Governance Assessment for Accountable Politics

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The Joint Governance Assessment in RwandaWilly
GASAFARI, Socioeconomic Affairs Governance
Specialist Rwanda Governance Advisory Council
(GAC)

• Governance Assessment for Accountable Politics
• Workshop in Windhoek, Namibia 02nd, -05th, 2009

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Outline

• Introduction JGA methods, management
• JGA origin and process
• JGA Principles
• Analysis of data
• Findings
• JGA Indicators
• JGA How does it operate now?
• conclusion

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I. INTRODUCTION

• The assessment was requested by His Excellency
  the President of Rwanda on 3 reason
• Un coordinated , fragmented governance assessment
  by different stakeholders leading to high
  transaction costs.
• The lack of clear bench marks and standard
  indicators to monitor governance trends.
• The need to establish a basis for engaging
  International opinion on Governance in Rwanda

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II.JGA ORIGIN AND PROCESS

• Developed by intl. and national experts
• Research methods- extensive study combining
  qualitative (literature) work, interviews, field
  visits, workshops , discussion and feed back from
  the GoR and DPs
• Management structure- Technical and steering
  Committee, co-chaired by GoR (MINALOC) and DP
  (WB)
• took about 2 years
• approved by the Cabinet and the DP meeting
• Involvement of DP, public and private
  institutions at all stages

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III. JGA principles

• JGA is
• jointly owned
• Acceptable to DP for as a basis for their own
  governance reporting
• Credible, of high professional quality and based
  on sound evidence
• conducted in an open and consultative manner
• a basis for continued dialogue
• Establishing a monitoring framework

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IV. Analysis of data

• The analysis aimed at answering 3 problems
• What are the governance priorities and
  appropriate approaches taking local realities and
  international norms into account ?
• How does governance in Rwanda compare against
  these standards, and what progress has been made
  over the period 1998 -2007?
• What indicators are needed to tell us whether
  Rwanda is moving in the right direction?

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V.Findings

• The report found out that Rwanda has made
  impressive progress in addressing its five
  governance challenge namely
• Consolidating peace and security Rwanda now
  stands out as one of the peaceful and stable
  countries in the region .
• Promoting inclusive governance Rwanda has made
  significant progress in promoting comprehensive
  governance by choosing to reject any form of
  ethnic labeling , discrimination and
  representation in politics and government.

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.Findings Contd

• Strengthening the rule of law progress that has
  been made in strengthening the rule of law has
  been impressive.
• Enhancing accountability significantly
  impressive progress has been made in
  strengthening accountability and democracy in
  general.
• Making the links between governance and broader
  development goals the greatest constraints to
  governance in Rwanda are structural and relate to
  both poverty and low levels of education.

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Findings Contd

• In regard to Public Finance The report found out
  that the government of Rwanda is strongly
  committed to putting in place a sound PFM system.
• Regarding the judiciary the report argues that
  reforms in the legal sector have strengthened the
  formal independence of the judiciary and improved
  its quality.
• Regarding international human rights, Rwanda has
  ratified all of the main international human
  rights instruments .

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Findings Contd

• Concerning the rights of women Rwanda has made
  impressive progress in advancing the rights of
  women. (deputies (52), senate (35)
  cabinet(32), Judges (37).
• Concerning the rights of refugees Rwanda meets
  its international obligations towards refugees
  and asylum seekers, and cooperates fully with
  UNHCR.
• Concerning social, cultural and economic rights
  the report acknowledges the progress that Rwanda
  has made in advancing social, cultural and
  economic rights as indicated by improvements in
  development indicators.

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Findings Contd

• In regards to investment climate it was found
  out that there are many features that make the
  country an attractive place to do business for
  example low rates of crime and corruption.
• In regard to corporate governance it was found
  out that both the government and the private
  sector are placing greater emphasis on
  principles of good corporate governance .

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Findings Contd

• The Report found out that there remains
  persisting challenge namely
• Security considerations, both external and
  internal, which require continued vigilance .
• Ensuring greater transparency and scrutiny in
  government recruitment, procurement and other
  aspects of public life.
• The judiciary suffers capacity gaps and the
  overwhelming case backlog.

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Findings Contd

• Addressing structural constraints to governance
  poverty, low levels of education and insecure
  livelihoods.

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VI. JGA indicators

• The criteria used in selecting the 45 proposed
  indicators were
• Specificity to governance
• Relevance to most pressing governance issues
• Appropriateness to local context
• International credibility
• Reliability
• Include fact based and perception based
  indicators
• SMART.

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Ruling Justly
Government effectiveness
JOINT GOVERANCE ASSESSMENT (JGA)
Investment climate Corporate governance
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Establishing maintaining security
National reconciliation Transitional justice
Ruling Justly
Rule of law
Human rights civil liberties
Political rights
Voice and accountability
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Public financial management
Anti-corruption
Decentralization
Government effecteveness
Public service delivery
Public service reform
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Ease of doing business
Corporate law and governance
INVESTMENT CLIMATE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Private sector advocacy
State business relations
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VII.JGA Follow up mechanism current status

• The Rwanda Governance Advisory Council charged
  with the mission of monitoring, evaluation of the
  progress on JGA indicators, by the means of
  research
• 4th Sept, JGA TC validated research tools
  (questionnaire methodology)
• 2nd Oct, JGA SC approved research tools
• 12th October to 26th October 2009, JGA data
  collection
• Funding GoR and DPs

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VIII.Conclusion

• JGA owned by Gov DPs. Can it be owned by the
  local people?
• What role by DPs in making JGA framework
  sustainable, and effective in improving
  governance standards on the ground?
• JGA has got a clear monitoring framework but
  funding mechanism was not elaborated!

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www.rwanda-gac.orgTHANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

• gasafw_at_yahoo.fr