Objective: The project is aimed to complement the efforts of the governments of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda to conduct pest surveillance and manage emerging pests. It will impart specific capacity for mango mealybug pest surveillance, early warning and management knowledge to control mango mealybug. The governments will incorporate the knowledge gained through this project intervention and continue surveillance and management as well as collection and identification of natural enemies attacking the mango mealybug.

Description: Mango mealybug presence in Rwanda was officially reported to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) on 28 October 2019. The pest is currently distributed in a total of 12 African nations. The mango mealybug, known also by its scientific name Rastrococcus invadens Williams (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is one of these pests that threatens African smallholder farmers whose livelihoods is heavily dependent on the production of mangoes. The intervention will ensure Mango production losses through sustained management of mango mealybug (Rastrococcus invadens) in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda are prevented, and the Regional capacity of national authorities to respond to Mango Mealybug incursions is established.

The project is expected to: 

• establish the pest status of mango mealybug
• reduce Mango mealybug incidences through biological control
• conduct awareness and distribution of knowledge products across sub-regional offices of Eastern Africa

Implementation period: October 2020 - December 2021

Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB)

Donor: FAO

Budget: USD 500 000

Geographical coverage: Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda

Project code: TCP /SFE/3801 (E)

Objective: Reduce rural poverty” and enable FAO Member States to advance towards the attainment of SDG 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth” in rural areas.

Description: The Integrated Country Approach for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agri-food system “ICA project” supports countries in adopting and implementing more youth-inclusive agri-food system development policies, strategies and programmes. Its ultimate objective is to reduce rural poverty and distress migration among rural young women and men by reducing unemployment and underemployment.

Implementation period: January 2020-2023

Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI)

Donor: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

Budget: USD 6 million

Geographical coverage: National

Project code: GCP/INT/335/MUL

Objective: The project is aimed to develop the capacities of beekeepers in modern beekeeping skills to increase production of quality and quantity of bee products.

Description: In Rwanda, beekeeping is one of the major contributors to the livelihoods of many households for their socio-economic development and to environmental balance of the country. The main bee products exploited in Rwanda are honey, beeswax and propolis (used in medicines) and other products such as royal jelly, pollen, bee venom and bee brood.

Beekeeping has been practiced for many years in Rwanda as a family enterprise, through successive generations and along inherited patterns (MINAGRI, 2008). The beekeeping industry is coming out of shadow attracting public and private sector support and is becoming one of the areas where investments can be encouraged. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), it is estimated that more than show there are about 120 000 beekeepers in the country, with only 35 percent using modern beekeeping, others practice traditional methods. Therefore, support is much needed related to capacity development, setting up demonstration apiaries and beekeeping equipment supply. This implies an interesting potential for boosting this sector, the low adaptability to modern beekeeping being the major factor contributing to this sector underdevelopment.

Beekeeping is a potential non-farm activity that can support beneficial conservation and sustainable exploitation of forest resources. This would have a positive feedback to improvement of livelihoods for rural dwellers and peri-urban communities, where these conservation efforts are being undertaken (Saha, 2002). With respect to technical expertise, there is lack of adequate skills external to the existing traditional ones on various aspects such as basic training in commercial beekeeping, training material and assistances, extension service provision, quality control mechanisms such as handling of products and testing locally in equipped laboratories.

The project aims to build capacity of beekeepers and master trainers through establishment of four model educational apiaries at four major agro-ecological zones (Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western provinces) to improve quantity and quality of bee products fostering income generation and job creation. It will develop the capacity of the local beekeepers and services providers on modern beekeeping technologies to be used to impact knowledge and skills to the farmers and provide technical backstopping where needed. Linkages with relevant international institutions and government departments from other countries will be maintained. The farmers’ field school approach will be used to build on active contribution of farmers that should also contribute to their ownership of the project with respect of men and women who will be equally involved in the project implementation.

