Civil society organisations have been urged to strengthen collaboration with local government entities and align interventions with national priorities under the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). The call was made on Thursday, June 25, during the National Dialogue between the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) and the Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP) held at Kigali Convention Centre. ALSO READ: Civil society group urges for ‘alternative solutions’ over terminating land ownership contracts The dialogue brought together representatives from government institutions, civil society organisations, academia and the private sector to discuss how partnerships can support the implementation of Vision 2050 and NST2. Speaking at the event, Minister of Local Government Dominique Habimana said civil society remains an important partner in decentralisation and community development because of its close engagement with citizens and local structures. He said organisations working through district platforms and community-based approaches have contributed to behavioural change and supported broader economic transformation efforts. ALSO READ: RALGA pushes for data-driven governance to improve service delivery Under NST2, Habimana said, greater emphasis will be placed on making better use of the Joint Action Development Forum (JADF) to coordinate interventions and ensure development responds to citizens’ priorities. “Civil society organisations play a vital role in partnering with government institutions from local entities. Through their methodologies and collaboration mechanisms, they support decentralisation and contribute to development outcomes. What we want under NST2 is stronger coordination and putting citizens at the centre,” he said. ALSO READ: Decentralization: How grassroots governance is driving unity and inclusion Habimana added that convening actors through a national dialogue provides an opportunity to assess whether interventions are delivering intended results and generating impact at community level. The discussions drew on findings from an assessment of civil society contributions during NST1, which presented the sector as a significant contributor not only to social services but also to economic transformation and local development. According to the assessment, a fiscally recorded segment of civil society organisations contributed more than Rwf99.4 billion in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes and Rwf24.7 billion to Rwanda Social Security Board contributions between 2017 and 2024. The sector also facilitated 389,505 jobs, supported 409,788 trainees and mobilised nearly 13,000 volunteers. The report further shows that civil society interventions expanded financial inclusion for more than 2.6 million people, mobilised Rwf16.8 billion in savings and facilitated access to Rwf214.2 billion in loans. In agriculture, organisations reached 4.3 million farmers and supported climate-smart agriculture adoption among more than 669,000 beneficiaries. The discussion also highlighted the importance of sustaining projects beyond external financing cycles. Participants noted that partnerships increasingly incorporate arrangements with beneficiaries to maintain initiatives after projects come to an end. Theoneste Murangira, Chairperson of Rwanda Civil Society Platform, said continued engagement with government institutions is necessary to ensure civil society interventions remain aligned with national priorities. He said regular dialogue helps organisations identify gaps and avoid focusing resources on areas that may no longer be priorities. Among recommendations raised during the meeting, Murangira called for earlier access to policy and planning documents to allow organisations enough time to analyse proposals and consult before contributing views. “We need platforms to participate in different activities and receive documents early so that we can prepare and provide meaningful input,” he said. Antoinette Mukandayisenga, Mayor of Nyabihu District, said stronger collaboration through JADF depends on evidence-based planning. “In order to work effectively through JADF, there is a need to rely on data to know the scale of issues that need to be addressed,” she said. Rwanda has more than 2,000 civil society organisations, about half of which are active, while around 300 belong to the Rwanda Civil Society Platform.
