Research is considered as the most important activity assigned to RGAC. As the institution is mandated to promote good governance principles and practices in public institutions, the conducted researches are basically categorised in three areas: Economic governance, Socio-governance, legal and administrative governance. Furthermore, many research projects are cross-cutting and involve different researchers according to their areas of specialisation. The findings of research are disseminated in form of public debate, panel discussions and publication in Rwanda Governance Review. Apart from conducting research, the research unity conducts regular assessments of Rwanda Governance rankings by different indexes (Mo Ibrahim, Global Integrity, World Bank, MCC, Freedom House, etc).
Following are the researches that are in their final phases and will be published soon:
• 2010 Joint Governance Assessment (JGA) report;
• Electoral Observation report (presidential and local government elections);
• Analysis of 2009 and 2010 Ibrahim Indexes of African Governance: Rwanda Response.
Following are the researches that are being conducted now:
• Assessment of land use consolidation and rural settlement policies;
• Evaluation of Mediators- ABUNZI.
As stated in the mission of RGAC, monitoring and promoting principles of good governance is also done through Policy dialogue. Thus, RGAC research unit in partnership with stakeholders has organized the following Policy Dialogues:
1. April 2010: Policy Dialogue on Legislative Reforms;
2. May 2010: Policy Dialogue on “Anti-Corruption and Good Governance in Rwanda- Using Data for Evidence –based Reforms”;
3. June 2010: Policy Dialogue on Mo Ibrahim Foundation Index – Rwanda 2009 Report;
4. November 2010: In collaboration with ARJ and Ministry of Information, MHC, RGAC co-organized National Dialogue on Media Development;
5. January 2011: Policy Dialogue on Media Law.