Results-based Approaches: Empirical Study on Incentive Systems at the Subnational Level in Rwanda

Project description

The achievement of results is the core concern of public institutions in a number of developing countries and of development cooperation actors. Development organizations are currently piloting innovative aid modalities to strengthen the focus on results. Results-based approaches promise to deliver more effective aid and to better demonstrate the impact that development financing is making.

The achievement of results is the core concern of stakeholders in Rwanda. The government of Rwanda and development partners are implementing and piloting several approaches in this regard. 

In terms of nationally developed and owed Rwandan concepts, the country has been using performance-oriented approaches already for several years. The most important concept is “Imihigo.” This traditional Rwandan approach focuses on accountability mechanisms between the population on the one hand and authorities and leaders on the other. Imihigos are crucial for relations between the national and subnational levels in Rwanda. Every year, each district major signs an Imihigo document with the President of the Republic. Those Imihigo contracts are evaluated by a commission in the subsequent year. 

The study is intended to focus mainly on those concepts that are used – or might be used – with regard to performance at the subnational level, namely the Rwandan districts. Since the achievement of Rwanda’s development goals depends to a high degree on the subnational level, this perspective is key, not least with regard to the current Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) (2013-2018).