Author: IGIHE

One year after the implementation of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), leaders at the retreat will discuss areas that address key pillars of the strategy. Topics will focus on a sustainable transition to more secure livelihoods and an exit from poverty, strengthening efforts in human capital to improve outcomes in education and health care, driving upward economic growth through increased productivity in agriculture, boosting exports, which are all continued interventions designed to push the country towards upper middle-income status.

{{A reflection on Rwanda’s development trajectory
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The progress we have registered as a country over the years has been driven by the choices Rwandans have made to think big, be united and be accountable, which has fueled our resilience and instilled a sense of common purpose. Despite the progress made over the years, the road ahead is still arduous. This session will seek to take an audit of past successes and failures, drawing lessons for areas of focus and accelerated implementation.

Discussions will focus on values and principles that we must embrace to consolidate achievements made over the years, learning from mistakes in order to lay a strong foundation for future generations. Central to this topic is the need for better planning, greater ownership, and accountability.

Additionally, the session will discuss strategies to fast track graduation from extreme poverty. This discussion will build on recent conversations at the recent Umushyikirano meeting (2018) regarding new approaches to fast track graduation from extreme poverty and concrete initiatives in the implementation of social protection programs.
Improving the quality of education

Over the past fifteen years, notable developments have been made in the education sector. The number of students in primary schools increased by 34% between 2001 and 2011. Increase in primary enrolment also heightened demand for equitable access in secondary education, and the government extended the program to 12 years of basic education.

However, education for all did not necessarily translate into improved quality of teaching and learning. Recent studies have highlighted key areas for concern in the delivery of quality education and implementation of government programs in the education sector.
For example, the Human Capital Index (HCI), Rwanda ranks 142 out of 157 countries.

Rwanda’s HCI is lower than the average for the region and lower than the average for its income group. An estimated 22% of children attending primary school repeated the class they were attending in 2015, according to EICV5 2017. Only 23% of persons aged 13 to 18 years attend secondary school in Rwanda. Tertiary education level in Rwanda is only 3% and technical/vocational education decreased by 1% from 2013-2017. If this trend continues, we will not attain the NST1 target which is to have at least 60% of students completing the 9BE join TVET schools by 2024.

{{Improving the quality of health
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This session will focus on the recurring challenge of quality in health care services and the need to improve performance in service delivery. Today, access to health care services has increased with over 85% coverage of health centers in all sectors across the country and efforts to establish health posts in each cell.

Despite progress made in access, poor delivery of services to patients (patient experience/package) risks continue to derail existing efforts in the sector. Furthermore, health facilities continue to face prolonged patient waiting times,non-functional and idle equipment, poor infrastructure, insufficient medical supplies, high turnover of medical doctors, and poor training of healthcare workers, which collectively contribute to substandard service delivery and misuse of funds.

Better health outcomes through improvement in quality will require a deliberate focus on health services, which involves providing effective, safe, people-centered care that is timely, equitable, integrated and efficient while minimizing harm and resource waste.

{{Increasing agricultural productivity for growth
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With nearly 70% of the workforce still in agriculture, the potential for productivity gains from a structural transformation, urbanization, and industrialization is significant. NST1 aims to increase agriculture and livestock quality, productivity and production. With a 5.3% average annual growth, the agricultural sector has more than doubled in value from 2000 to 2016. However, growth in productivity of livestock remains a challenge. Over the past 5 years, the total share of livestock and livestock products to the agriculture sector has averaged 3%. There are a number of constraints hindering the dairy sub-sector, particularly the performance of Milk Collection Centers (MCCs).

MCCs continue to face significant challenges including pricing issues from milk processors, resulting in low farmer supply to MCCs resulting in the centers operating below capacity averaging 25%. Discussions will center on improving productivity and quality in livestock, availability of raw materials, agriculture for food security and exports.

Boosting exports growth and investments

By 2016, the total exports of all goods and services reached 20% of GDP. Currently, the share of exports in national income is still low relative to other countries with comparable per capita income levels and also low compared to other land-locked countries.

Over the period of 2009-2016, the top 5% of exporters in Rwanda accounted for more than 80% of the total value of Rwandan exports, while the top 1% of exporters accounted for more than 40% of total export value. On average, these Rwandan firms export only 2 products which shows much lower diversification than that of the regional peers (Kenya, 7.2 products; Tanzania, 4.2 products).

{{Related article: [A peek into the 15th national leaders retreat resolutions->http://en.igihe.com/news/a-peek-into-the-15th-national-leaders-retreat.html]}}

Kudus who claimed the yellow jersey after his stage two; Kigali-Huye before stretching the lead during stage three; Huye-Rubavu retained until the final day having used 12h12’37” while Taaramae came second with 24h12’47” while Matteo Badilatti of Israel Cycling Academy took the third place with 24h12’55”.

Despite a very frustrating penultimate stage performance from the Eritrean 25-year old star in which he crashed and lost 10 seconds on his lead on the general classification, he managed to keep his composure during the gruesome 61.7km which had a total of three laps on the famous cobbled wall of Kigali and managed to finish ahead of his closest contender Taaramae Rein from Direct Energie by 10 seconds.

The inaugural edition of Tour du Rwanda as a 2.1 UCI category race, and its 11th edition overall, featured the longest stage in the UCI Africa Tour race’s history – and a record elevation of 19,336 meters, with 78 cyclists from 16 teams.

