The Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), together with Development Partners, has concluded a four-day joint field mission to Rutsiro, Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe and Nyanza Districts to assess and visit projects supported through the Basket Funding for Pro-Poor Development (PPD-Basket) and Exiting Poverty in Rwanda (EPR Basket).

The mission provided an opportunity for LODA, Development Partners and local authorities to assess progress of ongoing and completed projects, engage with communities and beneficiaries, and observe how investments are contributing to improved access to infrastructure, livelihoods and essential services.

The first day of the mission was conducted in Rutsiro District, where the delegation visited selected infrastructure projects supported through the PPD-Basket Fund.

Among the projects visited was the 1.4-kilometre Rukurura - Kivu Hills Medical Centre Road in Boneza Sector. The road has been completed at a total project cost of approximately 651.3 million Frw. It provides improved all-weather access to Kivu Hills Medical Centre, a modern health facility constructed in the area to provide improved health services, and connects surrounding communities to essential services.

The delegation also visited the ongoing Gahabwa – Bikono - Muramba Chip-Seal Road, also located in Boneza Sector. The 3.743-kilometre road has a total project cost of approximately 1.732 billion Frw, and is expected to improve connectivity, reduce travel time and transport costs, and strengthen access to the Lake Kivu shoreline. More than 26,000 direct road users are expected to benefit from the project.

Leonidas Rutebuka, a resident of Rwimbogo Village, said the improved roads have not only made transportation easier but have also increased the value of land in the area by improving connectivity.

“Before, we had to pay about 1,000 Frw for a motorcycle ride just to reach the tarmac road in Nkomero, where we would then board a bus. Today, buses can reach us here, so we can board directly from our village. This has significantly reduced our transport costs and made movement much easier,” he said.

The mission further visited the Kazibaziba Bridge in Mushubati Sector, which has been completed under Lot 1 of the six-bridge programme. With a total project cost of approximately 122.1 million Frw, the bridge provides an all-weather crossing and improves access to markets, schools and health centers.

On the second day, the delegation proceeded to Nyamasheke District, where they visited projects supported through the PPD-Basket and EPR Basket.

The delegation visited the rehabilitation and expansion of Yove Health Centre in Cyato Sector. The project has a budget of 1,466,542,141 Frw, and is expected to provide improved health services to the population. Once completed, the facility is expected to operate as a Medicalized Health Centre, allowing for the deployment of specialized medical personnel.

The team also visited the Mwiyanda - Nyanza water supply system, which extends for 17 kilometers and provides access to clean water to more than 12,000 households in Bushekeri and Kagano Sectors.

Another project visited was the progressive terraces project in Miyugiri Cell, Cyato Sector. Implemented across 14.3 hectares, the project has provided employment opportunities to 300 local residents.

The Mayor of Nyamasheke District, Mupenzi Narcisse, said the projects visited, together with other investments supported through LODA, have contributed to improving the livelihoods of residents and called on communities to continue protecting and maintaining the infrastructure.

“The projects supported through LODA are improving the livelihoods of our communities. We call on residents to take ownership of these investments and ensure they are well protected and maintained for the benefit of all” he emphasized.

On the third day, the mission continued in Nyamagabe District, where the delegation visited projects supporting livelihoods and access to essential social services.

The delegation visited progressive terraces and anti-erosive ditches in Gasaka Sector. The project covers 372 hectares, of which 331 hectares had been realized, representing 89% implementation. A total of 935 recipients, including 438 women and 497 men, are benefiting from the intervention.

Beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the paid daily jobs created through the project, noting that the income earned helps them support their households and contribute to poverty reduction.

The delegation also visited the modern maternity facility at Kibumbwe Health Center in Kibumbwe Sector. The project has a budget of 482,927,414 Frw, and is expected to benefit more than 22,000 people in Kibumbwe Sector and surrounding areas. The facility is expected to improve access to maternal health services through modernised equipment and contribute to reducing maternal deaths.

At GS Gisanze in Tare Sector, the delegation visited three newly constructed classrooms with a budget of 513,815,980 Frw. The classrooms will help address overcrowding affecting 135 students who had previously been studying in a substandard former church hall.

The fourth and final day of the mission took the delegation to Nyanza District, where the team visited three bridges constructed under the PPD-Basket supported investments.

The delegation visited the Budubi, Gati-Nyamure and Nyamure-Migina bridges, which connect Muyira and Kibirizi Sectors.

The district highlighted how the bridges have made movement easier for communities in the area. Particular emphasis was placed on access to healthcare, with patients referred from Migina Health Centre to the District Hospital previously having to travel a route that was four times longer when using the Gati-Nyamure bridge route.

The three bridges have a combined budget of more than 670 million Frw, and are expected to further improve connectivity and access to essential services for communities in the surrounding areas.

Development Partners welcomed the progress observed across the four districts, noting the importance of seeing projects on the ground and engaging directly with local authorities and communities. They commended the progress made on both completed and ongoing projects and encouraged stakeholders to maintain the momentum in implementation and sustainability.

“The field visit has given us an opportunity to see the progress of the projects on the ground and to hear directly from the communities benefiting from them. We appreciate the commitment demonstrated by LODA and the districts and encourage all stakeholders to maintain this momentum and ensure the sustainability of these investments.”

The Director General of LODA, Mrs. Claudine Nyinawagaga, appreciated the contribution of Development Partners and the District authorities to the implementation of projects visited during the four-day mission. She highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and local ownership in ensuring that investments respond to communities’ needs and deliver lasting benefits.

“We appreciate our Development Partners for their continued support to projects that are improving the lives of citizens across the country. We also commend the districts for their ownership and call for continued collaboration to ensure that these investments are well implemented, maintained and deliver lasting benefits to communities.” She added.

The four-day joint field mission underscored the tangible impact of the PPD-Basket and EPR Basket funding mechanisms in advancing infrastructure, healthcare, water access and livelihoods for communities across the country. LODA reaffirms its commitment, alongside Development Partners and local authorities, to sustaining this progress through strengthened collaboration, effective implementation and community ownership, ensuring that these investments continue to deliver lasting benefits for citizens.