ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to investigate and assess the
impact of foreign aid on Rwanda?s socioeconomic development as guided by
Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) To eradicate extreme poverty and
hunger?. The study was undertaken with selected respondents drawn from Gasabo
District of the Kigali City in the Republic of Rwanda (a
developing nation in East Africa).
Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were
used. Data were collected by means
of interviews, observational schedules, documentary
analysis procedures, questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) schedules
from a total of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents. Nine (9) of these were
Heads of departments/administrators. The study found that the majority of the
respondents perceived foreign aid as pivotal in promoting socio-economic
development of any given developing country. The eradication of poverty
in society was viewed as a worthwhile undertaking and helps address
socio-economic problems. They hailed the need to understand the scope of MDGs
and its need to be included in the various Rwandan curriculum
However the study established that there are mixed feelings
with regard the impact of foreign
aid, its challenges and prospects in general in light of
the need to fight the global poverty within the confines of MDGs. They felt
that the knowledge of MDGs must be a central component of Rwanda?s
civic/citizenship education in order to develop a common understanding of the
quest to eradicate poverty and spearhead all-encompassing development. The
study concludes that foreign aid is at the core of successfully eradicating
extreme poverty and hunger, though it must be received with some caution as a
number of donor agencies will end up politicizing the concept
thus attaching strings and conditionalities to
beneficiaries/recipients.
The study recommends that there is great need to expose
citizens to issues relating to foreign aid,
poverty alleviation and development discourse pupils at a
tender age. The study further
recommends the intensification of the training programmes for
citizens to be able to handle the
issues linked to aid. Furthermore research is recommended in
this seemingly grey area in line with the dynamic aspect of development and
education respectively.
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figures
Figure 2.1 : Aid Coordination Architecture in Rwanda
Figure 3.1 : New Administrative Map of Gasabo District
Figure 4.1 : Gendered perceptions on poverty as Rwanda?s threat
to socio-economic development
Figure 4.2 : Perceptions of the impact of Foreign Aid on the
Rwandan economy Figure 4.3 : Gendered perceptions of Foreign Aid and
dependency
Figure 4.4 : Knowledge of the existence of MDGs in Rwanda Figure
4.5 : Ranking of MDGs according to priority
Figure 4.6 : Rating of Poverty Eradication Strategies
Figure 4.7 : Perceptions of beneficiaries of Foreign Aid in
Rwanda
Figure 4.8 : Relations of the Government of Rwanda and the Donor
Community Figure 4.9 : Beneficiaries of Donor Community from 2000-2009
Figure 4.10: Challenges with regards to Implementation of MDGs
Figure 4.11: Ranking Rwanda?s main Resources in order of importance Figure
4.12: Composition of External Resources
Tables
Table 3.1 : Sampling Systems
Table 4.1 : Views on whether poverty is a threat to Rwanda?s
socio-economic development by organizations
Table 4.2 : Views on whether poverty has functional benefits to
society
Table 4.3 : Views on whether Foreign Aid creates dependency on
Rwanda by Organization Table 4.4 : SustainabilIIVERIEIRTJUQE$ I3EtQE5
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Socio-economic development
Table 4.5 : Availability of technical challenges with regards
to implementation of MDGs
Table 4.6 : Data gathered using interview methods
Table 4.7 : Documentary Analysis Procedures
Table 4.8 : NGOs/2010 registered in Gasabo District
Table 4.9 : Estimates of different budgetary sources
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