A recent countrywide survey has revealed a shortfall in the funds to finance Ubudehe community programmes.

Ubudehe is a socio-economic development programme where the local people are empowered to actively participate in improving their welfare through activities like constructing houses, roads and resource mobilisation.

According to the report that was jointly compiled by the Local Government Ministry (MINALOC) and donor agencies and conducted in 114 villages, limited financial inflows especially within Ubudehe program emerged as the big constraint for achieving results.

Despite the above shortfalls that were established during the survey, the programme has registered tremendous achievements.

According to the Permanent Secretary in MINALOC, Eugene Barikana, the programme has done a tremendous job in fighting poverty in rural areas.

"This programme has reduced the percentage of Rwandans who live under the poverty line from 60- 54 percent which is a very tremendous achievement,” Barikana explained.

Last year, the programme received a United Nations trophy as the best managed and implemented development programme.

The stakeholders in the Ubudehe programme include the Common Development Fund (CDF), MINALOC, Action Aid, Belgium, provincial administrators and community members.

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