“Rwanda has made remarkable development progress over the last 10 years having experienced sustained economic growth and the beginnings of economic transformation. The country has seen: a growth in the private sector; an increase in the proportion of agricultural production that is marketed; an increase in paid non-agricultural employment; an increase in domestic saving; an increase in tax domestic tax revenues; an increase in foreign direct and domestic investment; and an increase in and diversification of exports. This has been accompanied by a sharp reduction in the proportion of the population living in poverty, a reduction in inequalities and significant improvements in health. Primary education is near universal and the proportion of children attending secondary school is increasing rapidly with the introduction of nine year basic education. Girls are now outperforming boys in primary school and have slightly higher attendance rates at both primary and secondary school than boys. Women are in a majority in parliament and their representation in other political posts is increasing. Rwanda looks on track to achieve most of the MDGs. We can ask, however, how inclusive are Rwanda’s policies; are all Rwandans benefiting, the poor as well as the better of, women as well as men, children as well as adults, people living with dis-abilities as well as the able bodied and so on? Are the lives of the poorest Rwandans improving and are they improving as rapidly as those of the better off?”
