The statement released last night shows that the decision will take effect starting 14th June 2021 and be reviewed after two weeks upon health assessment.
New measures follows steady surge in COVID-19 cases where 899 people have been tested positive within the past 11 days.
Among others, public transport buses should not exceed 50% capacity. Bus operators are requested to ensure that passengers maintain social distancing and only passengers with masks will be allowed on board.
Public offices will continue with essential staff at no more than 30% capacity while other employees continue working from home on a rotational basis.
Places of worship adhering to health guidelines are allowed to continue functioning at 30% maximum occupancy against the previous 50%.
Restaurants and cafés shall operate at 30% occupancy limit and shall receive clients until 8pm.
Individual and non-contact outdoor sports activities will continue and must comply with health preventive measures.
The cabinet statement also reads that gyms will continue to operate at 10% of venue capacity and must comply with health preventive measures.
Civil and religious wedding shall not exceed 30 persons while local authorities have to be informed prior to the event. Any event happening in hotels, public venues, gardens should not exceed 30% of the venue’s capacity and should comply with instituted directives. All participants are required to have a valid negative COVID-19 test, not exceeding three days prior to the event.
Social gatherings at homes are also prohibited.
Citizens have been reminded of the critical importance of complying with health measures including physical distancing, wearing face masks and ensuring hand hygiene. Penalties will be applied for non-compliance.
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and with the health, safety, and well-being of Fellows and Partners as the highest priority, the 2021 will be organized virtually.
While participating from home, Fellows will participate in sessions of virtual Leadership Institute including leadership training, mentoring, and professional development. Each Institute will offer insights into US society and will help strengthen connections between the United States and Africa by establishing partnerships between Fellows, local communities, and private businesses. Fellows will also network with US community members.
After their Leadership Institutes, Fellows will participate in a virtual Summit. Additionally, up to 100 competitively-selected Fellows will virtually engage in professional development with US organizations in the public, private, or non-profit sector. Fellows can participate in alumni programming after their Fellowships to further build their professional skills and networks.
Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies the US commitment to invest in the future of Africa. YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, nearly 4,400 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Since the inaugural of Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) Washington Fellowship last held in 2014, there are 66 Rwandans that have been awarded to attend the prestigious Fellowship. This year’s recipients include, Marie Christelle Igihozo, Mary Musoni, Niceson Karungi, Elie Habimana, Jean Claude Mbonigaba, Sheila Uwase, Germaine Umuraza, Shilla Ndegeya, Gisele Kayitasirwa Ituze, Jean Paul Sekarema, Donat Nzigiyimana, and Justin Byiringiro Murengera.
{{2018 YALI recipients’ bios}}
{{Marie Christelle Igihozo, 25, F, Business & Entrepreneurship}}
Marie Christelle is the customer demand lead at Zipline International, a U.S.-based start-up that is earning world-wide recognition for its work in Rwanda delivering medical supplies by drone. In her day-to-day duties, Marie Christelle is responsible of supply chain integration and works closely with the 25 district hospitals served by Zipline drones, making sure that emergency blood donations and other medical supplies are delivered safely and securely.
Marie Christelle understands the important challenges facing Rwanda in her domain and is determined to offer her best in addressing them. During the interview, for example, she explained how the supply chain of medical product is inefficient and lacks proper forecasting. Marie Christelle is a graduate of the University of Rwanda. She will do her leadership institute in Business track with University of Nevada-Reno.
{{Mary Musoni, 30, F, Civic Engagement}}
Mary is a Legal Aid Attorney at Legal Aid Forum, a local non-governmental organization that provides legal aid services to vulnerable populations, mainly refugees and asylum seekers.
In 2019 , she represented more than 20 refugees before the court, and assisted more than 30 other refugees with their casework. She also coordinates at team of 13 volunteer lawyers. After realizing that access to information related to law and justice is one of the important challenges facing Rwandans, Mary worked with other lawyers to develop a mobile app that helps rural Rwandans access basic information on popular issues such as succession, land, divorce, etc. Mary is a graduate of the University of Rwanda. She will do her leadership institute in Civic Engagement track with Drexel University. (Note: Mary was an active participant in our Amicus Curiae training series.)
