not by themselves provide all the answers . True to our creed to think big , we decided to learn from others ; we study the good practices from across the world and adopt only those that we believe would work for us , which we then adapt to our context and reality .
This approach was the basis for creating a Community-Based Health Insurance scheme linked to the Ubudehe program , which has ensured universal health coverage for Rwandans . Moreover , the approach was the basis for creating Irembo , a government e-service portal which has literally put up to 100 government services into the hands of citizens , on their mobile devices , while greatly reducing corruption and saving the country over 25 million working hours in the platform ’ s eight years of existence . Even more services are planned to be put online resulting in even greater saving , efficiency and effectiveness .
These and many more innovative home-grown initiatives and good practices continue to drive Rwanda ’ s transformation . We continue to invest efforts into identifying more of them towards the same objective .
A Blueprint for the Africa of Tomorrow
Seven decades after the wave of African consciousness that led to independence in different parts of our continent , it is high time that Africans live up to the Pan-African ideals that the founding fathers of our nations held : that Africans must take our rightful place in the world . We must change the narrative about our continent .
African countries have so much in common , owing to similarities in demographics , cultural values and practices , societal makeup , historical backgrounds , and more . It logically follows that the best way to raise our respective nations is to place our trust in our traditions and adapt them to our current realities in a way that resonates with our citizens and speaks to their experiences and aspirations . It also logically follows that we need to continually learn from one another in order to be better , and to do this by benchmarking on each other ’ s best policies and practices in order to leverage these strengths that support our respective growth .
We Rwandans have tried and tested this approach and have seen its results . At Rwanda Cooperation , we are documenting Rwanda ’ s Transformation Journey by highlighting its key stages and drivers of success . We are doing this without forgetting the critical conditions we , as a nation , have gone through , so as to ensure that the next generations have a reference point that links their past , present , and future . Accordingly , Rwanda Cooperation ’ s Virtual Exhibition Space on Rwanda ’ s Transformation Journey will provide an opportunity for younger generations to understand where their country has come from , as well as the genesis and rationale for the policies driving its choices .
For Africans , the Exhibition provides an opportunity to transcend borders as we learn from – and inspire - one another .
At Rwanda Cooperation , we are now more than ever committed to sharing Rwandans ’ home-grown initiatives and know-how with our fellow Africans through Pan-African and South-South cooperation , as we also continue to learn from them . It is our most fervent wish that you , the reader , will join us on this journey so that , together as Africans , we can expand the horizons of our imagination and our development possibilities . This way we may work to leave a prosperous , sustainable and truly liberated continent for our future generations .
Urujeni Rosine is the Acting CEO of Rwanda Cooperation , Rwanda ’ s cooperation agency which serves as a hub for learning for partners interested in understanding the innovative development initiatives that have propelled Rwanda ’ s transformation journey . Visit Rwanda Cooperation to learn more about their work : www . cooperation . rw
Rwanda Cooperation Address : 18 , KG 7 Avenue , Kigali , info @ cooperation . rw , www . cooperation . rw