March 24, 2021: Senior Government officials and Development Partners will on March 24, 2021 participate in the 17th Annual Development Partners Retreat (DPR).

The two-day event will take place virtually for the first time. The theme of the retreat, “Stronger Recovery - the path to strategic transformation” will showcase Rwanda’s effort in containing the effects of COVID-19 and the recovery efforts underway.

The Retreat is expected take stock of key impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, environment, and Rwandan society and, highlight key achievements and challenges implementing the National COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

It will also identify key strategies and recommendations for bolstering and pivoting the economy to regain momentum towards the transformative agenda established by Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation One (NST1).

“Over the past year, COVID-19 has had severe effects on our economy and disrupted the pace of our transformative agenda. Government has established a responsive economic recovery plan to the impact of the pandemic. This retreat provides us with the opportunity to recalibrate our policies and ensure that we regain momentum and return to pre- COVID 19 growth levels,” Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said.

 “The Government’s health and socio-economic response has been commendable. Together, we can do more to recover stronger. Partners stand ready to continue to supporting Rwanda to build a more inclusive, gender-responsive, green and resilient economy, for the benefit of all people.” Fodé Ndiaye, UN Resident Coordinator said.

In partnership with Development Partners, Government has spared no effort to cushion the economic impact by providing health and medical related equipment, expanding social protection programs, investing in agriculture and infrastructure to provide food security and create employment, provided support to businesses hardest hit by the pandemic to resume operations and thus contribute to recovery by creating the Economic Recovery Fund.

“As Development Partners, we have been pleased to support the government’s excellent response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Development Partners Retreat facilitates joint reflection on policy and other actions to achieve a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive post-COVID recovery for Rwanda. We are privileged to have this opportunity.” said Rolande Pryce, World Bank Country Manager.

About DPR

The DPR is a two-day retreat bringing together senior-level stakeholders to review and discuss Rwanda’s development trajectory and progress in implementing the NST. It is the highest level of dialogue in the development coordination architecture between the Government and Development Partners, including bilateral and multilateral donors, development finance institutions, as well as private and civil society.

The retreat also serves as an opportunity to address issues that may have not been tackled at the quarterly Development Partners Coordination Group meetings and to have an open dialogue between Government and its development partners on the development priorities and challenges.

It will set the agenda and guide the Government-Development Partners’ dialogue over the coming year. The DPR also takes stock of the tools and frameworks in place to ensure that development cooperation can be more effective and impactful.

The DPR is chaired by the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and co-chaired by the DPCG Co-Chairs (Currently the World Bank Country Manager and UN Resident Coordinator).