While the world continues to face unprecedented crises from the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the African continent has suffered most, said Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Mohamed.
“Unmet commitments by the international community to financing climate action and inadequate humanitarian responses have further aggravated the obstacles to the efforts made by Africa and its leaders to implement Agenda 2063,” she said.
According to Mohamed, the UN joined the call by African leaders for the allocation of additional resources to their economies through the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been at the center of criticism by several African leaders.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who joined other leaders in calling for reforms of the World Bank and the IMF, said the African continent is subjected to an unfair global debt system, causing countries to pay at least eight times more than their richer counterparts on account of their perceived risks.
“We are not asking for charity. We must have equality in the international system,” Ruto said.
The Head of State made the revelation on Sunday as he received his counterpart of Hungary, Katalin Novák who is on a visit to Rwanda.
Hungary is among countries neighboring Ukraine and hosts over 2 million refugees from the country.
Speaking to members of the press after discussions with Hungarian President Katalin Novák, Kagame was asked to comment on the contribution of Rwanda and Africa in ending the war that has occasioned devastating consequences.
The Head of State said that Rwanda’s possible contribution is little but highlighted that the country can intervene through peaceful dialogues because the war cannot totally solve the problem.
“For us , what we can contribute to is the debate of moving towards peace because there is instability, war in that part of the region but which doesn’t stop an end in that region. It spreads across the world to the extent that it reaches here in Rwanda as it reaches the whole African continent,” he said.
“Now for me, we can contribute to the debate but there is little else we can really do as Rwanda. Since it is just giving an idea towards that, we can always say irrespective of the cause and who is right here, who is wrong there, at the end of the day when the war is up and running there are more wrongs than rights. When you move towards peace and get it then, you start moving towards more rights than wrongs,” added Kagame.
The president highlighted that winning a battle with the means of weapons doesn’t itself guarantee a durable solution.
The United States and European countries continue to supply weapons to Ukraine during the war with Russia.
President Kagame has stated that looking at peace as the end goal should be the main focus instead of keeping powering arms and ammunition, not who defeats the other.
“To keep fighting , powering arms and ammunition of all types in the situation and hoping that one side defeats that other, may take too long first of all, and the damage trail of that is already too costly. So you can imagine what it will look like if you can go for another two or three years. That is why there is a compelling need for those who have power, those involved in the war to really think about what is this give and take process they can be involved in to bring settlement. Inevitably, everyone will have something to give and everyone will have something to gain from that,” he noted.
It has been over 500 days since the Russia-Ukraine war began, inflicting significant devastation on Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in the loss of lives among both soldiers and civilians, while also leaving a trail of destruction across the nation’s infrastructure.
As of March this year, the World Bank reported that Ukraine had suffered approximately US$135 billion in damages to its infrastructure, underscoring the extensive scope of the destruction. To recover and rebuild the damaged infrastructure, Ukraine requires a staggering sum of over US$400 billion.
Besides, the war has had a profound impact on other parts of the world, given that both Russia and Ukraine were among major exporters of essential commodities such as grains and cooking oil. The disruption in these exports has had ripple effects on global markets and supply chains, influencing the availability and prices of these commodities in various regions.
Women Deliver (WD) is a prominent global advocate international that supports gender equality and the health and rights of girls and women in all their transecting identities. 6,000 participants are expected at the Women Deliver Conference in Kigali, Rwanda from 17 to 20 July 2023.
FAO and UN Women will leverage the presence of multi-stakeholders, including high-level policymakers, at the Women Deliver Conference to present their work in supporting women in Agrifood systems and value chains, with a focus on presenting the data, evidence, messages, and recommendations from the global Report on the Status of Women in Agrifood Systems, recently launched by FAO.
Speaking about the upcoming event, FAO Rwanda Country Representative Coumba D. Sow underscored that the forum presents an opportunity for stakeholders to devise ways of unlocking bottlenecks that limit women from maximizing their involvement in Agrifood systems.
