Rwanda—Human and Institutional Capacity Development Project (HICD/R)

Rwanda has made considerable strides in recent years towards achieving middle-income status and becoming a knowledge-based economy. To bridge the gaps needed to achieve its ambitious development plans, the government of Rwanda prioritized capacity development and established a new institution responsible for managing public and private sector capacity building.

The Human and Institutional Capacity Development Project Rwanda (HICD/R), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), supported this initiative by strengthening institutional and human capacity in targeted government agencies and civil society organizations. HICD/R collaborated with partners to make public services more responsive to citizens’ needs and to improve the ability of civil society organizations to contribute to the country’s development agenda. By applying USAID’s human and institutional capacity development methodology, the project assisted its partners to advance national priorities that included stability, women’s economic empowerment, and market-oriented agriculture.

Watch the video to learn more about the impact of HICD/R:

Sample Activities

• Support government ministries to improve their financial management and procurement functions.
• Assist civil society organizations in improving their corporate governance.
• Develop performance monitoring systems to measure impact of institutional development support on service delivery.

Select Results

• Mentored 1,747 Rwandan citizens on performance improvement and supported establishment a community of practice for professionals interested in the field of performance improvement.
• Supported four government agencies to institutionalize performance improving systems for employees.
• Provided training to 11 civil society organizations working in the fields of agriculture, health, education, and reconciliation. Partner institutions experienced 60 percent increase in the number of beneficiaries assisted after receiving training and mentorship.
• Proposed 589 performance improvement recommendations that were implemented by government institutions and civil society organizations.