Rusizi – On 12^th November 2024 at Butare Sector there was held a community meeting to mark the official exit of the project known as Scaling Transfers for Extreme Poverty (STEP) in Rwanda which was implemented by GiveDirectly in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), the Western Province and Rusizi District. This project was concurrently undertaken with the conduct of the national campaign named “GIRAWIGIRE” to sensitize citizens on their role in the graduation process.

Launched on 26^th April 2023 with the aim to transform the livelihoods of households, Give Directly Rwanda has so far disbursed Frw 6.5 billion of unconditional cash transfers to 7,155 recipients, whereby each registered household was granted Frw 1,176,933.

Beneficiaries laud the Government of Rwanda and development partners. Ndebeyinka Josepha, aged 65 and mother of one daughter, resident of Nyambeho Village, Gatereri Cell, is one of them. She joyfully thanked the Government of Rwanda and GiveDirectly. “As I speak Butare people have purchased cows, pigs, land plots for agricultural activities, […] our children are no longer malnourished given they eat eggs. Briefly, we have not dumped the support provided to us; it is rather generating profit. We profoundly feel grateful to the President of the Republic of Rwanda and all Local Government leaders right from the grassroots level. You provided us with a bag of gold and we shall invest it to always get income”, said the jubilant Josepha.

Tubanambazi Bonaventure, resident of Nyabitimbo Village, Gatereri Cell also gave his testimony in these terms: “I and my wife had made a plan of how we shall invest once we get the support from GiveDirectly. When we got the first installment, I deposited FRW 300,000 into Umurenge SACCO account; the second installment was added on and the deposit amounted to 1 million FRW, then we started implementing our plans (Imihigo). We bought an agricultural land plot worth 600,000 FRW and it is officially registered towards the competent organ. We also bought a cow at a cost of 250,000 FRW, a goat worth 65,000 FRW. The remaining balance on SACCO account amounts to 250,000 and we shall use it to pay school fees for our children. We plan to purchase a TV set and sofas from the benefit that we shall make. Having said that, we hereby express our gratitude to His Excellence the President and feel indebted to GiveDirectly for the support that is enabling us step forward, away from poverty”, he said.

Speaking at the event, the Country Director of Give Directly Mrs. NGABIRE Gloria said: "I have come to witness what you have achieved and am really proud of you. You really showed us that you were merely short of money but not of the workforce". "Our project does not only focus on cash transfers but it also monitors and evaluates the recorded achievements in a graduation perspective. That's why we shall keep collaborating with you. The seed should be planted, grow and bear fruits", she recommended.

On this occasion, the Mayor of Rusizi District, Dr KIBIRIGA Anicet stated: "Today we have gathered here to celebrate what we've achieved thanks to the financial support brought to us by the Government of Rwanda inc ollaboration with GiveDirectly and to officially close up its activities in this area. "STEP, like any other social protection project, was designed to accelerate graduation out of poverty. This has led us to initiate a campaign tagged DUKIRE TUBIGIZEMO URUHARE (Let's strive for our prosperity)", he stressed.

Data from GiveDirectly indicate that 5,498 Household Heads, 1,640 Youth (21 – 35 years old) and 25 Teen Mothers (below 21 year) were enrolled to benefit from the financial support from GiveDirectly. Rusizi District officials expressed commitment to continue implementing advisory mechanisms to the attention of Butare residents in a bid to exit poverty. The STEP project was equally implemented in other five administrative Sectors, namely Cyabakamyi in Nyanza District, Shingiro & Musanze in Musanze District, Murama in Kayonza District and Gikomero in Gasabo District.