More citizens satisfied with public service delivery, says RGB's Shyaka

While there have been improvements in the implementation of homegrown social protection programmes, more efforts are needed in that area, Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) chief executive Prof. Anastase Shyaka has said. Prof. Shyaka made the remarks while addressing a meeting of Southern Province leaders and development partners on Tuesday. The meeting discussed the new prime ministerial instructions regulating the operations of the Joint Action Development Forum (JADF) and this year’s Citizen Report Card (CRC). A participant asks a question during the JADF and Citizen Report Card related meeting in Huye District on Tuesday. (E. Ntirenganya) The CRC, which aimed to present a picture of Rwandans’ satisfaction in regards to governance and services rendered, is the out come of a survey conducted in 11,000 households in all the districts of the country this year. The survey, which is yet to be published, considered twelve indicators, including security; agriculture and breeding; governance; justice; education; hygiene; among others. Prof. Shyaka said there had been improvement in satisfaction levels this year compared to the previous year. Satisfaction in service delivery improved from 59 per cent last year to over 71 per cent this year. Four Southern Province districts were among the ten districts nationally that scored over 75 per cent, where governance and service delivery was concerned. Last year, only one had ranked in the top ten. Anthony Ruburika(C) Director of Citizen Engagement and Good Governance promotion unit explains the advantages of citizen’s participation in the governance month as Prof Anastase Shyaka (L) and Robert Bimenyimana Media Affairs and Communication Specialist at RGB look on. (Doreen Umutesi) The RGB chief executive said homegrown solutions such as Ubudehe, VUP, Girinka (One Cow per Family) could still be improved. According to the CRC, citizens’ dissatisfaction in Ubudehe programme was at 76 per cent last year but fell to 30 per cent this year. “As we assess these programmes we should continue to be watchful so that there aren’t any malpractices that might derail our development,” Shyaka noted. “The rate at which people are dissatisfied with the way they get fertilisers and improved seeds is still high, so there is need for urgent action. Although these services are delivered at the district level, you cannot improve them if all the concerned players like national agricultural bodies and the ministry in charge do not play their rightful role.” Southern Province Governor Alphonse Munyantwali urged district authorities to devise ways to ensure that districts get enough money to fund their operations. Prof Shyaka (L), RGB s CEO reveals how the governance month will be celebrated at sector level during a press conference held yesterday at the RGB offices as Anthony Ruburika Director of Citizen Engagement and Good Governance promotion unit at RGB takes notes. (Doreen Umutesi) “District Council members are voted for by the people and people need to interact with them about their concerns. Even the decisions by the council members should be availed at cell offices and elsewhere so that people know about them,” he said. The CRC is an annual publication of RGB that is produced to ascertain the levels of community satisfaction with regards to services rendered by the government. Its purpose is to provide public agencies and policy makers with feedback from users on the quality and adequacy of public services delivered at the grassroots level. In bid to promote citizen-oriented governance, the government last year decided that ten per cent of the Imihigo (performance contracts) points would be awarded by citizens. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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More citizens satisfied with public service delivery, says RGB's Shyaka