Implementation period: November 2020 - November 2022

Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)

Donor: FAO

Budget: USD 350 000

Geographical coverage: National

Project code: TCP/RWA/3802 (697741)

Objective: The overall objective of this project is to implement capacity development on sustainable soil management and science-based fertilization via South-South Cooperation in Rwanda, with particular focus on balanced fertilization for improved food production and soil health. Additionally, this project aims to strengthen national soil laboratories under the umbrella of Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN).

Description: Soil fertility in Rwanda is declining due to soil fertility mining. This puts crop production in an unsustainable path since a considerable proportion of soils in the region are highly weathered with low reserves of macro and micronutrients to support nutrients mining. The current soil fertility management practices that smallholders use, namely recycling crop residues, biomass reuse, short fallow cultivation/cycles and other organic practices appear to be inadequate to counter the nutrient outflows. Consequently, a number of case studies have shown that crop yields are declining. Given that population is increasing, this poses a big challenge for policymakers to address the downward soil fertility trend in the region. Fertilizer trials and the consequent recommendations conducted in Rwanda emphasize the need for greater use of organic and inorganic fertilizers to remedy the nutrient deficiencies, where two thirds of smallholders in Rwanda report not to use inorganic fertilizers.

Many factors lead to the low adoption of fertilizer use in the region. One such factor is inappropriate fertilizer recommendations. Farmers do not significantly vary fertilizer application rates according to perceived soil quality, raising another opportunity for gains. The recommendations are based on mono-cropping systems, while most of the cropping systems in the region are complex intercropping and mixed cropping systems. Additionally, the recommendations do not consider the dynamic nature of the agricultural input and output prices and other economic changes. This has made many recommendations irrelevant to farmers, and hence their low adoption, even among those who appreciate the benefit of fertilizer application. Even farmers who use fertilizers apply doses that are well below the recommended rates. Therefore, there is a need for a new approach to bear on replenishing soil fertility in Rwanda. There is an urgent need to revise the current fertilizer recommendations so that they take into account the cropping systems and the profitability of fertilizer use inputs. To do proper recommendations, it is necessary to conduct on-farm fertilizer trials in different cropping systems and to collect and analyze soil samples to better understand the status of soil fertility.

Implementation period: July 2020 - July 2022

Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB)

Donor: FAO

Budget:   USD 500 000

Geographical coverage: National

Project code: GCP /RWA/040/CPR

Objective: Promotes an integrative approach to water resources assessments that takes into account biophysical, policy and socio-economic aspects of water use. It makes use of established approaches such as water accounting and auditing and develops new methodologies in assessing water tenure arrangements.

Description: The projections of water scarcity trends are sobering. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will live in regions that face "absolute water scarcity" as reported by the World Water Development Report (2012). Competition for water resources will increase, putting into focus issues of allocation, access and management.

The project recognizes this and thus aims to strengthen water governance processes in three countries – Sri Lanka, Senegal and Rwanda – so that they are better prepared to ensure food security and to adapt to climate change, water scarcity and increased competition for water resources in an equitable and sustainable manner.

The KnoWat project makes use of established approaches (such as water accounting and auditing) and develops new methodologies where there are none (for example, in assessing water tenure arrangements).

When combined, it is possible to conduct a comprehensive water resources assessment and to evaluate water management and allocation options, considering the multiple needs of water users - especially of small-scale farmers, pastoralists and fisher folk- and working towards improved access to water for all.

The project will have activities both at global and country level. At global level, the Land and Water Division (CBL) will lead the project. A Water Officer will be recruited to manage the project along with a part-time Land Tenure Officer and part-time Administrative Staff. They will coordinate the normative process of developing practical guidelines on water tenure assessments together with other technical units at FAO (DPSL, LEGN, ESD and CIO), interested member states, external partners and international experts. This will be done in a broad consultation process, developing the concept and practical methodologies of water tenure further, and anchoring the topic in international fora. Specific outreach and communication activities are planned to ensure a global reach.

At country level, the following Ministries will act as focal points for the project, working closely with the FAO Offices and the National Project Coordinator to implement the project.

