Organized by Africa Development Consultant (ADC) under the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) programme—an AGRA initiative supported by the Mastercard Foundation—the bootcamp brought together 50 young agripreneurs from Rwanda’s Eastern Province, equipping them with practical skills in business planning, financial management, and investment readiness.

The final pitching session saw participants present refined agribusiness ideas before a panel of judges drawn from the agriculture sector, private enterprises, and financial institutions. Benon distinguished himself with a clear and scalable agribusiness model that demonstrated strong market potential and the capacity to create jobs, earning him the competition’s top prize.

In recognition of the most promising ventures, four outstanding enterprises received catalytic equity funding aimed at strengthening their businesses, improving investment readiness, and unlocking additional financing opportunities. As the overall winner, Benon was awarded RWF 2 million to support the growth of Nyangenzi Farms. Egide Tuyishime of Icofee Ltd secured second place and received RWF 1.5 million, while Cyuzuzo Anitha of Ruba Farm Ltd was granted RWF 1 million. Asiimwe Norah of KELLEN HAPUC Ltd completed the list of awardees with funding worth RWF 500,000.

Through the YEFFA programme, ADC continues to empower young agripreneurs to build competitive enterprises, foster employment opportunities, and contribute to the transformation of Rwanda’s agri-food systems.

Turatashye Nshuti Aline, founder of Bibamagara Ltd, said the training equipped her with skills to better manage and grow her organic horticulture business. “I now better understand business planning and financial management, and I am more confident about the future of my company. YEFFA is helping make our dreams come true,” she said.

Nashimiyimana Evode, founder of Youth Quick Agri Solution Ltd, highlighted the value of networking and engagement with financial institutions. “The bootcamp allowed us to connect with other young entrepreneurs and interact with banks. We gained important knowledge on how to access financing and grow our businesses,” he noted.

Cyuzuzo Anitha, founder of Ruba Farm Ltd, said the training strengthened her understanding of financial management. “I learned how to properly plan for investments, manage expenses, and calculate profits. These skills will help me make better business decisions and prepare for future investment opportunities,” she said.

The pitching competition showcased innovative youth-led agribusiness ventures with strong potential for growth, job creation, and transformation of the agri-food system. At the conclusion of the event, four outstanding enterprises were awarded catalytic equity funding to support the implementation and expansion of their businesses. The first-place winner received RWF 2 million, the second-place winner RWF 1.5 million, the third-place winner RWF 1 million, and the fourth-place winner RWF 500,000.

The awards are intended to strengthen the entrepreneurs’ equity contribution, improve their investment readiness, and enable them to leverage additional financing to scale their businesses and create employment opportunities for other young people.

Implemented by ADC under the YEFFA program, an AGRA initiative supported by the Mastercard Foundation, the bootcamp and competition are designed to increase the competitiveness of youth-led agribusiness enterprises and unlock employment opportunities across Rwanda’s Eastern Province.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, AGRA Rwanda Country Director Jean Paul Ndagijimana said the partnership represents a shared commitment to transforming agriculture by empowering young people and women who remain underserved by formal financial institutions.

“This partnership is about unlocking opportunities for young people, especially young women, who are driving the future of Rwanda’s agriculture sector. We see the existing financing gap not as a barrier, but as an opportunity to innovate and build an ecosystem that enables youth and women to thrive as agribusiness entrepreneurs,” he said.

Ndagijimana noted that AGRA is committed to helping young entrepreneurs become investment-ready through coaching, mentorship, and business support, enabling them to build sustainable enterprises that create jobs and wealth.

Equity Bank Rwanda Managing Director Hannington Namara said the partnership aligns with the bank’s mission of transforming lives through inclusive financial services.

“Our goal is not simply to provide money. We want to equip entrepreneurs with financial education, business management skills, mentorship, and digital tools that enable them to grow sustainable businesses. When young people and women succeed, they create jobs, build wealth, and transform communities,” Namara said.

He added that technology presents a unique opportunity to modernize agriculture and make it more attractive and profitable for young people.

“For a long time, agriculture was viewed as a sector of survival. Today, technology gives us an opportunity to accelerate transformation and make agriculture more productive, profitable, and attractive to young people. This partnership is about creating that future together.”

The partnership combines AGRA’s investment-readiness support with Equity Bank Rwanda’s digital financing ecosystem to unlock sustainable financing, strengthen climate resilience, and accelerate inclusive growth in Rwanda’s agri-food systems.

The initiative responds to a significant financing challenge in the sector. Although agriculture contributes about 21 percent of Rwanda’s GDP and supports more than 65 percent of livelihoods, it receives only 6 percent of total commercial bank lending. Meanwhile, nearly 67 percent of Rwanda’s population is under the age of 30, yet only 18 percent of youth entrepreneurs and 15 percent of women entrepreneurs are formally served by banks.

Through this partnership, AGRA and Equity Bank Rwanda aim to bridge this gap and help transform agriculture into a stronger engine of job creation, economic growth, and prosperity.

Brent crude climbed from an average of about $75 per barrel to peaks of $105–$115 per barrel, pushing fuel prices up by 30%–45% in many importing countries. Fertilizer costs increased by 25%–40%, shipping insurance premiums surged by up to 200%, and air transport costs rose by 20%–35%, contributing to broader inflation across global markets.

Following the peace framework, oil prices have eased toward $85–$90 per barrel, with markets pricing in a potential 10%–15% further decline if stability holds. However, analysts warn that relief will be gradual due to delayed supply chains and pre-existing high-cost contracts.

Speaking on KP Media Podcast, Shyaka Michael, CEO of Afri Global, said the deal is “good news for global price stabilization,” but cautioned that Rwanda will not feel immediate relief.

“For Rwanda, it may take months. Goods already purchased at higher prices are still in circulation,” he said.

He added that prices are unlikely to return fully to pre-war levels due to structural damage in global logistics systems, particularly in Gulf re-export hubs such as Dubai.

Shyaka also urged African countries to invest in energy resilience “Solar and alternative energy are no longer optional—they are survival tools.”

Conflict background and global impact

The war began on 28 February 2026, following escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States over regional security and nuclear-related disputes.

By mid-2026, the conflict had resulted in significant losses, with over 3,000–5,000 reported fatalities across military and civilian populations in the broader escalation zone, according to early conflict monitoring estimates.

The disruption of global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz led to a World Bank-assessed global growth downgrade of approximately 0.3 to 0.6 percentage points, driven by higher energy prices, increased transport costs, and reduced trade efficiency. Inflation pressures also intensified in import-dependent economies, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

From Kigali, the agreement is being viewed as a positive global signal, though any reduction in fuel prices and transport costs is expected to be gradual rather than immediate.

https://youtu.be/hTwEgoKTTHY?si=euw4Uu1Uwge3Ejah

For a farmer, the ‘implementation gap’ is not an abstract concept. It is the difference between receiving inputs in time for planting or not at all. For an agribusiness SME, it is the difference between securing working capital or shutting down a processing line. Innovative financing must reach the last mile, not just the conference room.

One lesson I have learned repeatedly is that innovation is often celebrated long before it is scaled. During a field visit in Zambia and Mozambique, I saw firsthand how a seemingly simple policy shift - a move from physical fertilizer distribution to a digital e-voucher system - transformed farmer experience. What began as a pilot reaching just over 200,000 farmers has now scaled to more than one million farmers nationwide, with improved transparency, faster delivery and stronger participation by private agro-dealers. For a farmer, this is what innovation looks like: not a new financial product in a report, but timely access to inputs through a system that works.

We often ask why commercial banks are not lending to agriculture despite the sector contributing up to 20–30% of Africa’s GDP and employing over 60% of the workforce. The better question to ask is: why should banks deploy more financing into agri‑food systems?

Banks respond rationally to the incentives we create. In Nigeria, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) framework has helped unlock over ₦70 billion in agribusiness financing in 2025 alone. In Kenya, the Credit Guarantee Scheme has supported thousands of SMEs, reaching over 4,300 beneficiaries with strong repayment performance of 93%.

These are not isolated successes. They are proof that agriculture is bankable when policy shares risk, improves data and reduces transaction costs.

Policy, however, must build resilience to climate shocks whilst strengthening domestic food production systems. Climate resilience and food sovereignty are now inseparable. Across Africa, climate shocks are no longer future risks, they are daily realities. According to a 2025 World Meteorological Report, Africa has experienced its warmest decade on record, with droughts and floods increasingly disrupting food systems.

I have seen this up close in northern Ghana where erratic rainfall is shortening planting seasons and in Southern Africa where drought cycles are becoming more intense and less predictable. On the flipside, Morocco’s long-term investment in irrigation illustrates what is possible when policy aligns infrastructure and climate adaptation.

One of the most transformative policy shifts I have witnessed is the move toward data-driven governance. In the past, subsidy programmes often struggled with leakages and inefficiencies. Today, digital systems such as farmer registries, mobile payments and real-time tracking are making it possible to deliver support with far greater transparency and accountability. This is not just a technical upgrade. It is a fundamental shift in how states interact with farmers and markets.

I have seen both sides of this story: the high-level commitments, and the lived realities of farmers and SMEs. What is clear to me is that Africa already knows what needs to be done – move from dialogue to implementation.

I have seen this up close in northern Ghana where erratic rainfall is shortening planting seasons and in Southern Africa where drought cycles are becoming more intense and less predictable. On the flipside, Morocco’s long-term investment in irrigation illustrates what is possible when policy aligns infrastructure and climate adaptation.

One of the most transformative policy shifts I have witnessed is the move toward data-driven governance. In the past, subsidy programmes often struggled with leakages and inefficiencies. Today, digital systems such as farmer registries, mobile payments and real-time tracking are making it possible to deliver support with far greater transparency and accountability. This is not just a technical upgrade. It is a fundamental shift in how states interact with farmers and markets.

I have seen both sides of this story: the high-level commitments, and the lived realities of farmers and SMEs. What is clear to me is that Africa already knows what needs to be done – move from dialogue to implementation.

The ultimate test for dialogue platforms such as the upcoming Financing Agri‑Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 will not be the quality of its panels, but the strength of its outcomes. FINAS 2026 should champion the shift from dialogue to delivery unapologetically. The Summit must be clear that implementation is the most important form of agricultural finance policy.

Africa does not need another conference that diagnoses the problem. It needs a platform that catalyses solutions. If FINAS 2026 will align policy, finance and delivery into a coherent system, then it will not just be relevant. It will be catalytic. If not, it risks becoming just another room where Africa speaks powerfully, but farmers return home unchanged.

Boaz B. Keizire is a Director – Policy & State Capability at AGRA and also a 2017 Fellow for the Aspen New Voices Fellowship.

Although they did not wish to part ways with the company, Vestine and Dorcas explained that the time had come for them to expand their activities independently. They stated that this decision was driven by their desire to follow their own vision, values, and long-term goals while continuing to grow their ministry and music career.

The duo reassured their fans that the separation should not be viewed as the end of their musical journey. Instead, they described it as the beginning of a new chapter filled with exciting opportunities and projects that they plan to share with the public in the near future.

