Implementation Status of Vision 2020 Umurenge Program and Reduction of Extreme Poverty in Huye District, Rwanda

ABSTRACT Poverty at the individual, household and community levels distorts and diminishes the capacity and capability to attain and live a life of well being. Its persistence presence and duration is a threat to national stability and global peace. Rwanda as a country has come to accept this fact and has adopted Vision 2020 Umurenge Program as a way of walking the people out of extreme poverty. The study was about the Implementation of Vision 2020 Umurenge program and reduction of extreme poverty in Rwanda. It was carried out in Huye district which was selected as one of the districts of southern province in Rwanda. The objectives of this study were to determine the profile of respondents and the contribution of Vision 2020 Umurenge Program in reduction of extreme poverty and also to assess the factors that negatively affect the implementation of VUP in reduction of extreme poverty. The sample population of this study was randomly selected. 257 households are involved in Public Works and Direct Support. Heads of households were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire. Implementation of VUP started in May 2008 in 30 pilot sectors, the poorest sector in each of Rwanda’s 30 districts. It was found out that VUP provides employment to a large number of people in its flagship of public works, tries to help the vulnerable, in its program of direct support and help households to create projects and get credits by its program of financial services. It also contributes significantly to household income because 100% of the sampled households depended almost solely on wage and money received from VUP. It helps beneficiaries to shift in term of income. However, they are several weaknesses faced by the VUP beneficiaries in Huye district such as lack of land, land infertility, ignorance and illiteracy of the inhabitants that can lead to the bad welfare of its adherents.