Beneficiaries are actors too.pdf - Southern Institute of Peace ...

well as centre-periphery thesis which argues that too much power
in the centre is detrimental to the development of the periphery.
However, the nature and strategies of decentralization are often
guided by the history and socio-political needs of that particular
country. In Rwanda, decentralization was informed by the need to
“provide a structural arrangement for the government and people
of Rwanda to fight poverty at close-range, and to enhance their
reconciliation via empowerment of local populations” (MINALOC
Decentralisation Policy, May 2000). Through the National
Decentralisation Policy, the government of Rwanda has been
engaged in decentralization efforts that seek to bring development
to the grassroots communities by enabling their participation in
critical processes.
The abunzi are part of the Rwandan government's repertoire of
initiatives designed to make justice available to citizens at every
level. In 2003, the Constitution of Rwanda adopted a broader
nationwide project of decentralization, hence the setting up of the
Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC). The objective of
decentralization was to allow citizens to “participate in the
planning and management of their development process”
(Ministry of Local Government, 2008). Decentralization is a
central theme in Rwanda's broader development goals and it is
flaunted by several government departments including MINALO,
Ministry of Finance (MINICOFIN) and Ministry of Justice
(MINIJUST). In fact, Rwanda's Vision 2020 strategic plan is
themed, “Community Driven Development” in pursuit of the
decentralization theme. Furthermore, the government of Rwanda
advances the decentralization of justice thesis based on the
assumption that this will enhance good governance in Rwanda
through the emphasis on local autonomy, collective action, and
bottom-up decision making. In the quest for decentralization and
dispersion of government's administrative functions to the local
level, the government of Rwanda created 30 administrative
districts which were sub-divided into 416 sectors, which were
further sub-divided into 2 148 cells. These structures are meant
to enhance service delivery as well as facilitate the involvement of
communities in development and decision making, and
ultimately improve governance.
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