• In Sri Lanka, the Irrigation Department of the Ministry of Irrigation, Water Resources Management and Disaster Management; Irrigation Department, Sri Lanka is the leading agency; the Department of Agrarian Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, will be consulted when fit.
• In Rwanda, the Ministry of Environment (which includes Water and Forestry Authority) Rwanda is the leading agency with contributions from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB).
• In Senegal, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment will be the main implementing partner. The river basin organisation of the Senegal River, or Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal (OMVS), will be another key partner.

Implementation period: September 2019–2021

Partner: Ministry of Environment (MoE)/RWFA

Donor: Federal Republic of Germany

Budget: USD 2 996 105 (For three countries)

Geographical coverage: National

Project code: GCP /GLO/907/GER

Objective: The project aims to support the Government of Rwanda at different levels to develop an appropriate food agenda for City of Kigali (CoK) and nearby peri-urban and rural areas. This project focuses on building climate-resilient city region food systems (CRFS), in particular on improving, scaling up climate-resilient smallholder agricultural practices and enhancing ecosystem services in the city region context.

Description: The project intends to increase city food planning capacities and skills, while on the other it will explore policy options to improve the climate resilience of the CRFS in 3 city regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In the three selected city regions including Kigali city region, a strong engagement with producer organizations, the private sector and civil society will be necessary to support the desired enabling policy and regulatory environment to assist the Government of Rwanda and the CoK to achieve its obligations under the New Urban Agenda. The desired outcome for this project is to contribute to food security and nutrition of the population in urban, peri-urban and rural hinterlands in the context of climate change and the expected increase in climate shocks and slow-onset stresses by building climate-resilient food systems across the urban-rural spectrum.

The CRFS will produce the following outputs:

1.     Assess and monitor risks and vulnerabilities to climate shocks and stresses and to define interventions to increase climate resilience in city region food systems (CRFS).

2.     Provide technical and policy assistance to local stakeholders to develop integrated and participatory intervention strategies and policies aiming to increase climate resilience of food systems in three city regions, with focus on small scale production.

3.     Strengthen capacity of smallholder farmers and other local stakeholders in 3 pilot city regions to design and implement specific measures to increase climate resilience in city region food systems.

4.     Foster learning exchange and cooperation among stakeholders on existing good practices to increase climate resilience in city region food system

Implementation period: December 2018 – November 2021

Partner: Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), and the Private Sector Federation

Donor: Federal Republic of Germany

Budget: USD 1 818 256

Geographical coverage: City of Kigali

Project code: GCP/INT/275/GER

Objective:

The project aims to strengthen food systems in selected small cities and towns in Rulindo district so that they become more sustainable and inclusive across the rural-urban spectrum. It is expected that the project will have an impact on food security and nutrition, while also ensuring employment opportunities, in particular for youth and women.

Description:

The rapid urbanization impact on people’s livelihoods is observed in Rwanda, where rapid urbanization needs a proper planning too. The population census of 2012 has shown that urban population was 4.6 percent in 1978, reached 16.5 percent in 2012 and is expected to reach 35 percent by 2020. The current annual growth rate of the urban population is 4.1 percent. Almost 80 percent of those who live in cities live in unplanned settlements. Rwanda has thus taken a strategic approach to plan and master its urbanization according to the current developed National Urbanization Policy (2015).

The need of promoting sustainable planning is confirmed by the growing evidence on loss of soil fertility and decline in water quantity and quality in the country. In addition to this, climate change is already having a significant negative impact on agriculture which is known to be relied on by about 70 percent of Rwandan population while contributing to 30 percent of Rwanda’s GDP.

The project aims therefore to assist Rwanda and those other two countries, to enhance the capacities of key stakeholders, including government institutions and civil society organizations for them to sustainably orient their interventions strategies towards strengthening food systems between urban and peri-urban and rural areas in order to be able to cope with the impacts of natural related shocks and stresses impacting food and nutrition security in the city regions.

Rulindo district is the target area for the project and it is expected that the sharing of the project outcomes with other districts would be a learning strategy for them to adopt the methodology used and also plan for strengthening the food systems in other district cities and surrounding rural areas for the improvement of food and nutrition security.

Output 1: Knowledge generated for identifying opportunities to improve food systems through the establishment of “agro-food districts” in selected small cities and towns.

