In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Rwanda received a grant of €52.87 million (about Frw 55.5 billion) from the European Union to finance the social security cover.
This grant is part of the €460 million assistance package for Rwanda negotiated with the European Commission in September 2014.
The funding aims to support the Government of Rwanda in expanding social protection and promoting supply chains for agriculture in the context of the Government’s COVID 19 Economic Recovery Plan through increased cash transfers and food assistance to Rwandan citizens, and to support livelihoods for food security in response to the country’s lockdown containment measures during COVID 19.
In total, the program will help protect the food security and livelihoods of at least 630 000 most in need households.
“The impact of COVID-19 on our economy and livelihoods in particular has called for enhanced social protection measures by ensuring that we maintain sustainable food security, reduce poverty and promote inclusive growth,” said Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
“The sustained development cooperation as well as the immediate European Union’s support to the Government’s response to the COVID 19, illustrates, once again, the mutual trust and excellent relations shared by the European Union and the Government of Rwanda,” Minister Ndagijimana added.
EU Ambassador Nicola Bellomo added “Our support comes as part of the broader #TeamEurope response. #TeamEurope is the tangible expression of European solidarity.”
He said the grant reflects a commitment of the EU and the EU MS to act as one, and in close cooperation with the multilateral system, “in our efforts to help our partner countries deal with the COVID crisis.”
The disbursements will be given in two fixed tranches of € 36 million and €15.5 million respectively over the 2019/20 and 2020/21 fiscal years , based on satisfactory progress in implementing the economic recovery plan, in particular the social security and agricultural part.
The program will be supported in monitoring and logistics by the World Food Program (WFP) to ensure that food supply chains work efficiently so that people can access affordable and nutritious food throughout the country.
Social transfers will be complemented by government support on the effective functioning of supply chains so that people can access affordable, nutritious and diversified food continuously.
In addition to the Government’s €52 million budget support grant, the EU also provides five additional grants to civil society organizations in the amount of € 1.8 million.
These organizations work on the response of COVID to social security at the grassroots level in close collaboration with local government authorities and provide assistance to some of the most vulnerable communities across the world.
These initiatives are part of the wider # TeamEurope response, which brings together the support from the institutions of the European Union, the EU Member States and their respective agencies and development banks.
# TeamEurope’s full support package in Rwanda amounts to over € 100 million and includes funding for the sectors of health, cultural, social security, and agriculture, with a strong emphasis on the most vulnerable sections of the population and SMEs.
