On September 9, 2024, Prime Minister Édouard unveiled Rwanda’s five-year government plan, known as the National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2), to a joint Plenary Sitting of both Chambers. This ambitious blueprint outlines the nation’s development goals and strategic priorities for the coming years.
Key Focus Areas
Job Creation: The NST2 plan prioritizes creating quality jobs, particularly for youth and women. It targets sectors like services, agriculture, and manufacturing to generate employment. The government intends to stimulate private investment and innovation to expand job opportunities nationwide.
Economic Growth: The plan sets a target of an average annual economic growth rate of 9.3% over the next five years. This growth is expected to stem from enhanced productivity across all economic sectors. Agriculture is projected to grow by over 6% annually, while industry and services are anticipated to exceed 10% growth. The objective is to transition from low-productivity activities to more advanced and innovative sectors.
Boosting Exports: Increasing exports is a major goal of the plan. This includes expanding the manufacturing and agricultural sectors to enhance Rwanda’s export capabilities. The government aims to attract foreign investments through the establishment of special economic zones and improvements in infrastructure.
Tackling Stunting and Malnutrition: A significant component of the plan focuses on reducing child stunting and malnutrition. The strategy involves enhancing healthcare, nutrition programs, and social services to lower stunting rates and ensure every child starts life in good health.
Improving Education: To support sustainable growth, the government is committed to improving education quality. This includes building additional classrooms to alleviate overcrowding, advancing teacher training, and expanding access to technical and vocational education. The goal is to equip Rwanda’s youth with the skills needed for future job markets.
Better Public Services: The NST2 plan emphasizes improving public service delivery. This involves making government services more efficient, accessible, and of higher quality, thereby increasing citizen engagement and trust in public institutions.
Overall, Rwanda’s new five-year plan aims to drive inclusive growth while addressing critical social issues. By focusing on job creation, education, healthcare, and innovation, the government seeks to enhance the quality of life for all Rwandans and advance the country’s progress toward achieving middle-income status.