“Women’s access to land, inputs, services, finance, and digital technology, which is key to working in Agrifood systems, continues to lag behind men’s. In many countries, there still is much to do to ensure that women own land equal to men and that legal frameworks protect their rights.”
Amidst all these challenges, however, Rwanda has made significant strides in addressing issues limiting women’s involvement in the Agrifood systems, including ensuring gender-responsive land certification and bridging the digital divide gap.
Leading up to the event, The UN Women Country Representative in Rwanda, Ms. Jennet Kem emphasized the importance of the report in creating concrete evidence that will support a gender responsive environment in agrifood systems which is foundational in sustaining global social and economic growth.
“Rural women are key agents of transformational change for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When women are empowered to equally and actively participate across the entire agricultural value chain, and are equipped with the tools, resources and technologies that catalyze productivity, we begin to witness the emergence of communities thriving through reduced hunger, increased incomes, and climate and economic resilience.” says Ms. Jennet Kem.
“In Rwanda, for example, land titling programs that include women’s names led to increased rural land investment that was nearly twice as large in female-headed households as in men-headed households. Further to that, half of the positions within the government-backed Digital Ambassadors Program are reserved for women to enable them to be advocates within their communities and networks to encourage other women and girls to go online.
As of December 2019, the program had provided digital skills training to 41,980 women, youth, and rural people across 12 districts. An impact assessment reported that 87 percent of those trained reported increased incomes and use of e-government services” Coumba noted.
This joint event reiterates the importance of collective action and collaboration to overcome challenges and seize the opportunities that come with the embedding of gender equality in agrifood systems.
The Head of State made the disclosure on Sunday 16th as he received his counterpart of Hungary, Katalin Novák who has spent days during her visit to Rwanda.
Kagame said that discussions with Katalin Novák focused on making bilateral ties even stronger for the benefit of both countries’ people.
“At this point, I want to mention that Rwanda intends to open diplomatic presence in Budapest very soon,” he stated.
The President disclosed that the aim is to enable the creation of jobs, foster an enabling environment for businesses.
Both countries also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on the training of Rwandan experts on atomic and peaceful use of nuclear energy, a Stipendium Hungaricum agreement as well as a loan facility agreement on upgrading of the Karenge water treatment plant in Rwamagana.
Kagame said that the cooperation between Rwanda and Hungary in the field of education is very important where 41 Rwandans have so far received scholarships to study in Hungary universities noting that it was agreed to extend the programme during discussions with Novák.
“We appreciate that. We’ll also be working with Hungary to train Rwandans in the field of nuclear energy, an important component of our future energy plants,” Kagame said.
“Through the new agreements signed, we are committed to build on this shared vision and create mutually beneficial opportunities for the people of Rwanda and Hungary. We appreciate the significant loan provided by Hungary to upgrade the Karenge water treatment plant. We hope to benefit from Hungary’s expertise in water management,” he added.
President Novák who is the first Hungarian President to visit Rwanda said that her country is a doorway to the European Union, just like Rwanda is a doorway to the African continent, that makes the situation of the two countries unique.
“Hungary is bigger in size, but our population is almost similar. We need to focus on how we cooperate based on a mutual respect because that is what we can offer as Hungarians, the respect for you, for your way of life, for your people and for your nation; and that is what we expect also from our allies. It is this mutual respect background which our corporation already lies on and which it is going to fly on in the future as well,” she said.
Hungary recently opened a trade and counselor mission in Kigali. Novák expressed delight that Kagame has also expressed willingness to open diplomatic presence in Budapest and welcomed the move.
Novák who is also in Rwanda to attend the ongoing Women Deliver Conference and she told President Kagame that: “Your Invitation to women deliver proof for our common commitment to empowering women. I thank you for what I have done in this respect.”
Novák also hailed Rwanda’s progress after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi owing to President Kagame’s visionary leadership.
Rwanda and Hungary enjoy diplomatic relations in the fields of investment, trade and air transport among others.
The Women Deliver Conference was first established in 2007 in London, UK, in response to alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality. Since then, it has become a platform for advocating for women’s rights and addressing critical issues related to gender equality. Each edition of the conference has focused on specific themes and has achieved significant milestones in advancing women’s health and empowerment.
