Enhancing the preparation of pre-release inmates in Rwanda ( Phase I: Architectural and Technical studies for a Halfway home )

Bailleurs: Stirling Foundation-America

Period: 2020(July- December 2020)

Contact email: nstirling@stirling.org

Since June 2020, the Ministry of Justice is developing a new correction tool called “Halfway Social Reintegration Centres” together with RCS and DiDe Rwanda.
The use of these “transition homes” is related to the reintegration of the offender into society, which can be effective as a realistic Community framework. With a halfway centre, the confusion, uncertainty, and stress faced by the released offender can be gradually dispelled, allowing pre-release a reasonable period to readjust to an independent living. Transition houses can thus function as a "chamber of decompression" for the offender before the release from a long period of detention.
The policy on alternative measures to imprisonment has been developed.
A site has been identified for the installation of a pilot Halfway Social Reintegration Centre Funding has been mobilized for the architectural studies of the pilot phase. This funding was channelled through DiDe Rwanda. The architectural studies are now available.
A needs assessment has been conducted to better understand the expectations of different stakeholders (prisoners, RCS, district administration, families of prisoners, Civil Society Organizations...). Data collection ended on October 31,2021 and the report is expected before the end of November 2021.
Efforts to mobilize funds for the construction phase are ongoing.

To promote this new concept, the Minister of Justice introduced Stirling Foundation as new partners to support a pilot phase of the project. Down the road, it was proposed to include a 21 partner from the local Civil Society and DiDe was recommended to the Donor who accepted. DiDe was tasked to put together a joint proposal, guided by the “Terms Sheet” sent by the Stirling Foundation.
A grant was approved by the Stirling Foundation for a first phase which covered the architectural study of a pilot centre to be set up in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province. The partners in this venture are MINIJUST/RCS – DIDE - STIRLING FOUNDATION. The grant was signed on 13th July 2020 and implemented over a period of 6 months from July 2020 to January 2021 with the following activities:

The development of a master plan considering all components of the project; and ∙ The development of detailed designs for a pilot phase (Halfway centre for Women pre-release in Rwamagana). The tender process was completed, and Talent Contractors Company was selected to develop the Architectural studies after RCS secured a plot in Muhazi Sector, Rwamagana District. The last validation meeting was organized on December 22, 2020, and the final report including all the designs and technical details was availed on January 5, 2021.

The request for a building permit was successfully submitted to the concerned service in Rwamagana district and Rwanda Housing Authority. RCS and Talent are working together to follow-up of this request. The architectural studies are the first step of the project of setting up a pilot centre to facilitate the social reintegration of to-be-released prisoners, especially women. The studies will help in the raising of funds to implement the project.