Kigali, 18 December 2025 – The Government of Rwanda, in partnership with the United Nations, convened the annual One UN Steering Committee Meeting at the Marriot Hotel, Kigali. The gathering brought together senior government officials, UN agency heads, development partners, representatives of international financial institutions, private sector actors, and civil society to review progress, assess challenges, and chart the way forward in advancing Rwanda’s development agenda.

Yusuf Murangwa, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, emphasized the significance of the meeting as a key platform for reflection, dialogue, and strategic alignment. “This meeting provides an opportunity not only to review the progress made by the UN system in delivering as one in Rwanda but also to discuss how we, together with our partners, can advance national development priorities in line with the National Strategy for Transformation Phase Two (NST2) and Vision 2050,” he stated.

Since 2007, when Rwanda became one of eight pilot countries for the Delivering as One initiative, the Government has worked closely with the UN to ensure coherent and effective development cooperation at the country level. The current United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025–2029 aligns closely with Rwanda’s national priorities, providing a roadmap for coordinated action across UN agencies and partners.

Minister Murangwa highlighted the UN’s catalytic role in informing Rwanda’s development approaches and emphasized the importance of reshaping development cooperation through a revised development cooperation policy, stressing the need to work with the UN and all partners to ensure development cooperation is pragmatic, impactful, and aligned with national ambitions at scale.

Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator and Co-Chair of the One UN Steering Committee, highlighted Rwanda’s progress and the strength of the government–UN partnership. “Joint Programs presented this year are investment-ready, with clear financing pathways, impact metrics, and strong national ownership,” he said.

Dr. Ojielo also reflected on the global development context, noting the decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the UN’s ongoing reform process, including operational efficiencies, mandate reviews, and structural realignment, while reaffirming the UN Country Team’s full dedication to supporting Rwanda’s development journey, minimizing disruptions, and maintaining impact across sectors.

A key agenda for the meeting was Rwanda’s Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation process. Dr. Ojielo highlighted that 2026 would be a critical year for evaluations leading to Rwanda’s next assessment in 2027, which will determine its graduation from LDC status. This milestone reflects decades of sustained development progress and positions Rwanda to pursue its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income nation by 2050.

The Steering Committee also reviewed the implementation of recommendations from the previous year and discussed strategies for scaling impact, enhancing resilience, and strengthening partnerships. Both the Government and UN representatives emphasized the importance of trust, mutual accountability, and collective responsibility in achieving development results.

The One UN Steering Committee Meeting concluded with a call for continued candid dialogue, collaboration, and commitment to leave no one behind as Rwanda and the UN work together to advance sustainable development for all citizens.