{{Niceson Karungi, 31, F, Public Management}}
Niceson is an IT business analyst and software development specialist at the Judiciary of Rwanda. She led the implementation of Integrated Electronic Case Management System that has helped more than 300,000 Rwandans file cases online without going physically to court, significantly reducing the time and cost litigants incurred before. Niceson has been active in mentorship of young women in STEM fields. She has earned a bachelor’s degree from Makerere University in Uganda and a master’s degree from the University of Glasgow. She will do her leadership institute in the Public Management track with Georgia State University
{{Elie Habimana, 30, M, Business & Entrepreneurship}}
Elie is the Operations Manager at the African Leadership University (ALU) campus in Kigali, a rapidly-growing pan-African undergraduate university with campuses in Rwanda and Mauritius. In this capacity, Elie manages a budget of more than $3 million annually, and supervises ten permanent employees and 60 student workers.
Elie understands that the lack of a skilled workforce capable of leading big and innovation projects in a challenge for Rwanda and hopes his passion and dedication for quality education will help address that. Elie graduated from the Adventist University of Central Africa and earned an online MBA through Oklahoma Christian University. He will do his leadership institute in Business track with Lehigh University.
{{Jean Claude Mbonigaba, 31, M, Civic Engagement}}
Jean Claude is an information and communication technology officer at Home de la Vierge des Pauvres (HVP) Gatagara, an orthopedic and rehabilitation hospital for people with disability in Nyanza, southern Rwanda. In addition, Jean Claude is a board member and legal representative of people living with disabilities in the Rwanda Scout Association.
As a board member, he encouraged boy scouts to be more inclusive and accept young people with various disability to join the association, something that did not exist before he joined. Jean Claude also volunteers with Uwezo Youth Empowerment, a local NGO advocating for disabled youth. Jean Claude earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rwanda and is working on a master’s degree at the University of Kigali.
Jean Claude has a mobility disability, but will not need substantial accommodation to participate. He will do his leadership institute in Civic Leadership track with Appalachian State University (Note: You met Jean Claude at HVP Gatagara in May 2021.)
{{Sheila Uwase, 31, F, Public Management}}
Sheila is a public transport officer for the city of Kigali, Rwanda’s beautiful capital city. A graduate of the University of Rwanda in Civil Engineering, Sheila is charged with monitoring public transport services, ensuring smooth service delivery, and following compliance with terms and contracts by transport service providers and transport infrastructure developers. Sheila understands that public transport is a growing challenge as Kigali grows and wants to help forestall the environmental impact of a poorly-managed public transportation policy. Sheilla will do her leadership institute in Public Management track with the University of California – Davis.
{{Germaine Umuraza, 31, F, Civic Engagement}}
Germaine is the head of programs at the Rwanda Girl Guides Association (GGA). In five years with the organization, Germaine has developed a variety of programs that focus on empowering girls and young women. One of the important changes that Germaine brought to GGA is convincing the board to create a National Youth Committee, a team of the younger girl guides that better understands issues of importance to girl guides and the concerns of their peers. Germaine holds a bachelor’s degree from INES-Ruhengeri and a master’s degree from the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali. She will do her leadership institute in Civic Engagement trach with Rutgers University – New Jersey
{{Shilla Ndegeya, 28, F, Public Management}}
Shilla is the National Director for Special Olympics Rwanda, a non-profit organization that promotes sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. In her current role, Shilla is in charge of day-to-day technical operations of the organization and report directly to the Board of Directors.
She earned a degree in business administration from Mount Kenya University and has advanced through the business side of the organization. Shilla’s said that her preferred approach toward empowering persons with disabilities is to focus on their ability side — what they are able to do — instead of their disability and what they might not be able to do. Shilla will do her leadership institute in Public Management with Arizona State University. Note tha Sheilla is the only one approved for PDE.