During their collaboration with MIE Empire, Vestine and Dorcas became some of the most popular gospel artists in Rwanda. Songs such as “Papa,” “Nahawe Ijambo,” and “Kisima” earned them widespread recognition and admiration. Their success extended beyond Rwanda through Swahili-language songs that helped them gain popularity across East Africa. The partnership also enabled them to perform at various concerts both within Rwanda and internationally, contributing to the growth of their global audience.

This is not the first time the relationship between the two parties has faced challenges. In July 2021, M. Irene Entertainment announced a temporary suspension of their collaboration. However, the two sides later reconciled and continued working together until the recent announcement of their separation.MIE Empire has declined to comment on the matter, stating that it has nothing to say regarding the decision at this time.

A turning point came when she engaged with AGRA. Through AGRA’s grant support and capacity-building programs, she received not only financial resources but also practical business training, mentorship, and continuous encouragement to take calculated risks.

Reflecting on that moment, Norah said:

“AGRA supported me with capacity building and funding. They helped me start flying without fear.”

She added that mentorship played a critical role in her transformation:

“The advice I received made me strong. I was told, ‘Don’t fear. You can do it.’ That changed everything for me.”

With this support, Bold Seeds gradually evolved from a small startup into a structured seed enterprise integrated into Rwanda’s formal seed value chain. Today, Norah has successfully accessed commercial bank financing, manages a seed warehouse, and owns a transport system that connects production areas to processing and industry.

She noted how access to infrastructure and finance reshaped her confidence:

“Now I can go to the bank and ask for a loan of over 150 million Rwandan francs—and they trust my business.”

Exposure visits supported through AGRA further strengthened her vision, allowing her to learn from seed systems in countries such as Kenya and Zambia, and to draw inspiration from other successful women entrepreneurs scaling agro-based businesses.

Norah also emphasized diversification and resilience in agriculture, explaining that she continues to expand beyond seeds into complementary agribusiness activities to ensure year-round income stability.

Closing her reflection, she left participants with a strong message for young entrepreneurs—especially women in agribusiness:

“Don’t waste time in fear. Start. Learn. Grow. You can build something strong if you keep moving.”Her story stood out at the AGRA@20 Seed Roundtable as a powerful example of how investment in seed systems—through finance, mentorship, and capacity building—can unlock not only enterprise growth, but also confidence, leadership, and long-term transformation in Africa’s agricultural economy.

Opening the discussions, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Solange Uwituze, commended AGRA for its contribution to agricultural transformation across the continent.

“Quality seed is the foundation of agricultural transformation. Without quality seed, it is impossible to achieve higher productivity, climate resilience, food security, commercialization, and competitiveness,” she said.

She further emphasized Rwanda’s ambition to strengthen its position in the regional seed economy.

“Rwanda is investing in modern infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and international accreditation systems to become a trusted hub for seed production, testing, certification, and trade in the region,” she noted.

Dr. Francis Mwatuni, Lead for Seed Systems Analysis and Knowledge Resources at AGRA’s Centre of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA), highlighted that Africa’s seed systems transformation is increasingly driven by evidence-based planning and systems thinking.

“Policy is key because it affects all components of the seed system,” he said, stressing that sustainable transformation requires coordination across breeding, production, distribution, and markets.

He added that the future of seed systems depends on scale and coherence.

“Africa’s challenge is no longer awareness, but scale and systems coherence—linking research, policy, and markets into one functioning ecosystem,” he noted.

Representing the financial sector, Arsene, Senior Manager for the Agriculture Portfolio at BRD (Rwanda Development Bank), highlighted the importance of innovative financing mechanisms in accelerating agricultural transformation and supporting seed enterprises.

Drawing on BRD’s experience implementing blended finance initiatives, he emphasized that agriculture has proven to be a viable sector for investment when supported with the right financial instruments, technical assistance, and risk-sharing mechanisms.

“Agriculture is a sector worth investing in. Through targeted financing and partnerships with commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and SACCOs, we have demonstrated that agricultural investments can generate impact while building sustainable businesses,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration among governments, financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector to design solutions that intentionally support seed companies and agribusiness entrepreneurs.

There is valuable knowledge and experience across government, financial institutions, and development partners. The next step is to work together to design solutions that intentionally support seed companies and accelerate growth across the sector,” he added.

The discussion also featured reflections from private sector actors, including Norah Kamashazi, CEO of Bold Seeds Ltd, who shared her entrepreneurial journey and the role AGRA played in helping grow her business.

Starting as a young entrepreneur with limited experience and confidence, Kamashazi said AGRA’s support through grants, capacity building, mentorship, and exposure visits helped transform both her business and mindset.

“I started with fear. AGRA gave us funding, but more importantly, they gave us the confidence and knowledge to use it effectively. Today, I can walk into a bank and secure financing to expand my business,” she said.

Kamashazi explained that the support enabled her to build a stronger enterprise, acquire storage facilities and transport equipment, and gain access to commercial financing that once seemed out of reach.

“The training, mentorship, and exposure visits changed my mindset from fear to growth. Today I have a warehouse, transport equipment, and access to finance. I am proud to be building a successful seed business as a woman entrepreneur,” she added.

AGRA Rwanda Country Director, Jean Paul Ndagijimana, reflected on Rwanda’s progress in transforming its seed sector.

“We have moved from a system where farmers saved seed from one season to another to one where improved and hybrid seeds are increasingly available and adopted,” he said.

He highlighted that improved seed adoption in Rwanda has grown from below 20% to nearly 50%, driven by stronger private sector participation and coordinated investments.

“Our ambition is not only to meet Rwanda’s seed needs but to position Rwanda as a regional seed exporter,” he added.

Dr. Mwatuni further noted that across Africa, investments in structured seed systems have led to significant gains in seed company growth, improved agro-dealer networks, and reduced seed supply gaps in several countries, including Rwanda.

He emphasized that SeedSAT-based diagnostics and national seed investment plans are now guiding reforms in multiple countries, helping governments prioritize investments and align public and private sector efforts.

As AGRA marks 20 years, participants agreed that Africa’s next phase of seed systems transformation will depend on stronger institutions, evidence-based investments, improved access to finance, and inclusive partnerships that ensure farmers access high-quality, climate-resilient seed at scale.

The initiative aims to create 34,048 dignified and fulfilling work opportunities, with 70 percent targeting young women, through investments in high-potential value chains such as horticulture and poultry.

One of the YEFFA participants, Mushimiyimana Peline, a 31-year-old farmer from Rukomo Sector in Nyagatare District who works closely with YEAN under the YEFFA program, exemplifies the transformation the initiative seeks to achieve. In 2020, she cultivated maize and beans on 32 ares of land mainly for household consumption. Limited technical knowledge, poor access to quality inputs, and weak market connections constrained her productivity and income.

After joining YEFFA in 2024, Peline received training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), participated in field learning exchanges, and benefited from continuous coaching and technical support from YEAN agronomists and field extension officers. She adopted certified seeds, improved farming practices, and shifted from subsistence farming to market-oriented horticulture, growing cabbages, carrots, passion fruits, and greenhouse tomatoes.

Passion fruit production became a turning point in her journey, generating a net profit of RWF 3 million. Combined with an additional RWF 1 million she had saved, Peline invested in the purchase of one hectare of land to expand her agribusiness. Today, she cultivates the land, operates a greenhouse for tomato production, is preparing to venture into chili production, earns more than RWF 200,000 in net profit per month, and provides employment to five permanent workers, including two youth, as well as five casual youth workers.

“Before YEFFA, farming was mainly for feeding my family, and I had little knowledge about modern agriculture. Through the training and support from YEAN, I learned how to farm as a business. The income from passion fruits allowed me to buy land, invest in a greenhouse, and create jobs for others. My dream is to continue growing and enter chili production next season,” said Mushimiyimana Peline.

Speaking during the visit, Peter Okomoh, AGRA Rwanda Country Programs Lead, said Peline’s story demonstrates the impact of an integrated approach that combines technical skills, entrepreneurship development, and market linkages.

“YEFFA is designed to equip young people with the skills, tools, and opportunities needed to build sustainable agribusinesses. Through our implementing partners, including YEAN, Akazi Kanoze Access, ADC, Empower Rwanda, RYAF, and ABUSOL, we support youth with productivity skills, entrepreneurship training, business development services, and market linkages. Peline’s journey demonstrates what is possible when these interventions come together to help young people transition into dignified and fulfilling work,” he said.

Okomoh noted that the program is helping many young people see agriculture as a viable business opportunity.

“What is encouraging is that we are seeing young people move beyond farming for survival and begin treating agriculture as a business. Through YEFFA, participants are adopting improved technologies, accessing extension services, improving productivity, and earning incomes that allow them to reinvest and expand their enterprises. Peline’s story is a strong example of this transformation. She started with just 32 ares of land, but through knowledge, hard work, and the support provided by the program, she has expanded to one hectare and built a growing agribusiness that is creating employment and contributing to local food production,” he said.

He added that despite the progress, challenges such as access to land, finance, markets, and climate-related risks continue to affect many young agripreneurs.

“Access to land continues to be one of the biggest barriers facing young people. Access to affordable finance is another challenge because many young entrepreneurs lack collateral and business records required by financial institutions. Market access and climate-related risks also affect profitability. That is why YEFFA works through partnerships to address these constraints holistically by connecting young people to skills, markets, technology, and policy support,” said Okomoh.

While reflecting on her journey, Peline noted that access to affordable finance remains one of the key challenges limiting the expansion of her agribusiness. Although she has successfully grown her enterprise through reinvestment of profits, obtaining financing to scale production and invest in new opportunities remains difficult for many young farmers.

Responding to the challenge, Lucia Zigiriza, Partners Coordination Officer at AGRA Rwanda, said YEFFA is working to strengthen financial inclusion for young agripreneurs through partnerships with financial service providers.

“AGRA links YEFFA participants to access Kataza financing opportunities through MVEND, RIM, SACCOs and MoneyPhone, while also crowding in other financial institutions such as Equity Bank to enable young entrepreneurs to tap into digital financing opportunities. Our goal is to ensure that promising young agripreneurs can access the capital they need to grow sustainable businesses and create employment,” she said.

Okomoh also highlighted the need to strengthen Rwanda’s horticulture seed system to support the growing number of young agripreneurs entering the sector.

“One of the challenges facing horticulture producers is the high cost of seeds, many of which are imported. AGRA is already working with the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) to strengthen local production and availability of quality horticulture seeds. This will help reduce costs for farmers, improve accessibility, and strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of Rwanda’s horticulture sector,” said Okomoh.

He further revealed that AGRA and its partners are exploring innovative solutions, including land access mechanisms, market facilitation arrangements, and technology adoption initiatives to help young people scale their enterprises.

“As we move into the next phase of implementation, our focus is not only on reaching more young people but also on helping them achieve greater scale and income. We are using evidence to identify enterprises and value chains that offer the greatest potential for dignified and fulfilling work and supporting young people to grow resilient businesses that create jobs and contribute to Rwanda’s food systems transformation,” he added.

In Nyagatare District alone, YEAN’s interventions are being implemented across 14 sectors and have already reached 3,759 young people, 61 percent of whom are female. A tracer survey conducted in May 2026 indicates that the district has the potential to create 3,120 dignified and fulfilling work opportunities, with current interventions already contributing more than 30 percent of YEAN’s overall target of 9,000 dignified and fulfilling work opportunities.

