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Testimonial - Rwanda Investment Climate Project (RICP)

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Reduction in days to enforce a contract - From 310 to 210 days

Reduction in days to register business - From 16 to two days

Reduction in days to register land - From 371 to 55 days

A consistently high performer in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, Rwanda is internationally recognised for its efforts to improve its investment climate.

In 2007, the private sector approached the government to highlight the need for improved commercial justice, business and land registration systems to stimulate private sector growth. The government came to ICF for support and the result was the recently completed Rwanda Investment Climate Project (RICP).

Private sector involvement has been key to the success of the RICP - the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda (PSFR) sits on the project’s Steering Committee – and has been involved every step of the way, ensuring the project truly meets the needs of the end beneficiaries.

Prior to ICF intervention, there were no commercial courts in Rwanda, leading to a vast backlog of cases and significant cost and time delays. With ICF support, four commercial courts with legal libraries have been established. 19 out of 22 judges have received masters level training in commercial law. A backlog of 3,333 cases has been cleared and an additional 9,376 cases have been received, out of which 85% have been resolved. It now takes 210 days to enforce a contract, rather than 310.

The project has established a one-stop-shop for business registration in Kigali, supported by eight regional offices. The introduction of a single registration form and an online system has reduced the number of days to register businesses from 16 to just two. Rwanda is now ranked number nine in the world for starting a business. The cost of registration has been reduced from US$433 to US$43 and the number of procedures from nine to two.

RICP has also successfully modernised the National Land Centre. With the help of experts from the Netherlands, the land registry has been digitalised and a new automated Land Registration and Information System launched. Prior to ICF intervention, it took 371 days and cost 10% of the property’s value to register property. Now it takes just 55 days (exceeding the target of 150 days) and costs just 0.4%.

Odette Uwamariya, Project Coordinator at RICP, commented: “ICF is less bureaucratic than other development organisations. Their procedures are fast and efficient and their involvement goes beyond a financial commitment - they are involved every step of the way. I have learnt a lot from them but it is the businessmen and women of Rwanda who have benefited the most. It is now easier to do business than ever before. When RICP launched we were ranked 167 in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report. Last year, we were the world’s top reformer and we are now ranked number 58. We are very proud of the improvements we have achieved and hope to work with ICF on more projects in the future. I recommend other institutions to follow Rwanda’s example and go to ICF as fast as they can!”