{{Gisele Kayitasirwa Ituze, 27, F, Business & Entrepreneurship}}
Gisele owns a fashion design business that makes all types of closes and bag. Gisele partners with the Rwanda National Union of the Deaf (RNUD) to train and empower other deaf women in tailoring and other handicraft skills that result in economic self-reliance. Gisele’s workshop currently trains 20 deaf women and works closely with several deaf women cooperatives. Gisele completed a two-year fashion design course in Uganda. Gisele is deaf and will require accommodation during the pre-departure process and throughout the fellowship. Gisele will do her leadership in Business track with the University of Texas at Austin. (Note: Gisele’s regular sign language interpreter is also named Gisele.)
{{Jean Paul Sekarema, 31, M, Civic Engagement}}
Jean Paul is a Grants Officer for the National Union of Disability Organizations of Rwanda (NUDOR), an umbrella organization that brings together many local NGOs that advocate for people living with disabilities. His current grants portfolio includes projects that are being implemented by 27 grant recipient organizations.
Jean Paul also serves as an advisor on the National Paralympic Committee of Rwanda as an advisor. He is a graduate of the University of Rwanda. Post highly recommends Jean Paul for a fellowship in the Civic Engagement track. Jean Paul has a cerebral palsy, but will not need substantial accommodation to participate.He will do his leadership institute with Civic Engagement Track with Kansas State University.
{{Donat Nzigiyimana, 34, M, Public Management}}
Donat is the Director of Admission and Recruitment at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), a new tertiary education institution focusing on conservation agriculture. The institute has been established within the past year by support from the Buffet Foundation, in close collaboration with the University of Nebraska. Donat is a graduate of the University of Rwanda and has worked on post-graduate degrees in law, business administration, and education administration.
Donat will do his leadership institute in the Public Management track with University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
{{Justin Byiringiro Murengera, 26, M, Business & Entrepreneurship}}
Justin is the Founder and CEO of Ikivi-Link, a social enterprise with a vision to promote peace, eradicate poverty, and empower rural women. His organization is currently working with six women’s cooperatives from Musanze, on assignments including the assembly of cardboard boxes for chocolates. Justin will do his leadership institute in Busines Track with Rutgers University – New Jersey.
Kagame delivered the message on Friday 11th June 2021 interacting with over 300 opinion leaders from Rubavu and Musanze districts, mayors from Northern and Western Provinces, and businesspeople from Musanze and Rubavu operating in Kigali and other districts.
The President interacted with them few hours after officiating the graduation ceremony of 47 students from the RDF and the Rwanda National Police at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Musanze District.
He told businesspeople and leaders from Western and Northern provinces that their efforts were of critical importance along Rwanda’s resilience journey after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Kagame told them that Rwanda was at the bottom of a pit with two choices to stay or get out.
“Every pit has a bottom. Rwanda reached the bottom of the pit with nowhere else to go but up. Today, we have emerged from this pit and we are above it,” he said.
“Getting out of this pit required hard work. To keep moving forward requires consistent efforts. We must use our strength to continue building the nation together. It is our fundamental pillar for good governance and unity,” added Kagame.
The President explained that some people including Rwandans were not happy to see the country getting out of the pit.
“By the time we tried to come out of the pit, many people made possible attempts to hold us back. This means, we had to increase efforts thrice or four times to be where we are today,” he noted.
Rwandans frustrated to see the country coming out of the pit fled but Kagame stressed that their living conditions never improved.
“Some of us against the country’s good politics fled the country. Of these people, no one is leading better life than his/her situation here. They depend on spreading lies to survive,” he said.
“In Rwanda, their plan has failed. What those countries helped them to do is to sing to the same tune as them, insulting us. But who has been killed by insults? What kills is the lies and the hunger they now live with,” stated Kagame.
He thanked Rwandans for their efforts to rebuild the country they ‘know the truth, where they come from, where they are and where they want to go’.
“Rwandans are far ahead of those petty insults and have chosen to move forward with their business of transforming their country. Insults and lies meant to tarnish our image cannot delay us from reaching our goals,” he affirmed.
Kagame made the remarks on Friday 11th June 2021 at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Musanze District, as he officiated the 9th graduation ceremony of 47 students from the RDF and the Rwanda National Police.
