“This is more than a symbolic gesture,” said Hailemariam Desalegn. “It’s a call to action across Africa. I am proud to stand with Rwanda in this restoration effort and personally commit to following up on the trees I planted they must grow.”

As part of its climate action plan, the City of Kigali aims to plant 3 million trees by 2029.

“We are planting for the future,” said Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva. “But planting alone is not enough we must also protect and nurture these trees to ensure they mature and serve both people and planet.”

Minister Bernadette Arakwiye underlined the importance of local action in global climate efforts. “This season’s launch reminds us that every tree counts. Nature-based solutions like this are key to Rwanda’s fight against climate change.”

The event also reflected AGRA’s ongoing commitment to supporting Rwanda’s agricultural transformation, climate adaptation, and food systems resilience contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for all.

Minister Bernadette Arakwiye emphasizes that every tree counts in Rwanda’s fight against climate change

AGRA Board chair alongside City Mayor and Minister of environment

“Planting alone is not enough; we must protect and nurture our trees,” says Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva.

“As AGRA, we’ve committed to contributing 132,000 jobs, with a strong focus on young women and people with disabilities in rural areas,” said Ndagijimana. “Our goal is to create dignified and fulfilling jobs within the agri-food sector.”

AGRA’s job creation strategy covers the entire agricultural value chain—from primary production to agribusiness services, value addition, agri-trade, and skills training that improves youth employability.

“They can work in production, offer agri-services, add value through processing, or trade in agricultural products. Some may gain skills that allow them to be hired by factories or agribusinesses,” he added.

Supporting Youth Through Innovation

For young entrepreneurs already active in agriculture, Ndagijimana offered a message of encouragement and support.

“To youth already in the system—whether in cooperatives or startups—I say: hang in there. Entrepreneurship is tough, but we’re here to support you.”

One key initiative is the Food Innovation Hub, developed with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation. This 10-year strategy aims to nurture food-related startups and scale innovative ideas from Rwanda to the world.

“We want to back ideas like plant-based meat alternatives, inspired by community preferences like those of the Seventh Day Adventists. Rwanda has proven it can incubate and scale innovations—look at Zipline.”

Access to Finance: Moving Faster with KATAZA

AGRA is also working with financial institutions to help youth-led agribusinesses grow. One major collaboration is with the Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) through a program called KATAZA, which means “move faster” in Kinyarwanda.

“KATAZA helps those who have already started a business to accelerate it—by offering affordable finance, including single-digit interest rates,” Ndagijimana said.

In partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and other stakeholders, AGRA is also helping to structure and scale agricultural SMEs, ensuring that investments in the sector are sustained and create lasting, quality jobs.

“Whether in production, trade, or services, we want every investment in agriculture to have an impact—creating jobs that lift lives,” he stressed.

Agriculture’s Role in Rwanda’s Job Transformation

Between 2024 and 2029, Rwanda aims to create 1.25 million new jobs, or 250,000 annually. From 2017 to 2024, the country had set a target of 1.5 million jobs—and managed to achieve over 80%, despite setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and global instability.The results have been transformative. According to the latest national survey (EICV7), 1.5 million Rwandans were lifted out of poverty during this period. The country’s national poverty rate dropped by 12%, showing the direct link between job creation and improved livelihoods.

As Rwanda positions itself as a leader in innovation-driven development, AGRA’s role in unlocking job opportunities in agriculture is a critical pillar in the nation’s economic transformation.

The trio, originally from Gatsibo District in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, launched their bakery business in October 2024 after participating in entrepreneurship training facilitated by Akazi Kanoze Access (AKA) under the Youth Engagement for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEEFA) project. YEEFA is a transformative initiative funded by AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation, designed to unlock employment opportunities for youth in Rwanda’s agri-food systems.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it,” says Isingizwe Mukiza Desire, a university student at the University of Rwanda – Nyagatare Campus, and co-founder and managing director of DAM Bakery. “That quote became my compass after joining the entrepreneurship training with Akazi Kanoze in 2024. It gave us not only skills but a belief that we could make our dreams real.”

From Idea to Impact
What began as a classroom idea has grown I nto a vibrant youth-led enterprise. DAM Bakery specializes in flour-based products such as bread, cakes, doughnuts, chapattis, and also offers cake decoration services for events. Since its launch, the business has already:

• Processed and sold over 1,000 baked goods within the first few months.
• Built a loyal customer base through social media and word-of-mouth.
• Partnered with local schools and community events to supply fresh bakery products.
• Participated in exhibitions that showcase youth-led businesses.

“We knew Musanze had a strong market potential, so we decided to base our bakery here,” says Desire. “It was a bold move, but we believed in the vision—and more importantly, in each other.”
The company is also creating short-term job opportunities for local youth and is poised to become a model for youth-driven business development in Rwanda.

Empowered by YEEFA and AGRA
The journey of DAM Bakery would not have been possible without the guidance, mentorship, and technical support offered through the YEEFA project. Delivered by a consortium of six implementing partners—including Akazi Kanoze Access (AKA), Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF), ADC, ABUSOL, YEAN, and Empower Rwanda—YEEFA is focused on empowering youth, especially young women, to succeed in agriculture-related value chains.

