by Africans from Rwanda
Rwandan Governance as inspiring example
Rwanda has firmly turned its back on its past and is working on a social economic transformation with its people. Rwanda’s leadership has the ambition to develop the majority of its people beyond MDG’s towards perspective and prosperity for all.
When we consider the situation in 1994, as the Rwandan people had to start from less than zero to built up their country, the way Rwanda has worked up is commanding lots of respect. The Rwandan situation has become an inspiring example for other African people to also take their future in their own hands, considering the amount of requests for assistance coming from several African countries.
Consultancy
Stillare developed the idea to engage junior and senior Rwandans to support the countries that ask for assistance in Rwanda. This way Rwanda can establish the move from a country that has a reputation of genocide and violence towards a country being associated with expertise on rebuilding a country and refinding dignity. Inspired by this idea Stillare will, in partnership with several European and African professionals and institutions, engage junior and senior professionals in Rwanda to get educated on the issues of Rwandan governance.
Stillare and the Rwanda Governance Board are, as we speak, preparing an MoU, being the base of their collaboration on the research, the development of knowledge products and the start of the consultancy group.
Rwandan consulting on governance will be an important internal African support for African leaders to move forward towards socio-economic facilitation and true welfare for all. Long-term advice and coaching on the job, supported by a portfolio of products could make a difference. Of course we are aware of the diversity of African countries and the different challenges that they have to face. Rwandan solutions sometimes will fit and will most of the time be important inspiration on which progress can be made. The consultants will be educated on the issue of diversity and will be supported by senior consultants in Africa and Europe.
Lessons
To understand the way Rwanda developed, we have to look at the starting points that made it possible to achieve her results by. We have to understand the attitude that the Rwandan government has chosen, the way they worked on a diversity of challenges to shape their form of inclusive governing.
Most African countries are growing economically. One of the important matters that these countries have to face to ensure sustainable economic growth is their lack of adequate and facilitating governance. In Rwanda, leadership chose to address issues as moving away strongly from competitive clientelism, powersharing, community policing, development as the core business and empowering the people by policy and projects. They achieved remarkable results.
The lessons identified and the lessons learned in Rwanda can help Africa to strengthen the foundations of governing. Without these foundations arbitrariness and corruption will undermine sustainable development.
In figure 1 and 2 you find some key issues that helped Rwanda to become what it is today. By reflecting on the process and the achievements we can find crucial starting points, choices, behavior, policy, interventions, reciprocities and response. Out of this we can distill components that lead us towards the development of knowledge products.
Portfolio
- Advice, education and exchange
- Strategic advice (survey and interpretation)
Long term assistance, combined by education, exchange and coaching on the job/spot
Courses and train de trainer concepts for a diversity of target audiences - Educational materials
Web based services
Educational apps, software and e-learning programs - Off line serious gaming, improving performance in a manipulated game
Live serious gaming (live performing) and living laboratory to find out how to approach and handle complex situations - Conferences and courses for African governmental and civil serving leaders, within a country and between countries
Research to find out how Rwandan lessons could fit the particular situation of a country, its leadership and the challenges to be faced, unique as they are.
- Strategic advice (survey and interpretation)
Platform
African countries have asked bilateral for assistance on subjects of governance in Rwanda. With this initiative we can offer a sound answer on this request for help. We can offer advice, education and long term implementation assistance. Of course we can offer webbased support as well. The African Solidarity Initiative and the AU will be good platforms to offer our services.
