Disasters, Conflicts and Migration 

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile. 

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities 

The rainfall patterns in Rwanda are characterized by four seasons, a short rainy season from September to November. See here.

During the two rainy seasons, the north-western provinces are the most vulnerable areas prone to landslides causing damage and loss of lives. The elevation, slope, poor land management and rainfall are the key drivers for landslides in this area. Rain harvest which could minimize runoff is rarely practiced, impacting livelihoods, killing, or injuring people, and damaging infrastructure, especially roads and bridges, that become impracticable.   

Due to its dense river network and large wetlands, the country is threatened mainly by riverine floods. Five flood plain areas have been recorded in the National Risk Atlas of Rwanda related to the following river’s catchment: Nyabarongo, Nyabisindu, Sebeya, Mukungwa and Kagitumba. Nyabarongo River affected more districts than any other river. During the rainy season some parts of roads close to those rivers are submerged by water blocking the passage of vehicles. 

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response 

GOVERNMENT 

 Rwanda is among the fastest growing economies in Africa with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Current) of $10.354 billion, according to the World Bank.  

Rwanda’s economy is mostly dependent on agriculture, with coffee and tea serving as two of the country’s most important exports. Tourism has also grown into a significant source of revenue. Infrastructure projects such as roads and airports have seen significant investments made by the country to help enhance economic growth and development. 

Despite the progress made in recent years, poverty and food insecurity remain major challenges for Rwanda. Nearly 39 percent of the population live below the poverty line, and almost one-fifth is food insecure. Levels of stunting among young children remain very high, at 35 percent. These statistics underscore the need for continued investment in programs that address poverty and hunger. 

The country has made significant progress in recent years in terms of infrastructure development and is now well-positioned to capitalize on its strategic location and improve connectivity within the region. 

On the humanitarian side, Rwanda was home to 175,000 Congolese and Burundian refugees by January 2019. Most refugees, 91 percent of reside in refugee camps and only 9 percent live in urban areas. 

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List. 

HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY 

There are a number of UN Agencies and international and national NGOs operating in Rwanda. The main areas of intervention include the following: Education, Advocacy and Child Rights protection, Social Protection, Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), Nutrition, Food Assistance, Shelter Protections, Agriculture, Health, and Gender Based Violence prevention (particularly in refugee camps). Most of the work carried out is done in collaboration with government institutions. 
 

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Humanitarian Agency Contact List. 

Customs Information 

Duties and Tax Exemption 

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 4.1 Government Contact List.  

Emergency Response: 

In the following table, state which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones 

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response):  

Rates of Duty & VAT  

The rate of import duties is provided for in the customs tariff book, there are currently 4 rates of duty which are 0%, 5%, 18, and 25%. Imports from COMESA countries that meet conditions as specified by the COMESA rules of origin are given preferential treatment by reducing the rates. The rate of VAT is currently 18%.  

Import Procedures for UN Goods  

WFP, as per the terms of the Basic Agreement with the Government of Rwanda, (Article VI, Sections 11 & 12) has freedom of taxation, customs duties and any other levies, prohibitions and restrictions on goods, imported or exported, related to its constitutional objectives.   

Exemption of Taxes  

To be exempted from paying duties and taxes, the imported goods must be mentioned in article 182 of the customs law.(With the introduction of the ESW, the exemption is done online with the attachment of an invoice, packing list, DDCom/IM8-Customs declaration from the entry point & a copy of the agreement between the GoR and WFP) The clearing agent presents WFP with the RRA Exemption form, a copy of the commercial invoice and packing list.  WFP signs and stamps the form and attaches an Application for an Exemption letter.  The letter of exemption is issued and authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then signed by the Ministry of Finance; this can take up to 10 days after the exemption form and letters have been submitted.   

Clearing Documents / Regularisation or Formalisation  

With the use of the ESW (Electronic Single Window) All imports will normally be cleared from customs with the attachment of the following documents below which are forwarded to the concerned line ministry, e.g., for Rwanda it’s the ministry of foreign affairs.  

