Friday, March 1, 2013

PRESS RELEASE



Strengthening the Strategic Alliance on Land Reform in Rwanda:

RISD and RNRA extend their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

KIGALI – February 28, 2013. Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD) and the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority (RNRA) will today sign an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for another period of Four Years.  The event will take place at RNRA headquarters in Remera at 3:00pm.  RISD and RNRA have successfully completed implementation of a one year period MoU set out on a trial basis.  Evaluation on the impact of this trial period registered high impact, specifically in relation to clear appreciation of the specific role of each stake holder towards the successful implementation of fair and just Land Tenure Regularization Program (LTRP) in Rwanda towards poverty reduction and sustainable peace and the effective implementation of the Africa Land Policy Framework and Guidelines (ALPFG), as the key objective of this MoU.
Rwanda is going through a very dynamic period of Land Reform implementation, through a Land Tenure Regularisation Program (LTRP) that requires combined efforts of different stake holders given the land related challenges that face the country, mainly: land scarcity; a fast growing population; and a post-conflict situation that has created a problem of multiple land claims that has increased land ownership related disputes. Given these challenges, and the long standing collaboration between RISD and RNRA (formally NLC), over the past one year, the two institutions made a decision to enter the MoU for better coordinated and structured collaboration.  Key registered achievement from this MoU, is clarity on priority focus of each actor, i.e. the roles and responsibilities of government and that of civil society.  The outcome of the MoU confirms the best role of government as that of technical and policy orientation, while that of civil society as that of monitoring, raising awareness of the land rights and obligations, research and documentation of lessons learned for policy improvement.
 The chairperson of the Board of Directors of RISD, His Lordship, Bishop Nathan Kamussime Gasatura, remarks that, “since 2008, RISD made a decision to support the LTRP process by focusing on the area of land related disputes, given the high level of land related claims that may affect the smooth implementation of the program....indeed, through a structured MoU, this support continues to make a realization impact”.   Like in many other countries implementing land reform, RISD experience reveals that, in recent years in Rwanda, more intra-family land related disputes are registered, as the population becomes aware of their rights.  Such disputes require quick intervention to avoid any possible escalation to conflict and any interference of the good progress made towards sustainable peace process in the country.  This is the main objective of the MoU between RISD and the RNRA.  Given the importance of this need, this MoU is extended to even a longer period of Four years so that RISD can support the population in the management of land related disputes that may come about at the end of the LTRP at the end this year of 2013.    
‘The Government of Rwanda (GoR) is a signatory to regional and global land related initiatives and programs, like the Africa Land Policy Framework and Guidelines (ALPFG), signed by the African Union (AU) Heads of State and launched on 27th October 2010 in Lilongwe Malawi, of which Rwanda has been identified as the Pilot Country’, Reminds the Director General of the RNRA, Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza.  Further, The Director General states that, “RNRA is committed to joint monitoring efforts and documenting lessons learnt from the regional initiatives in relation to national land policies which require tripartite partnership of government, civil society and donors, to ensure good governance and sustainable development process”.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Annie Kairaba, Director of RISD on 0788302452
        email: kairabaa@risdrwanda.org                                                
Mr. Evode Ngombwa, RNRA Communications Officer on 0788448633