The Local Government Authorities Association (RALGA) will construct and operationalise a Centre of Excellence in Local Governance to serve as a knowledge hub on local governance expertise, innovation, and capacity building.

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The pledge is part of a five-year strategic plan presented on June 6 during the 29th RALGA general assembly.

The RALGA Strategic Plan 2025-2030 presents a vision for strengthening local governance, improving service delivery, and fostering Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation. The strategic plan has three priorities.

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The first priority focuses on policy advocacy, research, and representation, which seeks to amplify the voice of local government entities in policymaking.

The priority of local government capacities for service delivery focuses on improving the performance and operational capacity of local governments to ensure efficient, citizen-centred service delivery.

The third priority focuses on organisational and institutional strengthening.

Diversifying sources of funding

Recognising the need for financial resilience, RALGA will diversify its funding sources through strategic resource mobilisation, exploring opportunities for revenue generation, partnerships with international funding, development agencies, and private sector stakeholders.

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"Funding mobilisation remains a significant challenge, leading to programme delays and an over-reliance on grants. Diversification of funding sources is key going forward and thus the need for a new Resource Mobilisation Strategy,” reads part of the plan.

The strategic plan seeks to develop and implement a resource mobilisation strategy, design and develop project proposals for funding mobilisation, build and operationalise the Centre of Excellence on Local Governance, identify and cost additional services to members as complementary revenue streams, and provide expert guidance services for the implementation of district projects.

"Local authorities have pledged to work alongside citizens in implementing the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), acknowledging that this is not solely the responsibility of the central government. Instead, it requires alignment with district strategies and must influence everyday interactions with citizens," said Dominique Habimana, the Secretary General of RALGA.

New RALGA chairperson pledges advocacy for cells’ leaders’ salary increase

There is need for increasing salary and capacity for cells’ leaders across the country as a way of motivating them amid the implementation of the NST2, said Odette Uwizeye was who elected as Chairperson of RALGA during the general assembly.

"The salary for executive secretaries is still low. We will continue to call for pay raises. While the salary is still meagre, there is need for some incentives to motivate them in executing their duties,” Uwizeye said.

Vestine Mukandayisenga, the Mayor of Gakenke District, reiterated the same concerns.

"The cost of living has increased and the franc has depreciated, and therefore there is need to increase both skills and income for cell executive secretaries. We need to motivate them,” she noted.

There are 2,148 cells countrywide and their leaders in four provinces get a salary that is below Rwf100,000.

"If a cell leader earns below Rwf100,000 and has a family that lives in another district, it is a challenge to cater for the family and pay school fees for children,” she said.

Martine Urujeni, the Vice Mayor in charge of Socio-Economic Affairs in the City of Kigali, said there have been reforms in recruiting cell executive secretaries, whose salary is better than those of cell leaders in rural areas.

In 2024, the Ministry of Local Government said that there is a need for Rwf 24 billion in cell reforms to bring them to the level of delivering as many services as possible.

Bruno Rangira, the Mayor of Kirehe District, said the cell leaders will play a big role in implementing the graduation out of poverty strategy.

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The government was targeting to lift 315,000 households out of poverty and extreme poverty in two years starting from the 2023/2024 fiscal year.