Policy Cultures in Rwanda

Abstract

Policy cultures in Africa are heavily influenced by a complex interplay of historical legacies, institutional frameworks, governance capacities, and stakeholder interests. Colonial administrative structures established centralized bureaucracies, hierarchical decision-making, and top-down governance models that still persist in many states. In some countries, there have also been notable shifts towards inclusive governance, driven by institutional reforms, democratization, and the active involvement of diverse stakeholders in the policymaking process. This study explored the policy cultures in Rwanda to identify how evidence is integrated into the process, and the barriers and opportunities that may exist for evidence-informed policymaking.