Governance Assessment for Accountable Politics

The Joint Governance Assessment in RwandaWilly GASAFARI, Socioeconomic Affairs Governance Specialist Rwanda Governance Advisory Council (GAC) Governance Assessment for Accountable Politics Workshop in Windhoek, Namibia 02nd, -05th, 2009

Outline • Introduction : JGA methods, management • JGA: origin and process; • JGA Principles • Analysis of data • Findings • JGA: Indicators • JGA: How does it operate now? • conclusion

I. INTRODUCTION • The assessment was requested by His Excellency the President of Rwanda on 3 reason: • Un coordinated , fragmented governance assessment by different stakeholders leading to high transaction costs. • The lack of clear bench marks and standard indicators to monitor governance trends. • The need to establish a basis for engaging International opinion on Governance in Rwanda

II.JGA ORIGIN AND PROCESS • Developed by intl. and national experts; • Research methods- extensive study combining qualitative (literature) work, interviews, field visits, workshops , discussion and feed back from the GoR and DPs; • Management structure- Technical and steering Committee, co-chaired by GoR (MINALOC) and DP (WB) • took about 2 years; • approved by the Cabinet and the DP meeting; • Involvement of DP, public and private institutions; at all stages

III. JGA: principles • JGA is: • jointly owned ; • Acceptable to DP for as a basis for their own governance reporting; • Credible, of high professional quality and based on sound evidence; • conducted in an open and consultative manner; • a basis for continued dialogue; • Establishing a monitoring framework

IV. Analysis of data • The analysis aimed at answering 3 problems : • What are the governance priorities and appropriate approaches taking local realities and international norms into account ? • How does governance in Rwanda compare against these standards, and what progress has been made over the period 1998 -2007? • What indicators are needed to tell us whether Rwanda is moving in the right direction?

V.Findings • The report found out that Rwanda has made impressive progress in addressing its five governance challenge namely: • Consolidating peace and security; Rwanda now stands out as one of the peaceful and stable countries in the region . • Promoting inclusive governance ; Rwanda has made significant progress in promoting comprehensive governance by choosing to reject any form of ethnic labeling , discrimination and representation in politics and government.

.Findings Cont’d • Strengthening the rule of law; progress that has been made in strengthening the rule of law has been impressive. • Enhancing accountability; significantly impressive progress has been made in strengthening accountability and democracy in general. • Making the links between governance and broader development goals: the greatest constraints to governance in Rwanda are structural and relate to both poverty and low levels of education.

Findings Cont’d • In regard to Public Finance: The report found out that the government of Rwanda is strongly committed to putting in place a sound PFM system. • Regarding the judiciary; the report argues that reforms in the legal sector have strengthened the formal independence of the judiciary and improved its quality. • Regarding international human rights, Rwanda has ratified all of the main international human rights instruments .

Findings Cont’d • Concerning the rights of women: Rwanda has made impressive progress in advancing the rights of women. (deputies (52%), senate (35%) cabinet(32%), Judges (37%). • Concerning the rights of refugees: Rwanda meets its international obligations towards refugees and asylum seekers, and cooperates fully with UNHCR. • Concerning social, cultural and economic rights: the report acknowledges the progress that Rwanda has made in advancing social, cultural and economic rights as indicated by improvements in development indicators.

Findings Cont’d • In regards to investment climate; it was found out that there are many features that make the country an attractive place to do business for example low rates of crime and corruption. • In regard to corporate governance ; it was found out that both the government and the private sector are placing greater emphasis on principles of good corporate governance .

Findings Cont’d • The Report found out that there remains persisting challenge namely: • Security considerations, both external and internal, which require continued vigilance . • Ensuring greater transparency and scrutiny in government recruitment, procurement and other aspects of public life. • The judiciary suffers capacity gaps and the overwhelming case backlog.

Findings Cont’d • Addressing structural constraints to governance; poverty, low levels of education and insecure livelihoods.

VI. JGA indicators • The criteria used in selecting the 45 proposed indicators were : • Specificity to governance • Relevance to most pressing governance issues • Appropriateness to local context • International credibility • Reliability • Include fact based and perception based indicators • SMART.

Ruling Justly Government effectiveness JOINT GOVERANCE ASSESSMENT (JGA) Investment climate & Corporate governance

Establishing & maintaining security National reconciliation & Transitional justice Ruling Justly Rule of law Human rights & civil liberties Political rights Voice and accountability

Public financial management Anti-corruption Decentralization Government effecteveness Public service delivery Public service reform

Easeof doing business Corporate law and governance INVESTMENT CLIMATE & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Privatesectoradvocacy State business relations

VII.JGA : Follow up mechanism & current status • The Rwanda Governance Advisory Council charged with the mission of monitoring, evaluation of the progress on JGA indicators, by the means of research • 4th Sept, JGA TC validated research tools (questionnaire & methodology); • 2nd Oct, JGA SC approved research tools; • 12th October to 26th October 2009, JGA data collection • Funding: GoR and DPs

VIII.Conclusion • JGA owned by Gov & DPs. Can it be owned by the local people? • What role by DPs in making JGA framework sustainable, and effective in improving governance standards on the ground? • JGA has got a clear monitoring framework; but funding mechanism was not elaborated!

www.rwanda-gac.orgTHANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION gasafw@yahoo.fr

Governance Assessment for Accountable Politics