Output 2: Participatory food governance mechanisms established for promoting coordination among local governments and food actors aiming at establishing “agro-food districts”, strengthening the local economy and improving nutrition in small cities and towns.

Output 3: Capacities of stakeholders in small cities and towns enhanced for sustainable food production, natural resource management and agri-business with the potential for upscaling.

Output 4: Integrated food systems innovations at planning and implementation level in small cities and towns scaled up and globally promoted.

Implementation period: 2020-2021

Partner: Rulindo district

Donor: FAO

Geographical coverage: Rulindo (Rwanda)

Project code: FMM/GLO/132/MUL

Objective:

The objective of the Joint Programme is to improve women and men farmers’ livelihoods and climate resilience through the adoption of agro-ecological production technologies, improved climate information-based planning and early warning in the selected drought and landslide prone areas of the country.

Description:

While 70 percent of the population of Rwanda is involved in agriculture, the high reliance on subsistence agriculture exposes the farmers to low productivity, high dependency on rain and weather conditions, and food price fluctuation. With increasing climate change, frequent and severe weather incidents cause hazards such as drought, floods and landslide, and the climate resilience of the farming population is a persistent and urgent issue of concern.

The Joint Programme will address the issue shared by two key sectors, Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) and Agriculture, through the joint effort of two UN agencies, UNDP and FAO. The programme will be implemented as part of a concerted effort with other UN agencies and Development Partners. It will aim to enhance the climate resilience of farmers in drought and landslide prone areas of Rwanda through the promotion of an integrated crop, aquaculture and livestock intensification system based on sound climate information, combined with land mitigation measures such as agroforestry and the provision of green technologies and livelihood opportunities. It will comprehensively strengthen adaptation to climate change issues, increase productivity for both agriculture and livestock while enhancing resilience and nutrition.

While similar issues are seen widely across the country, the proposed geographic areas of intervention are the Districts of Kayonza, Bugesera, Nyagatare, Gakenke and Rulindo, where drought or landslide risks are high and the agencies have previous experience to build upon. However, the provision of green component may vary based on the baseline study of Integrated Development Program (IDP) model villages to take place in year 1.

The key project outputs are:

• Integrated crop, livestock and aquaculture demonstrated adopting the Songhai Model
• Farmer capacity developed for increased production skills focusing on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) through participatory learning with gender and youth fully integrated
• Sustainable Agricultural intensification and food security enhanced
• Bioenergy and Food Security assessment conducted and capacity for integrating bioenergy in agricultural resilience strategies supported
• Selected IDP Villages equipped with green components
• Technical capacity of Meteo Rwanda strengthened to produce improved agriculture related weather data and forecast products
• Improved use of weather and climate information including agricultural advice by farmers

• Concepts proven and up scaled through new proposal development

Implementation period: April 2019 – June 2023

Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Ministry of Environment (MoE), Rwanda Meteorology Agency (Meteo Rwanda)

Donor: UN Agencies ( UNDP, FAO)

Budget: USD 5 257 432

Geographical coverage: Districts: Kayonza, Bugesera, Nyagatare, Gakenke and Rulindo

Project code:  UNJP/RWA/O44/UNJ

Objective: The aim of the project is to provide technical support to the Government of Rwanda in the implementation of the Smart Rwanda Master Plan and Made in Rwanda Policy, which underpins the current transformational agenda of the country and promotes use of ICT for efficient and effective service delivery, think of innovative ideas such as e-commerce in agriculture value chains to solve business problems as part of a wider strategy to digitalize the Rwanda economy. The support responds to the priorities set by the Rwanda National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) in particular, providing the contribution in encouraging the agriculture e-commerce stakeholders to establish and implement some of the key best practices in terms of better trading strategies and help e-commerce start-up companies to thrive and become major contributors into the economy. It will also address the need of strengthening the capacity of local suppliers (Trade stakeholders) in the skills development in agriculture value chains and promote e-commerce development based on the capacity assessment needs and digital skills gap, in order, to link local suppliers with big buyers such as big hotels and supermarket importing agricultural produce. Collaboration with the private sector firms through PSF we will help to raise awareness in that area across the country.

