In May 2000, the Government of Rwanda adopted a decentralization policy and a strategy for its implementation. According to the Ministry of Local Administration, Good Governance, Community Development and Social Affairs (MINALOC), the National Decentralization Policy is entrenched in the Government of Rwanda’s commitment to empower its people to determine their own destiny. The main objective of the policy is to achieve political, economic, social, managerial, administrative and technical empowerment of local populations in the fight against poverty by ensuring they participate in the planning, execution and management of their development process.
Information is power. Instant access to accurate, up-to-date, and timely information is of paramount importance to effective planning and informed decision making in the socio-economic development process. In light of this, the Government of Rwanda has developed the National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) Policy and Plan to guide the development, deployment and exploitation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as a driver for socio-economic growth and development to accelerate the attainment of Vision 2020.

In support of this vision, the World Bank has awarded a grant to the Government of Rwanda to contribute to the implementation of its eGovernment strategy. This grant has been provided under the eRwanda project which became effective in June 2007 and is being implemented by the Rwanda Information Technology Authority (RITA). The eRwanda Project will focus on specific activities within the NICI Policy and Plan which will have the greatest impact on good governance and improved conditions for the country’s citizens.

In light of this, the RITA through the eRwanda Project has committed funds to assist the Ministry of Local Administration, Good Governance, Community Development and Social Affairs in developing the Local Government Portal (eDistricts Portal) with an effective web presence for 26 districts and one province website. The project aims to harness the power of technology to further the Government of Rwanda’s decentralization agenda of empowering its citizens to actively participate in the decision making process on matters that affect them especially in the fight against poverty and disease. The eRwanda Project is intent on using ICT to make useful information, content and service in different sectors of the economy and society instantly available and accessible to local populations to empower them to make informed decisions and contribute to the planning and implementation of different programs affecting their livelihoods.

It is against that background that eRwanda hired services of Filmax Web Technologies and Gravisio in a joint consultancy to develop and implement the Local Government Portal framework, 26 district websites, one province website and the Office of the President website.

Filmax Web Technologies, in partnership with Gravisio have designed, developed and implemented 26 interactive district websites, the Northern Province and Office of the President Websites as prescribed in the Terms of Reference of the eRwanda project N° RITA/eR/CTR/13/2008