TURI KUMWE Newsletter || 2023 Quarter 1

Ozonnia Ojielo

UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

I am delighted to share with you the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter, which provides a glimpse into the work of the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Rwanda. In the past few months, we have had several exciting initiatives and engagements that demonstrate our continued commitment to partnership as we strive to serve Rwandans.

I paid a courtesy call to the First Lady of Rwanda, Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame, to discuss areas of mutual interest, collaboration, and partnership, particularly regarding quality education, health, and empowerment programmes, especially for women and children. She reiterated that the goals of Imbuto and the UN are well aligned, noting that they are natural partners in poverty reduction efforts for the people of Rwanda.

Our UNCT visited the Mahama refugee camp, where we witnessed first-hand the triple nexus approach – humanitarian, development, and peace and its impact on improving the lives of refugees and host communities. We are committed to working closely with the Government of Rwanda to ensure that refugees have access to essential services and opportunities to become self-reliant.

I had the privilege to co-chair my first Development Partners retreat with the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana. With fruitful discussions on ways to strengthen our partnerships and enhance coordination in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Rwanda, it was a valuable opportunity to explore innovative approaches to achieving sustainable development in Rwanda.

We also participated in various national dialogues like Umushikirano, the Rwanda Patriotic Front Inkotanyi international conference, where participants engaged with the Government and other stakeholders on Rwanda's development priorities.

Through various platforms, we exchanged ideas, reflected on the progress and challenges, and renewed our commitment to achieving Rwanda's development goals. At UN Rwanda, we remain committed to partnership as we serve the people.

We believe that by working closely with the government, civil society, private sector, and other stakeholders, we can contribute to creating a better future for all Rwandans. We will continue to explore innovative ways to leverage our collective resources, knowledge, and expertise to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and other development priorities.

As part of our efforts to enhance communication and collaboration, we organized training for our UN Communications and Programme teams on effective communication. We believe that investing in the capacity of our staff is essential for delivering quality and effective services to Rwandans.

We also held retreats for the Gender and PSEA task group, as well as the Operations Management Team. These efforts are aimed at fostering a more people-centered approach to our work, ensuring that we remain grounded in the realities and needs of the communities we serve.

As we mark the 29th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, we remember our colleagues who were killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, comfort the survivors, stand in solidarity with Rwandans, and reaffirm our commitment to promoting unity, reconciliation, and peace in Rwanda.

We remain dedicated to supporting Rwanda's development aspirations and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Turikumwe!