President Paul Kagame has emphasized to Heads of State and Government that in order to bring about positive changes in the lives of Rwandans, their participation in actions and accountability must be prioritized so that every decision taken is aimed at improving the lives of the population.
He reiterated this in his speech to the participants of the World Summit for Social Development held in Qatar, from 4-6 November 2025.
President Kagame noted that in the past 30 years, great strides have been made in eradicating extreme poverty, increasing access to education, health and social services, but inequality remains particularly evident in areas where millions of people struggle to access basic necessities.
He said, “These problems are not new but our governments are not quick enough to address them. Improving the quality of life is an ongoing process that requires keeping up with the times. What is needed now is to continue in the right direction and build on what has been achieved. Achieving this will depend on many factors but the most important thing is to continue to enhance the capacity of the population, which is the center of everything.”
President Kagame stressed that achieving sustainable development requires the efforts of those who need it rather than waiting for it to be handed to them by others.
He said, “We should not be indebted to anyone else for achieving sustainable development. This path has led Rwanda to development. Well-being, citizen participation and accountability are the cornerstones of our governance system. Every decision taken in line with national programs in our institutions is aligned with the promotion of well-being.”
He told the participants of the meeting that there should be reforms in cooperation with international partners because the powerful oppress the weak.
He said, “We must also reform the way we interact with partners. International cooperation is often biased. We must move away from the old ways that are destroying much of the world. For international cooperation to be successful, it will require that it be driven along a path that is productive and measurable and within a certain time frame rather than just agreements.”
President Kagame also emphasized that in a world where many changes occur, there should be preparedness for potential disasters and ways to prevent or deal with them.
He indicated that international financial institutions should always be ready to contribute to the promotion of various development-oriented activities.
He said, “If we truly want to improve the quality of life, programs should meet the needs of all countries, not just a few. Rwanda is ready to work with all its partners to build a sustainable future.”
This Second International Conference on Social Development will be a great platform to discuss the challenges facing the world’s people, and to work together to solve them.
