RDIS works out a Strategic Plan and Annual Plans to ensure community needs are considered and, organization’s sustainability is assured. To this end, a midterm evaluation was held from 15-17th November 2023 to assess the achievements against the planed objectives, indicators and targets. It was attended by the management team and the Assistant Field Coordinator of RDIS in Shyogwe Zone, and facilitated by Rev. Godwin Ampony, the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) Team leader International Diaconia. The team were taken through an evaluation framework with an emphasis on key determinant issues which weight more in the development and growth of RDIS organization and impact it makes in the communities as stipulated in the strategic plan:
a. The Sustainability RDIS and the work it does with and for the communities,
b. The Community ownership and active participation throughout project cycle management, and last but not least, the
c. Professionalism and Results Oriented Spirit.
The whole process was summarized into the following components: Objectives, Indicators, Yearly Results, Cumulative Results, and Remarks. This has helped to discover the gaps to be dealt with for the next two years 2024-2025
Among key remarks for the improvement of the next half of the strategic plan, the following should be considered:
- Sources funds should be clearly indicated for each budget line.
- Putting much attention on capacity building at all levels (Beneficiaries, Customers and Personnel: Developing proposals for RDIS staff,) and clearly emphasizing on the number and relevance of trainings, given, so far, what was achieved is lower compared to the targets.
- Separating grant projects from investments projects.
- Capacity building at all levels (Personnel: Developing proposals for RDIS staff, Beneficiaries and Customers) requires much attention for the next years, given, so far, what is achieved is lower compared to the target
- Merging some activities which seem to be interconnected, and detailing and making clear some targets.
Comparing planned to realized, some setbacks to be addressed and important ongoing activities need to be integrated and budgeted in the Strategic Plan. Those are RDIS three Stars Plaza and a Saving and Credit Cooperative owned by members of existing saving and credits groups, RDIS, Anglican Dioceses of Butare, Cyangugu, Kigeme, Nyaruguru and Shyogwe as well as Best Products and Services. And this to be given priority for the year 2024 onward.
Basing on the score metric, the strategic plan was completed, roughly 70% of what was planned for, for the first three years, and there is much hope that they will be fully completed. The already evaluated period showed a need to answer the possible evaluation questions, and a possibility to edit the strategic plan, as COVID-19 and emerging economic conditions impacted the content, methodology, staffing, and delivery.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants were much concerned by what they were going to address. They were committed to thinking about what is needed to plan how to get it, hence prioritizing Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses, Strength (TOWS) analysis than SWOT analysis. All the expectations of the workshop were met.
By Pastor NTARINDWA Viateur
Executive Director of RDIS
