{{The Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan – Integrated Mission Training Centre (UNMISS – IMTC) is conducting a two-week course on ‘Good Governance and Peace Building’ at the RDF Command and Staff College, Nyakinama from 4th March – 15th March 2013.}}
Amb. Fatuma Ndangiza, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) who opened the course officially on 4 March said that many problems lie in the failure to properly engage in early recovery and post conflict peace building tasks according to UN Missions analysis.
She reiterated Rwanda’s success stories; home grown solutions of post-conflict development that could be shared during this Training of Trainers (ToT).
“These initiatives have helped in addressing post conflict transitional justice, reconciliation, democratization, decentralization and grassroots mediation of local disputes”, observed Amb. Fatuma Ndangiza.
According to the Director of Rwanda Peace Academy, Col Jill Rutaremara this course is the 3rd of its kind that intends to build national capacity in order to prepare the South Sudanese nationals to effectively manage their national affairs when UNMISS leaves. A total of 26 participants attend this course.
{{Crime rate in Nyamasheke district has dropped in the past two months.
According to the district mayor, Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, crimes in the district have significantly reduced compared to the same period in 2012.}}
Habyarimana says Nyamasheke is secure urging residents to maintain its safety to spur development in the district.
According to Chief Inspector of the Police in Nyamasheke district CIP Francois Segakware, crimes have significantly reduced in the 3 consecutive months of December 2012, January and February 2013.
According to Colonel Jean Bosco Rutikanga the army commander in Nyamasheke and Rusizi district, resolutions to maintain security should be put in place and Security Councils should play their role and prevent crimes in all possible ways.
Preventing idling of people was also agreed upon as a resolution to stable security and this will be done by having every individual that works in a certain trading center being identified in at least one cooperative.
Rwanda and Sierra Leone will clash in their third Africa Volleyball championship Group A game today in Tunisia, where the tournament is taking place.
Rwanda made an excellent take off in their first game beating West Africans, Congo Brazzaville 3-1 but slumped in their second outing as the tournament’s hosts and one of the favourites, Tunisia, were too strong for them.
With Tunisia thrashing Paul Bitok’s team 3-0 one would expect them to have lost a little confidence in their volley skills but the advantage they for this third game is that they would be facing another team that is also just from losing.
Sierra Leon were on Sunday overpowered by another volley giant and this edition’s favourite, Algeria three sets to nothing.
As both teams prepare to do battle over the net, Rwanda’s hopes of qualifying for the World Championship in Mexico are dangling given that they must finish in the top four of the competition.
Rwanda would play their last group game tomorrow against Algeria.
{{Although Rwanda has managed to improve access to clean water; some residents in different parts of the country still lack access to safe water.}}
Residents of Nyakiriba Sector in Rubavu District are afraid of contracting waterborne diseases from the only available unsafe sources especially Nyabisazi River.
Residents told IGIHE that the river is contaminated with toxic waste and that there is no other option.
Areas affected include; Gikombe Cell and Bisizi cell; both cells are located in Nyakiriba Sector.
However, there are water kiosks in the area but residents told IGIHE that they have not been functional since their establishement.
The Executive Secretary of Nyakiriba Sector, Dukundimana Esperance says the problem of lack of clean water will get solved as soon as possible.
The Aqua Virunga Project has constructed water taps to facilitate area residents to access safe water but the taps have been closed.
Residents said the project failed due to its mismanagement.
{{Joining effort among Rwandans could significantly boost access to electricity among Rwandan communities.}}
Hakizimana Emmanuel, a Rwandan student studying in Germany who said that if efforts are scattered nothing can be sustainable.
Hakizimana an Electrical engineering student was commenting on the project he is slated to implement in Rwanda to allow many Rwandans access the electricity.
Hakizimana working in collaboration with a Germany investor Dr. Teubner revealed that the project will help Rwandans to use solar energy instead of remaining without access to electricity.
He assures that once the project is successfully implemented, it will reduce the number of Rwandans who have no access to electricity.
“The project will help everyone according to his ability, we have divided it into categories; we have 10euro –solution, 100 euro-Solution, 2000euro- Solution, 10000 Euro- Solution and each beneficiary will be able to use solar energy according to family’s need” Hakizimana told IGIHE.
