Rwanda ‘ s Liberation the problems our people face . By tracking security challenges and finding solutions to them , interagency collaboration is do or die . Such collaborations provide the resources and capabilities , and involve the community . Without this approach , you suffer consequences . And because this approach has worked for us , cooperation keeps growing ; for instance , in the security sector , joint training is becoming a reality .
The mandate of the RDF , RNP and RIB is the same : to provide an environment for securing people and their property , and provide their socioeconomic needs . The only difference is how we do it : the unique specialisations we bring to the mandate . Then we support each other through joint training , joint operations and information sharing .
On ensuring problems are solved holistically
Our cooperation is not just with security institutions . Not at all . We started there , but we have increasingly been applying multi-sector approaches to problems . The model village project is a good example . We know that it needs all basic amenities : formal and TVET schools , health centres , water and electricity utilities , etc . So every aspect of life is looked at in an integrated way the model villages are being built . As you can imagine , the ministries of health , infrastructure , education , army and police , all come together under the multisectoral approach .
To make that work efficiently , we have an inter-ministerial steering committee set up to identify needs ( hospitals , schools , water , etc .) and then together come up with sustainable solutions . They must keep cost low , maintain quality and deliver efficiently . But in all this , leadership is key . We are blessed with a great leader who ensures good policy formulation as well as implementation .
How inter-agency cooperation avoids competition
It is not as easy as it might seem , but it is possible because it comes from the ideological understanding that the people and parties involved have . You should not be concerned about how easy or difficult it is ; if it ’ s a collective decision , go for it .
Maj . Gen ( Rtd ) Amb . Frank Mugambage
Editor : We have chosen not to interpret the answer to this question that sought clarification on inter-agency collaboration :
PAR : But Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International might want to work with you in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration , and the involvement of the people in the security process might be considered militarisation of society and authoritarianism at work . What do you have to say about that ?
Gen . Mugambage : It ’ s not about labels ; it ’ s about what the military does when it is with its people . In the past , the military used to go to the people to kill them ; now we go there to work together to address their basic needs , to give them blood . If you call that militarisation , then I can ’ t help you ._
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