Ben Bizinde, Agriculture Lead at the Mastercard Foundation Rwanda, said the success seen at Peline’s farm reflects the program’s response to challenges identified directly by young people.

“Research conducted with young people showed that three major barriers continue to limit their success in agriculture: low productivity, limited access to finance, and weak market access. YEFFA was designed to address these challenges through a coordinated approach that combines skills development, entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion, and market linkages,” he said.

Bizinde emphasized that sustainable market opportunities are essential for youth-led enterprises to thrive.

“An entrepreneur’s growth is closely linked to the market opportunities available to them. When young people like Peline can produce quality products, access finance, and connect to reliable markets, they are able to grow successful businesses, create jobs, and contribute to economic development. Her progress is a testament to what can be achieved when the right ecosystem of support is in place,” he added.

Implemented by AGRA with support from the Mastercard Foundation, the YEFFA program continues to empower young people across Rwanda to build profitable agribusinesses, create employment opportunities, and contribute to a more resilient, inclusive, and youth-driven food system.

The initiative targeted malnutrition among children under five, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, while also strengthening household livelihoods and social cohesion.

A Community Once Affected by Malnutrition

For many residents, balanced diets and vegetable consumption were once unfamiliar concepts.

Musabyimana Odette, a resident of Ruzo Village in Nkanga Cell, recalls the situation before the project.

“Before COPORWA brought this project, we had no knowledge about balanced diets. We never imagined that vegetables such as carrots, beetroot, cabbage and others could be part of our daily meals. We only saw them in markets and thought they were for other people. Many of our children showed signs of malnutrition, and the health of pregnant and breastfeeding women was not good.”

To address these challenges, the project established kitchen gardens, trained households on nutrition, promoted mushroom cultivation, organized savings groups, and distributed livestock.A total of 28 families received two goats each, helping improve household income and nutrition.

Restoring Dignity and Hope

Beyond improving nutrition, the project has also transformed social relations within families and the wider community.

Karasira Jean Bosco, one of the beneficiaries, says life was difficult before the intervention.

“Before this project arrived, we were struggling. Relationships within families were not good, and conflicts and violence were common.”

Community leaders have witnessed a remarkable transformation.

The village leader explains:

“When I was entrusted to lead this village, I was told that managing these residents would be difficult because conflicts, theft and alcoholism were widespread. But after the COPORWA project arrived, people became more aware, started working, and each household began finding ways to support itself through its own efforts.”

The project encouraged residents to make use of the small resources available to them. Through practical training, families learned how to establish kitchen gardens and cultivate mushrooms for both consumption and income generation.

Hategekimana Janviere, another beneficiary, says the results are visible.

“We learned how to grow vegetables and cultivate mushrooms. Today, you can simply harvest vegetables and mushrooms from your garden, wash them and cook them for your family. Our children are eating better than before, and sometimes we sell the surplus after setting aside enough food for the household.”

For Karasira Jean Bosco, the project changed mindsets.

“When the project started, they taught us how to avoid family conflicts and how to improve our livelihoods. We used to think that because we were poor, there was nothing we could achieve. They showed us how to make productive use of the little land we have and taught us how to establish kitchen gardens.”

The village leader notes that the community has earned a level of trust that once seemed impossible.

“In the past, people could not even entrust their goats to these households because there was a perception that youth would steal them within days. Today, families are raising livestock, maintaining kitchen gardens, and their living conditions have improved significantly.”

According to Providence, the Project Manager, the intervention was designed to address the most vulnerable groups.

“This project was developed to respond to the high levels of malnutrition that were particularly affecting women of reproductive age, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and children under five years old.”

The project also emphasized education, encouraging parents to keep children in school while strengthening community savings groups and financial resilience.

One of the notable achievements is the return of more than 10 children who had dropped out of school.

According to Ingabire Alexis, Executive Secretary of COPORWA:

“One of the lessons we learned from this project is that everything is possible. People often said these communities could not achieve much, but we proved that when you walk alongside people and support them, they can succeed. This contributes to the Government’s graduation agenda of helping households move out of poverty.”

Reflecting on the implementation journey, Providence says the project's success was largely driven by community participation and strong local leadership.

“Working with this community taught us that lasting change starts with trust. The support of grassroots leaders helped us mobilize residents, change mindsets, and encourage collective action. Their leadership was instrumental in turning a vulnerable community into one that is increasingly self-reliant and confident about its future.”

As the project concludes, beneficiaries express confidence that the achievements will continue.

Musabyimana Odette believes the knowledge gained is the project’s greatest legacy.

“What this project has helped us achieve will not disappear. The skills we have acquired in kitchen gardening and mushroom production will continue helping us earn a living even after the project ends. We will no longer lack health insurance, and no child will suffer from stunting because of poor nutrition.”

COPORWA also remains optimistic about the sustainability of the intervention.

“We are more than 90 percent confident that the beneficiaries will preserve these achievements,” says Ingabire Alexis. “The first thing we focused on was changing mindsets and providing knowledge. That foundation gives us confidence that the progress will continue long after the project has ended.”

What began as a nutrition-focused intervention has evolved into a broader story of empowerment, social cohesion, education, and economic resilience. Through livestock distribution, kitchen gardens, mushroom cultivation, nutrition education, and community mobilization, families in Rweru Sector are demonstrating that lasting change is possible when knowledge, opportunity, and local ownership come together.

Today, where malnutrition, conflict, and hopelessness once prevailed, households are producing food, generating income, keeping children in school, and building a healthier future for the next generation.

I grew up in Ghana in a home where two worlds quietly shaped my understanding of agriculture long before I ever called it a career.  My father worked in the development sector, while my mother was a lecturer in botanical science. But what fascinated me most as a child was not her work in the classroom or laboratory. It was what happened beyond it. Alongside her academic career, she ran a horticulture and landscaping business. I watched her move between science and entrepreneurship, studying plants at a microscopic level and then applying that knowledge to transform real spaces and livelihoods.

At the time, I did not fully understand what I was witnessing. But I was introduced to something powerful: agriculture is not just farming. It is science, business, innovation and possibility. That early exposure stayed with me. Over the years, it shaped the path I would take working across development engaging with programs, partnerships and policies aimed at strengthening food systems across the continent. Through this work, I have seen both the immense potential within Africa’s agrifood systems and the structural barriers that continue to limit who participates and who benefits.

Today, as Director of Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness at AGRA, I draw on these experiences to focus on one of the most important questions for our future: how do we ensure that Africa’s young people are not just included in agrifood systems, but are leading their transformation?

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), approximately 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25. At the same time, the continent continues to face significant challenges around unemployment and food security. Yet within this reality lies one of the greatest opportunities of our time Agriculture.

The World Bank estimates that Africa’s agribusiness sector could approach USD 1 trillion by 2030.The figure signals the scale of what is at stake. And yet, for many young people, agriculture still feels out of reach. The framing of agriculture as primary production is itself part of the problem. Agrifood systems are not a single sector but an interlocking architecture: inputs and seed systems, on-farm production, aggregation and post-harvest handling, processing and value addition, distribution, retail, consumption, and the management of loss and waste. Each node carries its own economics, its own technology frontier, and its own entry points. When we ask why young people are not in agriculture, we are often asking the wrong question. The real question is whether they can see and reach the parts of the system where their skills already belong 

What excites me most about young people across the continent is their curiosity. They ask questions, challenge norms and experiment with new approaches. Across Africa, this energy is already translating into action. Young entrepreneurs are building agritech platforms, improving access to markets, developing climate-smart solutions and creating value-added products. They are not waiting for permission. They are creating opportunity.

Initiatives like Generation Africa, AGRA’s youth community, are helping to accelerate this shift. By mobilizing, supporting and amplifying young people as entrepreneurs, innovators, and advocates, Generation Africa is reshaping how agriculture is perceived. Through its focus on advocacy, entrepreneurship and innovation, it is connecting young people to opportunities, networks and pathways to growth. Because often, what young people need most is not just funding, it is exposure, belief and a clear sense of what is possible. When young people begin to see themselves not just as participants, but as leaders within agrifood systems, that is when transformation truly begins.

Still, we must be honest about why the gap persists. Young agripreneurs sit in what financiers call the ‘missing middle’: too large for microfinance, too small or too unproven for commercial debt. Land tenure systems often exclude them, and young women most of all. Insurance markets for climate risk are thin where they exist at all. And the public goods that de-risk entrepreneurship elsewhere, from extension services to market information to contract enforcement, are unevenly distributed. The result is not a shortage of talent or ambition. It is a shortage of the connective tissue that lets talent compound into enterprise. If we are serious about unlocking the potential of Africa’s youth, we must invest not just in ideas, but in the systems that allow those ideas to thrive.

But beyond systems and institutions, there is also a message I want young people to carry with them: there is space for you here. Not just in farming but across the entire value chain. Whether your strengths lie in technology, processing and value addition, distribution or waste management there is a role for you in shaping how food is produced, distributed and consumed. Start by understanding the ecosystem. Identify where your skills align. Then collaborate because agriculture is deeply interconnected, and no one succeeds in isolation. And most importantly, lead authentically. The most impactful leaders are those who bring their full selves into their work who lead with clarity, purpose, and resilience.

Agenda 2063 sets out an ambition that is sometimes underestimated: an Africa whose development is driven by its own people, and especially by its women and youth. That is not a slogan. It is a measurable claim that we either honor or fail to honor with every choice about where investment flows and how partnerships are designed. The question is not whether young Africans belong in food systems transformation. It is whether the institutions building that transformation, including governments, donors, private investors, and yes, organizations like mine, are willing to be measured against how decisively we make room for them. To every young person wondering whether you belong in this space: the future of Africa’s food systems will not be built without you. It will be built because of you.

The visit brought together representatives from AGRA, the Mastercard Foundation, MoneyPhone Finance, cooperative leaders, youth beneficiaries, and local government officials to assess the impact of digital financing services on agricultural productivity, job creation, and enterprise growth.

MoneyPhone Finance has developed a digital lending model that allows farmers to access agricultural loans within four to five days without the need for traditional collateral. The platform uses digital applications, production records, transaction history, and artificial intelligence-powered credit scoring to assess loan eligibility while also providing financial literacy and business coaching support.

According to MoneyPhone Finance, more than 1,000 loans have been disbursed over the past ten months, reaching over 4,500 youth and women farmers. The institution has mobilized approximately USD 825,000 in agricultural financing, helping farmers invest in quality inputs, land leasing, labor, and farm expansion.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Elie, shared how a loan of approximately RWF 1 million enabled him to purchase improved potato seed, fertilizer, rent land, and hire workers. The investment resulted in the production of about seven tons of potatoes and generated sales exceeding RWF 6.5 million.

Following successful repayment, he qualified for additional financing and expanded his farming enterprise. Today, he employs around 20 casual workers during peak agricultural seasons and supports three permanent employees.

“I now see agriculture as a business that can provide a sustainable livelihood and create employment opportunities for others,” he told the visiting delegation.

The delegation also visited a potato-growing cooperative established in 2016 that currently has 394 members, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Cooperative leaders reported that access to financing, improved inputs, and technical training has increased potato yields from approximately five tons per hectare to between 15 and 20 tons per hectare.

The cooperative has received more than RWF 55 million in cumulative loans from MoneyPhone Finance and has maintained a 100 percent repayment record.

