On 16 October 2026, Transparency International Rwanda (TI-Rwanda) delivered a special presentation to the Standing Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs of the Parliament of Rwanda to share insights into its contribution to the implementation of Rwanda’s National Decentralization Policy (2021–2025).
Drawing on its research findings, citizens’ complaints and community-based monitoring initiatives, TI-Rwanda Chairperson Eng. Sayinzoga N. Apollinaire highlighted key challenges affecting effective decentralisation, including gaps in public service delivery, corruption risks, weaknesses in public financial management and other governance challenges.
He underscored the importance of strengthening citizen participation in local planning, budgeting and decision-making, while ensuring that citizens’ concerns are addressed and that public institutions remain transparent, responsive and accountable.
The engagement also provided an opportunity to highlight how evidence-based advocacy, citizen engagement and collaboration with public institutions can contribute to better service delivery, more effective use of public resources and stronger accountability at the local level.
The National Decentralization Policy seeks to deepen and sustain citizen-centred governance and promote equitable local development for socioeconomic transformation, in line with Rwanda’s Vision 2050. It is structured around five pillars : sectoral decentralisation and service delivery ; fiscal and financial decentralisation ; capacity development for decentralised entities ; local economic development ; and governance imperatives for national transformation. These pillars provide the framework for strengthening local governance and advancing the policy’s objectives.
