Rwanda needs 1.7 billion dollars to meet Millennium Development Goals

The government of Rwanda says it needs another 1.7 billion dollars in aid to meet the Millennium Development Goals. As The New Times' Eddie Mukaaya reports that would mean per capita aid for the nation would be $190 for the nation of 9 million people.

This mean that the country need an Official Development Aid (ODA) from donors of $190 (Rwf104,899) per capita (for each person) for an estimated population of 9 million people.

According to information availed at the on-going, 2008 Government of Rwanda and Development partners' meeting, at the Serena Hotel, Kigali some MDGs targets may not be attained by 2015 unless the financing gap of $1.1b (Rwf611b) for the entire population is closed.

Figures that are to be presented today by John Rwangombwa, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury on the progress and challenges on the implementation and monitoring of MDGs in Rwanda about $123 (Rwf67,908) is needed for every person to spped up the attainment of MDGs.

MDGs refer to eight international development goals that 189 United Nations (UN) member states and at least 23 international organisations ratified in order to steer economic development and fight poverty. They also aim to spur development by improving social and economic conditions in the world's poorest countries.

Some include eradicating extreme poverty, ensuring environmental sustainability, fighting disease epidemics such as AIDS and reducing child mortality rates. According to Rwangobwa's document, reducing extreme poverty and fighting disease epidemics is still a challenge in Rwanda.

The document reads that these targets may not be attained by 2015 unless the financing gap of $1.1b (Rwf611b) for the entire population is closed. Other MDGs targets in Rwanda according to government have registered progress estimated at 50 percent.

According to information availed there is a decline in the rate of malnutrition in children under five years from 24 percent in 2000 to 18 percent today. The infant mortality rate also dropped from 107 babies per 1000 in 2000 to 62 babies per 1000 in 2008. This is against the MDG target of 35 babies per 1000.