The visit highlighted the importance of partnerships in expanding access to agricultural finance. AGRA facilitated strategic linkages between MoneyPhone Finance and the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), enabling the lender to access additional capital through the World Bank-supported Commercialization and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation (CDAT) facility.

Despite the progress, beneficiaries noted that demand for agricultural finance continues to outpace available resources. Farmers called for increased loan ceilings, longer repayment periods, dedicated financing products for cooperatives, and expanded digital inclusion initiatives.

Participants agreed that combining finance with business coaching, financial literacy, and market access support is helping young people view agriculture as a viable pathway to entrepreneurship and employment.

The field visit demonstrated that innovative financing solutions can play a critical role in unlocking opportunities for rural youth, strengthening food systems, and accelerating agricultural transformation across Rwanda.

Rwanda sought compensation, arguing that it had incurred significant financial and administrative costs in preparation for the implementation of the agreement. The case was taken to international arbitration, where both parties presented their arguments regarding responsibility and financial obligations.

The tribunal’s decision, dated May 15, 2026, and publicly reported on June 1, 2026, ruled against Rwanda’s compensation claim, effectively dismissing the request for payment.

The ruling has attracted international attention due to the political and financial implications of the case, as well as its connection to broader debates on migration policy and international cooperation.

Officials from both countries have not yet issued detailed public responses following the announcement of the decision.

Analysts say the ruling could influence how future international agreements involving migration and cross-border arrangements are structured, particularly in terms of financial risk and legal accountability.

The case marks the conclusion of a dispute that has been closely watched in diplomatic and legal circles since the original agreement was signed.

Much of the attention has focused on Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers, who reached the BAL final in what many fans have described as a historic moment for Rwandan basketball. The club’s performances have drawn large crowds to BK Arena, with supporters filling the arena with chants, drums, and celebrations throughout the tournament.

Beyond the matches themselves, the BAL playoffs have also brought concerts, business events, and social media attention to Kigali. 

games on in BK Arena

videos showing packed are nas and energetic crowds have circulated widely online, with many users describing Kigali as Africa’s basketball capital during the competition.

The tournament is also highlighting Rwanda’s growing investment in sports and international events. Over the past few years, Kigali has hosted major sporting competitions and conferences, helping strengthen the city’s reputation as a regional hub for entertainment and tourism.

As the BAL season reaches it's final stage,the atmosphere across kigali continues to reflect the excitment sorrounding one of the continent's fastest growing sports events.

The world feels increasingly unsettled. Geopolitical tensions dominate headlines, trade routes are shifting, development financing is tightening and conversations around food security, debt and economic uncertainty have become commonplace. Across boardrooms and policy circles, we spend considerable time discussing global shocks and what they mean for Africa’s future.

Yet recently, standing on a piece of land about forty kilometres outside the city watching a tomato harvest unfold, I found myself wondering whether Africa’s future may not lie entirely in the places where we are currently looking.

A year ago, I acquired eight hectares of land outside the city centre. The purchase had very little to do with agriculture. Like many professionals, I viewed it primarily as part of a wealth preservation strategy. Land appreciates over time and provides diversification alongside more liquid investments.

Recently, however, my family challenged ourselves with a different question: How could this asset do more than preserve value and begin creating it?

That is when I met my neighbour, Willy Kibuuka.Willy was harvesting tomatoes.By the time I arrived, his second truck was already being loaded. The first had already left earlier in the day and from the look of the field, there was every indication a third truck could still emerge from the same season.

Standing there, I realised I was not simply looking at a harvest. I was looking at enterprise, cash flow and value emerging quietly from a field.

Each crate was selling for approximately USD 135. Assuming around sixty crates across the first, second and third trucks, Willy had already generated close to USD 8,100 and the season was likely not over.

What struck me was the simplicity of the operation. There was no visible sophisticated infrastructure, no expensive machinery and none of the markers many of us immediately associate with innovation. Yet here was a young farmer moving product at scale and capturing value from relatively basic production methods.

As we walked the field, I casually asked Willy what the closure of the Strait of Hormuz meant to him. He dismissed it almost immediately, explaining that he had heard about it but considered it distant and of little interest.

I then asked whether prices had increased.His answer stayed with me.He simply explained that increases happen and that they are part of doing business. Survival, according to him, comes down to knowing when to harvest and how to price the crop.

I found that response deeply revealing.While many of us are consumed by geopolitical risk and global uncertainty, Willy was focused on timing, markets and execution because his prosperity depended not on headlines but on entrepreneurial decisions.

Looking at his field, another issue became evident. Post-harvest losses, one of Africa’s most persistent agricultural challenges, had not yet become his story. The trucks were moving, the market was absorbing and value was being captured before value disappeared.

That experience forced an uncomfortable reflection.What really made Willy different from me?I had more land, more education, more networks and more access to capital, yet he had done something while I had preserved something.

Behavioural science speaks about the “intention-action gap” — the distance between what people know and what they eventually do. Often the issue is not information, opportunity or capability. The issue is activation.

Perhaps this is where Africa finds itself.The continent holds nearly sixty percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet we continue speaking about food insecurity and unrealised agricultural potential. Seen differently, that statistic may not simply represent unused land. It may represent one of the largest intention-action gaps in economic development.

Perhaps the same reflection applies at a personal level. Many of us in urban centres own land, understand investment principles and regularly speak about Africa’s promise, while significant portions of those assets remain dormant.

Standing in Willy’s field, watching the second truck load while seeing enough crop still standing to likely fill a third, I realised that what separated us was not resources.It was behaviour.

I had preserved an asset while he had activated one.That reflection stayed with me and continued through conversations with friends in the following days. One shared the story of an onion farmer near Nairobi who reportedly failed twice before eventually generating close to USD 30,000 monthly from twelve acres. Another spoke enthusiastically about export opportunities around banana puree, opening my mind to entirely different value chains.

Again, these were not really stories about onions or bananas.They were stories about activation.The more I reflect, the more convinced I become that Africa’s prosperity story is already growing; perhaps our challenge is that we have not told it loudly enough.

This experience also left me with a challenge for my friends in boardrooms and urban centres: How much idle land do we collectively own and how many acres sit untouched while we continue discussing opportunity as though it exists somewhere else? What if we tested the waters?

Perhaps Africa will stop speaking about potential the day more of us begin showcasing prosperity already being built.

As for me, this experience changed something. The marketer in me is now looking for an agronomist to test the soil on this new asset and increasingly exploring organic farming with an export lens.

Perhaps what I thought was preserved capital was actually dormant enterprise.And perhaps that is the lesson Africa itself needs to hear.At a moment when the world feels uncertain, Africa may not need to look far for its next prosperity story because it may already be growing quietly in our fields, waiting not to be discovered but to be activated.

Reflections from the Harvest

* Farmers are entrepreneurs because they continuously test, adapt and absorb risk in ways many formal businesses would struggle to sustain.
* Prosperity often belongs to those who act before certainty arrives.
* Africa’s prosperity story is already growing and our task now is to recognise it, tell it and participate in building it.

End

In addition to their comeback performance, BTS secured major awards during the ceremony, reaffirming their global influence in the entertainment industry. Critics praised the group’s polished stage presence, synchronized choreography, and ability to reconnect with audiences after years away from group activities.

BTS on stage

music industry experts described this reunion as a major moment for international pop culture, highlighting BTS’s continued dominance and strong connection with fans across the world.

The group’s return has been widely viewed as the beginning of a new chapter for BTS, with fans eagerly awaiting future projects following their successful appearance at one of music’s biggest award shows

The conference, organized by the Pan African Movement Rwanda Chapter in collaboration with partners, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, parliamentarians and Pan-African leaders under the African Union’s 2026 theme focused on ensuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063.

In a keynote address centered on Africa’s development future, Hailemariam said the continent’s liberation struggle has evolved beyond political independence.

“The next phase of African liberation is no longer fought on the battlefield. It is fought in infrastructure networks, in trade corridors, in research and development labs, in agriculture and food systems transformation, and in adding value to products made in Africa.”

He emphasized that true liberation today means “inclusive, shared and sustainable economic transformation” driven by infrastructure development, digital innovation, climate resilience and continental integration.

Hailemariam noted that Africa’s transformation in the 21st century will largely depend on how the continent manages its water resources and sanitation systems.

“Water is the engine of our economy, the foundation of our public health and the guardian of our peace.”

He warned that despite progress registered by some countries, millions of Africans still lack access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation services, a situation he said continues to undermine health systems, productivity and economic growth.

According to figures highlighted in his speech, more than 400 million Africans still lack access to basic drinking water, while nearly three-quarters of the continent’s population do not have safely managed sanitation services.

Hailemariam commended Rwanda for achieving nearly 90 percent access to clean water, describing it as a strong example of what African countries can accomplish through commitment and investment.

The former Ethiopian leader also highlighted the disproportionate burden carried by women and girls due to water scarcity across the continent.

“Women and girls collectively spend approximately 250 million hours every single day fetching water. This means lost educational opportunities, reduced economic participation and a slower pace of national development.”

Calling for urgent continental action, Hailemariam urged African governments, regional institutions, the private sector and citizens to collectively implement the African Water Vision 2063 through stronger regional cooperation, integrated water resource management and climate-resilient infrastructure.

“This conference must mark a decisive shift from dialogue to delivery. From commitments to concrete action.”

He said Africa’s greatest achievements have always emerged through unity and collective purpose, urging leaders and citizens alike to work together toward the realization of Agenda 2063 and “the Africa we want.”

“Africa’s greatest victories have always emerged when Africans act collectively, courageously and with a shared sense of destiny.”

African Liberation Day is commemorated annually on May 25 to honor the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963 and to reflect on Africa’s journey toward unity, self-reliance and sustainable development.

Medical teams on the ground are continuing to isolate patients, trace contacts, and monitor individuals who may have been exposed. Hospitals in affected areas remain under pressure as they manage both confirmed and suspected cases.

So far health officials report presumably over 600 suspected cases and more than 130 deaths ,with several areas in eastern DRC (including Ituri and North Kivu) still recording new alerts as investigations continue .

The World Health Organization and regional health ministries have maintained emergency operations, including border screening, public health messaging, and coordination between neighboring countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC to reduce cross-border spread.

Officials emphasize that while the situation remains serious, ongoing intervention efforts are helping to slow transmission. However, they caution that the outbreak will take time to fully control.

Health authorities are urging communities to remain alert, follow official guidance, and avoid misinformation as response efforts continue across the region.

The training, held from May 20 to 22, 2026, brought together 41 field officers working across six districts in the Eastern Province. The initiative aims to strengthen partners’ understanding of safeguarding principles and ensure the protection of youth, beneficiaries, and communities engaged in AGRA-supported programs.

Speaking during the training, Johanita Mwiza, Safeguarding Officer at AGRA-Rwanda, said the training focuses on helping field staff identify safeguarding concerns, report cases, and respond appropriately whenever issues arise.

“We want to ensure that all field officers who interact with youth and beneficiaries on a daily basis are able to identify safeguarding concerns, report them, and respond as quickly as possible,” she said.

According to Mwiza, safeguarding is central to AGRA’s commitment to creating safe environments for everyone involved in its programs, including beneficiaries, service providers, and partners.

