Thesis:

Vision 2020 Umurenge Program and Socio-Economic Development of Poor and Vulnerable People in Rwanda: A Case Study of Rwamagana District

The purpose of this research project was to assess the impact of Vision 2020 Umurenge program on the socio-economic development of poor and vulnerable people in Rwanda. It was carried out in Rwamagana District as the case study with the following objectives: To identify the benefits of Vision 2020 Umurenge Program to the poor and vulnerable people in Rwamagana, the challenges affecting the development of poor and vulnerable people in Rwamagana District and the ways how vision 2020 Umurenge Program has affected the development of poor and vulnerable people in Rwamagana District. The researcher reviewed literature related to benefits of Vision 2020 Umurenge Program to poor and vulnerable people, the challenges affecting development of poor and vulnerable people and how the vision 2020 Umurenge program has affected poor and vulnerable people. The researcher designed a descriptive and analytical research tools based on both qualitative and quantitative data. The population was 200 respondents from the sectors of Fumbwe, Munyiginya, Munyaga and Musha in Rwamagana District. The sample size was 133 respondents from the same sectors. Questionnaires, interviews and documentary review were used as data collection tools. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources and presented using tables and figures. Data analysis and interpretation were done based on frequencies and percentages. The researcher found out that Vision 2020 Umurenge program has had an impact on the lives of poor and vulnerable people in Rwamagana district through capital provision, provision of cash for subsistence, employment offers and encouraging people to work and be self reliant and that Vision 2020 Umurenge program has been able to change the social economic lives of poor and vulnerable people in Rwamagana since they now have jobs, have access to resources and are economically empowered. The researcher concluded that capital provision, provision of cash for subsistence, offering employment and encouraging self reliance among the poor and vulnerable people in Rwamagana district has changed their lives positively, since beneficiaries are happy with the services provided to them and make them feel the project should continue providing them with more services because they are supportive. The researcher recommended that vision 2020 Umurenge Program should continue providing services to the poor and vulnerable people in Rwamagana district since they are instrumental in changing lives of people in terms of social and economic status. The researcher further recommended that the poor and vulnerable people in Rwamagana district should own the program and cooperate with the officials of the project since their aim is to have them positively changed and their socio-economic status improved