Opinion
Rwanda rising from the ashes
Rwanda may be on track to become one of the most compelling case studies in favor of foreign aid since South Korea emerged as an economic powerhouse late last century.
The Government of Rwanda released a report that outlined startling success in reducing poverty over the past five years. According to the Household Living Conditions Survey — which is the international benchmark for assessing the prevalence of poverty — the number of households under the poverty line has dropped by 200,000 since 2006.
That is about a million people in a country of 11 million — or, if you prefer statistics, a 12 percent drop in the population classified as ‘poor’ (from 57 percent to 45 percent) between 2006 and 2011. This represents one of the best outcomes in poverty in recent times. But beneath these impressive numbers, there are even more positive signs across the board in Rwanda.
Where the political will exists, these results are achievable for all developing nations. John Rwangombwa, Rwanda’s Finance Minister, agrees. Writing in the Wall Street Journal this morning, Mr. Rwangombwa rejects the idea that Rwanda is experiencing a social and economic “miracle,” as some gushing commentators like to claim:
“… there is nothing supernatural about what Rwanda has achieved to date.. it is the result of unrelenting focus by our country’s leaders and citizens on getting the fundamentals right: government accountability and transparency, policies that attract trade and investment, a healthy and educated population.”
