USAID Project Showcases the Next Generation of Rwandan Capacity Builders at HICD Exposition

The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), hosted an exposition on the innovative Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) method of performance improvement for local organizations and institutions.

Working in partnership with the National Capacity Building Secretariat (NCBS), the event brought together leaders of the private sector, members of the government of Rwanda, international donors, and almost 60 Rwandan consultants trained in the HICD methodology, who are members of the project’s Community of Practice.

USAID launched the event last evening at the Serena Hotel, featuring Minister of Public Service and Labor, Anastase Murekezi, as the keynote speaker.

Individual presenters and civil society representatives spoke on successful examples of HICD being implemented in Rwanda at both the civil society and individual levels.

The Minister officially presented “Making Rwanda the Hub for Performance Improvement in Africa,” the USAID-developed directory of CVs and biographies of each of the HICD-specialist members of the Community of Practice.

The innovative HICD initiative is an evidence-based performance improvement model designed by USAID that seeks to improve service delivery and accountability in targeted institutions of the Government of Rwanda, leading civil society organizations (CSOs), and elite members of the public and private sectors.

“It’s exciting to see all of the consultants together, using the HICD model in practice, and eager to share their expertise to improve the work of organizations in Rwanda and throughout the continent” said Emily Krunic, Director of USAID’s Democracy and Governance Office.

“Building local expertise that organizations can access and use for years to come is what this project is all about.”

HICD/R currently partners with government and CSOs working in agriculture, health and civic engagement.   The project works with each of these organizations to develop detailed performance analyses, design solutions, and implement them, helping civil society and the GOR achieve their goals and better serve the Rwandan people.

The HICD project is a five-year initiative that aims to build the ability of government institutions and civil society to operate efficiently and in a way that is responsive to citizen needs and desires.

Over its life, the project will work with several public sector institutions, and civil society organizations to identify and address their specific performance gaps, and create evidence-based solutions, as well as host expositions like the one launched today to build and maintain the skill set of highly qualified Rwandan professionals to carry out this work once the project ends in 2017.

UM– USEKE.RW