From 4th to 6th September 2019, Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) organized a technical forum for Council Affairs Specialists and Constituency Affairs Officers from all Districts of the country. The technical forum took place at Hotel Saint André in Kabgayi, Muhanga District and was facilitated by RALGA staff composed of the Director of RALGA’s Local Government Institute (LGI), Mrs Innocente MURASI, the Director of RALGA’s Strategic Planning Unit, Mr. Faustin SERUBANZA, as well as the in charge of capacity building at LGI, Mr.Théoneste UKIZE. The Chairperson of Muhanga District Council, Cllr Théobald SHYAKA also attended the forum as a guest speaker whereas RALGA’s Secretary General, Mr. Ladislas NGENDAHIMANA officially closed it. The forum was organised thanks to financial support from the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) through its Decentralisation and Good Governance (DGG) program.
Participants appreciate the outcomes of the forum
As expressed by various participants to the technical forum, they benefited a lot from the activity. According to them, the forum allowed them to have a better understanding of their duties, roles and responsibilities. In addition, they said that it was an opportunity to exchange experience on best practices for enhanced citizen-state relations, but also to assess themselves in order to identify gaps and challenges hindering their performance. Participants to the forum also appreciated the opportunity to engage the Chairperson of Muhanga District Council as well as RALGA’s Secretary General.
Important commitments and suggestions made
Basing on the results of the forum, participants committed to improve their performance, targeting district and City of Kigali Councils’ efficiency.
District council affairs specialists and the constituency affairs officers pledged to keep struggling to contribute to the improvement of working relations between the councils and District Executive Committee as well as between the councils and citizens for better service delivery. They committed to effectively support councils in citizen engagement and especially in providing feedbacks to them on various decisions. They also committed to better monitor the Cell and Sector Councils performance. Finally, participants requested RALGA to advocate for the revision of the law determining the organization and functioning of decentralized administrative entities in line with gaps identified during the forum.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Ladislas encouraged the Councils’ support staff to take advantage of the skills acquired and experience shared to improve their performance. He particularly requested them to be more innovative to allow district and City of Kigali’s Councillors’ efficient engagement of their constituencies, the citizens and other stakeholders.
