Andrew Steer, the Director General for Policy and Research in the UK Department for International Development (DFID) is in the country for a three-day working visit.

During his visit, Steer is also expected to attend the third edition of African Ministers of Finance conference on Financing for Development (F4D) that will take place in Kigali between May 21 and 22.

The objective of this high-level strategic forum for dialogue between the Government of Rwanda, other African Governments and Development Partners to assess the current situation regarding climate change and its direct impact on economic growth and how it affects growth projections.

Prior to the conference, the DFID senior official will also visit various DFID funded programmes to assess the challenges the country is facing and what is being achieved on the ground through the UK and Government of Rwanda partnership.

According to a statement from the DFID Kigali office, Steer will tomorrow visit the Eastern Province to witness projects run by AVEGA, a partner NGO of the Care and Treatment programme for Women Genocide Survivors infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

"We are glad to have the presence of such a senior DFID official in country. Rwanda has achieved a lot in the last ten years and we are happy to have been part of the success,” said Martin Leach, Head of DFID Rwanda.

"This visit will foster the relationship between our two countries so that we can build on past achievements and make further progress in reducing poverty in Rwanda.”

Andrew Steer was appointed Director General for Policy and Research at Department for International Development (DFID) in April 2008.

In this capacity he is responsible for overseeing Policy and Research Division, Trade Policy Division and Civil Society Unit.

DFID is currently the largest contributor to the Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) and has pledged to contribute over £20 million (close to RWF20 billion) over five years. It is also one of the country’s biggest development partner, especially in the direct budget support initiative.

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