The project titled ‘Using ICT to Provide Legal Aid to the Rwandan Population’ is implemented by Legal Aid Forum. With it, the wide use of mobile technology in Rwanda is allowing LAF to provide legal information and advice to vulnerable populations in Rwanda free of charge by calling 845 for IVR or dialing *845# for USSD.

As of August 2018, mobile phone penetration in Rwanda is at a rate of 80.59% whereby a total number of active mobile telephone subscriptions is 9,516,926 78.2%. This motivates why using mobile phones.

The project has two primary goals: 1) Rwandan Citizens are aware of their rights, procedures and laws in force; 2) Citizens have better and easy access to legal services. So far 55 legal messages were developed and are available under form of both IVR and USSD.

The project started in March 2018 and by mid-September 2018, around 1998 persons have been received by the call center operators (legal experts based at LAF offices); 19230 people booked calls (wanting to talk with legal experts); 53585 people listened to the legal information uploaded on 845 platform in form IVR and 63585 persons read legal information uploaded on 845 platform in form of USSD.

http://legalaidrwanda.org/spip.php?article123

• Rwanda

• Youth
• Older persons
• Women
• Indigenous and nomadic peoples
• The poor
• Remote and rural communities

Being the the first of its kind in Rwanda, the project attracts a number of funding since it started. So far we have secured three years funding from the Kingdom of the Netherlands with possibilities of expansion. The Rwandan Government commitment to expand use of ICT in all sectors, is also a sign for the sustainability of the project.

Referring to the WSIS Declaration of Principles of 12 December 2003 this project promotes WSIS in our community especially in promoting Access to legal information and legal knowledge and Capacity building of all Rwandan population.