The Current Situation
Rwanda has made great strides in reducing hunger. From 1990 to 2015, prevalence of undernourishment fell by nearly half, from 56 percent to 32 percent—a sign of strong, yet incomplete progress.
Child undernutrition, in the form of stunting or low height for age is still high. The proportion of child under 5 years of age affected by stunting in Rwanda dropped from 45 to 38 percent between 1996 and 2015. Prevalence of child stunting is higher in rural areas (41 percent) than urban areas (24 percent), and across regions is most prevalent in the Western region (45 percent).
Compact2025 activities in Rwanda
Compact2025 is committed to partnering with Rwanda and relevant stakeholders for the acceleration of the end of hunger and undernutrition by 2025. To achieve these outcomes, Compact2025 has undertaken several strategic activities:
- Compact2025 Rwanda Forum: Building Progress in Rwanda, October 2017
- National Roundtable Discussion, October 2016
Overview
Since 2015 several Compact2025 initiatives have taken place in the country including a roundtable discussion in Kigali on March 24, 2016. A scoping study was developed for this roundtable to synthesize Rwanda’s current food security and nutrition challenges and opportunities. Since the roundtable discussion, Rwanda has established a coordinating secretariat under the Ministry of Local Government with the following responsibilities:
- To provide strategic oversight and ensure efficient and effective coordination for all food and nutrition interventions in Rwanda
- To provide policy advice in all food and nutrition related matters
- To raise awareness of key stakeholders on food and nutrition and advocate for resource mobilization
- To monitor and evaluate of all food and nutrition interventions
The National Roundtable Discussion held in May 2016 resulted in the creation of 5 key recommendations for the progression of Compact2025 activities and outcomes in Rwanda. These recommendations are:
- Fill data and knowledge gaps
- Improve coordination
- Enhance successful policies and programs
- Communicate and advocate for better nutritional outcomes
- Strengthen capacity
Read more about these recommendations from the Rwanda Roundtable Discussion. [Meeting synopsis]
A Compact2025 forum was held in Rwanda on October 23, 2017 to follow up on the roundtable discussion of 2016. The forum reviewed opportunities for multisectoral collaboration, evidence gaps, necessary knowledge systems, and accountability mechanisms that are needed for the final result of ending hunger and malnutrition.
Leadership Council and Technical Advisory Committee Members from Rwanda
- Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister, Republic of Rwanda, Leadership Council
- Octave Semwaga, Director General of Strategic Planning and Programme Coordination, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda, Technical Advisory Committee
Relevant Resource and Information
Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources; IFPRI. Washington DC: IFPRI. 2019
Series:
IFPRI descriptor:
Countries/Regions:RWANDA;
Compact2025. Washington DC: IFPRI. 2016
Series:
IFPRI descriptor:
Countries/Regions:BANGLADESH; ETHIOPIA; MALAWI; RWANDA;
African Green Revolution Forum. Washington DC: IFPRI. 2018
Series:
IFPRI descriptor:
Countries/Regions:AFRICA; RWANDA;
Compact2025. Washington DC: IFPRI. 2018
Series:
IFPRI descriptor:
Countries/Regions:RWANDA;
von Grebmer, Klaus;. Washington DC: IFPRI. 2018
Series:
IFPRI descriptor:
Countries/Regions:CHINA; VIETNAM; THAILAND; BRAZIL; BANGLADESH; ETHIOPIA; MALAWI; RWANDA;
