International organizations and social-economic devcelopment in Rwanda A case study of World Vision Rwanda, Nyamagambe area development program.(2008-2012).

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out how International Non-Governmental Organizations [INGOs] contribute to the socio-economic development in Rwanda, to assess their challenges and practical ways to overcome them. The study findings are intended to help the Ministry of Local Government [MINALOC] to manage INGO’s interventions, to serve as a guide for Nyamagabe District planning team while designing the District Development Plan [DDP] and help INGOs and their donors to avoid the tendency to lump all developing countries while discussing development issues. With descriptive methodology, from 297 target population, a sample size of 76 respondents was designed. The data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire, recorded and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS]. INGOs contribute to the promotion of formal and informal education that build the future socio-economic development. However, they encounter community and organizational based challenges (lack of ownership and desk based planning respectively) that can be overcome through community engagement in development initiatives and socio-economic development projects basing on realistic and inclusive baseline surveys as well as alignment to government strategic socio-economic development direction. As INGOs play an important role to promote socio-economic development in Rwanda, the study recommends them to ensure community willingness and participation to own the socio-economic interventions, to keep alive their partnership status rather than being driven by donors and transfer knowledge to local communities. The government is recommended to monitor the INGOs’ alignment to its socio-economic development direction while the community members are recommended to be fully engaged in INGOs socio-economic development activities. Finally the study suggested further studies on INGOs contribution to promote good governance and farming activities.