Exploiting International Development Ideals. The Rwandan Government’s Approach to Local Participation in Light of its Exercise of National Ownership

While the Rwandan government is acknowledged for assuming national ownership and eloquently commits to local participation, its participation practices are severely criticised governance deemed authoritarian. This points a tension between two long-lasting ideals in international development cooperation this article argues that – despite their shared aim of increased recipient agency, initiative, influence interrelation needs be investigated. Rwanda, also known prudently navigate opportunities requirements aid sector, provides critical case such an investigation asks how government’s approach relates exercise ownership. Based on previous own others’ research along with extensive donor documentation, analyses point interlinkages employment ideals, inevitably depending state population.