Since 1981, IFAD has financed 19 rural development programmes and projects in Rwanda, for a total amount of US$358.04 million, and directly benefiting about 1,540,157 rural households.

The IFAD country programme has contributed significantly to improving incomes and food security in rural areas, particularly through watershed development, increased production in marshland and hillsides, development of livestock and export crops, and support for cooperatives and rural enterprises.

IFAD also supports the government in mainstreaming climate resilience. This includes the development of drought- and flood-tolerant seeds, low-cost and energy-saving technologies (e.g. solar- and biogas-powered machinery), “climate-proof” building, elaboration and communication of climate information services, renewable energy and climate-smart practices.

IFAD’s strategy in Rwanda is aligned with the government’s strategies and objectives and elaborated in the results-based country strategic opportunities programme (COSOP) for 2019-2024. IFAD’s investments aim to reduce poverty by empowering poor rural men and women to actively participate in the transformation of the agriculture sector and rural development, and by reducing their vulnerability to climate change. The strategic objectives of the country programme are:

• Sustainably increase agricultural productivity in priority food and export value chains.

• Improve post-harvest processes and strengthen market linkages.