Canada commits more funds towards research

The visiting president of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), David Malone, Friday said that his organization is committed to continue supporting research and policy formulation programmes in Rwanda. Addressing a news conference in Kigali yesterday, Malone who is on a two-day working visit, said that of the many countries supported by his organisation, Rwanda has proved to have value for money as well as a forward looking agenda. Malone, who was flanked by Simon Carter, the IDRC Regional Director, noted that his organisation had been impressed by the Government’s zero tolerance for corruption policy and keen attention on how donor money spending ensures that the funds from the organisation are fully utilised. IDRC, the 3rd largest development research funder globally, has provided over CA$11.5m ever since it started supporting Rwanda, funding over 35 programmes. Over US$2m is dispatched every three years to support research programmes. “This is a government that is not interested in receiving donor money and seeing it wasted,” Malone said. He added that the IDRC is governed by an International Board, not just Canadian, and its Governors are concerned by policy impact and value for money. Malone added that as a result, IDRC has a mechanism of using rigorous external evaluators for the last 15 years who evaluate the work of the organisation. He also said the Auditor General of Canada not only controls the accounts but also the effectiveness of IDRC programmes. Malone emphasised that IDRC support goes towards education, agriculture, health and health systems, formulating socio-economic policies, as well as science, innovation and technology. He added that the IDRC supports the National University of Rwanda (NUR) in the areas of research and post graduate education programmes. Malone visited NUR where he delivered a public lecture on “Trends in Development.” “What the University is in need of is the support for more doctoral studies, more masters level studies. There is a view at the moment that many promising Rwandans have to leave the country to do Masters and PhD,” “This is not necessarily bad but it is very expensive.” He added that the plan is to see NUR develop itself to a level where it can provide these without necessarily having people travel, adding that IDRC is ready to help NUR achieve that. He also visited the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR) and held talks with the Ministry of Agriculture on how to formulate policies for sustainable agriculture and food security. Prior to the conclusion of his visit, Malone paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Bernard Makuza to brief him about his visit and his organisation’s plans in Rwanda. An academic and a diplomat, Malone has devoted his career to international relations – he has worked as a Canadian diplomat, Ambassador to the United Nations, scholar, and writer. Ends