“The impact of safeguarding in the YEFFA program and AGRA at large is to ensure that whoever comes into contact with us feels protected and safe, and is able to do what they are supposed to do without fear of harm, abuse, or exploitation,” she added.

Participants described the training as timely and practical, especially for organizations working directly with communities and youth.

Nathalie Nikuza, one of the participants, said safeguarding helps create safe and respectful environments where people are protected from discrimination, abuse, and neglect.

During the YEFFA Trainings 

“It is very important, especially for those working with communities. Safeguarding teaches us prevention, reporting, and response mechanisms whenever cases that require attention arise,” she explained.

Another participant, Nkubito Eden from ADC, said the knowledge gained from the training would improve the way field officers engage with entrepreneurs, farmers, and youth beneficiaries.

“Some of the things we were doing every day without fully understanding the principles behind them. Now we understand how to identify concerns, report them properly, and support people better,” he said.

AGRA-Rwanda says the safeguarding training will continue in other provinces in the coming weeks as part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability, inclusion, and protection within agricultural development programs across the country.

Globally, the FAO Food Price Index rose by 1.6 percent in April 2026, marking the third consecutive monthly increase. The rise was driven mainly by higher prices for cereals, vegetable oils, and meat products, alongside increasing energy and transport costs linked to the escalating U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict.

At the same time, global fertilizer markets are witnessing significant price hikes due to supply disruptions and elevated energy costs. Urea prices increased by nearly 50 percent globally, while DAP and MAP fertilizer prices also registered double-digit increases.

For Rwanda, the impact is already becoming visible.

The AGRA Food Security Monitor shows that Rwanda’s NPK fertilizer prices increased by 7.9 percent month-on-month and 33.5 percent year-on-year, while urea prices rose by 26.3 percent compared to the same period last year. Fuel prices also surged sharply, with petrol prices increasing by 38 percent between March and April, adding pressure to transportation and logistics costs across the economy.

“These rising input costs are likely to affect agricultural productivity and household food affordability if global market pressures persist,” the report notes.

Analysts say the increase in fertilizer, fuel, and transport costs could eventually translate into higher food prices for consumers, especially for staple crops that rely heavily on imported agricultural inputs and regional trade corridors.

Rwanda’s rice market is already showing signs of strain. Rice prices increased by 4 percent in April, reflecting growing regional demand and higher transportation costs. Across East Africa, staple food prices remain elevated despite seasonal harvest improvements in some countries.

In neighboring Uganda, rice prices rose by 13 percent, while maize prices increased sharply in Ethiopia and South Sudan due to supply shortages, conflict, and high transaction costs.

“Although Rwanda has maintained relative stability in food supply compared to several countries in the region, it remains vulnerable to external shocks because of its dependence on imported fuel and fertilizers,” the report states.

The broader regional outlook also remains concerning. Across East Africa, millions of people continue to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) food insecurity conditions driven by conflict, displacement, climate shocks, and persistently high food prices.

Countries such as Ethiopia, South Sudan, and parts of Kenya are experiencing worsening food access challenges, a situation that could place additional pressure on regional food markets and cross-border trade.

The report also highlights ongoing efforts by African governments to stabilize food systems and reduce dependence on imports. Countries including Ethiopia and Kenya are investing in regenerative agriculture, organic fertilizers, and local fertilizer blending initiatives, while the Economic Community of West African States is exploring coordinated fertilizer procurement, subsidies, and development of regional fertilizer industries.

In East Africa, major regional infrastructure investments are also expected to support long-term trade efficiency. Tanzania’s ongoing Standard Gauge Railway project is anticipated to strengthen regional trade corridors linking the Port of Dar es Salaam to inland countries including Rwanda.

However, the AGRA Food Security Monitor cautions that unless global tensions ease and supply chains stabilize, rising fertilizer, fuel, and transport costs will likely continue posing serious challenges to Rwanda’s agriculture sector, food markets, and household purchasing power in the coming months.

“Without sustained market stabilization and stronger regional resilience measures, food price pressures are likely to persist across much of Africa,” the report concludes.

The partnership combines Ecobank’s pan-African banking network with AGRA’s two decades of experience in agricultural transformation to address one of the sector’s biggest challenges — access to finance.

Anup Suri, Group Executive, Commercial and Consumer Banking at Ecobank Group, said the partnership reflects a shift in how Africa should view agriculture.

“To transform Africa’s economy, we must treat agriculture as a high-growth commercial sector rather than a subsistence activity,” he said. “Through this alliance with AGRA, Ecobank is unlocking the capital required to scale agribusinesses across the continent while building resilient food systems.”

Under the agreement, the two institutions will work together to develop innovative financial products tailored for agribusiness SMEs, cooperatives, and farmer organizations. These include working capital solutions, trade finance, and asset financing.

The collaboration will also focus on reducing the risks associated with agricultural lending through blended finance, guarantees, and risk-sharing mechanisms aimed at encouraging greater private-sector investment in agriculture.

Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, emphasized that agriculture remains central to Africa’s economic future.

“Agriculture is not one sector among many for Africa; it is the foundation on which the continent’s entire development agenda rests,” she said. “By combining AGRA’s on-the-ground expertise with Ecobank’s reach and financial capabilities, we are creating opportunities for women and young people to build thriving agribusinesses.”

The partnership places special emphasis on women and youth-led enterprises by aligning Ecobank’s Ellevate initiative with AGRA’s Value4HER and YEFFA programs. The initiative aims to increase targeted financing, technical support, and capacity-building opportunities for young entrepreneurs and women operating in agriculture and food systems.

As climate change continues to threaten food security across Africa, the two organizations also pledged to promote climate-smart agriculture and mobilize green financing solutions that support sustainable land use and resilient agri-food systems.

The agreement comes at a time when African governments and development partners are intensifying efforts to modernize agriculture, improve food security, and create jobs for the continent’s growing youth population.

Industry observers say the Ecobank-AGRA partnership could play a significant role in accelerating agricultural commercialization and unlocking new investment opportunities across Africa’s food systems

As social entrepreneurs, philanthropic leaders, impact investors, and policy influencers convene at the Skoll World Forum, an annual platform dedicated to advancing systems-level solutions and scaling impact, this year’s focus on moving from ambition to results brings a critical question into perspective for Africa: why does strong policy ambition so often fail to translate into outcomes at scale?
Africa has never lacked ambition for its food systems. What it lacks is sufficient food systems leadership capacity to turn that ambition into results. The Kampala Declaration, which took effect in January 2026, sets the agenda for the next decade, calling for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems across the continent. However, the African Union’s own Biennial Reviews of the just-concluded Malabo CAADP decade show that most countries were off track on the commitments they had already made, despite strong frameworks and political declarations. 

Across Africa, ambitious strategies often stall at the point of execution. Coordination breaks down across ministries. System actors operate in parallel rather than in concert. Promising innovations fail to scale because few actors seek to bridge policy, markets, and communities. Implementation gaps are often attributed to constraints such as a lack of financing, weak infrastructure, or market dynamics. But unlocking these complex areas depends on the ability of leaders across diverse organisations to see the bigger shared picture, align goals, collaborate, and advance delivery in a coherent fashion. 

Food systems leadership isn’t about titles or personal power. It’s about leaders in the ecosystem working across boundaries to coalesce around a common agenda, manage tough trade-offs, and push for collective action. Leadership programmes such as AGRA’s Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA), the African Food Fellowship (AFF) help strengthen these capabilities: enabling leaders to move beyond their own mandates, connect diverse actors, build coalitions, and turn big ambitions into real, measurable change. Where stronger food systems leadership exists, policies become impactful programmes, finance flows more effectively, and innovations scale. Where it does not, even substantial investments underperform.

Proof already exists – Africa can build transformational capabilities by design 
Evidence increasingly points to one missing piece: a critical mass of leaders equipped to work systemically, bridging institutions, wiring stronger connections across the public, private, and civic sectors, and operating at all levels of governance. Across initiatives such as the AFF, CALA, the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), and the Africa Capacity Building Foundation, leaders are being equipped with systems thinking, collaborative skills, implementation networks, and real-world delivery capacity grounded in country priorities. Leaders from these programmes are already demonstrating measurable results in strengthening delivery, influencing policy, and unlocking investment. 

In Tanzania, embedding food systems leadership within delivery systems produced transformative results. A CALA-supported intervention reduced poultry mortality from 55% to 3% by organizing previously fragmented producers, input suppliers, and extension actors into a coordinated cluster production model that aligned incentives and improved adherence to best practices. This approach improved coordination and execution, leveraging productivity gains that had eluded the sector for years. The success of this approach led to the team’s integration into national poultry sector reforms, now advancing through the Poultry Compact (2024–2028).

In Kenya, similar leadership capabilities are translating into large-scale economic outcomes. Through the African Food Fellowship, an aquaculture enterprise has mobilized partnerships across government, finance, and industry to unlock a long-standing financing gap in the sector. AFF fellows worked with financial institutions to de-risk lending and coordinated actors across the aquaculture value chain. This led to the launch of Africa’s first dedicated aquaculture credit product and catalysed production expected to reach 25,000 MT annually by 2031, alongside 8,000 jobs and improved incomes for 10,000 smallholder farmers. In both cases, the real breakthrough wasn’t just new technology or more funding; it was about bringing people together, aligning their interests, and driving collective action across the whole system.
Critically, the impact of these initiatives extends beyond individual leaders. When leaders are connected across countries and sectors, they form an organic movement for transformation. They share insights, coordinate action, and hold one another accountable. The goal, therefore, is not just to train individuals but to forge a collective force of diverse leaders across the continent, capable of shifting policies, business models, and incentives at every level.

The return on investment Africa can’t ignore: Food systems leadership 
Yet leadership remains among the least-funded components of food systems transformation. Estimates suggest that equipping 25,000 cross-sector food systems leaders across Africa over the Kampala Decade would require a modest US$25 million per year, roughly 0.1% of annual spending in Africa’s agrifood sector and just 0.25% of the total investment needed to achieve CAADP goals. 
Stronger leadership capacity attracts substantial commercial finance ready to invest in Africa’s agrifood sectors and achieve greater impact by improving coordination, accountability, and execution. Food systems leadership, therefore, is not an additional cost but a multiplier that determines whether existing investments translate into results at scale.

To accelerate transformation delivery, food systems leadership initiatives are forming a community of practice to learn from one another, spotlight delivery gaps, connect their alumni networks, and collectively advocate for investment in leadership. This is a coordinated call to action, ready to scale what is already working to build a new generation of food system leaders.

Delivering on ambition: What it will take

As the Kampala decade gets underway, the question is no longer whether Africa has the right ambitions for food systems transformation, but whether it has the leadership capabilities to achieve them.
This necessitates elevating food systems leadership to the pedestal of implementation and giving it top priority and funding from governments. Development partners must also go beyond technical fixes and invest in the institutional and leadership capacity that turns commitments into real, measurable outcomes. Ecosystem actors must transition from dispersed efforts to coordinated action to deepen collaboration, align around common priorities, and advance food systems leadership capacity at scale. The next step is to translate this momentum into actionable commitments at the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali.
Without this shift, ambition will continue to outpace execution. With it, Africa has a genuine chance to turn a decade of commitments into a decade of delivering food systems transformation.