1.  One original Bills of Lading/AWB, one original NCV invoice / original supplier invoice / original packing   

2.   list  

3.  Exemption letter authorized by the Government of Rwanda  

1.  MAGERWA (bonded warehouse) creates the ‘Notice of Arrival’  

2.  On approval by the concerned line ministry, it’s forwarded to RRA awaiting the commissioner for customs approval of the exemption which he does by releasing it back to WFP office for assessment. These are then presented to Customs who authorizes it and the goods are released  

3.  On assessing it WFP sends it back to the customs office (Long Room) to enable any payments to be met and to further cross-check for any other missing details with the consent of RBS. When all is fine a print release is facilitated and this is when goods are exited from the system. (Completion of the regularization procedure)  

N.B. Because of the various private arrangements, WFP has with RRA all the above is done afterward coupled with the load of the consignment WFP normally tends to have. 

In order to receive duty and tax exemptions, an organization has to be registered under the Rwanda Governance Board; credentials submitted to the Ministry of Finance, Foreign affairs and in the case of UN agencies the Office of the President.  

Below are the general rules for tax incentives, concessions, and exemptions that apply to humanitarian organizations:  

Customs Duty:  

1.  goods imported for diplomatic missions, consulates, international organizations and charities   

2.  educational, scientific, and cultural materials.   

3.  pharmaceutical products, instruments, and apparatus intended for medical purposes, pesticides, agricultural inputs and tools, and fishery equipment.   

VAT Exemptions:  

1.  Water Supply and Sewage Treatment Services   

2.  Goods and Services for Health Purposes including medical treatment, drugs, and medical equipment and equipment for people living with disabilities.   

3.  Educational Material and Services provided for/used by government education institutions and those run by NGOs   

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure:  

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements 

Customs Clearance 

General Information  

Customs Clearance Document Requirements 

Transit Regime 

The Customs working hours at the borders are from 07:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs for cargo and 24 hrs per day for passengers (including weekends and holidays) plus trucks with containers save for open trucks with tarpaulins. However, about small and not so busy border posts, the Customs officer might not be found at any time during the day. The gazetted overland border posts for heavy vehicles where Rwanda Customs, Police and Immigration at present are as follows: 

Transit Charges  

There is a road-toll charge for foreign registered trucks entering Rwanda of $152 per trip, additional to this is a charge of RWF 15,000 ($27) RWF 5,000 ($9.00) which is referred to as the Entry Card Charge for foreign trucks with a non EAC registration number plate e.g. DRC.  

The charge for presenting customs documentation is RWF 6,000 ($10) RWF 3,000 ($5.50). There is also a $200 bond charge but there is no requirement for WFP to pay this.  

Storage and Handling at Overland Border Posts   

Depending on the nature and the physical location of WFP operations at the time, the storage facility of the nearest town or WFP EDP could be considered as an alternative to the border post storage, regarding the borders that do not have a storage facility, for instance:  

Alternative Border Storage Options  

Generally, the storage facilities are not up to the WFP standards. Therefore, there may be a need for repair and rehabilitation works before use.  

Inspection Procedures  

Trucks arriving at the border crossing points are checked for appropriateness of documentation and sample checks of the cargo type can be conducted as per international standards and procedures. Rwanda accepts and uses ESW (Electronic Single Window) ASYCUDA (Automatic System for Customs Data); this enables clearance to be kept to a minimum, sometimes as little as only 10 mins.  

Customs documents are filled at the entry points and a general inspection is undertaken before trucks are allowed to continue to their destination. Truck movements are monitored by the Anti-Smuggling Unit at each checkpoint until they reach their destination. The Anti-Smuggling Unit evaluates the time trucks spend between checkpoints to check if there was any diversion on the way.  

Available Facilities  

The border crossing points that are also regional towns (Gisenyi & Cyangugu) all have adequate facilities that drivers require. The other crossing points are not near major towns have basic facilities such as food and lodging, small retail shops, and standby security personnel.