{{Rwanda has launched a document tracking system aimed at improving overall efficiency, accountability and transparency in government through the use of electronic documents and records lifecycle management.}}
The Document Tracking and Workflow Management System (DTWMS) named E-Mboni, will promote government organisational efficiency.
The Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philbert Nsengimana said; “The system will improve inter and intra governmental efficiencies ultimately geared to serving Rwandans in an efficient and effective manner.
The system is flexible and mobile; one can work wherever he or she is in order to serve clients without delay.”
According to Patrick Nyirishema (ICT Department at RDB), “The System is a solution oriented – it is meant to drastically reduce the use of paper based processing and also automate, accelerate and simplify administrative processes.”
The project was co-funded by the Government of Rwanda and the World Bank.
It has been launched at the local government level in Kigali City council, an institution that has championed implementation of the system.
Kigali City Mayor, Fidele Ndayisaba, noted: “E-Mboni has come at a time when we actually need it. We are already using it in services like offering Construction Permits, Modern and Smart City (MIS) are now being offered more efficiently due to this system.
We are using less time and less paper which saves on cost and is environmentally friendly.
Files are more secure and are directed to the right person and in good time. There will be better service delivery with this system.”
({Rwandan Commandos undergoing tough training at a base})
{{On first blush, you probably think that struggle is a bad thing. After all, it has the connotation of weakness, indecisiveness, and incompetence, thanks in large part to societal taboos.}}
Yet despite what society would have you believe, years of research into the topic indicates that struggle is actually essential for career advancement.
Rather than avoiding struggle — or worse, denying it exists — those looking to take their career to the next level must learn how to embrace struggle as an opportunity for learning and growth.
Making this shift requires determination; it means bucking beliefs that have surreptitiously seeped into our collective sub-conscious — that struggle is a sign of weakness and therefore a source of embarrassment and shame.
This attitude toward struggle is not only counterproductive — leading to self-defeating behaviors including retreating inward with self-doubt and avoiding necessary risk for fear of failure — it is also wrong.
The fact of the matter is that struggle is a natural and inevitable part of career growth. But it doesn’t have to be painful.
By breaking away from cultural stereotypes to embrace struggle as an art to be mastered, you open a new set of possibilities for career growth.
{{Seek challenging assignments and difficult goals}}
If you are constantly doing the same things over and over again, chances are you are not growing. Instead, seek out situations where there is rapid change.
This will keep you on your toes. Look for projects that can expand your skills and capabilities, ideally those that give you the charter to work autonomously, so you have the freedom to experiment.
Numerous psychological studies find that performance is at its best when goals are difficult but still attainable with effort and imagination.
If you find yourself breezing through your day, easily meeting your goals, it could be a sign that your goals are too easy.
See what happens when you set a higher bar for yourself.
{{Treat negative feedback as a gift}}
It’s natural to cringe when you receive negative feedback. It may feel like a personal attack and can evoke a whole host of powerful emotions.
But receiving valid feedback is the most valuable of gifts, allowing you to step outside your delusional cocoon and become connected with external metrics of success.
When you stop doing the things that aren’t working, you clear a space for more things that get you the results you want.
My friend and former Microsoft CFO Frank Gaudette used to say: “I reserve the right to wake up smarter every day.” In this mindset, you interpret all feedback as a learning opportunity.
If you don’t have the skills you need, rather than feeling angry or upset about it, find a way to get them.
{{Learn how to remain grounded and centered}}
The more anchored and centered you are, the less likely you will be thrown off balance by the inevitable challenges that come your way.
Train yourself to become more stress-resistant by engaging in a set of daily and weekly practices that keep you on a steady course.
There are many options, including: exercise, meditation, journaling, prayer, or even just becoming immersed in nature by walking in the woods, sitting by the water, or planting in the garden. Choose the mix that’s right for you.
Personal centering practices are only part of the answer. In addition, build a support community—family, friends, peers, mentors, and coaches—to give you the advice and assistance you need during stressful times.
By challenging yourself, readily embracing feedback, and remaining grounded and centered, you can embrace struggle head on and use it as fuel for your career growth.
These practices are like the foundation of a building; they keep the building steady, even through storms and the passage of time.
The sturdier the foundation, the taller the building it will support.