“The training from Akazi Kanoze Access changed our lives,” Desire explains. “We learned how to start and run a business, how to manage finances, and how to think creatively. AGRA and Mastercard Foundation, through YEEFA, gave us more than knowledge—they gave us a future.”

In addition to entrepreneurship training, Desire also benefited from technical skills training in flour processing, delivered through APEFE Rwanda. This hands-on support enhanced the operational side of the bakery, boosting both product quality and production efficiency.
Growing Through Challenges

While DAM Bakery has made significant strides, the team continues to face challenges, including:
Limited access to modern bakery equipment, such as dough mixers, baking ovens, refrigerators, and proofing cabinets.
Lack of a permanent, well-equipped workspace.

Financial constraints that hinder scaling efforts.
Despite these hurdles, the founders remain determined and optimistic.
“We do most of the work manually, and our space is small, but our dream is big,” Desire shares. “We believe that with continued support, mentorship, and access to programs like YEEFA, we will scale this bakery into one of Rwanda’s top flour-based product brands.”

A Recipe for Youth Empowerment

The success of DAM Bakery is one of many examples emerging from the YEEFA project. With over 300,000 youth registered on the YEEFA platform so far—70% of them young women—the initiative is redefining what youth employment looks like in Rwanda. Youth are gaining vital work readiness skills and entering value chains such as horticulture, poultry, grain aggregation, and food processing.
“DAM Bakery is proof that with the right support, youth don’t have to leave their communities to find success,” says an official from Akazi Kanoze. “They can create jobs, add value locally, and become role models for others.”

Looking Ahead
As DAM Bakery continues to grow, the founders hope to access investment opportunities, form strategic partnerships, and one day train other youth in bakery and business skills.
“This is just the beginning,” says Desire. “We want to empower more youth, open more outlets, and bring quality, affordable baked goods to more communities. With AGRA and YEEFA behind us, we’re baking more than bread—we’re baking a future.”

Funded by the Mastercard Foundation and AGRA, the YEEFA initiative equips young people across Rwanda’s Eastern Province with the skills and resources to succeed in the agri-food sector. The training delivered by Akazi Kanoze empowered the members of CO.I.KA to improve nursery practices, strengthen marketing strategies, and enhance their project management capabilities.
“Thanks to Akazi Kanoze and the YEEFA project, we learned how to properly manage tree nurseries, market our products, and even how to manage our projects financially,” says Uwineza Fabiola, a proud cooperative member. “This support gave us the confidence and capacity to scale up our work.”

Today, CO.I. KA is thriving. The cooperative currently manages:
•    6,000 avocado seedlings (sold at 1,000 Rwandan Francs each),
•    10,000 Grevillea seedlings (sold at 50 Francs each), and
•    4,000 Eucalyptus seedlings.

With an initial investment of just 1.5 million Rwandan Francs, CO.I. KA projects a profit ranging between 5 to 9 million Francs—a powerful indicator of the cooperative’s growing impact.
“Before YEEFA, many of us didn’t see agriculture as a real career,” says Manirafasha Emmanuel, another cooperative member. “But now, we see how agroforestry can bring income, protect our environment, and improve nutrition in our communities.”
“The training changed everything for us,” adds Uwanziga Dative, a member and community mobilizer. “We’re more organized, confident, and even inspiring others. YEEFA opened doors we didn’t even know existed.”

More Than a Business—A Movement
Beyond generating income, CO.I.KA is deeply committed to its broader mission: to promote environmental stewardship and fight malnutrition. By encouraging families to plant fruit trees and integrate agroforestry species into their farms, the cooperative is tackling both climate change and food insecurity.

“We are not just selling trees—we are planting hope,” Butera emphasizes. “Fruit trees help fight malnutrition, and agroforestry trees provide animal feed and protect the soil. This is how we fight climate change at the grassroots level.”
The cooperative also employs a full-time staff member, paid 60,000 Rwandan Francs per month, and continues to grow its community influence and technical capacity.

Unlocking Youth Potential Through YEEFA

The success of CO.I.KA is part of a broader transformation driven by the YEEFA project, which is addressing youth unemployment in Rwanda through innovation in agriculture. The project is implemented by a consortium of six organizations: Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF), Akazi Kanoze Access (AKA), African Development Consultants (ADC), Agribusiness Solutions Ltd (ABUSOL), Youth Engagement in Agriculture Network (YEAN), and Empower Rwanda.
So far, over 300,000 youth have been mobilized and registered on the YEEFA digital platform, with women making up 70% of participants. These youth are trained in essential work-readiness skills and guided into high-potential value chains like horticulture, poultry, grain aggregation, and value-added processing.

The journey of Koperative Igiti Kabarore is a testament to what can happen when youth are given the right tools, knowledge, and encouragement. It’s not just about planting trees—it’s about planting a better future for communities, the environment, and generations to come.