In 2010, the conference was held in Washington DC, with a primary emphasis on youth engagement. It provided a platform for one hundred young leaders to share their expertise and call upon decision-makers to prioritize the advancement of girls and women’s health and rights.
This event marked an important step in amplifying the voices of the younger generation in shaping policies and programs.
The third edition of the conference took place in 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, made a groundbreaking declaration that family planning is a human right. This declaration brought global attention to the importance of ensuring access to reproductive health services and empowering women to make informed choices about their bodies.
In 2016, the WDC held its fourth edition in Copenhagen, Denmark, shortly after the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference underscored the critical role of advancing girls and women’s health and rights across all SDGs to drive progress for all. It served as a platform for discussing strategies to integrate gender equality into the global development agenda.
The fifth edition of the Women Deliver Conference took place in 2019 in Vancouver, Canada, where grassroots advocates and decision-makers connected, leading to over USD 1 billion in global and country-level investments. This event highlighted the importance of gender equality and provided a global spotlight on the challenges and opportunities for women’s empowerment.
Now, Rwanda has become the first African country to host the Women Deliver Conference. The theme for the 2023 conference is “Spaces, Solidarity, and Solutions for Sustainable Gender Equality.” This edition aims to bring together the most powerful voices of the feminist community, representing diverse perspectives and experiences, to find innovative solutions for achieving sustainable gender equality.
Since its inception, the Women Deliver Conference has focused on three main aims: sexual and reproductive health and rights, championing the leadership of grassroots advocates, and connecting advocates with decision-makers while sharing key advocacy strategies. These pillars have been instrumental in driving progress and fostering collaboration among stakeholders dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls worldwide.
Distinguished guests, including top government officials in Rwanda, will grace the conference with their presence. The event is expected to attract over 6,000 in-person attendees at the Kigali Convention Centre, with an additional 200,000 participants from across the globe joining virtually through the conference’s official website or by downloading the WD 2023 mobile app.
The Women Deliver Conference 2023 promises to be a pivotal moment in the global movement for gender equality.
It presents a unique opportunity for participants to exchange knowledge, foster collaborations, and devise strategies that will create lasting impact and advance the rights and well-being of women and girls worldwide.
As the world looks forward to this significant event, all eyes are on Rwanda and the transformative discussions and outcomes it will generate.
According to a report by GALLUP, 44% of employees worldwide, particularly in Africa, experience stress. Therefore, the forum emphasized the importance of integrity, humility, and effective emotion management in leadership roles to alleviate stress among employees and enhance overall productivity.
During the discussions held from July 10th to 11th, 2023, participants explored topics such as good leadership, effective human resource management, and the significance of emotional intelligence in leadership and governance. Renowned pan-African graft crusaders, Prof PLO Lumumba and Dr. Antoine Rutayisire, were among the distinguished speakers at the event.
Prof PLO Lumumba highlighted the need for leaders to establish closer relationships with their employees, remaining humble and providing them with platforms to share ideas. He emphasized that achieving desired productivity and efficiency requires leaders to foster an environment where employees feel valued and can contribute their ideas.
Ambassador Dr. Ron Adam, representing Israel in Rwanda, emphasized the growing importance of ethical leadership. He noted that the forum provided leaders with an opportunity to understand the power of authenticity, intrinsic motivation, and acting with integrity. Participants were encouraged to develop self-awareness and self-management of personal emotions, as well as explore ways to enhance their emotional intelligence.
The forum focused on enhancing the technical capacity of management executives regarding emotional intelligence concepts. Participants learned how to develop and implement these concepts to improve their relationships in both work and personal life. Understanding social and emotional behaviors and their impact on leadership and corporate governance was a key aspect of the discussions.
Steven Karangwa, the Chairman of Rwanda Human Resource Management Organisation, emphasized that failure to control emotions can negatively affect employees’ performance.
