On 26 August 2020 RGB and UNDP awarded financial grants to 36 civil society organizations through a joint program meant to strengthen the capacity of CSO for accountable and responsive governance.

The grants are provided to enable CSOs to implement various projects in different areas including governance, economic development and social welfare. Each project will be awarded 25,000,000 FRW.

The 36 projects will be implemented in different areas namely; family promotion, anti-SGBV and child protection, protection of the environment for green growth and climate resilience, social protection, youth empowerment and culture promotion, extension services for agriculture and livestock.

The projects were selected through a competitive process completed in 2019 whereby 65 projects were selected. The first round received the funds for the implementation of their projects in the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

The grantees also undergo capacity building training aimed at enhancing the knowledge and understanding about the program, project management, reporting principles and practices, among others.

The program of strengthening Civil Society Organizations for responsive and accountable governance has been implemented by the Government in collaboration with UNDP since 2014. After completion of its first four-year phase in 2018, the program was extended for an additional five years.