Kigali, 24 February 2015
President Kagame today received the UN Habitat Executive Director, Joan Clos, who led a delegation comprised of Committee members of Permanent Representatives to UN Habitat from around the world.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, the UN Habitat Executive Director commended Rwanda for choosing urbanisation as one of the Government’s key programs by establishing a policy establishing six intermediate cities to absorb the pressure from the main urban centres.
“This is a crucial strategy that other countries have to learn from, because it mitigates the pressure on main cities to avoid the collapse of infrastructure and public amenities like we have seen in many parts of Africa. The fact that this has been made an urban policy in Rwanda, a country of 11 million is quite clever and forward looking.”
The Minister of Infrastructure, James Musoni said Rwanda’s urban policy looks beyond buildings and infrastructure and also focuses on the general well being of the people, including sensitizing them to join cooperatives and employment.
Rwanda has prioritized urbanization in its Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy II and Vision 2020. Rwanda is one of the five countries participating in the UN Habitat Achieving Sustainable Urban Development Program.