Evaluating the Success of Decentralisation in Facilitating the Inclusion of Rwanda’s Marginalised

Abstract

Decentralisation plays a key role in Rwanda’s efforts to overcome the violence and instability of the past by fostering national unity and by bringing governance closer to the people. This paper examines the impact of decentralisation on the feelings of inclusion of Rwanda’s most marginalised group, the Batwa. Drawing on a 4-year empirical project, our findings suggest that, despite impressive improvements in the living standards of the poorest and efforts to encourage participation in local decision making, many Twa do not feel included. This suggests that the government has not yet succeeded in creating downward accountability. We attribute this to two factors: continuing economic inequality and poor communication.