On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the Ministry of Local Government and the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) welcomed delegates from the embassies of Germany, France, and Luxembourg to Rwanda. The visit took the delegation to Gakenke District in the Northern Province, where they toured development projects supported through the Basket Fund for Pro-Poor Development. 

This initiative was launched in 2023 and operationalized in January 2024. It is a collaborative effort between the Government of Rwanda and key development partners: the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank (€31 million), the Republic of France via the French Development Agency (AFD, €16 million), and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through LuxDev (€3 million).

The delegation included Hon. Ambassador Heike Uta Dettmann of Germany, Hon. Ambassador Antoine Anfré of France, and Ms. Charlotte Helminger, Chargé d’Affaires of Luxembourg. They visited two impactful projects in Janja Sector, both aimed at improving essential services and enhancing the lives of local communities. 

At Rutake Health Center, rehabilitation efforts have expanded the facility’s capacity to serve 27,837 people, a significant increase from the 10,000 people it had been serving since its construction in 2004. The project has brought notable improvements in service delivery and cleanliness, supported by a budget of €235,441.

At Karama Primary School, the rehabilitation of nine classrooms has reduced overcrowding, improved the school feeding program, and created a better learning environment for young students, particularly in nursery classes. This initiative is part of a district-wide effort to improve education infrastructure, with €248,000 invested in rehabilitating 40 classrooms across Gakenke.

During the visit, Hon. Marie Solange Kayisire, Minister of State in Local Government, commended the partnership between Rwanda and its international partners. She emphasized how the Basket Fund aligns with national priorities, including the NST2 goals and Vision 2050, while supporting the implementation of the Local Economic and Community Development Policy to enhance financial capacities and foster economic growth at the local level. “The pro poor basket fund aligns well with our priority, responding to NST2 goals and the Rwanda's Vision 2050, and supporting the implementation of our national local economic and community development policy which aims at not only enhancing local financial capacities, but also foster local economic growth”, she added on.

Mrs. Claudine Nyinawagaga, Director General of LODA, highlighted the transformative impact of the initiative, stating, “The Pro-Poor Basket Fund is transforming rural Rwanda by providing essential services in health, education, transport, environment, and beyond. We urge communities to maintain these facilities and embrace a sense of ownership”.

The delegation also expressed their appreciation for the impact of the initiative. Hon. Ambassador Heike Uta Dettmann praised Rwanda’s strategic approach to poverty reduction, noting that “the visit illustrated the tangible benefits of the Basket Fund in addressing critical challenges”. 

Hon. Ambassador Antoine Anfré highlighted the transformation the funding has brought to health and education, while Ms. Charlotte Helminger acknowledged the importance of sustained international cooperation in achieving these outcomes.

To further support the Basket Fund’s mission, new funding commitments were announced during the visit. France pledged an additional €10 million, and Luxembourg committed €7 million, including €1 million for technical assistance. These contributions will further the initiative’s objectives of improving basic public services, creating employment opportunities, strengthening resilience to climate change, and promoting gender equality across 16 rural districts, namely namely Gisagara, Nyanza, Ngoma, Nyaruguru, Gatsibo, Nyamagabe, Ruhango, Kamonyi, Rulindo, Gakenke, Burera, Gicumbi, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Ngororero and Nyamasheke.

With more than 100 projects already under implementation, the Basket Fund continues to address pressing development needs, fostering sustainable growth and improving the quality of life for vulnerable populations. Over the next three financial years, approximately 150 additional projects are planned, targeting critical sectors such as water, health, education, transport, agriculture, and environmental protection. The visit underscored the power of partnerships in transforming communities and advancing Rwanda’s development agenda.