Kagame told graduates that they are officers of the 21st Century where they will operate ‘in volatile geopolitical and security environment as part of an ever more interconnected world and unequal as well’.
He reminded them that they have a major part to play in addressing different challenges facing the world.
“Therefore, adds another dimension of responsibility. How do we base on this knowledge and commitment; and even with limited resources, how can we raise ourselves to that level, where we feel we are equal with others,” noted Kagame.
“Raising ourselves to the level where we feel we are equal with others is loaded with many other things. It is also an issue of mindset. It’s an issue of choices we have made or we want to make going forward. Being equal shouldn’t be just words, it should be demonstrated in real life,” he added.
Kagame emphasized that everyone needs to work hard for Rwanda to achieve its aspirations to a desired extent.
“You have even gained more capabilities from this course, and therefore, more is expected from you. I hope you will step into your new roles with fresh insight and enthusiasm. There are important challenges that require your leadership as well as constant collaboration with other institutions. First, we must continue to consolidate the values of trust, consensus and the accountability that characterize our society and to which our defence and security institutions have always actively contributed,” he said.
Kagame told graduating officers that cooperation is paramount to address security matters and advised them against helping to deal with matters of security on one hand while contributing to creating insecurity on the other hand.
He pointed out an example where some people who graduated from the school run into problems of their own making, fled to partner countries and got involved in acts to destabilize national security.
“The same people run to countries called our partners, tell a lot of lies, they are welcomed. They turn around and get involved in acts that cause insecurity for the country. I am saying this because it has become a trend and doesn’t matter how much time you take to explain. It seems to go on and on with our partners,” noted Kagame.
“I am just telling our partners, don’t help on one hand to deal with problems of security meaning helping and building capabilities, development among other things and the same time give ground for insecurity to develop that will come and reverse what we have been building together,” he added.
Kagame also talked about complex global challenges including terrorism, pandemics, and natural disasters noting that no single country can provide durable solutions on its own without cooperation.
He urged graduates to look ahead and work with peers to address challenges.
“No single country can provide durable solutions on its own, no matter how big or well-resourced they are. You are therefore called upon to look ahead to assess threats and opportunities and collaborate with peers in the region and beyond in order to address them successfully,” stressed Kagame.
He reminded them of their duties to continue protecting Rwandans and Africans in general to usher them into a new era of achieving great more things.
“There is a battlefield beyond the physical one, where RDF must always be ready to protect Rwanda’s security and stability uncompromisingly. This is the struggle to instill the mindset amongst ourselves, that Rwandans and Africans areas equally deserving as others in terms of freedom, respect, and prosperity. We must be diligent in securing better lives for our people, and contributing to a better world for all,” noted Kagame.
Brig General Didas Ndahiro, the Commandant of Rwanda Defense Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) congratulated graduates and urged them to efficiently utilized acquired knowledge to deliver.
RDF Command and Staff College was established in 2012 to develop military professionalism.
Dr. Ngamije made the call on Thursday speaking to RBA on actions that need to be taken to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
“As far I am concerned, increased sample tests is one of reasons for surging new COVID-19 cases. Besides, we tested many people crossing from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past days,” he said.
Minister Ngamije also explained that some people have been complacent against instituted directives following the reopening of activities that had been suspended.
The cabinet meeting held on Monday 31st May 2021 has lifted COVID-19 restrictions whereby traditional weddings and related receptions have resumed not exceeding 30 persons. Gaming activities have been also allowed to resume.
Traditional weddings and related receptions were allowed to resume following nearly a year and half under restriction.
Usually Religious and civil wedding have been allowed with minimal attendance of 20 persons observing COVID-19 health guidelines. Receptions were not allowed that whoever caught violating the directive was subject to penalties.
The recent cabinet meeting lifted as the country gradually recorded fewer cases below 50 per day from sample tests taken countrywide. The situation has changed with steady increase that over 300 patients were registered for the past three days while 6 people succumbed to the virus.
Minister Ngamije has reminded the general public that it should be everyone’s concern to fight COVID-19.
