Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The project is implemented by Rwanda Rural Rehabilitation Initiative (RWARRI) in partnership with Ngoma district with the aim of improving livelihoods and climate resilience of the smallholder farmers by the use of green technologies.

The Executive Director of RWARRI, Belange Uwizeye said that the project will help smallholder horticultural farmers to apply climate friendly solar pumping systems and water reservoirs made of stones and clays.

“We have already grouped farmers into groups and have the land for development of solar pump system and water reservoirs. We expect the beginning of construction activities in January so that infrastructure will have been completed by Summer. We have invested Rwf 250 million. The water reservoir to be constructed will last for 100 years at least,” she noted.

Uwihanganye Sebahire Faustin , a farmer explained that they would struggle to water their crops despite the presence of a surrounding Lake Mugesera.

“We used to water crops twice a week and would use 18 liters of fuel each time per hectare. This cost Rwf 36,000 per week because the price of one liter was at Rwf 1000. At the end of agricultural season, we counted Rwf 600,000 expenses for irrigation and payment of causal workers,” he said.

With the solar pumping system, Uwihanganye explained that such money will be utilized in other income generating activities.

Gahongayire Ancilla also revealed that fetching water from the lake was a complex process that hampered agricultural activities.

“I didn’t plant crops of my choice because I had no means to water crops. Now, I will be planting more vegetables, fruits and improve productivity with assurance of these infrastructures,” she said.

The vice mayor of Ngoma district for economic affairs,Nyiridandi Mapambano Cyriaque underscored that the project aims at improving horticultural productivity enabling farmers to become food-sufficient and engage in market-oriented agriculture.

“Farmers have been using small machines distributed under subsidy-program. We are optimistic that farmers will take advantage of the large, sustainable project to improve productivity and generate more income than ever. Moreover, the project is climate-friendly because it won’t use fuel,” he stressed.

Nyiridandi appealed on farmers to take good care of infrastructures to be made available.

The project is expected to provide job opportunities to 400 residents from Mutenderi and Zaza sectors in the construction of water pipelines and reservoir.

Ngoma district has 1000 irrigated hectares and plans to cover more 388 hectares this year.

The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 24, Rubavu: 15, Huye: 14, Rusizi: 8, Kayonza: 3, Gicumbi: 3, Muhanga: 1, Gisagara: 1, Kamonyi: 1 and Nyagatare: 1.

Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020.

Since then, 6349 people have been infected out of 657 995 sample tests of whom 5789 have recovered, 507 are active cases while 53 have succumbed to the virus.

Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.

This year’s Umushyikirano will be attended by 500 participants at Kigali Convention Center instead of 2000 who have been attending since inception.

To control the spread of COVID-19 all participants will be tested and respect other health guidelines instituted including hand washing, wearing face masks and social distancing.

Among other changes, this year’s Umushyikirano will last one day on 16th December instead of the usual two days.

It will bring together Rwandans from inside the country and abroad while others will follow activities virtually at different meeting points.

There will be four established centers across in the countryside thus; Karongi, Nyaruguru, Kirehe and Gicumbi, and one at Intare Arena convening 500 participants of YouthConnect summit.

During the council, the president will deliver ‘State of the Nation’ address.

The address is expected to give hope to Rwandans especially during the period when the country’s economy has been shaken by Coronavirus pandemic.

There have been several reshuffles in top Government officials following the previous Umushyikirano. Some institutions got new heads while others have been suspended or appointed to new duties.

Umushyikirano is Kinyarwanda’s equivalent of ‘dialogue’. During the dialogue, participants exchange ideas, share experiences, peer review and question each other. Today Umushyikirano is known as the National Dialogue Council.

As part of efforts to reconstruct Rwanda and nurture a shared national identity, the Government of Rwanda drew on aspects of Rwandan culture and traditional practices to enrich and adapt its development programs to the country’s needs and context.

The result is a set of Home Grown Solutions – culturally owned practices translated into sustainable development programs. One of these Home Grown Solutions is Umushyikirano.

Governed by the Rwandan Constitution (Article 168), Umushyikirano is a forum where participants debate issues relating to the state of the nation, the state of local government and national unity. The Office of the Prime Minister is responsible for the overall co-ordination of Umushyikirano.

Umushyikirano is an annual event chaired by the President of Rwanda that gives Rwandans from all walks of life the opportunity to ask questions directly to their leaders.
The event is attended by members of the Cabinet and Parliament, representatives of the Rwandan community abroad, local government, media, the diplomatic community and others invited by the President.

Those unable to attend in person at Rwanda’s parliament building can participate via telephone, SMS, Twitter and Facebook as well as follow the debate live on television and radio.

The first National Dialogue Council took place on 28 June 2003 and has been held each year since.

