Strengthening Partnerships for Rwanda’s Transformation: Annual Government–UN Joint Steering Committee Convenes in Kigali

The Annual Government–UN Joint Steering Committee (JSC) convened today, Monday, 16th December 2024, bringing together high-level officials from the Government of Rwanda, the UN System, Development Partners, the Private Sector, Civil Society, and other stakeholders. This pivotal annual meeting, chaired by Honourable Yusuf Murangwa, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and co-chaired by Mr. Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator, served as a platform to review progress and renew commitments to supporting Rwanda’s sustainable development priorities.

In his opening remarks, Honourable Yusuf Murangwa underscored the importance of aligning efforts to achieve shared goals: “The One UN Steering Committee Meeting reaffirms our commitment to strengthening coherence, innovation, and collaboration. The success of Rwanda’s transformative agenda lies in our ability to deliver results as one cohesive team, with the Government, UN agencies, and Development Partners working hand in hand.”

The meeting focused on the transition to the newly elaborated UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), which is designed to advance Rwanda’s Vision 2050, the National Strategy for Transformation Phase Two (NST2), and global commitments, including the SDGs and AU Agenda 2063. With a budget of approximately $1.04 billion, the UNSDCF is structured around three pillars: Economic Transformation, Social Transformation, and Transformational Governance.

“This new Cooperation Framework has three outcomes, reduced from six in the previous framework, and six outputs, down from the 25 we had before. This demonstrates our commitment to removing individual hats and wearing one unified hat of Delivering as One—joining efforts and rallying behind Rwanda’s success in achieving its development aspirations,” said Angela Zeleza, Head of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, while presenting the new Cooperation Framework.

Participants also viewed an animated video showcasing cumulative results achieved by the United Nations System in Rwanda of the outgoing CF. These results were highly appreciated by participants as a meaningful reflection for informing decision-making and development interventions going forward.

“It is critically important to appraise data with the realities of how people’s lives are being improved on the ground,” stated Hon. Minister Maj Gen (Rtd) Albert Murasira, who participated in the meeting. He commended the ongoing collaboration with the UN system, particularly in building resilience for refugees and addressing shocks and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

Chairperson of the Rwanda Civil Society Platform, Theoneste Murangira, also commended the results presented: “We are extremely happy with the results showcased. Some of them were achieved with our support as Implementing Partners, while others benefitted us directly. We greatly appreciate that the United Nations involves civil society in these deliberations. Together, we can indeed make a greater impact,” he said.

Mr. Ojielo, the UN Resident Coordinator, echoed these sentiments, describing the UNSDCF as a “partnership document.” He added, “Our job as the United Nations is an accompanying one—we stand firmly behind Rwanda’s aspirations, rallying for the country’s success.”

Another key highlight of the Joint Steering Committee was the presentation of the Country Programme Documents (CPDs) for the UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, and the WFP Country Strategy Paper (CSP). These CPDs and CSP outline strategic initiatives for the 2025–2029 period, focusing on inclusive and sustainable development.

The meeting concluded with optimism about the path forward, expressing confidence in the collective ability to deliver on development objectives, as well as noting the importance of maintaining momentum and adapting to evolving challenges for long-term success. “The discussions held today underscore the importance of partnerships, strategic thinking, and innovation in addressing development challenges while recognizing the complexities involved in coordination and execution,” Minister Yusuf Murangwa stated in his closing remarks.

The Annual Joint Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to fostering inclusive partnerships among the Government, Development Partners, the private sector, civil society, and the UN system. This platform serves as a vital forum for dialogue and collaboration, enabling the strengthening of development work to deliver impactful results. Recognizing the contributions of all stakeholders, the Committee emphasized the shared responsibility of ensuring that no one is left behind.