Improving Housing Conditions of Historically Marginalised People (HMPs) in Rwanda: Mapping Regional Performance for Directed Interventions

Abstract

Historically Marginalised People (HMPs), count between 0.2 and 0.4% of the Rwandan population. For many decades, they have been living in hatched houses that are not suitable for human habitation. For improving HMPs' living conditions, the Government of Rwanda committed to providing them with decent housing, access to basic infrastructure and services. For a good capture of the effectiveness of such initiatives, a survey on HMPs' housing conditions was conducted in 11 districts. Data were processed with SPSS thereafter mapped using QGIS. The study reveals that most of the HMPs villages live close to basic infrastructure and services. However, in six districts, more than 75% of HMPs households still live in derelict houses and more than 50% have no toilet and kitchen, this results in high exposure of their occupants to various diseases. On one hand, the Government of Rwanda and local government should sensitize the HMPs to build their houses themselves even though they may be assisted, and on the other introduce specific plans for their integration.

Keywords: Historical Marginalised People, Housing Comfort, Access to infrastructure, Deprivation Index.