GAIN has worked in Rwanda since 2015, supporting market-based and systems-led approaches that strengthen nutritious food value chains, food systems coordination and access to safe, affordable and desirable diets.
GAIN’s engagement in Rwanda spans from 2015 to 2026.
Marketplace for Nutritious Foods, Accelerating Rwanda’s Nutrition Outcomes and Combating Malnutrition in Rwanda through Sustainable Food Systems.
Current programme activities operate in Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro and Nyabihu districts.
Eggs and poultry, high-iron beans and fruit trees support healthier diets and market development.
Country strategy
GAIN Rwanda works with government, businesses and development partners to advance food systems transformation, making safe and nutritious diets more available, affordable and desirable. Our work strengthens national policy and multisectoral coordination, supports evidence-based decision-making, and connects food production, markets and consumer demand to improve nutrition outcomes, particularly for women, children and vulnerable communities.
A Rwanda where everyone, especially women, children and vulnerable communities, can access, afford and choose safe, nutritious diets from inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems.
We support national policy priorities and multisectoral coordination so nutrition is better integrated into food systems transformation.
We help strengthen the use of diagnostics, financing and monitoring tools to guide food systems and nutrition action.
We work across nutritious food value chains to improve availability, affordability, accessibility and desirability of healthier diets.
Our journey
GAIN’s work in Rwanda has evolved from supporting nutritious food businesses to strengthening national food systems, policy coordination and value chains that can improve access to safe, affordable and desirable diets.
2015–2020
Funded by USAID and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Marketplace for Nutritious Foods programme expanded into Rwanda in 2015 following a landscape analysis of the country’s nutrition situation, food value chains, consumer demand and business environment for nutritious foods.
Foundation
The programme provided technical and financial assistance to small and medium-sized food enterprises working across dairy, animal-source foods, fruits and vegetables, pulses and beans, poultry, fish and fortified foods. This helped establish GAIN Rwanda’s market-based approach to linking food businesses, value chains, consumer demand and nutrition outcomes.
2023–2024
After GAIN was invited by the Government of Rwanda to renew its operations, the Accelerating Rwanda’s Nutrition Outcomes programme helped assess and strengthen food systems institutional frameworks and accelerate nutrition outcomes.
Policy progress
The programme supported the integration of nutrition into key national strategies, including the Second National Strategy for Transformation, the National Family and Nutrition Policy, and the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation. It helped position nutrition as a central priority and identify coherent actions to improve the availability, affordability, accessibility and desirability of nutritious foods.
2025–2030
GAIN’s flagship Rwanda programme supports the Government of Rwanda’s efforts to improve nutrition through stronger food systems. It operates in Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro and Nyabihu districts.
Current focus
The programme integrates community nutrition with egg and poultry, high-iron bean and fruit-tree value chains, supported by market development, demand generation and large-scale food fortification.
Programmes and partnerships
GAIN Rwanda works through country programmes and partnerships that connect community nutrition, food value chains, national policy, market systems and evidence-based decision-making.
Flagship programme
This programme operates in Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro and Nyabihu districts, integrating community nutrition with nutritious food value chains, market development, demand generation and food fortification.
GAIN supports nutrition priorities under Rwanda’s national development and agriculture strategies, including stronger food systems coordination.
GAIN contributes to diagnostic, financing and monitoring tools that can strengthen food systems planning and accountability.
GAIN is supporting development of Rwanda’s proposed Food Fortification Policy, covering industrial fortification and biofortification.
GAIN provides technical support to the Rwanda Dairy Development Project, Phase II, to strengthen nutrition monitoring, learning and accountability.
GAIN works with government institutions, development partners, United Nations agencies, private-sector businesses, farmer organisations, research institutions and community structures to strengthen Rwanda’s food systems and improve nutrition outcomes.
Country milestones
GAIN’s recent work in Rwanda has focused on strengthening policy, coordination, evidence and practical food systems action that can improve nutrition outcomes.
Since October 2023
Since re-establishing its Rwanda presence, GAIN has supported the integration of nutrition into national strategies, contributed to food systems tools, and begun value-chain activities that connect community nutrition with safer, more nutritious foods.
GAIN has supported the integration of nutrition into Rwanda’s Second National Strategy for Transformation and Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation.
GAIN is supporting the Government of Rwanda to develop food systems diagnostics, financing and monitoring tools to guide action and accountability.
Through the Combating Malnutrition in Rwanda through Sustainable Food Systems programme, GAIN has begun egg, high-iron bean and fruit-tree value-chain activities in Western Province.
GAIN is supporting the development of Rwanda’s proposed Food Fortification Policy, covering industrial fortification and biofortification.
Welcome note
GAIN Rwanda works alongside government, businesses, communities and development partners to connect national policy with practical action for healthier diets.
We are proud to work alongside the Government of Rwanda, businesses, communities and development partners to advance food systems transformation and improve nutrition for all.
Our work connects national policy with practical action — from strengthening coordination and evidence-based decision-making to expanding nutritious food value chains and community-level delivery.
We place women, children and vulnerable households at the centre while creating opportunities for farmers, young people and food businesses. Rwanda has a strong vision for inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems, and GAIN is committed to helping translate that vision into measurable improvements in diets and nutrition.
Get in touch
Kigali, Rwanda 5th floor, M&M Plaza Building, Wing B
KG 8Av, Nyarutarama Cell, Remera Sector, Gasabo District,
Kigali City, Rwanda
Office telephone +250794411263
Country Director, Rwanda
