NUR, SIDA enter into $55 M research cooperation

Swedish Embassy’s Joakim Molander and NUR’s Prof. Mbonye after the signing

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the National University of Rwanda (NUR) have signed an agreement for the first year of a five year Research Cooperation which expected to cost 345 Million Swedish Kronor approximately $55 Million.

The agreement was signed by Acting Chargé d’Affaires of Embassy of Sweden in Rwanda, Joakim Molander and the Acting Rector of NUR Prof. Manasse Mbonye. This is the third research deal between NUR and SIDA.

Molander stated that the two phases of Research cooperation between SIDA and NUR has been successful for the last 10 years. He noted that this successful cooperation is the reason behind the new grant deal.

“SIDA was impressed by how our research cooperation was successful in last 10 years. This new agreement is a sign of appreciation and a will of looking forward to continue working together”, said Molander.

SIDA’s support to NUR has been very fruitful by enhancing the research sector in Rwanda according to Mbonye.

“SIDA’s support has been very important for us in the field of research and capacity building. We are glad to be again beneficiaries of this sort of grant”, asserted Manasse Mbonye. He thanked the government and people of Sweden for their contribution to the Development of NUR in particular and Rwanda in general.

Following NUR and other public higher learning institution merging into one university from the next academic year expected to start from September 2013; Mbonye noted that SIDA grant is a great contribution to the university.

Mr. Raymond Ndikumana the Coordinator of SIDA- NUR cooperation said that SIDA funding will be extended to supporting in-house PhD training at NUR on top of the usual way of training abroad.

He also pointed out that the scope of thematic areas to be supported will be larger since the Faculty of Agriculture, Economics and Management as well as the Centre for Geographic information Sciences among others.