Decentralization as a policy to promote community participation in the development of Rwanda : a case study of the Nyarugenge district

Abstract

This study focused on examining how the local community of the district of Nyarugenge is, through the decentralization policy, participating in the development of the district. It investigated the extent to which the community of the district experiences the decentralization process. It had three aims. The first was to explain how the decentralization policy offers Rwandans potential opportunities to participate in decisions regarding the development of the district. The findings indicated that they do take part in the decision making in that they participate in the definition, implementation and execution of all activities pertaining to the development of the district. However, the research indicated that their participation in the opportunities offered by the decentralization policy is also subject to a range of different constraints. The second aim was to identify issues hampering the local community’s participation in the success of the decentralization programme. In this regard the results indicated that, though the policy has important objectives, the lack of sufficient economic resources and competent human resources are key obstacles to the complete and full success of the decentralization policy. The third and last aim of the research was to look at the role of women in the decentralization process and the development of the district. The results indicated that with the implementation of decentralization, women became involved in decision making and in the development process of district. However, their participation is frustrated by the cultural beliefs of some of the local people, who disapprove of the involvement of women in the public world. A number of recommendations regarding the obstacles revealed by the respondents are made in order to further promote the process of decentralization in Rwanda.