Rwanda

The joint programme enhances the livelihoods and economic opportunities of Small-Scale Cross-Border Traders (SSCBTs) in Rwanda, primarily women in the informal sector, by leveraging digital technology for better resource connections and market access. It implements a three-pronged approach focusing on policy enhancement, service provision, and grassroots empowerment, resulting in improved governance frameworks, accessible financial services, and tailored digital solutions. The programme directly benefits approximately 154,200 SSCBTs, fostering inclusive economic growth and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through enhanced resilience and competitiveness.

The program focuses on enhancing resilient food systems in Rwanda through improved post-harvest management and value chain technologies, aiming to foster food security and better livelihoods. It actively engages smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, by providing access to affordable post-harvest handling solutions, increasing their knowledge of nutritious food practices, and strengthening market linkages. The initiative reaches 500 smallholder farmers across five cooperatives, significantly improving their income and resilience against climate impacts. Overall, it contributes to advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to poverty alleviation, food security, and sustainable agricultural practices.

Brief description

The Joint Programme will help to realize the much-needed engagement of the private sector to drive economic development in Rwanda as per the aspiration of the country and SDGs. It supports the development of tools and guidelines to align private sector investments to national priorities and SDGs including by adapting and scaling up comprehensive shared value approaches for SDG delivery. In addition, the JP aims at supporting Rwanda to mobilize significant amount of resources by piloting selected innovative financing instruments such as blended finance facility, social bonds and green bank. The results from the activities above will contribute to promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The activities will also contribute to having more climate change-sensitive strategies and planning.

Approach

The programme will support the Government of Rwanda to ensure fiscal sustainability, promote stronger policy coherence for sustainable development, and support the elaboration and implementation of an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) as a tool to reach national priorities and the SDGs. New and inclusive partnerships around financing and transformational development in Rwanda will be advanced through all outputs. Approaches to mainstream gender- and climate-sensitive and pro-poor planning, budgeting, and innovative financing strategies will also be strengthened through the JP. The activities will promote citizens engagement and participation in decision-making processes, especially in decentralized planning and budgeting processes, and improved transparency.

The programme brief description

While Rwanda has made great strides in reducing poverty and malnutrition over the past two decades, there remain a number of challenges that need to be addressed. Namely, the capacity to deliver social protection services has gaps, and remains low compared to the needs of the population. This Joint Programme will aim to eliminate those gaps by working at the community level to support the most vulnerable households. The programme will ensure that the delivery of social protection to the poorest households is more effective. Specifically, the programme focuses on female-headed households, households with a large number of children, households exposed to climate-related shocks and households with disabled persons. 

Approach

The Joint Programme will strengthen policy coordination and collaboration amongst different sectors contributing to integrated social protection. The programme will also contribute to unlocking additional funding for the social protection sector partly through support from DFID and the World Bank and partly through other funding opportunities including multi-lateral funding. Additionally, the most vulnerable households in five districts in Rwanda will benefit from a single-window approach with an innovative integrated case-management and proximity services referral model, improved access to social protection, basic social services and economic empowerment, while building their resilience to climatic shocks and improving their access to agriculture inputs and nutrition support.

Target groups

Women, children, girls, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons.