Rwanda will benefit from 90 billion Rwandan francs (about $93 million) to deploy several programs aiming at bettering the country’s development level. The financing is the fruit of a deal signed last April 12 between the Rwandan finance Minister, Uzziel Ndagijimana, and Dr. Thomas Kurz, the German Ambassador to Rwanda.

Decentralization, good governance, export promotion, and vocational training are the target areas of the deal. The resources will be made available to the government via the German development agency KfW and GIZ. The plan will see KfW provide nearly $70 million to support technical and vocational training, SME promotion, exports, green investments, and ICT while GIZ will channel more than $22 million to support decentralization and good governance, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, among others.

“This support comes at a critical juncture given the effects Covid-19 has had on our social-economic advancement. We look forward to boosting these important areas that are in line with our National Strategy for Transformation. We thank Germany for the strong cooperation and solidarity especially during the Covid-19 pandemic,” the Rwandan official said.

The new deal confirmed the longstanding cooperation between Rwanda and Germany. “Germany is committed to supporting Rwanda in its economic recovery process and the implementation of NST 1 to reach the SDGs and to leave no one behind,” the German envoy said.

Carine Sossoukpè (intern)