“The current situation is manageable but we need to be responsible in the fight against Coronavirus. We should understand that over 100 cases registered per day increases the country’s burden and avoid complacency against instituted directives,” he said.
Minister Ngamije reminded the general public to continue participating in the vaccination program being rolled out countrywide.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 27660 people have been tested positive of whom 26341 recovered, 953 are active cases, 9 are critically ill while 366 have succumbed to the virus.
A total of 388,716 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
In a statement released last night, RwandAir announced that the decision takes effect from 10th June 2021.
“Due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in Uganda, RwandAir announces the suspension of its flights to Entebbe effective 10 June 2021, until further notice. RwandAir sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience caused,” reads part of the statement.
“Affected customers can rebook and fly at a later date, once flights resume at no additional cost-or request refund,” adds the statement.
Uganda is among regional countries that have been registering surge in COVID-19 cases towards the end of May 2021 which prompted the suspension of schools and inter-district lockdown.
Uganda has recorded 56,949 new COVID-19 cases while 402 people succumbed to the virus since the pandemic emerged in the country. The prevalence of positivity rate is at 17%.
RwandAir has been operating six weekly flights from and to Uganda. During COVID-19 pandemic, passengers were required to have COVID-19 negative test results within the past 72 hours.
At the time, Musanze was among other parts of the country shaken by the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi that underwent a period of uncertainty between 1997 and 1997 during insurgency attacks.
Bajeni has recounted how residents in the area went through difficult times until close collaboration with the Government bore fruits to bring the situation to normal.
Bajeni who once served as a Parliamentarian between 2003 and 2008 resides in Byimana village, Ruhengeri cell in Musanze sector where he bought a plot of land in 1999 in which he built a house in 2000.
His home is located in the vicinity of Rwebeya water drainage channel (Ruhurura) that used to be flooded by water from the Volcanoes National Park, claiming lives and destroying properties.
During rainy season, the water drainage channel would put many things on standstill obstructing movements.
As a parliamentarian, Bajeni advocated for residents requesting a bridge that would facilitate movements.
“There was no bridge over the drainage channel. It was a steep slope that required one to lean on strong persons to cross,” he said.
During rainy season, it was impossible to cross as a result of widespread flooding occasioned by water flowing from Volcanoes National Park.
Bajeni has recalled the time when he saw four women from Gisenyi with their children whom he helped to find other routes paths to reach the destination after failing to cross the flooded drainage channel.
“I was moved by the unpleasant situation residents were going through and conducted advocacy. It was before the year 2008. We later got relief with construction of the bridge and a tarmac road as well,” he said.
Rwebeya water drainage channel is stretched along 720 meters and flows from Kinigi sector into River Mukungwa. It was built during the first phase of the project to provide roads and water drainage systems in secondary cities.
The project saw the construction of 4,577 Km roads completed at over Rwf 4.2 billion in Musanze district while water drainage channels stretched along 922 meters cost Rwf 949.9.
Bajeni has explained that such infrastructures have eased movements and connectivity in surrounding communities that residents safely reach markets and health facilities among others.
“For instance, thieves would loot residents’ belongings and escape to the drainage channel. Today, related theft cases have reduced because lights are installed along the road. The development is among other infrastructures made possible under the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame which continuously induce pride among residents,” he revealed.
Residents have also revealed that infrastructure development has made them smart residents with optimism for new opportunities.
“After raining, roads turned muddy and became almost unmotorable. So, you can image how frustrating it was for someone cross the muddy road with his/her clean shoes and clothes. Today, we are grateful because we move freely be it in rainy season or dry spell,” said Jean d’Amour Ntakirutimana, a motorcyclist.
Antoinette Mukampirwa, a vendor of vegetables in Giramahoro village, Muhoza sector is among residents benefiting from infrastructures made available.
She explained that new roads facilitated transport that they currently run businesses smoothly.
The mayor of Musanze district, Jeannine Nuwumuremyi has said that new roads have facilitated movements and connectivity and paved the way for development in other areas.
“Our district is prone to frequent rains. The situation worsens when flowing water has no properly constructed drainage channels. Having strong bridges facilitates movements and connectivity,” she noted.