Description: The project activities will first be implemented in 3 districts of Kigali city and targeted to enhance business activities into 6 secondary cities with a focus on linking farmers / suppliers with the big hotels and supermarkets continue to import agricultural related produce.  From a gender perspective, the project aims at increasing women’s capacity to participate in e-Commerce for agriculture value chains (EAVCs) platform meetings as part of key stakeholders for knowledge and experience exchange on agriculture e-commerce strategy and its implementation.

This Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project will produce the following outputs:

• Assessment (situation analysis/feasibility study) and capacity building of trading stakeholders, farmers and local suppliers strengthened and the organizational structuring harnessed to adopt and implement a national e-commerce strategy.
• a National strategy for e-commerce in agricultural value chains  developed as enabling framework to enhance access to  multi-channel e-commerce marketing promotional strategies.
• Community Awareness raised at national level on the use of e-commerce tools / digital commerce in agricultural value chains.

The project will also play a role of catalyst by attracting other partners/donors to be engaged in e-commerce and inject both financial and technical resources to expand the project model and achievements and implement the e-commerce strategy to be developed by this TCP project.

Implementation period: 2019 - 2021

Partner: Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and Ministry of ICT and Innovation

Donor: FAO

Budget:  USD 185 000

Objective:

The overall goal is to promote environmental sustainability in the agricultural sector in African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) countries by strengthening environmental governance and the implementation of related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

Description:

Agriculture is the main economic activity in Rwanda, providing about 70 percent of employment, accounting for about 33 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The country enjoys a diversity of crops and livestock breeds that are used for food production, but the agricultural sector in Rwanda faces many challenges. Around 90 percent of Rwandan territory lies on slopes with the consequent effect of soil loss, erosion and decreasing fertility. The low-level use of water resources for irrigation makes agricultural production unpredictable from one season to another. In addition, outbreak of many diseases and pests threaten crops, livestock, bees, trees, and fish, resulting into reduced performance of traditional crops and livestock breeds.

ACP MEAs actions

The ACP MEAs 3 programme will provide guidance on sustainable agricultural production intensification, environmental priorities, and initiatives that seek to halt biodiversity loss.

To address the challenges, the programme will support the improvement in the following key areas:

1.    Biodiversity for food and agriculture, and associated traditional knowledge and wild foods. Conduct inventories of indigenous approaches towards the management of soil, water, and biodiversity resources.

2.    Agroforestry, sustainable forestry, and biomass. Complement the EU-funded “Regreening Africa” programme that seeks reverse land degradation through agroforestry.

3.    Improved pesticide management and promotion of integrated production and pest management (IPPM).

a)    Contribute to the implementation of the HHP risk reduction action plan.

b)    Build capacity for pesticide regulation.

c)    Contribute to the EAC regional collaboration and complement the HortInvest project funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands Government.

Besides Rwanda, the programme will be implemented also in Niger, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Saint Lucia and Solomon Islands.

Implementation period: 2019 - 2023

Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and Ministry of Health.

Donor: European Union

Budget: US 724 113

Geographical coverage: Districts; Musanze, Rulindo, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rwamagana and Bugesera

Project code: GCP/GLO/006/EC

Objective: To develop capacities for climate-relevant, productive, and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems.

Description: Since 2015, the TAP Common Framework has been applied in different countries, including Rwanda, to support capacity development for innovation and generate evidence for better decision-making. The lessons learned from CDAIS, TAPipedia and TAP partners’ collective actions have shaped the second TAP Action Plan 2018-2021, and the scaling up of the CDAIS approach.

The first TAP Action Plan focused on developing and testing the Common Framework, tool development for capacity needs assessment and strengthening, and developing and promoting the global information system on agricultural innovation, TAPipedia. The second TAP Action Plan 2018-2021 goes a step further. It puts more emphasis on strengthening agricultural innovation capacities at country level, and engaging countries and TAP partners more actively in the agricultural innovation agenda.

