The Citizen Report Card 2017 indicates improved citizen satisfaction in service delivery and governance in local governments from 67.7% in 2016 to 70.9% at national level. In the Northern Province, the level of satisfaction stands at 75.18%, a four percent improvement from 71.74 % in 2016.

Speaking during the dissemination of findings in the Northern Province on November 29^th, Prof Anastase Shyaka, CEO of Rwanda Governance Board noted that the Northern Province was highly ranked in the CRC findings.

“Four of the top ten best performing districts are from the Northern Province, this justifies the choice for the venue of today’s event,” Prof Shyaka said.

Despite the improved level of citizen satisfaction in the different sectors, CRC 2017 notes the needed to improve service delivery in the economic sector specifically in the area of crop production and animal husbandry. Citizens’ low level of satisfaction in this sector lay in the untimely distribution of seeds, limited market for their produce and lack of value addition.

Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, the Governor of the Northern Province challenged local leaders in the Northern Province to double their efforts and improve service delivery in the sectors that were poorly ranked and improve citizens’ livelihoods.

“It is my conviction that CRC 2018 will present better results from the Province,” Governor Gatabazi said.

The CRC dissemination exercise drew participants from the local administration that included; district Mayors, Sector Executive Secretaries, representatives of Joint Action Development Forum and Civil Society, and heads of security organs.

Stephen Anthony Rodriques, UNDP country director and Sara Haglund first Secretary/Senior programme manager, democracy and human rights at the Swedish embassy in Kigali, also attended the event.

The Citizen Report Card, an annual publication is produced under Deepening Democracy through strengthening Citizens' Participation and Accountable Governance (DDAG) project.