Gakenke – On 1^st September 2023, the UK Minister of Development, Rt Hon. Mitchell Andrew, paid visit to VUP clients at Nyakina Cell, Gashenyi Sector. He interacted with clients of VUP Expanded Public Works (ePW)_executing flexible road maintenance projects_, recipients of cash transfers (Nutrition Sensitive Direct Support/NSDS & Disability Direct Support) & Para-social Workers.

Hon. Mitchell took time to listen to VUP clients' testimonies who mainly expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Rwanda & development partners for the support which considerably transformed their livelihoods for the better.

MURWANASHYAKA Félicien, aged 34, a recipient of Direct Support from Kirambo Village, Rukura was disabled at 17 years old, expressed his endless thanks to the Government for the cash transfer support worth 7,500 Frw that he gets every month. "It helps me meet my basic needs and get a decent living. It prevented me from begging", he declared.

MUSABENDE Godelive, a widow aged 65 from Kibara Village, Rutenderi Cell lives alone and suffers from blood pressure. She was lucky to get employed under the VUP ePW framework. She revealed that she gets a monthly salary worth15,000 Frw. "I joined a saving group and once I get my consolidated savings I can implement an income generating project. I have so far bought a sheep, I repaired my house and equipped it with solar electricity. [...]. Thanks to VUP I bought a mattress and put on decent clothes, I purchase body lotion and other sanitary products on my own, and I even regularly pay premiums for “Mutuelle” (Community Based Healthcare Insurance)”, Godelive said.

In his message to VUP clients, Minister Andrew thanked them for sharing their testimonies and wished them good luck in their undertakings & strive for development. He equally assured the continued cooperation between UK & Government of Rwanda.

On this occasion, Hon. Jean Claude MUSABYIMANA, Minister of Local Government, on behalf of the citizens, expressed gratitude to the UK Government for the support to the local population through VUP, assured efficient & effective implementation of the programme to help VUP clients relieve themselves from poverty.

Elaborated in 2007 and launched in 2008, VUP was initiated as an anti-poverty programme within the first Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS), and currently it remains the key programme for delivering national targets to eliminate extreme poverty under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1).

Overseen by MINALOC, guided and monitored by LODA, VUP is implemented at decentralized level in form of cash transfers, job creation, support to upgrade livelihoods as well as constant community mobilization to help programme participants graduate from poverty. In 2022/2023, 498,253 households were supported under VUP countrywide, and 24,500 of them are residents of Gakenke District. Particularly, the ePW component counts 58,653 participants in total, and 1,336 of them are from Gakenke District (of whom 176 are from Gashenyi Sector).