Agaciro Development Fund was last week launched in Germany with a contribution of Rwf 11 million from Rwandans and friends living in Germany.Addressing the participants, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Germany, Christine Nkurikiyinka, said the first solidarity fund of its kind in Rwanda was initiated by nationals to fast-track the development of the country to reach financial autonomy.“It highlights a mentality shift among Rwandans, best reflected in the efforts to finding home-grown solutions for the country’s challenges and improving welfare for its citizens,” Nkulikiyinka saidThe envoy also clarified the current political situation in the region, stressing that contrary to circulating, false allegations against Rwanda, the government is committed to finding a solution for durable peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo together with member states in the region.The initiative to set up Agaciro Fund was floated at the 2011 National Dialogue (Umushyikirano), and follows a tradition of innovative homegrown solutions geared towards development programmes by the government.The fund aims at engaging Rwandans to participate directly in their own development process. So far over Rwf20 billion has been collected from Rwandans within and out of the country.