{{Individual Classification
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1. Kudus Merhawi (Astana pro team): 24:12’37’’

2. Taaramae Rein (Direct Energie): 24:12’47’’

3. Badilatti Matteo (Israel cycling Academy): 24:12’55’’

4. Aguirre Caipa Hernan Ricardo (Interpro Cycling Academy): 24:13’08’’

5. Tesfom Sirak (Érythrée): 24:16’41’’

6. Lozano Riba David (Team novo nordisk): 24:17’27’’

7. Debesay Abreham Yakob (Érythrée): 24:19’28’’

8. Kangangi Suleiman (Kenya): 24:19’42’’

9. Areruya Joseph (Delko Marseille Provence): 24:19’47’’

10.Contreras Pinzon Rodrigo (Astana pro team): 24:19’48’’

{{Best Riders Awarded
}}

The Skol jersey was given to the stage winner; Rodrigo Contreras Pinzón (Astana Pro Team)
The Yellow jersey was given by Miniscop to Merhawi Kudus (Astana Pro Team)
The Cogebanque jersey is awarded to the best hilly rider, Debesay Yakob (Érythrée)
The jersey for the rider with the highest sprint offered by SP was given to Du Plooy Rohan (Pro-Touch)
The jersey for the best competitor offered by Rwanda Tea was given to Mugisha Moise (Team Rwanda)
The jersey for the top African at the front, offered by Rwanda Air was given to Merhawi Kudus (Astana Pro Team, Érythrée)
The jersey for the nearest Rwandan, offered by RBA was awarded to Areruya Joseph (Delko Marseille Provence)
The Jersey for Best Team was awarded by Inyange Industries to Eritrea

{{Stage 8 of 2019 Tour du Rwanda in Pictures
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{{[For more Pictures, click here.
->https://www.flickr.com/photos/igihepictures/sets/72157679104889198/page3]}}

{{Pictures: Moses Niyonzima}}

The Head of State was in Ouagadougou where he was invited by his counterpart, President Roch-Marc Christian Kaboré of Burkina Faso, for the 26th edition of the FESPACO.

Created in 1969, FESPACO is a biennial pan-African film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou which highlights African film professionals, helping them to connect and exchange innovative ideas on the filmmaking industry.

“I wish to dedicate this recognition to the people of Rwanda, as we commemorate together, twenty-five years of a challenging, yet satisfying journey of recovery and nation-building.” President Kagame remarked.

“I also want to dedicate it to the friendship between the people of Rwanda and the people of Burkina Faso,” Kagame noted, confirming Rwanda’s prospering bilateral ties with Burkina Faso.

The Head of State also went on observing how Rwanda and Burkina Faso have much in common, from the resilience of both countries’ people, and the determination to uphold African dignity and values.

“I also want to express our deep appreciation for Rwanda’s selection as the FESPACO Guest Country during the festival’s 50th anniversary.” President Kagame noted

This year’s edition of the FESPACO saw Rwanda invited as a guest country, which saw many of the Rwandan Community participating.

President Kagame went on describing how the FESPACO was the best place for pan-African cultural exchange, noting also that it was a platform to share, learn, and collaborate with the best cinematic talents on the continent.

“Working together, we will continue to support our creative industry, to produce timeless and inspiring works of art, but also good quality jobs and prosperity on our continent,” Kagame assured

More than 100 films were screened at the Festival and 19 of them were competing for the prestigious Yennenga award, presented on the weekend. The festival also includes three films by Rwandans filmmakers competing for honors: Mercy of the Jungle by Joel Karekezi; Icyasha by Clémentine Dusabejambo; and Inanga, Keepers of the Tradition by Jean-Claude Uwiringiyimana.

The satellite was named ‘Icyerekezo ‘by the students from Nkombo Island (Groupe Secondairfe St Pierre Nkombo) which will be the first to benefit from the internet which will be brought by this satellite.

Different satellites were launched including ‘Icyerekezo’in Guyane in South America and surveyed by France .the satellites were launched by the help of a rocket called Soyouz which was made by Russians.

The ministry of ICT (Information and Technology) said that this is a great achievement our country has made since it is putting forth the use ICT mainly 4G LTE internet which is 96.6% of the country.

The minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire highlighted that they are delighted to partner with One Web in this initiative which presents a huge opportunity to use satellite connectivity by using One Web’s constellation providing a low-latency and high –speed internet in schools of remote areas.

The Chairman in the ministry of ICT and Innovation, Gordon Karema said that One Web is investors who allowed to ally with Rwanda due to its vision.

“I would say that One Web Ltd is like our partner but the launching of ’Icyerekezo’ has brought friendship and good relationship .he added that supplying internet in those areas will start in June. One Web has a plan to be sending satellites every after 21 days sending 36 of them and when they are enough, the internet will start being supplied.” He said

“It is 16km to reach Nkombo from the land which will be costly to reach their internet by using fiber optics. Trying to count, this can take like $2M which is so expensive .though students in Nkombo were given laptops, they still didn’t have access to the internet,” says Karema

It is expected that this school will be given internet for free in a ten year’s period thus developing its education and helping the society to access IREMBO services.

{{Schools to benefit from the move
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The Minister of education, Dr. Eugene Mutimura said that the partnership with One Web is a big chance to expand their activities so for the Internet to reach all schools of the country in the three years to come.

The satellites will be launched every after 21 days until they are enough to supply internet so another satellite is awaited for in June being made in collaboration with Japan.

“There are over 30 Rwandans studying about satellites in Japan and also others in Guyane and we are aiming much for Rwanda to step forward in ICT”.

Chairperson of One Web Ltd, Greg Wyler said that accessing the internet in schools is a good way to enable people to use the internet in the line it aims to,

“We appreciate the partnership with the government of Rwanda and Nkombo students. And this internet will help us reach our goals plus Rwanda to be a place of innovation in ICT.