He stated that contemporary leadership requirements demand leaders who can motivate, inspire, and foster positive attitudes among employees. Leaders who lack emotional intelligence may experience lower employee engagement and higher turnover rates.
Karangwa further explained that emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in building relationships and fostering effective interactions.
Leaders with high emotional intelligence can handle different situations more effectively, manage stress, and adapt to changes within companies. Additionally, emotional intelligence positively influences physical and mental health. Therefore, developing emotional fitness is essential, especially for leaders who aim to enhance job performance among their teams.
According to the GALLUP report, only 21% of employees worldwide work with dedication, highlighting the need for leaders to address these issues and foster a positive work environment.
Josefa Sacko, the AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment, said that out of the 828 million people listed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as facing food insecurity in the world, a vast majority of them are in Africa, with East Africa having the largest population of those facing starvation and hunger.
“We are staring at food security problems because out of these 828 million, 278 million are mostly from Africa,” Sacko said at a briefing in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Thursday evening.
The AU is concerned that an additional 150 million people have joined the food insecurity bandwagon since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which indicates that the African continent is not on target to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on food security.
“Reducing food insecurity on the continent is quite important. We have 278 million people in Africa, a fifth of the population in Africa, who do not have access to nutritious foods,” Sacko said.
The food crisis in the East African region has been worsened by the Ukraine crisis which affected the delivery of fertilizers and grains to much of the Global South, especially Africa, Sacko observed.
She added that the conflict in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and the prolonged drought cycle in Kenya have also undermined efforts to feed civilians.
In response to the food insecurity crisis in Africa, the AU has adopted progressive measures to boost crop yield while increasing investments in the agricultural sector, Sacko said.
Those measures, according to Sacko, are being implemented by AU member states and foreign partners, including China, which have provided financial support to enhance the implementation of ambitious strategies to boost food security in the continent.
At the RDF HQs, they were briefed on the Liberation Struggle and the RDF’s transformation journey since the end of the liberation struggle in 1994.
They were acquainted with Rwanda’s journey towards unity, reconciliation and development, and the role of the youth in sustaining this development.
Yannick Bandora, a member of the Youth of the diaspora who arrived in Rwanda for the first time said that he was committed to take part in the transformation of Rwanda moving forward.
According to Kennedy Bizimana, the youth coordinator in Belgium and the head of the youth delegation, this trip is organized to give a chance to the youth living abroad to learn about Rwanda’s liberation history, Rwandan culture, and the opportunities available to the youth in different sectors in the country.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that Kagame hosted Trovoada on 14th July 2023.
In 2017, São Tomé et Príncipe and Rwanda signed cooperation agreements in various sectors including tourism, security and air transport.
Trovoada comes to Rwanda, after a delegation from São Tomé and Príncipe led by the Minister of Justice, Internal Administration and Human Rights, Dr. Cilcio Bandeira dos Santos also held a visit to the country in May last year, during which they held talks with the management of Rwanda Forensic Laboratory.
At the time, Dr. Cilcio Bandeira dos Santos and his delegation visited Rwanda Forensic Laboratory on 23rd May 2022 where they were received by the Acting Director General, Dr. Justin Kabera who took the delegation through activities of the laboratory.
Following discussions between both parties, the visiting delegation toured different sections of the laboratory including forensic pathology and fingerprint analysis unit among others.
Speaking to IGIHE after touring the facilities, the Chief Cabinet of Minister of Justice, Internal Administration and Human Rights in São Tomé and Príncipe, Eloisa Cabinda revealed that they learnt a lot from Rwanda’s practices to be emulated at home.
“We came here to learn from Rwanda. There are different ways of using technology in the judiciary and we want to emulate it in our country. We will assess how to adopt it as we go back home,” she said.
Eloisa Cabinda disclosed that his country mulled sending a delegation of analysts from his country to learn from Rwanda’s practices or request Rwanda to send a team to São Tomé and Príncipe to train them at home.
“We want to emulate what we have witnessed here as we get back home. If needs be, we will send our staff here to learn before implementation,” she said.
