For Clenie Nyiramana, a mother of three, the journey from Abahuje village in the Gisenyi Sector
to the Rugerero IDP Model Village in Rubavu District has been nothing short of life-changing.
Previously burdened by the constant struggle of paying rent and frequently relocating,
Nyiramana and her children’s education were constantly disrupted. Today, her worries have been
replaced with a sense of pride and stability.
“We no longer have to worry about shelter,” Nyiramana beams. ” We take pride in going back to
our homes every day.”
Nyiramana’s new home is part of the larger Rugerero Model Village initiative, valued at Rwf18.4
billion. Constructed by the Rwanda Defence Force in collaboration with other government
institutions, it was officially handed over to 120 families during Rwanda’s 29th Liberation Day
celebrations. This model village includes residential houses, an Early Childhood Development
(ECD) school, a mini-market, Agakiriro (a local crafts center), a health post, and a poultry shed,
along with essential infrastructure—services that Nyiramana needed and now accesses easily.
Her story resonates with many others, including Thonis Uwamurera, a 48-year-old single mother
of three. Relocated from a high-risk zone in Gatsata to Gikomero Model Village, Uwamurera
expresses profound gratitude for her new three-bedroom self-contained house.
“Here is a house I was given, and I thank the leadership, especially President Paul Kagame, who
is consistently mindful of the welfare of the needy and the widows,” she says.
Uwamurera’s neighbor, Thomas Ndagijimana, once a homeless, disabled father of seven, now
has a place to call home thanks to the same initiative.
“Having a place to call home is a priority in life. You have no foundation in life if you don’t have
a home, and that’s why I thank the assistance we got from the President,” Ndagijimana reflects.
Rwanda’s commitment to improving living standards for its vulnerable populations is evident in
its affordable housing program. The nation’s Vision 2050, which identifies urbanization as a key
driver for economic transformation, has inspired the development of grouped villages, or
“Imidugudu.” These are central to the government’s Integrated Development Programme (IDP).
Since 2010, more than 87 IDP model villages have been built, aimed at resettling vulnerable
households from high-risk areas and offering them decent housing.
The IDP Model Village program was designed to promote proper human settlement in rural
areas. By 2016, the program expanded to include urban communities across all thirty districts in
Rwanda. By 2024, settlements had been constructed in every district, delivering hundreds of
thousands of housing units.
The IDP model villages, now present in all 30 districts, are characterized by typologies and
layouts approved by the Rwanda Housing Authority. The eligibility criteria prioritize vulnerable
households in high-risk zones or low-income groups.
These model villages offer residents access to comprehensive health and social services,
infrastructure, and economic opportunities, contributing significantly to the socio-economic
transformation of rural and peri-urban areas. The villages’ well-constructed roads, open spaces,
water reservoirs, and ECDs with classrooms, kitchens, and conference facilities demonstrate the
holistic approach of the IDP model. Sports facilities, including basketball and volleyball courts
with stadium-like seating areas, and livestock sheds for animal husbandry, enhance the quality of
life for the residents.
The IDP model village program exemplifies an efficient and effective housing value chain,
providing valuable lessons for the private sector aiming to target the affordable housing market.
The government of Rwanda remains the largest housing supplier through the IDP Model Village
Programme. By potentially extending this concept to a broader market segment and involving the
private sector in a hybrid subsidy-financing arrangement, there is an opportunity to enhance the
capacity of Rwanda’s housing supply sector.
Rwanda’s IDP model village program not only provides shelter but also fosters community
development and resilience, ensuring that no one is left behind in the nation’s journey towards
transformation and growth.