“People visiting our town can move freely. It also impacts tourism positively as it gives a memorable experience to tourists visiting Virunga National Parks pushing them to prolong their stay,” added Nuwumuremyi.
She explained that Musanze district has other projects in the pipeline expected to attract tourists visiting gorillas in Virunga National Park to prolong their stay.
“We want tourists to stay longer. When there are infrastructures, it gives them courage to explore more areas. Visiting different parts to witness settlements, and citizens’ development might be part of their adventures. Besides, there are new coffee shops in Rusagara and Ibereshi among others where tourists from Volcanoes National Park can pass by,” stressed Nuwumuremyi.
At least a 6.428 kilometer road under construction in the second phase of infrastrure development in Musanze district has reached 94.2%.
He held talks with Kagame after meeting with Rwanda’s entrepreneurs including those registered to benefit from its programs.
Norrsken Foundation is currently building East Africa’s largest hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in the old premises of the Ecole Belge in Kigali which is set to offer business incubation programs to over 1,000 entrepreneurs and provide funding to grow their businesses.
When Norrsken purchased the site in 2019, it had been vacant since the school’s relocation in 2017. Norrsken seeks, among other things, to revive one of the most important landmarks in Kigali and turn it into a place where education, innovation and entrepreneurship will join to generate solutions for scalable growth and development in Kigali and throughout the region.
Before heading to Village Urugwiro, Adalberth met with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Béata Habyarimana; the Minister of Technology and Innovation, Paula Ingabire and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi.
Adalberth co-founded the company with colleagues Victor Jacobsson and Sebastian Siemiatkowski from Stockholm School of Economics.
Currently, the company has estimated assets of over US$30 billion and netted US$700 million profit last year.
In 2015 Niklas left Klarna with the aim to give back to the world. Adalberth founded Norrsken Foundation, a Swedish non-profit foundation supporting and investing in impactful start-ups with the potential to radically improve the world. He has, so far, injected US$126 million in the foundation.
In 2020, Norrsken Foundation worked with 450 entrepreneurs from 130 companies.
Norrsken Foundation plans to establish 20 hubs worldwide.
This transformational commitment is part of Hansjorg Wyss’s visionary Wyss Campaign for Nature, a $1 billion investment in helping nations, NGO’s and indigenous communities conserve 30 percent of the planet by 2030 and is one of the largest single gifts ever made to the conservation of Protected Areas in Africa.
The statement released yesterday shows that the Foundation’s commitment will be made over an initial five-year period to support up to half of the annual budgets of nine existing parks currently under African Parks’ management in Angola, Benin, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe; as well as support the addition of five new parks (which are yet to be identified) and up to two-thirds of their annual budgets.
African Parks manages Akagera National Park in Rwanda.
The funding for these new parks will come with a matching requirement with the goal of enticing new and diversified funders to provide needed stability for these landscapes. The grant overall serves a critical need in long-term and sustainable, multi-year financing, providing critical support for a park’s operating budget, which can vary between $1.5M to $4M per year.
“We are in a race against time to save Africa’s wildlife and wild places,” said Hansjörg Wyss, Founder and Chairman of The Wyss Foundation.
“Multiple and compounding threats, including deforestation, illegal mining, poaching, and wildlife trafficking among others have imperiled Africa’s lands, waters, and wildlife – some of the most awe-inspiring on Earth. Only by working with governments and local people can we protect natural areas for the benefit of people and wildlife across the African continent. By supporting African Parks, I know that funding is being used effectively to help nations and communities protect nature and their economy now, not tomorrow.”
African Parks, a conservation organization founded in 2000, takes on the direct, long-term management responsibility of national parks and protected areas in partnership with governments to protect wildlife, restore landscapes and ensure sustainable livelihoods for local communities. With 19 parks in 11 countries under African Parks management, their conservation footprint spans over 14.7 million hectares which is the largest amount of area under conservation for any one NGO on the continent. Their goal is to directly manage 30 parks by 2030, measuring 30 million hectares, safeguarding globally significant biodiversity and ensuring that vast ecosystems function in order to sequester carbon, deliver clean air, water and food security, provide stability, and economic, socio-political and ecological benefits for millions of people.
