Kigali, Rwanda – Rwanda is advancing its decentralized governance agenda through the nationwide rollout of the National Framework for Participatory Village Planning (NFPVP), known as “Inzira y’Iterambere”. The Government of Rwanda has officially launched a nationwide Training of Master Trainers (ToT) to prepare facilitators who will support the implementation of the framework across all administrative levels.

Led by the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) in partnership with the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) and Spark Microgrants, the implementation of “Inzira y’Iterambere” aims to strengthen participatory governance, collective action, and locally led development by enabling communities to identify priorities, contribute to planning processes, and directly participate in the implementation of village development initiatives aligned with Rwanda’s national planning and development agenda.

Simultaneously held in Huye and Nyagatare districts, the five-day training brought together 78 participants, including Directors of Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation Officers from districts, provinces, and the City of Kigali, as well as technical staff from MINALOC, MINECOFIN, LODA, and Spark Microgrants. The training focused on participatory planning, facilitation skills, community engagement, and the alignment of village priorities with Rwanda’s national planning and budgeting systems. 

The sessions combined technical presentations, simulations, peer learning, and practical exercises to prepare participants to serve as Master Trainers responsible for cascading the framework to district, sector, cell, and village levels nationwide. One of the main outputs of the training was the development of district-level cascade implementation plans outlining how the training would be delivered across decentralized administrative levels down to villages. All cascade trainings are expected to be completed before 15 June 2026, allowing participatory village planning meetings to begin during the third or fourth week of June 2026. 

Participants reported improved understanding of participatory planning processes, facilitation approaches, and practical tools required to support community-led planning and implementation. Discussions also emphasized the importance of maintaining quality during cascade training and ensuring continued coordination and technical support from MINALOC, LODA, and Spark Microgrants during implementation.

During the sessions, local leaders emphasized the role of “Inzira y’Iterambere” in strengthening citizen participation in local development planning and implementation processes.

“This framework provides an opportunity for communities to identify and plan priorities that respond to their local realities. The quality of implementation at every level will determine its sustainability,” noted Henry Kakooza, Mayor of Nyagatare District.

Throughout the training, the Ministry of Local Government and the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency maintained active technical involvement in facilitation, coordination, and quality assurance. Daily debrief sessions led by the Director General of Planning and Monitoring & Evaluation at MINALOC provided opportunities to review progress, address implementation challenges, and adapt delivery approaches where necessary.

Pascal Gashumba, Division Manager of the Local Government Strategic Planning Division, emphasized the importance of accurate and complete documentation of community priorities throughout the planning process, noting that all priorities identified by villages should be properly recorded to avoid omissions during implementation and budgeting.

Discussions throughout the training also emphasized the importance of coordinated resource mobilization, institutional collaboration, and strengthened documentation systems to support accountability and implementation quality across all administrative levels.

Following completion of the nationwide cascade training, the Government of Rwanda will lead the implementation of the National Framework for Participatory Village Planning (NFPVP) across villages nationwide, with participatory village planning meetings expected to begin in communities throughout the country.

Spark Microgrants will continue providing technical support to NFPVP implementation in 108 villages, including the ongoing pilot in 20 villages of Rusatira Sector in Huye District, as well as the expansion to 98 villages in Buruhukiro Sector in Nyamagabe District, Karama Sector in Huye District, and Muzo Sector in Gakenke District.