East African Community (EAC)  have agreed to set up a Local Government Forum for Eastern Africa to discuss decentralisation within the region and the challenges they face in developing strategies for strengthening local government. This was agreed at the closing of a regional meeting of local government ministers and local government representatives from the EAC and beyond, which took place in Kigali from 4-5 May.

The workshop was hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of Local Government with support from the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), UNDP Regional Service Centre, Eastern and Southern Africa, Johannesburg (UNDP RSC-ESA) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, Johannesburg (UNCDF) and brought together delegates from eight African countries and international organisations. It was the first-ever CLGF event to take place in Rwanda following Rwanda’s new membership of the Commonwealth and CLGF.

“Consultants had said it, and we have seen it. Rwanda’s experience in decentralisation of governance is highly relevant to all of Eastern Africa and indeed beyond. It holds many useful lessons and gives valuable examples and good practical policies,” the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Secretary General, Mr Carl Wright, said speaking at the workshop.

Speaking at the opening session, the Mayor of Kigali City, Fidele Ndayisaba, extended his appreciation to the Government of Rwanda and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum for choosing the City of Kigali as a host of this important meeting. He expressed his wish to see the meeting not only assessing the progress of local governments in the region but also to be a venue to discuss and share experiences and lessons.

In his opening speech, the Rwandan Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, noted that every country in the region has its uniqueness, and this uniqueness influences the design of particular approaches to decentralisation. He highlighted the country’s journey towards building an efficient and effective decentralisation process beginning with the decentralisation policy in 2000. He also called for the need of convergence on what needs to be done for decentralisation to be successful.

Different presentations and break away sessions dominated the workshop, which discussed a 108-pages draft report on decentralisation in the region. The report, which has been prepared by a Kenyan consultants, Initiative Consultants, commended Rwanda’s political system which may be classified as an emerging democracy. Decentralisation policy enabled the country to empower its citizeny to check on the leadership; promotion of good governance; poverty reduction and efficient, effective and accountable delivery of services.

Recommendations were formulated before the adoption of the report. They focused on principles for decentralised governance; models for inclusive local service delivery; policy options for local government finance; and capacity development framework targeting government and local administration institutions in the region.

Minister James Musoni thanked all the participants who came across the world and convened in Rwanda.

Kigali statement on strengthening local government in Eastern Africa.