Before receiving the chickens, families participated in training sessions on poultry rearing, preparing balanced diets, and understanding the nutritional value of eggs in fighting malnutrition. They also committed to using chicken manure in their home gardens to boost vegetable production, ensuring sustainable nutrition for their households.

Mwanangu Theophile, Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs in Burera District, emphasized that these chickens are not merely handouts but a tool for transformation: “These layer chickens come with the responsibility to improve both nutrition and the economic conditions of families.”

Mwanangu Theophile, Vice Mayor Burera said These layer chickens come with the responsibility to improve both nutrition and the economic conditions of families

Theoneste Mukerarugendo, Advisor to the Gicumbi District Executive Committee, thanked the partners supporting this program and urged parents to make the most of the opportunity: “These chickens are not for eating or selling; they are meant to help you fight malnutrition. We must care for them and treat them as a school of healthy living, so that we improve the well-being of our children.”

RDI Chief Executive Officer, Aimé Kayumba, stressed the long-term focus of the project: “Our goal is not just to provide chickens or promote agricultural projects, but to help parents with children under five fight malnutrition. This initiative is not about increasing production for the market, but about ensuring families can take better care of their well-being.”

Guillaume, an EUCORD staff member in Rwanda, explained that EUCORD’s vision is to safeguard a prosperous future for African youth through resilient agricultural value chains that foster inclusive economic growth. He highlighted that EUCORD partners with agri-food stakeholders to strengthen rural livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa by identifying market opportunities, building value chain networks, providing capacity development, and introducing climate-smart innovations.

He added: “Today’s event brought together families affected by malnutrition. One of the key outcomes of the PROFARM project is to improve health and nutrition behaviors particularly among pregnant and lactating women and children under five through increased knowledge of nutrition and care. This is a very important milestone, as the distribution of layer chickens will not only make eggs more accessible to families but will also enhance their well-being and strengthen their economic livelihoods.”

Beneficiaries also shared their appreciation. Chartine Uwumukiza said: “Previously, buying eggs from the market was difficult, and sometimes we couldn’t afford them. Now we will get eggs more regularly, which will reduce malnutrition among our children.”

Another parent, Hategekimana Jean Bosco, added: “We will build kitchen gardens and proper shelters for the chickens. This will help us prepare more balanced meals and ensure our children grow up healthy.”

Through the PROFARM project, more than 850 families in Ruhango, Burera, and Gicumbi districts have already been supported with layer chickens.

This initiative contributes to Rwanda’s broader national goal under the five-year NST2 (National Strategy for Transformation), which aims to reduce child stunting from 33% to 15% by 2029.

Over 4,000 chickens distributed to 850 families across three districts to fight malnutrition

Theoneste Mukerarugendo, Advisor to Gicumbi District Executive Committee

Aimé Kayumba, Chief Executive Officer, RDI

Manishimwe Guillaume, EUCORD Rwanda

Chartine Uwumukiza, Parent Beneficiary

Hategekimana Jean Bosco, Parent Beneficiary

Chicken distribution in Ruhango district

Tuyishime Sarah, a nutrition officer from EUCORD, conducting a training session on balanced diets at Burera