On 15^th November 2022, RGB and the Network of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) operating in Rwanda held a joint meeting during which they discussed how the latter could engage in strategic partnership for national transformation.

The jointly planned event convened around 180 international NGOs and was the first to be held since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In her remarks, RGB CEO, Dr. Usta Kaitesi underscored that both local and international organisations must continuously improve and create the right influence on one another.

She commended INGOs based in Rwanda for the wealth of knowledge they bring to the country, and challenged them, especially those that implement through partners, to use the knowledge for localization purposes and creating the resilience of local NGOs.

“We are conscious that you bring talent that are not just from Rwanda to deliver on Rwandans. But it makes a lot of sense when those talents create local capacities”, Dr. Kaitesi said.

She further noted: “If you are a credible international organization working for the last 15 years with a local organization that has never improved itself in accountability, that has not improved itself in management, that has not grown in leadership, you must self-challenge”.

The engagement also provided an opportunity to discuss the legal obligation of international and local NGOs to report suspicious transactions related to money laundering, financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

In relation to this, Ms Judith Kazaire, Head of Department for Political Parties and Civil Society Organisations at RGB said: "Some terrorist organisations may pose as legitimate entities and offer to fund NGOs. Now, if NGOs are not vigilant enough, they will be actually using illegitimate money. If you are not very sure of the source of your finance, then you will end up implementing a terrorist-funded project, of course out of good faith but as we say, ignorance of the law is no defense".

Ms Kazaire urged each international and local NGO to develop guidelines and conduct supervision activities geared towards fighting money laundering and financing of terrorism.

She also requested them to appoint focal staffs and assign them to be reporting on suspicious transactions in their organisations, as provided by the law.