CNN
{Author is the managing director of Snyder Leadership Group, a consulting firm dedicated to cultivating inspired leadership. He is the author of “Leadership and the Art of Struggle”}
{{The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) signed today a US $8-million Line of Credit (LoC) to support BRD lending to the agriculture, agro-processing, telecommunication, education and tourism infrastructure sectors in Rwanda.}}
The signing ceremony, held in the AfDB national office in Rwanda, was chaired by Negatu Makonnen AfDB Resident Representative in Rwanda, and Jack N. Kayonga, BRD Chief Executive Officer.
BRD is Rwanda’s leading development bank specializing in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and as part of its 2010–2014 strategy, its key growth areas include priority SME sectors such as agribusiness, manufacturing, micro-finance, information and communication technology, hospitality, education, health care, energy and water. This partnership is expected to increase SME reach, job creation, government revenues and resource mobilization to finance SMEs.
In complement to the LoC, a technical assistance package of up to US $730,800 provided to BRD by the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA) and funded by the Government of Japan, the AfDB, the Austrian Development Bank and the Government of Austria will reinforce BRD’s internal operational structures and systems.
The grant aims to improve BRD’s staff skills, information technology systems, appraisal systems, treasury and financial management, operations, credit risk management and internal controls.
Jack N. Kayonga, BRD Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the excellent quality of cooperation between AfDB and BRD and affirmed that “the agreement which has just been signed illustrates the vitality of this cooperation which will enable BRD to be engaged in a program of reinforcement of its private sector and SMEs operations in Rwanda.”
Emmanuel Murangayisa, BRD Director of Finance, added that “this grant will contribute optimizing BRD management capacities, by which the Bank will able to be placed at a constant and favourable level of performance.”
In his speech at the signing ceremony, Makonnen, AfDB Resident Representative in Kigali, thanked the Japanese and the Austrian Governments and people for their contribution to boost the private sector development in Rwanda.
Makonnen said: “The AfDB line of credit and the FAPA technical assistance are aligned with AfDB’s private sector operational priorities for long-term financing to support private sector development especially where long-term financing is scarce.
This program will enable BRD to respond effectively to the challenges of developing and promoting the private sector and SME development Rwanda”
Through FAPA funds, AfDB has initiated a broad program for institutional capacity building to support the African Development Finance Institutions such as the West African Development Bank (BOAD), the East and South African Development Bank (PTA Bank), the East African Development Bank (EADB), the Bank Congolaise de l’Habitat (BCH) and finally Shelter Afrique (specialized in housing finance in Africa).
{{The Rwanda Stock Exchange share index (RSI) went down 0.06 points to close at 202.20 and mainly caused by the falling BK share price which closed at Rwf 183. }}
The total turnover for the day was Rwf 2,661,100 from 10,000 BK shares and 1,100 Bralirwa shares traded in 5 deals compared to the previous trading session which recorded a total turnover of Rwf 66,776,100 from 29,900 BK shares and 80,800 Bralirwa shares traded in 15 deals.
BK shares traded between Rwf 180 and Rwf 183 and closed at Rwf 183, translating into a decline of Rwf 1 compared to the last Friday’s closing price whereas Bralirwa counter traded and closed at Rwf 761, registering an increase of Rwf 1 compared to last Friday’s closing price.
KCB shares last transacted at Rwf 169 while NMG shares last transacted at Rwf 1,200.
At the end of formal trading hours, there were outstanding bids of 134,900 BK shares between Rwf 185-200 and no outstanding offers.
On Bralirwa counter, there were outstanding bids of 131,700 shares between Rwf 750 – 770 and outstanding offers of 200,000 shares at Rwf 824.
{{Coffee Prices have been sliced to Frw 143/Kg from Frw 170/Kg of coffee cherries.}}
The announcement was made by National Agricultural Export Board (NAEB) saying it was a responce to the declining coffee prices on the global market.
Celestin Gatarayiha in charge of Coffee division at the National Agricultural Export Board told local daily, “We cannot control international prices for coffee, but we hope it will not drop further.”
He added, “with the new farm gate price, farmers will have a Rwf63 profit per kilogramme of coffee cherries sold, assuming they incur Rwf80 to produce each kilogramme of coffee.”
NAEB also said the price was agreed on during a recent meeting with over 150 stakeholders, including farmers, banks and exporters.
