RWANDA'S MCC THRESHOLD LAUNCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KIGALI 000506

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2019
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PHUM RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA'S MCC THRESHOLD LAUNCH

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Classified By: Ambassador W. Stuart Symington, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Senior officials from Millenium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) visited Rwanda in late July to meet with
key stakeholders involved in implementing Rwanda's
three-year, $24.7 million Threshold Program, which focuses on
the MCC's "ruling justly" indicators. Senior Government of
Rwanda (GOR) officials expressed both determination to
implement the program effectively as well as some frustration
that Rwanda, which is not yet Compact-eligible, "had not been
assessed fairly." The MCC Threshold program provides an
excellent opportunity for the GOR, which has already
demonstrated impressive results in promoting economic freedom
and investing in people, to raise its scores in "political
rights," "civil liberties" and "voice and accountability."
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Thomas Kelly, MCC's Acting Managing Director for the
Threshold Program and Malik Chaka, Director for Threshold
Programs in Africa, visited Rwanda July 25-29 and met with
GOR officials, MCC program implementers and development
partners to get a first-hand view of the Threshold Program's
kickoff in Rwanda. Implemented by USAID officers at post in
close cooperation with the GOR, the program is designed to
strengthen the capacity of the judiciary, the media, and the
internal affairs capacity of the Rwandan National Police
(RNP),as well as improve governance through increased civic
participation at the local and national levels. A USDOJ
International Criminal Investigative Assistance Program
(ICITAP) resident advisor is working closely with the RNP;
international media NGO IREX began working with the media in
July; and the justice sector contractor is due to start in
late August. USAID/Rwanda intends to hire two additional
implementing partners that will focus on strengthening the
capacity of national NGOs, local government bodies and local
civil society organizations.


3. (C) During the visit, GOR representatives conveyed support
for the MCC Threshold Program and enthusiasm for its
implementation. At the same time, they shared their concerns
about issues specific to Rwanda. For example, Finance
Minister James Musoni, in influential figure within the GOR,
welcomed MCC support and pledged GOR commitment to seeing the
program implemented effectively. He also compared Rwanda to
several Compact and Compact-eligible countries he considered
less worthy than Rwanda and voiced concern that Rwanda's
progress "had not been assessed fairly." Musoni stressed
that the GOR was keen to achieve the status of a Compact
country, over and above receiving Compact funding. In a
separate meeting, Information Minister Louise Mushikiwabo
thanked MCC for its support of the media sector and then
commented that journalists' lack of capacity--both
professional and ethical--was the key challenge. She
complained in particular about four Kinyarwanda-language
newspapers that are distributed weekly or irregularly,
charging them with irresponsible, one-sided reporting. At
the National University of Rwanda in Huye (Butare),the
Qthe National University of Rwanda in Huye (Butare),the
director of the journalism school expressed concern that
foreign media trainers, while offering quality instruction at
the university, sometimes returned home and published
articles about Rwanda that were "divisive" in nature. He
cautioned that IREX and its subcontractor, Carlton
University's "Rwanda Initiative," needed to address this
problem when implementing their activities.


4. (C) The delegation visited two rural communities where
USAID/Rwanda has provided small grants to district
governments. This visit shed light on expected challenges
and opportunities the Threshold Program will encounter when
it, likewise, allocates grant funding to local governments
and civil society organizations. The delegation's meeting
with the RNP highlighted the strong relationship that had
already been established between the ICITAP advisor and RNP
leadership.


5. (C) COMMENT: The GOR has made remarkable progress toward
achieving its ambitious economic and social goals since the
1994 genocide. The strong vision and determination of

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Rwanda's leadership, coupled with strategic planning and
meticulous implementation at all levels of the GOR, have made
Rwanda a model of effective governance in Africa. This is
true especially with respect to health care, decentralization
initiatives and economic development. However, increasing
political competition and ensuring civil liberties remain
challenges for this country. Rwanda is still marked
profoundly by genocide and challenged to ensure stability and
unity as well as economic development. This Threshold
Program provides much-appreciated training and cooperation.
It is an excellent means to help the GOR move forward to
achieve those goals. END COMMENT.
SYMINGTON