KIGALI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda is urging its development partners to ensure collaborative efforts to effectively deliver on projects designed to help the country achieve its long-term development aspirations.
A senior Rwandan official made the call Thursday during the opening of a two-day annual forum bringing together development partners and government leaders to discuss how to work together to implement development projects.
"We are entering a new phase in our development journey," Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa told the gathering.
"This policy is about working together differently, moving from scattered projects to joint efforts that are designed here in Rwanda and driven by our own long-term vision," he said.
At the center of discussions held in the western district of Rubavu is the draft Rwanda Development Cooperation Policy, which aims to replace the 2006 Aid Policy.
According to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the proposed policy looks ahead to 2050, offering a steady roadmap that can adapt to global changes such as climate financing, new sources of investment, and digital transformation.
It is designed to support the country's second National Strategy for Transformation by ensuring that every partnership delivers real, measurable impact.
Officials say that while the earlier policy helped Rwanda secure vital resources during its post-genocide recovery, the new approach seeks to move beyond traditional aid toward deeper, more strategic partnerships that match the current state of the country.
Ozonnia Ojielo, UN resident coordinator in Rwanda, said that the new policy recognizes that to achieve real scale and lasting change, there is a need for partners to work as one, pledging to fully support the government in taking the new policy process forward.
Held under the theme "Strengthening Partnerships through Implementation of the New Development Cooperation Policy," the discussions focus on a proposed framework designed to make cooperation more effective and better aligned with Rwanda's national goals.
The ministry said over the next two years, the government and partners will work together to phase in the new approach.
Multisectoral teams will develop concrete programs and specific flagships that turn the policy's vision into action on the ground.
The annual forum is the leading platform for dialogue between Rwanda and its development partners, who include bilateral and multilateral donors, financial institutions, private sector actors, and civil society organizations.