Strengthening local government structures, particularly cells, and improving service delivery are among the measures Rwanda is implementing to address citizens’ concerns and improve governance under its decentralisation policy.
The Minister of Local Government, Dominique Habimana, highlighted these priorities on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during a meeting with members of Parliament’s Committee on Governance, Gender Equality and Family Promotion.
The discussions focused on the implementation of Rwanda’s national decentralisation policy, which was revised in 2021.
Habimana said progress had been made in improving public services, but significant challenges remained. The service delivery performance score fell from 81% in 2021 to 68.4% in 2026.
He said the decline highlighted the need to step up efforts to improve services provided by local government institutions, ensuring they are efficient, timely and accessible to citizens.
The government aims to raise the score to more than 90% by 2029. Measures to achieve this include strengthening local government capacity through staff training and providing the necessary equipment to help officials fulfil their responsibilities.
Habimana also reported an increase in citizens’ participation in governance. Public involvement in decision-making and holding leaders accountable rose from 66.9% in 2015 to 74.1% in 2021 and 84.7% in 2026.
He added that every year, all cells organise a dedicated planning week. Meanwhile, community assemblies have received 4,192 complaints and concerns, of which 4,048 have been resolved, representing a 96% resolution rate.
Reforms to the decentralisation policy
Rwanda began implementing its decentralisation policy in 2001 to increase citizens’ participation in governance, bring public services closer to communities and empower people to contribute to their own development.
Habimana said the policy had delivered several achievements over the years, including the election of local leaders, stronger accountability, greater transparency, improved service delivery and increased public participation in planning community development activities.
During the first phase, from 2001 to 2005, local leaders were elected and councils were established as the principal oversight bodies for local government institutions. Committees representing women, young people and persons with disabilities were also introduced to promote inclusive governance.
Between 2006 and 2011, the country underwent administrative reforms that reduced the number of provinces from 12 to four, alongside the City of Kigali. The number of districts fell from 106 to 30, sectors from 1,545 to 416, and cells from 9,165 to 2,148.
The 2012–2017 phase focused on building the capacity of local government institutions, improving their performance and strengthening coordination in financial management and other areas.
The policy was revised again in 2021 following an assessment that identified significant achievements but also highlighted persistent challenges requiring additional measures.
The revised policy established five pillars: improving service delivery according to service categories; transferring responsibility for managing and using taxes and financial resources to local government institutions; building their capacity; promoting local economic development; and strengthening governance foundations to drive change at the national level.
Local government budgets increase
Local government institutions have also improved their capacity to mobilise and manage financial resources. Their budgets increased from RWF 49.7 billion in 2006 to RWF 77 billion in 2021, reaching RWF 137 billion in 2026.
Figures presented during the meeting also showed a decline in poverty over the years. The poverty rate fell from 58.9% in 2000 to 56.7% in 2006, then to 39.8% in 2017, before reaching 27.4% in 2024.
These figures highlight the contribution of local government institutions to implementing development programmes. However, improving service delivery and strengthening their capacity remain key priorities under Rwanda’s decentralisation policy.
