WB gives Rwanda U$95 million to Support Inclusive Urbanization

The World Bank has extended a credit financing worth U$95 million to Rwanda the development of the country’s six secondary cities that are under the urbanization strategy.

According to the agreement penned on Wednesday, the funds will go towards supporting the development of infrastructure and local economic activities in the six secondary cities.

The project will provide an integrated package of support to address key challenges associated with Rwanda’s urbanization,” said Ambassador Claver Gatete, Minister of Finance and economic Planning on Wednesday.

Some of the challenges, the Minister says include access to basic infrastructure promote livability and local economic development, upgrading of  informal  areas to promote urbanization and building the capacity of districts governments for urban management.

In a bid to leapfrog the economy to middle income as well as create off farm jobs the government setup the establishment of six secondary cities that will accommodate people by 2020.

The six   secondary   cities include Muhanga, Rubavu, Rusizi, Nyagatare, Huye, Musanze and support local economic activities in these cities.

”Eligible investments are those that are directly under the mandate of government such as roads, solid waste management, drainage and sanitation,” Gatete noted.

Yasser El  Gammal , world bank country  management  for Rwanda who signed on behalf to the World bank noted that agreement supports  government’s clearly articulated policy of priotising the development of secondary cities to serve as a regional  pull of  factors  for urbanization through service provision, local economic  development and job creation.

“The world bank delighted to be contributing to Rwanda’s sustainable development,” he said

Accordingly, roads and associated infrastructure improvements will be financed to connect different Agakiriro centers, commercial areas in the urban core, industrial parks, business development and employment centers.

The government also says the project will also support the upgrading of an 86  hectares of unplanned settlements accommodating 19,00 residents in the four cells of Nyarugenge in Kigali with over 500,000 residents in the secondary cities are expected to  benefit.