GAIN in Rwanda

Healthier diets for Rwanda

GAIN works with the Government of Rwanda, businesses, communities and development partners to advance food systems transformation and make safe, nutritious diets more available, affordable and desirable for all.

Our programmes Impact in Rwanda

At a glance

Rwanda in focus

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.

years of work in Rwanda

GAIN’s engagement in Rwanda spans from 2015 to 2026.

country-specific programmes

Marketplace for Nutritious Foods, Accelerating Rwanda’s Nutrition Outcomes and Combating Malnutrition in Rwanda through Sustainable Food Systems.

districts reached

The Marketplace intervention was implemented across all 30 districts of Rwanda.

priority nutritious foods

More than 10 nutritious foods have been prioritised to support healthier diets and market development.

Country strategy

Advancing food systems transformation in Rwanda

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.

Our vision

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.

Strengthening policy and coordination

We support national policy priorities and multisectoral coordination so nutrition is better integrated into food systems transformation.

Supporting evidence-based decisions

We help strengthen the use of diagnostics, financing and monitoring tools to guide food systems and nutrition action.

Connecting production, markets and demand

We work across nutritious food value chains to improve availability, affordability, accessibility and desirability of healthier diets.

Our journey

Building Rwanda’s nutrition and food systems agenda

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.

Rwanda programme journey

From nutritious food businesses to stronger food systems

GAIN’s work connects programmes with practical milestones in markets, policy and nutritious value chains.

2015–2020

Programme

Marketplace for Nutritious Foods programme

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

A market-based approach to nutrition

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.

2023–2024

Programme

Accelerating Rwanda’s Nutrition Outcomes programme

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

Integrating nutrition into national strategies

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.

2025–2030

Programme

Combating Malnutrition in Rwanda through Sustainable Food Systems programme

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

Strengthening nutritious food value chains

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

Working with partners to improve nutrition through food systems

GAIN Rwanda works through country programmes and partnerships that connect community nutrition, food value chains, national policy, market systems and evidence-based decision-making.

Programme

Combating Malnutrition in Rwanda through Sustainable Food Systems

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.

Programme milestones

Nutritious value chains

Egg and poultry value chains
High-iron bean value chains
Fruit-tree value chains
Demand generation and large-scale food fortification

Partnership area

National strategy support

GAIN supports nutrition priorities under Rwanda’s national development and agriculture strategies, including stronger food systems coordination.

Programme milestone

Nutrition in national strategies

GAIN has supported the integration of nutrition into Rwanda’s Second National Strategy for Transformation and Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation.

Partnership area

Diagnostics and monitoring

GAIN contributes to diagnostic, financing and monitoring tools that can strengthen food systems planning and accountability.

Programme milestone

Food systems tools

GAIN is supporting the Government of Rwanda to develop food systems diagnostics, financing and monitoring tools to guide action and accountability.

Partnership area

Food fortification

GAIN is supporting development of Rwanda’s proposed Food Fortification Policy, covering industrial fortification and biofortification.

Programme milestone

Food fortification policy

GAIN is supporting the development of Rwanda’s proposed Food Fortification Policy, covering industrial fortification and biofortification.

Partnership area

Dairy investment support

GAIN provides technical support to the Rwanda Dairy Development Project, Phase II, to strengthen nutrition monitoring, learning and accountability.

Programme milestone

Linking investment and nutrition

GAIN provides technical support to the Rwanda Dairy Development Project, Phase II, to strengthen nutrition monitoring, learning and accountability.

Key partners

Working with partners for scale

GAIN works with government institutions, development partners including Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), United Nations agencies, private-sector businesses, farmer organisations, research institutions and community structures to strengthen Rwanda’s food systems and improve nutrition outcomes.

Partnership milestone

Strengthening Rwanda’s food systems

Country Director Note

GAIN Rwanda

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.

Silver Karumba Country Director, GAIN Rwanda

Kigali, Rwanda 5th floor, M&M Plaza Building, Wing B
KG 8Av, Nyarutarama Cell, Remera Sector, Gasabo District,
Kigali City, Rwanda

Office telephone +250794411263

Healthier diets for Rwanda

Rwanda in focus