He underscored Rwanda’s long-term vision:

“We are confident that, with the establishment of a strong and functional food innovation ecosystem, Rwanda is well-positioned to become a leading hub for food innovation in Africa.”

He further stressed the need for systemic coordination:

“Unlocking the full potential of our agri-food system requires a deliberate shift from fragmented interventions to a well-coordinated innovation ecosystem that connects research, enterprise, and markets.”

And highlighted the importance of partnerships:

“Meaningful transformation will depend on strong collaboration with the private sector, research institutions, and development partners.”

Strong Emphasis on Nutrition and System Priorities

Dr. Laurence Haddad, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), called for nutrition to be firmly embedded as a core outcome of the transformation agenda.

“We must ensure that nutrition is not only embedded, but elevated as a core outcome of food systems transformation, with clear and measurable targets.”

He added that accountability must be strengthened across the system:

“Reducing malnutrition should not be treated as a secondary goal—it must be a central performance indicator of the entire ecosystem.”

Belinda Bwiza, CEO of One Acre Fund Rwanda, welcomed the Strategy’s direction, noting that it builds on and accelerates existing frameworks.

“The Strategy does not replace existing frameworks; it accelerates their implementation.”

She also highlighted the need for clearer operational mechanisms, particularly the proposed regulatory sandbox approach and its potential to drive productivity and innovation uptake.

AGRA Reaffirms Commitment to Ecosystem Transformation

Jean Paul Ndagijimana, AGRA Country Director for Rwanda, emphasized collaboration, inclusivity, and long-term ownership as key to successful implementation.

He described the transformation agenda as a shared journey:

“If we work together, we can elevate the entire food system to a different level and accelerate transformation across the ecosystem.”

He also issued a strong call for inclusion:

“Can each one of you find a space in this strategy? And if not, challenge us to create that space for you—so we move forward together as one ecosystem.”

Reaffirming AGRA’s commitment, he said:

“We are not just building a document; we are building a house where every actor must find a place and contribute to its completion.”

And added:

“We are committed to walking this journey with you—not as observers, but as active partners in implementation.

FAO Highlights Regional Opportunity and Implementation Imperative

The FAO Country Director for Rwanda, Mohamed Aw-Dahir, emphasized that while the Strategy is strong and ambitious, its success will depend on execution and sustained commitment.

“The Strategy is necessary, but not sufficient. Its success will depend on strong commitment and effective implementation.”

He highlighted Rwanda’s strategic regional potential:

“Rwanda has the potential not only to transform its food systems but also to become a regional hub for livestock feed and agricultural commercialization across Eastern and Central Africa.”

He further emphasized FAO’s continued support:

“Wherever we cannot provide financial support, we will contribute knowledge, expertise, and global best practices to strengthen implementation.”

And underscored regional integration:

“Food systems transformation must go beyond borders—Rwanda is strategically positioned as a gateway to regional and continental markets.”

The workshop concluded with strong consensus that Rwanda’s food systems transformation will depend on coordinated action, inclusive innovation, institutional alignment, and sustained cross-sector collaboration.

The Rwanda Food Innovation Ecosystem Strategy will be officially unveiled in September during the Africa Food Systems Forum, positioning Rwanda at the center of continental dialogue on agri-food innovation and systems transformation.

Speaking at the launch, Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, highlighted both the progress made over the past two decades and the urgency of accelerating action.

“We have elevated food systems on the continental agenda and mobilized partnerships at an unprecedented scale,” she said. “But too many commitments have yet to translate into real financing and action on the ground.”

She stressed the need for a fundamental shift in approach:
“The next chapter must be about delivery—moving from pledges to pipelines, from external dependence to African capital, and from symbolic inclusion to real investment opportunities for youth and women.”

Ruhweza also underscored the importance of redefining agriculture’s role:
“Farming must become a viable business, not a subsistence activity, and productivity must grow without compromising soil health and sustainability.”

Board Chair of AGRA and Chair of the AFSF Partners Group, Hailemariam Dessalegn, reflected on the Forum’s 20-year journey and its growing continental significance.

“This platform is not just another meeting—it is where the complexity of Africa’s food systems is confronted, where policy, science, and investment meet,” he said.

He warned of the urgency of the current moment:
“Africa faces a food systems financing gap of over $100 billion annually. That is not just a number—it is a call to action.”

Dessalegn emphasized the need for African ownership and leadership:
“The AFSF belongs to Africa. Its future must be financed, driven, and delivered by Africans themselves.”

Delivering the keynote on behalf of the Prime Minister, Telesphore Ndabamenye reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to hosting the Summit and advancing the continent’s food systems agenda.

“Investment in food systems is not optional—it is a sovereign responsibility,” he said. “The consequences of inaction—food insecurity, unemployment, and economic stagnation—are simply too high.”

He added:
“Africa is not short of capital. What has been missing is the will and the right frameworks to channel that capital into transformative food systems investments.”

Ndabamenye also highlighted the role of youth and women:
“They must not be seen as beneficiaries, but as the drivers of transformation—through real access to finance, land, markets, and skills.”

The 2026 theme—“Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience”—places strong emphasis on mobilizing capital, creating jobs, empowering women, and building sustainable food systems.

As preparations begin for the September Summit, leaders called for concrete delivery plans, measurable outcomes, and stronger accountability to ensure real impact across the continent.

With over 4,500 stakeholders expected, the AFSF 2026 Summit is set to shape the next decade of Africa’s food systems transformation—one defined not just by ambition, but by action.
End

Why the next wave of competitive advantage in African markets will be built from the ground up
Agriculture begins with soil, but for Africa’s growth story, soil is far more than an input. It is the foundation of food systems, the basis of livelihoods, and an increasingly critical lever for resilience, reliability, and long‑term value creation.
Across the continent, soil holds the potential to address food insecurity, restore ecosystems, and unlock economic growth at scale. Yet that potential remains largely unrealised, not because of lack of effort, but because the core asset underpinning agricultural systems has been systematically undervalued.

Consider a typical smallholder farmer managing at least three acres of land. Each season, she commits her primary productive assets, land, labour, and inputs into the business of farming. She prepares the land, purchases seed and fertiliser, plants, weeds, and manages crops through increasingly volatile weather patterns. The investment of time, effort, and capital is substantial and sustained.

Too often, however, the system fails to break even. Once input costs, labour, climate risk, price volatility, and post‑harvest losses are factored in, farming frequently struggles to generate sufficient surplus to reinvest. Productivity remains stagnant, vulnerability persists, and each season begins from a position of fragility.

In any other sector, this would signal a structural problem. Capital does not flow to businesses where the core asset is degrading, efficiency is declining, and returns fail to justify risk. Manufacturing systems are redesigned when productivity falls; retail models are restructured when margins erode. Yet in agriculture, this dynamic has been normalised.

The constraint is not farmer effort. It is that soil, the primary productive asset is rarely managed as one.
For decades, soil has been treated as a passive medium rather than as capital. Uniform input approaches have been applied across highly variable and often degraded landscapes, leading to diminishing returns over time. Nutrients are added, but crops respond weakly because the biological and physical systems that make soil productive have been compromised.

The result is a cycle of continued investment with limited payoff.
This is where the concept of a tipping point matters.
Agricultural systems do not improve incrementally. They operate around a threshold that determines whether farming functions as a survival activity or as a viable enterprise. Below this threshold, productivity remains low, soil health declines, and income barely covers costs. Any external shock, whether climatic or market‑related, pushes the system deeper into risk.

Beyond it, the system behaves differently.
When soil health improves to the point where nutrients are efficiently utilised, water is retained, and biological processes support plant growth, productivity stabilises and begins to rise. At that point, farming crosses a break‑even threshold. Surplus becomes possible. Reinvestment becomes rational. Agriculture shifts from coping to competing.
This transition is not about marginal gains. It is structural.

Crossing the tipping point requires deliberate soil management: rebuilding organic matter, restoring biological activity, and applying inputs in a targeted way aligned with actual soil needs. Water management, crop selection, and agronomic practices must also reflect local conditions rather than one‑size‑fits‑all models.
When these elements align, the economics change measurably. Crops access nutrients more effectively, soils retain moisture longer, and systems become less sensitive to seasonal variability. Evidence from integrated soil and landscape restoration across Africa shows sustained productivity gains alongside reduced degradation, demonstrating that this shift is both possible and scalable. Crucially, these gains compound over time.

Once farms consistently operate beyond the break‑even point, behaviour changes. Reinvestment in better technologies becomes the norm. Diversification into higher‑value production becomes feasible. Soil organic carbon accumulates, creating optionality around emerging climate and sustainability markets. Improved water retention reduces dependence on rainfall alone.
At this stage, farms are no longer just producing crops. They are building assets.

For businesses operating in African markets, the implications are significant.
Brand equity is often understood as trust, credibility, and relevance built over time. In food and agriculture systems, that equity is not only intangible, but also physical, embedded in the soil. Soil health determines whether farmers can produce reliably, whether supply chains hold under pressure, and whether shocks can be absorbed without disruption.

When farming systems remain below the tipping point, supply chains are unstable, costs are unpredictable, and trust is fragile. When systems move beyond it, reliability improves, resilience strengthens, and long‑term partnerships become viable.
Soil, in this context, is not simply an environmental concern. It is a strategic asset.
Investing in soil is therefore not a peripheral ESG activity. It is a system‑level intervention that strengthens productivity, stabilises supply, mitigates climate risk, and underpins durable growth. For companies seeking long‑term advantage in African markets, soil sits at the centre of value creation.

Africa’s growth will ultimately depend on whether its foundational systems can generate surplus rather than absorb effort. The brands that recognise this and invest accordingly, will be those best positioned for the next decade of growth, built from the ground up.

Iris Irumva, CEO of Lead Access, emphasized the importance of showcasing women agripreneurs and creating a platform for exchange:
“This is the second Women in Agri-Food Systems workshop we organized with the support of AGRA and other organizations funded by the Mastercard Foundation. It demonstrates how much we value the role of women in feeding the world.”
She added:
“The exhibition of women agripreneurs makes this event unique, providing an opportunity to exchange information and discuss issues like access to finance, collateral, and insurance.”

Peter Okamah, AGRA Rwanda Program Lead, highlighted the organization’s commitment to supporting women in agriculture:
“AGRA leverages programs like Valuer for Her and YEFFA to create decent jobs, improve market access, and de-risk financial barriers such as loans and collateral for women agripreneurs.”

Niyitanga Grace, a horticulture agripreneur from Rwamagana, shared her perspective:
“This workshop is a great opportunity to discuss challenges, find solutions, and connect with peers and partners who can support our growth.”

Uwamahoro Rose, another participant, added:
“I am inspired by the exchange of experiences and the commitment shown by partners to empower women in agriculture.”

The workshop included high-level policy dialogue, mentorship sessions, and an exhibition showcasing women-led enterprises, focusing on horticulture as a high-value, export-oriented value chain. The event concluded with a “Women in Agri-Food Systems Commitment Moment”, where partners and participants pledged concrete actions to advance women’s participation, leadership, and competitiveness in Rwanda’s agriculture sector.

Speaking during the engagement, Nana stressed the importance of listening directly to youth, especially young women:

“We want to hear your journey—what is working and what challenges you face, particularly as women in agri-food systems.”

