Economic Development & Poverty Reduction Strategy 2008-2012 (EDPRS) is the mediumterm framework for achieving Vision2020. It follows Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
benchmarks and targets, organised in 3 flagship programmes:
1) Sustainable growth for jobs and exports
2) Vision 2020 Umurenge – a pro-poor, rural development programme for poverty reduction
3) Governance
Vision 2020 Umurenge is a highly decentralised integrated rural development programme
designed to accelerate extreme poverty reduction in Rwanda. It is currently being piloted in 30 of
the poorest sectors, “imirenge” around the country.
The Governance Programme underpins two flagship programmes that provide an anchor for
pro-poor growth by building on Rwanda’s reputation as a country with a low incidence of
corruption and a regional comparative advantage in “soft infrastructure”. The capacity of local
government and accountability are strengthened, and a business-friendly, risk-free environment
promoted.9
The most recent Government 7-year plan (2010-2017) focuses on private sector development
and job creation; good governance and zero-tolerance of corruption; economic growth combined
with poverty reduction; capacity building in all sectors, and transformation of the agriculture
sector – especially increasing the use of technology and thus productivity.
In line with Vision 2020, GoR integrated ICT as a key driver for socio-economic development
by adopting the Rwanda ICT for Development (ICT4D) policy, commonly known as the
National Information and Communication Infrastructure Plan (NICI). The NICI plan, which
started in 2001, aims at fast tracking Rwanda’s transformation to a knowledge-based society. Its
objectives are to:
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Transform Rwanda into an IT-literate nation
Promote and encourage the deployment and utilization of ICTs within the society
Improve the civil and public service efficiency
Develop the information and communications infrastructure of Rwanda
Make Rwanda a regional ICT hub
Transform the educational system using ICTs with the aim of improving accessibility,
quality and relevance to the developmental needs of Rwanda
Empower Rwandans by developing a human resource base that adapts to changing
demands of the economy
Develop the legal, institutional and regulatory framework and structures required to
support the deployment and utilization of ICT
These objectives have been the guiding principles of the NICI process to-date.
1.3. Rwanda ICT4D (NICI) Process
In order to transform Rwanda into a knowledge-based economy, GoR integrated ICT in the
Vision 2020 and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) to enable Rwanda leap-frog the key
9
OECD 2008: 524; GoR 2007: 86-87
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Select target paragraph3