Rwanda: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-Joint Staff Advisory Note

OVERVIEWRwanda made notable achievements in sustaining high growth, reducing poverty andameliorating income inequality during the first Poverty Reduction Strategy (2002–06) and thefirst Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS 1; 2008–2013). Economicgrowth and poverty reduction exceeded the targets set for the EDPRS 1. Real GDP grew at an annualaverage rate of 8 percent and poverty dropped from 57 percent in 2006 to 45 percent in 2011.1Inequality in household consumption was brought down as growth was pro-poor. Progress on socialindicators is evidenced by much higher primary school completion rates (79 percent in 2011compared to 51 percent in 2008) and lower child mortality (54 per 1,000 live births in 2011, downfrom 76 in 2008).