National urban policy to spur devt, say experts

The national urbanisation policy (NUP), approved last week by Cabinet, will go a long way in creating the necessary conditions for well-managed growth, generating vibrant urban environments in addition to sustainable economic development. The policy document seen by The New Times shows that Rwanda’s urban agenda encourages multi-institutional cooperation, for the development of safe public space, quality education, medical and transport facilities, and a friendly city ambiance offering public services and infrastructure. As part of this vision, the government seeks to prevent unplanned growth in support of the urban development system and an increasing quality of life. “The alignment of this policy with other national policies and programmes shall positively affect quality of life for every resident and translate into economic growth,” the National Urbanisation Policy (NUP) says. The four policy objectives are: supporting quality of life and equity in human settlement; and enhancing institutional capacities to manage urban development in a coordinated manner at all levels of governance. Others are integrating urban planning and management in order to achieve resource-efficient and compact growth; and facilitating employment creation and off-farm productivity for local subsistence and regional competitiveness. Eng. Didier Sagashya, the director-general of Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), without divulging details, last week told The New Times that they were planning to elaborate a roadmap for the implementation of the policy. The revision of the urbanisation policy started way back in 2006 after the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) visited all districts to carry out consultations with stakeholders. ‘Engine of economic devt’ Eng. David Niyonsenga, the head of Urbanisation and Housing Development at MININFRA, said the policy vision is to turn urbanisation into an engine of economic development and sustainable settlements. On implementation, Niyonsenga said, “each of the 10 policy statements has measurable indicators and a specific implementation plan.” Dr Antje Ilberg, a senior adviser on urban policy at MININFRA, told The New Times that the policy clarifies principle rights and responsibilities of the government and of the public in an urbanising world and country. “The alignment of this policy with other national policies and programmes shall positively affect quality of life for every resident and translate into economic growth in general and socio-economic improvement at household level,” she said. “The policy backs up technical documents from a policy point of view and, for example, anchors the principle of mixing uses, efficient use of land in urban development, and preservation of cultural heritage.” According to Ilberg, Rwandans, and urban dwellers, in particular, should be happy since, with the policy now in place, “urban development will be transparent and predictable, which makes it easier to take long term investment decisions.” In addition, Ilberg said, urban development will be responsible for future development and the policy anchors fundamental principles in the interest of the public. Since 2013, Ilberg has been working with the Ministry of Infrastructure as an urban planning and housing development expert and adviser to the minister. On fundamental principles in the interest of the public, Ilberg who is an urban planner and architect, said there are measures to ensure important aspects such as: urban development which is aiming at improved quality of life; integrates measures to mitigate disaster risk; social inclusion, and addressing of concerns of everyone , such as children; and cultural preservation. The policy document also indicates that for the objectives targeting urban resilience, four mutually complementary policy pillars - coordination, densification, conviviality and economic growth – were identified. It is noted that urbanisation requires comprehensive and uniform guidance for it to be sustainable. Consequently, proactive thought led to the objectives stated by the government seven-year programme and the Vision 2020. Last year, MININFRA experts conducted consultative sessions with local government officials in six secondary cities, including Rusizi and Rubavu in Western Province, as well as the City of Kigali, on the development of NUP. They took time to explain why the government needs a National Urbanisation Policy and collected views on key issues, gaps and suggestions so as to develop an effective urbanisation policy promising orderly urban growth. The country-wide exercise, though led by MININFRA, also involved the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Local Government. District officials as well as teams from the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority (RNRA), UN-Habitat and other stakeholders were also involved. At the time, Niyonsenga carried the message that once the development of the NUP is well conceived, urban and rural settlements will be harmonised in line with city plans and, in turn, economic, social and environmental gains will be made.

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National urban policy to spur devt, say experts