Speaking at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, he emphasized that meaningful progress for Rwanda, Africa, and the world depends on partnerships that are fair, effective, and responsive to the needs of all countries, not just a few.

Reflecting on the past three decades, President Kagame noted that the world and Rwanda in particular has made significant strides in eradicating extreme poverty and expanding access to education, healthcare, and other basic services.

However, he pointed out that glaring inequalities in living standards persist, especially in countries where many people still struggle to meet daily needs.

“These challenges are not new,” he said. “But our governments have not always acted swiftly enough to resolve them. Improving people’s welfare is a continuous journey that requires adapting to changing times. What we need now is to build on the progress achieved and continue moving forward. Most importantly, we must strengthen citizens’ capacity because that is where real transformation begins.”

President Kagame went on to underline that social development is a continuous journey that requires adaptability, stressing that sustainable progress must be built from within.

“Social development is a continuous journey that requires adaptability. Right now, the priority is to keep the pendulum swinging in the right direction, and build on what has already been achieved. For development to be sustainable, it cannot be outsourced. This approach has guided Rwanda’s transformation. Social protection, community participation, and accountability are firmly embedded in how we govern. Every policy decision by our institutions is concerned with advancing quality of life,” President Kagame said.

He added that Rwanda’s governance model anchored on citizen participation and accountability has proven that progress comes from empowering people rather than relying on external solutions.

Turning to the global stage, President Kagame stressed the need to redefine international partnerships, warning that existing systems often favor a few powerful nations while excluding the majority of the world.

“We must redefine our approach to partnerships. Too often, global cooperation is not balanced. We must move away from outdated practices that exclude the majority of the world. For multilateral engagements to be effective, they will need to be tailored to delivering universal, measurable, and timely results not promises. If we are serious about social development, then our solutions must serve the needs of all countries, not just a few.”

The summit, now in its second edition, serves as a platform to deliberate on major global challenges such as economic inequality, unemployment, and the impacts of climate change. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to advancing inclusive development rooted in equality and collective prosperity.

President Kagame’s message reinforced Rwanda’s global image as a nation that places citizens at the heart of its governance where accountability, participation, and good leadership remain the foundation of national development.