vice-Chief Justice in South Sudan, John Gatwech Lul said that Rwanda and other East African community (EAC) Countries share same history in fighting for colonial independence, a reason why they should advise one another.

“First of all, we consider Rwanda as a part of our country because all EAC countries had partnership during the struggle to colonial independence. That is a pact that we should not forget, so, when we are introducing laws, we should have common understanding” he said.

He said that they will continue to visit EAC countries like Kenya and Tanzania to observe how they could learn from them in terms of law reforming.

According to Police, the Rwf2 billion worth facility will accommodate a total of 1436 police officers and has a female wing.

The hostel has three dining rooms, a duty free canteen, modern kitchen, store, offices, sports facilities and washing area.

Busingye said that the facility was constructed under the government’s programme and RNP’s vision to support welfare of Rwanda’s Police officers.

He said that it is a development activity that will help police officers perform their job well.

“I thank RNP for continued activities that spur welfare of police officers” he said calling upon every individual’s role in having safe and developed country.

At the event, Minister Busingye and other respective guests and police officers planted trees.