The project supports the implementation of the second TAP Action Plan, in the context of developing capacities for climate-relevant, productive, and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems in selected low and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. By developing and/or strengthening the three-dimensional capacities for innovation - at individual, organizational and enabling environment levels - the Action will unlock the potential of innovation to contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The to achieve the above, a preliminary assessment of Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) and the organizational capacity development will take into consideration services that are gender sensitive and address engagement of youth. The TAP Common Framework will be enriched with tools/improved tools considering gender and youth and creation of conducive environment for innovation.

Implementation period: August 2019 – July 2022

Partners: Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Agriculture Sector Working Group (ASWG)

Donor: European Union (EU)

Budget: US 300 000

Geographical coverage: National Level

Project code: GCP/GLO/017/EC

Objective: The strategic objectives for intervention in phase II are to Support the National Early Child Development programme (NECDP), to effectively coordinate all food and nutrition interventions in Rwanda, Strengthen national capacity to develop and/or scale-up national food and nutrition programmes, Strengthen capacity of nutrition services and service-providers including Health Care Providers (HCPs), Community Health Workers (CHWs), school teachers, agriculture promoters, at the decentralized level, Increase M&E capacity and knowledge management of the NECDP and other Sectors and Support the NECDP to efficiently deliver policy review and advice on all food and nutrition related matters.

Description: The last 3 DHS reports ( 2005, 2010, 2015) have persistently demonstrated a high prevalence of under 5 stunting and elevated of anaemia in children aged 5 years or below, and women of reproductive age from 15-49 years. In response to this situation, the Government of Rwanda has placed a higher priority on a targeted M&E and coordination mechanism, which aims at improving nutrition-related household food security issues. The 2013-2018 National Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan (NFNSP) provided a coordination structure to support the social cluster for all programs that are designed to address food and nutrition issues. In this vein, a national food nutrition and Nutrition Coordination Secretariat (NFNCS) now the National Early Child Development programme (NECDP), was established to bring together all actors in Food and Nutrition Security and to help coordinate action and monitor activities in order to jointly support the Social Cluster, and to ensure a combination of efforts from all stakeholders, from the central level to the village level.

Major gains were made in reducing anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies in the lifecycle of Phase I. Stunting gains were beginning to be observed in the project but required multi-year efforts to realize significant improvements in the rates. According to findings from the end line evaluation conducted in August-September 2016, despite a general context of food and economic insecurity prevailing in Nyamagabe and Rutsiro districts, the anaemia reduction goal of 30 percent has been fully achieved. Anaemia among children aged 6-23 months decreased sharply since baseline across Ubudehe categories. Anaemia prevalence dropped from 44.4 percent to 22.3 percent among the project cohort at end line in Nyamagabe District, and from 35.2 percent to 14.1 percent in Rutsiro district. Stunting was reduced by 2 percent in children under 2 years of age, and by 4 percent in the Ubudehe 1 and 2. The objective was a 5 percent reduction. However, stunting for children not enrolled in the project actually increased over the same time period, implying the project was potentially protective, and prevented children from being chronically malnourished.

The success of the project was due to different factors including the coordination and partnership of the UN agencies, with each agency working based on the comparative advantage and accountability, the commitment of all involved parties, and the community involvement and good leadership at all levels. The best practices and lessons learned from this project facilitated the government commitment to scale-up micro-nutrient powders supplementation to all children aged between 6 and 23 months, as well as the provision of fortified blended food for children aged 6 to 23 months, and pregnant and lactating women in the poorest wealth categories. In addition, the project coordinator funded by the project to strengthen the coordination of nutrition within the District administration, is now fully funded by the district in Nyamagabe, which could then be considered as a sustainable approach to maintain the knowledge and ensure continuity. The phase II came in place as the scale up activity of the previous phase, with main goal of contributing to the government’s efforts to effectively fight stunting in Rwanda.

Implementation period: February 2018 – December 2020

Partner: Social cluster ministries (Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF/NECDP), Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI/RAB/NAEEB), Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC/districts)

Donor: Swiss agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Budget: USD 378 105

Geographical coverage: National

Project code: UNJP/RWA/036/WFP