EU grants 8 mln euros to support Rwanda's land tenure regularization

The European Union (EU) Thursday signed financing agreements with Rwanda, vowing to grant 8 million euros to support land tenure regularization program and technical cooperation.

The Land tenure regularization grant will finance climate- change related farmers' activities such as improved land administration and land use, monitoring capacities at central and local government levels.

While the technical cooperation funding will support capacity building through training, conferences and seminars to help the implementation of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) national Indicative programs for Rwanda 2014-2020.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Kigali, Michael Ryan, head of the EU delegation to Rwanda explained that 4 million euros will go to Rwanda's Ministry of Natural Resources in recognition of the impressive progress made in land registration in Rwanda.

"We are convinced of the importance of making land administration financially sustainable and accessible to all Rwandans. It means that all land transactions will be recorded. This is a powerful incentive for land owners to invest in developing their land. It will have positive spin-offs for the economy," he said.

The support is in addition to the 460-million-euro grant to Rwanda provided by EU member states under the 11th European Development Fund.

Claver Gatete, Rwanda's Minister of Finance noted that the Land Tenure Regularization grant will reduce rural population vulnerability to effects of climate change.

It will also create an improved environment for sustainable investments through increased capacities in land administration, use, planning and monitoring, according to the minister.

The EU has earmarked 200 million euro on energy, 200 on agriculture, 40 million on accountable governance and 10 million for civil society and other support programs -- all this is geared towards economic transformation and rural development, Gatete said. Endi