Umushyikirano aims to be a leading example of participatory and inclusive governance. It is hoped that by directly engaging with their leaders, Rwandans feel part of the decision making that affects their lives. Umushyikirano also serves as a forum for Rwandans to hold their leaders and government to account.

Once a participant has asked a question, either in person, via Twitter, Facebook, SMS, the web or phone, the leader responsible for that area responds. All questions asked are recorded.

As he announced the arrival of the tourists via twitter account, Israel ambassador to Rwanda, Ron Adam welcomed them to the Country of a Thousand Hills.

“Just landed the first flight of our National carrier El Al Airlines with 125 tourists who come to explore beautiful Rwanda. Welcome,” he said.

In November, Israir announced plans for weekly flight to Rwanda starting from 26th November at a cost of US$ 399 (approximately Rwf 400,000) from Israel to Kigali.

Today’s flight follows the maiden flight of Israir, Israel’s carrier, towards the end of November 2020 with 80 passengers on board. The latter was the opening for weekly flights from Israel to Rwanda.

Rwanda, Israel relations date back to 1962 when the country obtained independence.

In 2014, Rwanda became the first African country signing cooperation agreements with Israel and later in 2015 opened embassy headquartered in Tel Aviv.

In January 2019, both countries signed bilateral air service agreement to operate direct flights. In the same year, RwandAir started flights to Tel Aviv.

Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu visited Rwanda in 2016.

In 2018, PSF announced 3-year plan to have built new modern grounds known as ‘Rwanda International Trade and Exhibition Park’ to host the annual exhibition that was previously held in Gikondo.

The decision was informed by observations that the existing Gikondo expo ground is not big enough to host a large number of exhibitors and visitors.

Speaking to the media at the occasion of announcing preparations for the upcoming trade fair, the Chairman of PSF, Stephen Ruzibiza noted there was delay of planned activities but discussions with contractors are underway.

“It has been many years since we planned to build new expo grounds but construction takes time. It is not easy as demolishing. We are however holding discussions with suppliers to provide construction equipment. Studies have been completed and we are in final phases of the master plan. We are to start construction activities towards the end of December or early January,” he said.

Rwanda is preparing for the 23rd International Trade Fair scheduled between 11th and 31st December 2020.

The expo will start from 9am to be closed 8pm every day for people to respect curfew hours. As of today, PSF has confirmed the participation of 372 companies including 72 foreign companies from 12 countries.

Women entrepreneurs and representatives from, Business Support Organizations attended the ceremony. The virtual launch also served as a platform for participants to discuss key issues and challenges that women in trade face in light of COVID-19.

Most Rwandan firms still struggle to compete in the domestic markets and face difficulties in accessing regional markets due to their level of capacity and needs.

According to the latest Establishment Census (2017), women are under-represented in business in Rwanda with only 33 percent of companies being women-owned. Among these, an estimated 98 per cent of women owned/led businesses are small or micro enterprises.

In addition, female entrepreneurs have limited access to skilled labour compared to their male counterparts, which results in lower production at the SME level and under-utilized talent among individual employees.

Funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework, (EIF) SheTrades Rwanda will bring a strong export and gender focus to government of Rwanda’s recently launched African Development Skills and Business Development Programme (SBDP).

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, speaking on the occasion said, “The SheTrades Rwanda project will provide effective and tailored support to women entrepreneurs in Rwanda, especially in the coffee and horticulture sectors. Streamlined to meet the needs of women owned businesses, our support will enable them to build back better from the COVID-19 crisis. The measures include identifying strategies for hedging market risks and unlocking opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Rwanda in the aftermath of the crisis. The SheTrades Rwanda Hub, to be established next year, will serve as a catalyst for facilitating women in Rwanda run sustainable businesses.”

SheTrades Rwanda will enable women entrepreneurs to have full access to support from SBDP and avail opportunities to grow exports. It will also help unlock the potential in trade as an effective driver for the economic inclusion of women, overall economic expansion, job creation and innovation.

As part of the launch ceremony, a Crisis Management Workshop will be conducted tomorrow for women-owned/led businesses. This workshop will equip women entrepreneurs with expertise on planning business activities during times of uncertainty and change management.

Participants will also learn about export competitiveness and inclusive SME recovery. The workshop will also guide attendees towards identifying strategic adaptation to hedge market risks and unlock opportunities during and post COVID-19.

The SheTrades Rwanda project aims to increase the competitiveness of women-owned businesses in Rwanda and connect them to regional and local markets.

The project is implemented by International Trade Centre (ITC) under the framework of the SheTrades Initiative from September 2020 – February 2022. It is under the component of the “Project to Enhance the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Export Growth Initiatives”, funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and managed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Rwanda.