Howard G. Buffett has called on donors to support capacity building initiatives
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation chairman and chief executive, Howard Graham Buffett has said that if western donors truly want to support African-led development, and bring an end to Africa’s reliance on aid, it’s critical they support capacity building initiatives.
Referring to Rwanda’s case, in which the country is working towards self reliance even amidst aid cuts, Buffet said that withholding aid to make a short-term political statement only hurts millions of everyday Rwandans in the long-term.
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation on December 10, pledged $3.7 million (about Rwf2.5 billion) to finance Rwanda’s strategies for capacity building through Strategic Capacity Building Initiative (SCBI).
The four-year plan is aimed at enhancing government’s ability to deliver tangible results in priority areas and will focus on four critical areas for capacity building support such as electricity generation, agriculture production, mining and increased investments.
He also said that Rwanda deserves to be supported because of the evidence that the country has proved in accountability and effective use and implementation of donor aid.
Recently, the World Bank Executive Director, Denny Kalyalya, said the bank is impressed with Rwanda’s development efforts but also in particular, the way the country has used its aid and foreign funding and stated that Rwanda will in June also receive $45 million for agriculture, $70 million for social protection, and more for energy and demobilization, making total portfolio of $1.2 billion.
Rwanda’s Finance Minister, Amb. Claver Gatete said that the support will accelerate Rwanda’s ongoing economic development which has in the past five years, growth at 7 per cent and enabled over one million people above the poverty line.
SCBI was launched in 2011 and is coordinated by the National Capacity Building Secretariat (NCBS). It identifies, takes ownership of, as well as managing the country’s economic development priorities.
The initiative establishes a strong link between capacity building and practical delivery, with international experts and Rwandan counterparts working side by side to deliver the country’s priorities.