Africare-Rwanda

Africare’s History in Rwanda

Africare commenced its operation in Rwanda in 1982 with refugee assistance at Nasho. This was followed by a number of initiatives in all sectors of the economy like agriculture development country-wide (1986-87) water and sanitation at Rwerere Commune (1988-89), reforestation in Mayunzwe sector (1988-91) rural infrastructure development in Ruhengeri Province (1989-1994), Urban Sanitation and housing rehabilitation (1997). Africare has recently completed what ended up being a $6.4 million USAID funded Local Government Initiative that provided capacity building in democracy in 30 districts. This project contributed to the government decentralization program. Africare has also completed a World Bank supported Multisectoral Aids Project which successfully implemented Micro-projects for People with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and the affected. In addition, Africare recently completed an AIDS project in Nyamagabe which set the stage for application of Volunteers in fight against HIV/AIDS infection.

 

Africare-Rwanda Today

Africare Rwanda currently provides assistance to Rwandese through supported projects focused mainly on health – HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support; support to AIDS-affected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC); malaria prevention and treatment; Health and social policy reforms; and HIV/AIDS/STI risk reduction by empowering women through improved reproductive health and business management/vocational skills training.  Through its offices in Kigali and Nyamagabe, Africare collaborates with local partners to contribute to Rwanda development priorities.

 

 

Country Profile: Rwanda

REGION: Central Africa
CAPITAL CITY: Kigali
POPULATION: 9,464,000
LAND AREA: 24,668 sq km (15,328 miles)

Having plagued Rwanda for decades, ethnic instability culminated in the genocide of April to July 1994 — Africa's worst genocide in modern times — killing some 800,000 people and spurring more than two million to flee as refugees to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and DR Congo (at the time, "Zaire"). Since then, most of the refugees have returned. Rwanda held its first post-genocide elections in 1999 (local) and 2003 (legislative and presidential). Today, reconciliation between members of the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups in Rwanda still remains an on-going process. Rwandans also face poverty, food shortage and an overburdened, although innately fertile, ecosystem. Already small, Rwanda is the continent's most densely populated country, with 846 people per square mile (345 people per square kilometer), this is straining development, equitable distribution of resources and agriculture, which forms 90% of the economy of the country.

Country Stats Life expectancy: 45.8 years (USA: 77.9) Under-5 child mortality: 203/1,000 live births (USA: 7/1,000) HIV prevalence, ages 15-49: [2.9 - 3.2]% (USA: [0.4 - 1.0]%) Physicians per 100,000 people: 5 (USA: 256) People undernourished: 33% (USA: 0%) People with access to safe drinking water: 74% (USA: 100%) Adult literacy: 64.9% (USA: 99%) Gross National income per capita (PPP US$): $703 (USA: $41,890) People living on less than $1 a day: 51.7% (USA: 0%) (HIV prevalence statistics, UNAIDS. All other statistics, 2007/2008 Human Development Report, UNDP)

 

(Updated, June 2010)