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Local Governance Exchange Rhineland-Palatinate – Rwanda

Initial starting points identified

A woman sits at a table and talks to other people who turn to her.
Innocente Murasi explaining in a plenary session how the Local Governance Institute works. Photo: Martin Magunia

Bonn, 25 April 2018. Innocente Murasi, representing the Local Governance Institute (LGI), and Innocent Uwimana, representing the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), came to Rhineland-Palatinate on an information-sharing visit from 14 to 21 April 2018.

During that week the visitors from Rwanda got to know their partners in Rhineland-Palatinate: the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration Rhineland-Palatinate in Mayen, the Municipal Academy Rhineland-Palatinate in Boppard and the Rhineland-Palatinate Association of Towns and Municipalities (GStB). The information-sharing visit was jointly supported by Engagement Global's Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW) and the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior and for Sports. As well as work units with the various actors, the agenda included visits to various institutions and to the town of Mayen. The purpose of the visit was to share information on the structures and work of the institutions and on the foundations of the project 'Local governance exchange Rhineland-Palatinate – Rwanda'. At the same time it enabled the actors involved to get to know each other.

A man stands at a lectern and speaks, in the background is a world map to see.
Director Klaus Weisbrod welcoming participants during the information-sharing visit to the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration. Photo: Martin Magunia

This is the first time that the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration Rhineland-Palatinate in Mayen, which hosted the visit, has taken part in a partnership project. In his welcome address Klaus Weisbrod, Director of the School, underlined the importance of creating opportunities for the school to work in partnership with the Rwandan institutions and on development issues.

The first presentation during the visit involved a general introduction to the structures of the institutions taking part. This provided participants with a basic understanding of how the institutions work, and highlighted starting points for future exchange. Special emphasis was placed on the existing close cooperation between municipal associations and educational institutions in Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda. This will also be stepped up in the course of the local governance exchange.

A man stands in front of a pin board, points to one of the cards stitched there and speaks to an audience sitting in front of him.
Innocent Uwimana explaining the structure of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities. Photo: Martin Magunia

The information-sharing visit was also used to determine the initial topics for cooperation between the institutions and get to know the needs of Rwandan municipalities. One of these topics for instance is involving the GStB in legislation. Innocent Uwimana expressed a strong interest in finding out more about this process, the like of which – as he explained – does not exist in Rwanda as yet. For their part, the actors from Rhineland-Palatinate expressed an interest in integrating development issues into the training process for local government staff, and sharing in the lessons learned by the Rwandan actors when localising the 2030 Agenda.

The next step will involve the Rhineland-Palatinate actors preparing on 25 May the kick-off visit, which will take place in July 2018. On that occasion the fine details of the joint work will be agreed and the professional exchange launched.

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