EU (Commonwealth) _ In Rwanda, the European Union announced thirteen new initiatives totaling €4.6 million (about 5,955,689,000 Rwandan Francs) in collaboration with civil society groups (CSOs), concentrating on disability, accountability, labor rights, and media.
At a signing ceremony with all grantees on November 24th, European Union Ambassador Belen Calvo Uyarra stated that the EU is dedicated to supporting a strong civil society that participates in crucial decisions and policies in Rwanda in a meaningful and organized manner. With the strong experience of the implementing partners, the EU believes these new initiatives will have a beneficial influence on the lives of disabled children and youth while also improving their welfare.
Nine programs will assist children and teenagers who are disabled. The EU’s initiatives aim to improve the lives of children with intellectual disabilities, to empower women and girls with disabilities in accessing health care, to integrate youth with disabilities into employment programs, to strengthen families with children with disabilities, and to improve access to quality education.
Another important program encourages budget accountability by encouraging youth-led organizations to participate in Rwanda’s public finance management policies. One initiative in the mining industry will focus on strengthening human, labor, and environmental rights for Rwandan mining workers and surrounding communities.
Finally, two programs are focused to improving digital media, especially by increasing citizens’ digital media and information literacy. They will strengthen the competencies of media practitioners and content creators in the appropriate use of digital media, in line with the shifting communication landscape.
These initiatives demonstrate the EU’s commitment to promoting inclusive government and human rights in collaboration with Rwanda.
Uzziel Ndagijimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and Myriam Ferran, Deputy-Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships, met to commemorate the introduction of the European Union Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Rwanda 2021-2027.
They reviewed recent EU-Rwanda partnership deliverables, including EU assistance for the government’s response to the COVID issue and mobilization of actual investments in vaccine manufacture in Rwanda by the European private sector. The two officials discussed the new strategy’s implementation plans and agreed to move quickly on the development of new programs on sustainable agriculture, education, and urbanization.
The approval of the new EU-Rwanda cooperation plan is an essential step toward putting political and strategic choices into reality. Through this new approach, the EU and Rwanda will continue to collaborate to fulfill Rwanda’s Vision 2050 goals as well as common commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Youth Education, Skills, and Employment in the Digital Age, A Green Deal for Inclusive Growth and
Governance, both political and economic. Regional and thematic support, as well as lending from the European Investment Bank, will supplement the bilateral grant amount.
The new cooperation plan will be put into action through the new Global Europe finance instrument. Global Europe will broaden the scope and effect of European partners in Rwanda. This development tool has a much stronger #TeamEurope stance, emphasizing collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), EU Member States, their agencies, and development banks. The MIP outlines two ambitious Team Europe Initiatives: “Agricultural Transformation” and “Sustainable Rwandan Cities for the Digital Age,” both of which have a substantial Rwandan component.
Under the Multiannual Indicative Program, the EU pledges € 260 million in funding for the period 2021-24 to strengthen bilateral cooperation and advance our mutual interests in the following areas:
The MIP highlights two ambitious Team Europe Initiatives on “Agricultural Transformation” and “Sustainable Rwandan Cities Fit for the Digital Age,” both of which have substantial EU Member State support and a great potential for transformational effect.