The president of the cooperative, Munyaburanga Emmanuel, highlighted the cooperative’s vision of sustainability:

“We put our children together to equip them with skills so they can create jobs and eventually take over the cooperative, which gives hope for sustainability.”

Youth voices: progress and challenges

Participants openly shared both achievements and gaps in support.

Habimana Fidel, alongside his wife Tumukunde Lilian, emphasized the need for more flexible financing and improved farming support:

“We should be given extended time to repay loans so we don’t rush to sell our produce. We also need more training in agriculture practices. The first season had poor weather, leading to low yields—we prefer repayment over one year instead of six months.”

Ndacyayisenga Serverien called for more practical skills:

“The training is not sufficient—we need technical skills, especially in poultry. What we received was mainly in business development.”

Empowerment through Akazi Kanoze Access

The visit also extended to youth and women groups supported by Akazi Kanoze Access under the YEFFA programme through the “Work Readiness Now” and “Be Your Own Boss” trainings.

Fadhila Modeste, a teacher and leader of the AYEP (Agro Youth Empowerment Project) group, described how the programme transformed their mindset and livelihoods:

“Our group started by renting land to grow cabbage. We were trained in saving—we keep money securely before depositing it in the bank. After the training, it’s like our eyes opened. I no longer rely only on my teaching salary—I combine it with farming.”

He added:

“We invested RWF 450,000, sold to one of our members for RWF 700,000, and she later made RWF 1.2 million. However, lack of irrigation remains a challenge.”

Nyirabizeyimana Annonciata shared her personal growth:

“I invested RWF 50,000 and earned RWF 200,000 in three months. Before, I didn’t know how to record expenses and profits, but now I do. I also started with 30 chickens—now I have 100.”

From small capital to growing enterprises

Clarisse Mukamutsinzi highlighted how training unlocked her entrepreneurial journey:

“I started with RWF 250,000 from my husband and family. After YEFFA training in 2024, I opened a small shop and now earn about RWF 100,000 after expenses. I plan to expand and buy land.”

Nzabonariba Jean Providence also shared his transformation:

“The training helped me understand how to manage money and start income-generating activities. I began with RWF 20,000, borrowed from the savings group, and now my capital has grown to RWF 200,000.”

Scaling up in agroforestry

Mukashyaka Nadia, a member of the Twiteze Imbere group, demonstrated remarkable progress in agroforestry:

“After training by Akazi Kanoze, I started a nursery using savings group loans. In July 2024, I produced 16,000 trees at a cost of RWF 150,000 and earned RWF 755,000.”

She added:

“In 2026, I produced 22,841 trees, selling each at RWF 75 and earning over RWF 2.2 million. My plan is to expand and supply more areas, but I always secure the market first.”

A pathway to transformation

The one-day field visit highlighted the tangible impact of YEFFA in empowering youth—especially young women—with skills, confidence, and access to opportunities. At the same time, it underscored persistent challenges, including access to finance, technical training, and irrigation.

As Nana concluded her engagements, the message was clear: youth voices are central to shaping inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems in Rwanda.

Participants shared reflections on the gaps, opportunities, and strategies for telling more impactful stories. Eugene Kwibuka, Communication Manager at MINAGRI, highlighted missing narratives around nutrition, food quality, and youth engagement.

“Nutrition, food quality, and youth engagement are missing in current narratives. We need to teach balanced diets, reduce food waste, and inspire youth to embrace food systems with better productivity techniques,” he said.

Communication challenges were also discussed. Eric Mihigo, Communication Officer at YEARN, emphasized the need for stories that resonate with the public.

“The public wants stories that showcase new technologies, not just project achievements or politically driven narratives,” he said.

From a gender perspective, Dr.Olivia Kabatesi, of Empower Rwanda, highlighted the importance of centering young women in agri-food stories.

“We need more stories highlighting young women in agri-food systems—addressing childcare models, unpaid care work, land access, and climate shocks,” she said.

Private sector voices underscored the need for realistic expectations around youth engagement. Jean Baptiste Musabyimana, CEO of ABUSOL Ltd, said:

“AGRA has many success stories to communicate. But when talking about youth engagement in agriculture, not every young person can be an entrepreneur. Some will work on larger farms, creating employment, which also strengthens food systems.”

Participants also highlighted opportunities for innovation and digital solutions. Francois Nsengiyumva, CEO of KGB Seed Company, called for online learning platforms to support farmers.

“We need online platforms and digital extension programs to teach farming techniques, post-harvest management, and reduce agri losses, while popularizing agri communication through social media,” he said.

Meanwhile, Oswald Mutuyeyezu, a prominent journalist at Radio & TV 10, called for partnerships and capacity building for communicators.

“We need training on packaging content that attracts audiences and stronger partnerships to help us reach farmers and tell impactful stories on market access, agricultural insurance, and finance,” he said.

The session concluded with a shared commitment to improving the way African food systems are communicated, ensuring that stories around nutrition, youth, women, innovation, and market access reach wider audiences and inspire action.
End

The conversation, titled “Who Gets to Shape Africa’s Food Future?”, was hosted by AGRA in partnership with Global Citizen on the sidelines of MoveAfrika. The dialogue took place at Select Boutique Hotel & Restaurant, where a small group of young entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors engaged directly with policymakers on opportunities within Africa’s agri-food sector.

Minister calls for stronger youth engagement in agriculture

During the discussion, Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr.Telesphore Ndabamenye challenged young people to view agriculture not only as farming, but as a strategic pathway to wealth creation and employment.

“You cannot market what you do not have,” the minister said, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing food production before focusing on profits. “In the food systems journey, we must first secure food. From food comes cash, and from cash come jobs.”

He also urged young entrepreneurs to take a more proactive role in agriculture rather than waiting for opportunities.

“Don’t be lazy in the food systems journey,” he told participants. “Ask yourself: how friendly are you with agriculture? Wherever you are today, try to see how you can shift and contribute to the food system.”

Dr. Ndabamenye highlighted the role of development partners, particularly AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation, in creating opportunities for youth, while stressing that young people themselves must take the lead.

“Partners such as AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation are already supporting youth initiatives, but young people must also step forward and play a bigger role. We want youth to help us produce healthy foods for our populations. When food systems are strong, the economy becomes stronger.”

Global Citizen highlights the importance of listening to youth

Speaking during the event, Ifeoma Chuks-Adizue, Managing Director for Africa at Global Citizen, said the dialogue created an important platform for young people to share their experiences and perspectives in the agricultural sector.

“It was a very good event. I really liked the interactions by young people. I continue to see that the choices they make shape the future not only for them, but also for Rwanda and Africa as a continent,” she said.

She emphasized the need for organizations working in the sector to better understand the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs.

“We need to understand what challenges they face as Global Citizen and as AGRA so that we can help them achieve their goals,” she added.

Chuks-Adizue noted that Global Citizen is working with AGRA through a grant focused on addressing food and nutrition challenges.

“One big issue is food and nutrition, which is a focus area of AGRA. Within Global Citizen, one of our focus areas this year is jobs. This event was organized to create an open and honest conversation among young people who are already doing great work within the agriculture space,” she said.

AGRA highlights youth innovation and ecosystems

During the dialogue, AGRA’s Director for Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness, Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah, emphasized that empowering youth is central to transforming Africa’s food systems.

“We want to bring more young people on board in shaping Africa’s food future,” she said. “Young people are not just beneficiaries — they are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders in the food system.”

She added that AGRA is working to strengthen the ecosystem supporting youth-led agribusinesses by collaborating with governments and financial institutions.
“If young entrepreneurs are given the right environment, they can transform food systems across the continent,” she said.

Youth entrepreneurs share experiences

Participants also reflected on the importance of creating more opportunities for youth in agriculture.

Lydia Murekatete from All Greens described the session as motivating and action-oriented.

“Don’t just talk about it, be about it,” she said. “The session was engaging and inspirational.”

Meanwhile, Evariste Sibobugingo, co-founder of Igisubizo Ltd, said the dialogue helped young entrepreneurs gain confidence and exchange ideas.

“This dialogue builds our confidence, opens our minds and allows us to share experiences with other young people,” he said.

The dialogue forms part of broader efforts by AGRA and Global Citizen to position youth at the center of Africa’s agricultural transformation, recognizing the sector’s potential to drive jobs, innovation and economic growth across the continent.

From One Cow to a Business Dream

Kashugera grew up in Nyagatare in Eastern Rwanda, in a family that depended largely on cattle keeping. Like many parents in rural Rwanda, his father believed in preparing his children for the future through livestock.

He gave Kashugera five cows.

Instead of keeping them all, the young Kashugera sold one cow and used the money to buy a sack of salt worth 1,550 Rwandan francs. He sold the salt at a profit and reinvested the earnings.

That simple trade became the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

Soon he bought a bicycle and began traveling between villages selling banana wine (urwagwa). Business grew steadily, and one bicycle turned into many. Before long, Kashugera owned 17 bicycles, all used to expand his trade across nearby communities.

As his profits increased, he upgraded from bicycles to motorcycles and later ventured into small-scale currency exchange and retail trade. Eventually, he purchased a Daihatsu pickup truck, using it to transport agricultural products to Kigali and bring clothing back to Nyagatare.

When Success Became Suspicious

But in those years, a young man becoming wealthy in rural Rwanda often attracted suspicion.

Kashugera’s business activity and growing financial success caught the attention of government spies. They noticed his frequent trips between Nyagatare and Kigali and began monitoring his movements.

Strangers would often approach him asking for rides to Kigali or Nyagatare. Some of them, he later learned, were informants.

One day, security agents arrested him.

They interrogated him about the source of his money.

Kashugera explained that his capital came from cattle his father had sold and given him to start his business.

The agents refused to believe him.

Instead, they accused him of receiving financial support from the Inkotanyi, the rebels who would later lead Rwanda’s liberation struggle.

“They told me my money was ‘Inkotanyi money,’” Kashugera later recalled.

Blindfolded, he was taken to several detention locations in Kigali — including Gikondo, Nyamirambo, Muhima, and even near the former presidential offices in the city center.

Eventually he was released. Rather than giving up on business, Kashugera decided to move his operations to Kigali and continue working.

Building a Lifetime in Business

That decision changed everything.

Over the years, Kashugera expanded his business activities and formed long-term partnerships. One of the most significant has been with Bralirwa, Rwanda’s leading beverage company.

For 37 years, he has worked as one of the company’s distributors, a role that eventually required him to invest in large trailer trucks to manage deliveries.

In total, Kashugera has now spent 47 years in business.

Despite his success, he believes the rules of business remain simple.

“Business speaks,” he often says. “You only need to listen carefully to what it tells you.”

According to him, success is built on honesty, discipline, and saving money wisely.

Honoring His Father’s Legacy

Behind Kashugera’s achievements lies a deep respect for his father.

Before passing away, his father gave him one important piece of advice: never abandon cattle.

Kashugera kept that promise.

Today, he still owns cattle descended from the herd his father once raised. In fact, he even moved his father’s grave closer to his pasture — a symbolic gesture that reflects his strong connection to his roots.

He says that spending time among those cows gives him more satisfaction than any business deal.

A Message to the Next Generation

Kashugera also has a direct message for Rwanda’s youth.

