Strengthening the Strategic Alliance on Land Reform in Rwanda
RISD and RNRA extend their
Memorandum of Understanding (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
‘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