UN Rwanda Resident Coordinator and Rwandan Speaker of Parliament Emphasize Strategic Partnership for SDGs

UN Rwanda Resident Coordinator, Ozonnia Ojielo on Wednesday paid a courtesy call to the Rwandan Speaker of Parliament, Rt.Honorable Donatille Mukabalisa. Their discussion highlighted the vital role of parliamentarians in advancing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to express mutual satisfaction regarding the strong partnership between the Rwandan Parliament and the United Nations.

"We are delighted with our partnership with various agencies such as UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA, and other members of the One UN family in Rwanda. We have collaborated on various programs, and I would like to express our unwavering commitment to and our desire to strengthen this fruitful partnership," said Rt. Honorable Donatille Mukabalisa in her introductory remarks.

Among the array of impactful programs was the Joint Programme (JP) on Gender, titled "Advancing and Sustaining Gender Equality Gains in Rwanda 2013-2018." This program witnessed several notable milestones. Crucially, it led to the revision and dissemination of critical laws to ensure gender equality provisions and catalyzed a transformation in societal norms. Additionally, it significantly bolstered the institutional capacity of women parliamentarians through specialized training in "Transformational Leadership." A comprehensive legal assessment of gender-responsive laws was conducted, yielding recommendations for law enhancement and rigorous enforcement. This robust partnership further evolved under the JP on Gender, "Leveraging the Full Potential of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment to Achieve Rwanda's Transformation 2019-2024." Here, the UN collaborated with the parliament and various government stakeholders to enhance institutional capacities through training on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Gender Responsive Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI) for evidence-based legislation and oversight.

During the meeting, UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Ozonnia Ojielo, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and stressed the need to collectively design and develop ideas that would trigger favorable legislation for private-public partnerships and facilitate larger funding opportunities for Rwanda’s aspirations.

"I pledge the same level of partnership as the parliament had with my predecessors and the One UN family in Rwanda at large. Together, we are united in a mission to advance the SDGs.

Mr. Ojielo referred to the UN Secretary General’s opening remarks at the SDG Summit on September 18th, 2023, where it was noted that "only 15% of the SDGs are on target, and many are regressing."

According to the SDG Progress Report shared by the General Assembly Economic and Social Council, "Under current trends, 575 million people will still be living in extreme poverty in 2030, and only about one-third of countries will meet the target to halve national poverty levels."

"These figures show that COVID-19 and other global shocks have set many African countries back by one generation economically, almost to where they were in 1993. To accelerate the achievement of SDGs, we need another degree of commitment and implementation. Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rwanda and the pivotal role of the parliament, we see a commendable level of intentionality, purpose, and actions that demonstrate that it is possible. Rwanda is a beacon of hope and a model for others to emulate," said Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator.

"No country can achieve all SDGs alone; collaboration is essential. The United Nations in Rwanda is currently rethinking its value proposition. The UN needs to reinvent itself to become a think tank that generates innovative ideas, tests them in a few projects, and advocates for scaling up," Mr. Ojielo added.

"The Secretary-General yesterday highlighted six transition areas as Investment Pathways to Deliver the SDGs: a) Social Protection; b) Energy; c) Quality Education; d) Food Systems; e) Digital Transformation; and f) Biodiversity and Nature," affirmed Ojielo.

The Rwandan Speaker of Parliament acknowledged the partnership and sought continued support in the National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2). She emphasized that progress cannot be made in isolation, particularly considering the challenges faced by other nations. She stressed the necessity of a global perspective and collaboration to overcome obstacles and underlined Africa's potential to contribute significantly to the world.

"Even if we have made progress, we cannot develop when other countries are facing problems," asserted the Speaker, highlighting the interconnectedness and the need for collective progress.

The courtesy meeting concluded with both parties expressing their dedication to this strategic partnership, highlighting its potential to achieve substantial advancements towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The emphasis remained on a shared vision, collaboration, and innovative thinking to navigate the complexities of today's world.