“It’s hopeful and inspiring to see the impact one individual can have, with intent and clarity of purpose in wanting to help protect the planet,” said Peter Fearnhead, the CEO of African Parks.
“The partnership forged with the Wyss Foundation is helping secure some of the most threatened but globally significant landscapes on Earth. What is not being managed will be lost, and once lost, these areas and their ecological functions are essentially impossible to restore. What Mr. Wyss’s commitment does is help secure these threatened areas now, it inspires other actors to get involved, and paves the way for a green and sustainable future for humans and wildlife alike”.
The philanthropic commitment announced yesterday comes on top of the Wyss Foundation’s existing support to African Parks from 2016 for nine parks currently under their management, including three parks in Malawi where the Foundation supported one of the largest elephant translocations in human history.
The Wyss Foundation has a more than two decades long track record of working with local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and nations in their efforts to accelerate the pace and scale of conservation, supporting locally-driven projects in Africa, Australia, North America, South America, Europe, and central Asia.
By partnering with communities to create and expand protected areas, by encouraging more ambitious international conservation targets, by investing in science, and by inspiring conservation action around the world, the Wyss Foundation is working to slow the loss of nature and safeguard the planet’s biodiversity.
Kagame made the call on Tuesday 8th June 2021 during the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS.
The meeting taking place from 8th to 10th June 2021, was organized to undertake a comprehensive review of the progress on the commitments made in the 2016 Political Declaration towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, and how the response, in its social, economic and political dimensions, continues to contribute to progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the global health goal.
The high-level meeting is expected to provide recommendations to guide and monitor the HIV/AIDS response beyond 2021, including new concrete commitments to accelerate action to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as well as to promote the renewed commitment and engagement of leaders, countries, communities and partners to accelerate and implement a comprehensive universal and integrated response to HIV/AIDS.
As he delivered remarks, Kagame explained Rwanda’s efforts towards defeating HIV/AIDS where the country has achieved nearly all of the 90-90-90 targets indicating that 90% of all people living with HIV should know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection receive sustained antiretroviral therapy while 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
The President also revealed that HIV prevalence rate in Rwanda has been stable at 3 percent since 2005 noting that more efforts are still needed.
“But it is not yet time to celebrate. There is still 95 to be achieved, and then 100. That is the reason why a new Political Declaration is needed, to end the HIV pandemic by 2030,” he said.
Kagame stressed HIV/AIDS and Covid-19 are both pandemics that should leave common lessons.
“HIV/AIDS and Covid-19 are both pandemics. One is 40 years old, while the other has been with us for only a year-and-a-half. But there are common lessons and shortcomings to address. First, the quality and speed of response is still mostly determined by wealth and poverty. Waiting to respond to HIV in Africa was a mistake, because the virus was spreading, even though it was treatable,” he stated.
“Some even believed that Africans would not be able take their medicine on time. A decade was lost, and many lives as well. The turning point in the fight against HIV in Africa was the consensus to invest heavily in national health systems, through key programs such as PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and others,” added Kagame.
He revealed that the health systems that Africa has depended on to fight the COVID-19 pandemic were largely built with HIV funding.
“For example, Rwanda’s National Reference Laboratory has performed thousands of Covid tests per day during the pandemic. And it was originally built as an HIV lab. Even within the framework of combatting a specific pandemic, we can work together as partners to disburse funds in a flexible manner, with the goal of continuing to strengthen health systems,” he noted.
Kagame highlighted that established health systems to defeat particular pandemic might be used to contain emerging crisis requiring prompt interventions to save people’s lives.
He pointed out an example where ‘a maternity wing that treats HIV-positive mothers, may also save the life of a mother with malaria’.
“We must also seize this moment to increase scientific research collaboration with Africa, and to invest in drug and vaccine manufacturing capacity on our continent,” stressed Kagame.
UNAIDS 2021 epidemiological estimates shows that 37.6 million people globally were living with HIV in 2020 including 1.5 million people infected in 2020 while 690, 000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in the same year.