He believes success requires discipline and effort — something he feels many young people underestimate.

“Many youths today are lazy,” he says candidly. “They focus on sleeping instead of working. In the 47 years I have been in business, the time I spent sleeping is very small.”

His advice is simple: respect work and avoid shortcuts.

Wealth Beyond the Individual

Despite building a successful business career, Kashugera believes wealth is never purely personal.

For him, money should contribute to national development.

Pointing to a glass of water during one interview, he once said:

“This water we are drinking — that is ours. But money belongs to the country.”

The buildings he helped construct, he says, are not just private property but part of Rwanda’s national pride.

“They are the beauty of the country.”

And perhaps that is the greatest twist in his story.

The man once accused of having “Inkotanyi money” eventually used his success to help build the very nation that accusation once tried to silence.

End

The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with a broad coalition of partners including the Mastercard Foundation, UN Women, the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), Business Professionals Network (BPN), CARE Rwanda, SNV, World Food Programme (WFP), AFR, and ESP, among others, reflecting a growing multi-stakeholder commitment to strengthening women’s role in agri-food systems.

Positioning women at the center of agri-food transformation

Rwanda’s agriculture sector remains a pillar of the economy, contributing about 25 percent of GDP and employing nearly 69 percent of the population. Women make up the majority of the agricultural labor force, yet their presence in leadership roles and structured markets remains limited.

AGRA Rwanda Country Director Jean Paul Ndagijimana said the organization has broadened its approach from focusing solely on productivity to strengthening the entire agri-food system.

“We started with agriculture only looking at productivity, then we said agriculture is bigger than just producing,” Ndagijimana said. “Today we are focusing on the agri-food system, and we are calling on women, especially young women, to consider opportunities across the value chain—from production and trade to processing and market engagement.”

He noted that AGRA has committed to creating 132,000 jobs in agriculture over the next five years, with 70 percent targeted at young women.
“Agriculture offers opportunities in at least five different areas of the value chain. We want young women to see the sector not only as farming, but as a dynamic ecosystem where they can build careers and businesses,” he added.

Expanding access to finance and markets

Equity Bank Rwanda emphasized that financial inclusion will be critical in enabling women entrepreneurs to scale their agribusinesses.
Equity Bank Rwanda Managing Director Hannington Namara highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving inclusive economic transformation.

“Equity Bank is a vehicle for transformation and giving people livelihoods,” Namara said. “Because of our vision and mission, we get excited when we see partners joining hands to make this journey easier and deliver results faster.”

“We know we do not have the power or resources to change the world alone, which is why we are very happy to work together with partners like AGRA and Lead Access,” he added. “By working together we can achieve much more.”

The bank’s social impact arm is also supporting programs designed to equip women entrepreneurs with financial skills and access to credit.
Loyce Bamwine, Director of Social Impact and Investment at Equity Bank Rwanda, said the Women’s Month activities are part of broader efforts to empower women and youth economically.

“Championing this initiative in partnership with different stakeholders is a privilege for us,” Babmwe said. “Beyond banking, we approach this from a social impact perspective. Through Equity Foundation Rwanda we design innovative programs that transform lives and livelihoods.”

She explained that the bank supports women through financial literacy training, entrepreneurship development and tailored financial products.
“Our focus is inclusion—helping women move from one level to another by giving them access to finance and working with partners to provide de-risking mechanisms that make loans more accessible,” she said.
Building a strong ecosystem for women agripreneurs
Lead Access CEO Iris Irumva underscored the importance of collective action in advancing women’s leadership in agriculture and other sectors.

“We know that institutions like AGRA and Equity are supporting women, but we also recognise that progress requires allies,” Irumva said. “As women, we cannot do this alone—we need the ‘He-for-She’ champions and partners who stand with us.”
She praised AGRA’s continued collaboration in promoting women’s participation in agriculture.
“AGRA has been a pillar in this journey. This is the third year we are partnering with them, and we are grateful for the impact this collaboration continues to create,” she said.

Irumva noted that the initiative is helping shift perceptions among young women about careers in agriculture.
“Many young women used to see agriculture as unattractive, but today we talk about it as ‘ag-tractive.’ We are seeing more women entrepreneurs entering the sector and being recognized for their innovation and leadership,” she added.

Women’s Day celebrations and national engagement

As part of the Women’s Month activities, partners also announced that International Women’s Day on 8 March will be marked through participation in Kigali’s bi-monthly Car Free Day, where stakeholders will deliver messages aligned with this year’s global theme on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The event will provide an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of women’s leadership in agriculture and economic development while engaging the public through sports and community participation.

A national platform for action

The March 25 workshop will serve as a national platform to strengthen coordination among government, financial institutions, development partners and private sector actors. Participants will include young women agripreneurs aged 18–35, investors, export agencies, and agribusiness leaders engaged in horticulture value chains such as production, aggregation, processing and export.
The event will feature policy dialogue, mentorship sessions, enterprise exhibitions and business matchmaking opportunities linking women entrepreneurs with buyers and financial institutions.

Organizers say the workshop will also conclude with a Women in Agri-Food Systems Commitment Moment, where stakeholders—including development partners and financial institutions—will announce concrete actions to support women-led enterprises and expand their access to markets and finance.

By positioning women as leaders across the agri-food value chain, AGRA and its partners aim to strengthen Rwanda’s agricultural competitiveness while ensuring that the sector’s transformation remains inclusive and sustainable.

The training focuses on modern agricultural skills, including the use of mechanized farming equipment, irrigation technologies, and value addition such as the fabrication of agro-processing machines.

Speaking during the visit, Wanu congratulated the graduates of the short term training programs, encouraging young people to view agriculture as a viable and profitable business sector.

She urged youth to change the long held perception that farming is an activity for the poor, emphasizing that modern agriculture has the potential to create wealth when approached with innovation and strong branding.

During her visit, the Deputy Minister also interacted with female trainees and expressed her admiration for their growing involvement in technical fields, particularly in operating heavy agricultural machinery used for land preparation and harvesting.

Deputy Minister commended VETA and AGRA for translating Tanzania’s national development vision into practical action through skills development and youth empowerment.

Speaking at the event, AGRA Tanzania Country Director, Vianney Rweyendela, said the organization is encouraged by the early progress made through the initiative, noting that creating employment opportunities for young people remains a central priority.

He explained that about 65 percent of Tanzanians depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, with 70 percent of them being women. For the sector to significantly contribute to economic growth, he noted, agriculture needs to grow by at least 10 percent annually.

Rweyendela added that the mechanization training aligns with the government’s Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative under the 10/30 agenda, which aims to transform agriculture through youth participation and increased investment.

He noted that as agricultural development progressed, stakeholders realized that traditional tools alone could not deliver the needed transformation.

“That is why we partnered with VETA to equip young people with practical skills in mechanization, irrigation, and agricultural value addition so they can drive modern farming,” he said.

He emphasized that AGRA’s broader goal is to create sustainable employment opportunities for youth while supporting Tanzania’s Vision 2050 development agenda.

VETA Director General, CPA Antony Kasore, said the program is part of the broader BBT initiative and aims to equip young people with practical agricultural skills, including mechanization, irrigation systems, and post harvest handling.

Kasore told the Deputy Minister that AGRA Tanzania has invested Tsh 3.5 billion to support the implementation of the program, which will be expanded to vocational training centers across all regions of the country.

“The objective is to produce skilled technicians who will not only apply these skills but also transfer knowledge to other young farmers,” he said.

The YEFFA project targets to train more than 5,600 youth across Tanzania, with 700 young people already graduating from the agricultural mechanization course.

The program is expected to contribute to improved agricultural productivity, job creation, and the transition toward modern, technology-driven farming.

Morogoro Regional Commissioner Adam Malima said the government has long emphasized agriculture, but the past five years under President Samia Suluhu Hassan have seen stronger implementation of agricultural development programs targeting citizens, particularly youth.

He noted that Morogoro region offers numerous agricultural opportunities and encouraged young people interested in grass production for livestock feed to seek support from his office, describing it as a profitable and reliable agribusiness opportunity.

The launch event also showcased innovations developed by the 700 graduates of the YEFFA short term training program, many of whom demonstrated practical solutions and technologies as they prepare to enter the agribusiness sector

Story by Roquefields Sailo

Mu bandi bitabiriye iyi nama harimo Demis Hassabis, umuyobozi wa Google DeepMind, wavuze ko Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) ubwenge buhangano bushobora gukora no gutekereza mu buryo busa n’ubw’umuntu bushobora kuzamurikirwa isi mu myaka itanu kugeza ku munani iri imbere. Ibi bisobanuye ko mu gihe kitari kirekire, hashobora kubaho sisitemu zishobora gusobanukirwa, gutekereza no gufata ibyemezo mu buryo bwagutse kurusha uko bimeze ubu.

Iyi nama yanagarutse ku iterambere rya “Agentic AI” sisitemu zifite ubushobozi bwo gukora imirimo yigenga, zitari ugusubiza ibibazo gusa, ahubwo zishobora gufata ibyemezo no kurangiza inshingano zahawe. Ibigo bya leta n’ibyigenga ku isi byatangiye gushora imari nyinshi muri iri koranabuhanga, rishobora kugabanya igihe gikoreshwa mu kazi, kugabanya ikiguzi, ndetse no kugabanya umubare w’abakozi mu nzego zimwe na zimwe.

Ibihugu bikomeye birimo Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika n’Ubushinwa biri gushora imari itigeze ibaho mu bushakashatsi no guteza imbere AI, bigatuma habaho irushanwa rikomeye ku rwego mpuzamahanga. Ibi byihutisha ubuvumbuzi bushobora guhindura uburyo ibihugu bicungwa, uko ubucuruzi bukorwa ndetse n’imibereho rusange y’abaturage.

Nubwo hari icyizere cy’iterambere, impungenge nazo ntizabura. Bamwe mu batuye isi bagaragaza ko AI ishobora gusubiza inyuma ubushobozi bwo gutekereza bwa muntu, ndetse ko hari imirimo ishobora gusimbuzwa imashini cyangwa robots. Ariko Yann LeCun, impuguke mu by’ubwenge buhangano ukorera Meta Platforms kandi akaba n’umwarimu muri New York University, agaragaza ko AI iriho ubu igifite aho igarukira, cyane cyane ko ishingira cyane ku rurimi kurusha gusobanukirwa byimbitse isi nyakuri. Kuri we, AI ntikwiye gutera ubwoba, ahubwo ikwiye gufatwa nk’igikoresho cyafasha muntu kongera ubushobozi bwe.

Mu gihe isi iri kwinjira mu bihe by’iterambere rishingiye ku ikoranabuhanga ku muvuduko utigeze ubaho mbere, ubwenge buhangano ntibukiri umufasha usanzwe. Abasesenguzi bagaragaza ko bugiye guhinduka igice cy’imibereho ya buri munsi mu burezi, mu buvuzi, mu buhinzi, mu micungire y’ibigo no mu miyoborere.

Ikibazo gikomeye cyagarutsweho muri Delhi si ukumenya niba AI izahindura isi, ahubwo ni igihe izabikorera n’uburyo abantu n’ibihugu bazayitegura. Mu myaka mike iri imbere, amahitamo azafatwa uyu munsi ashobora kuzagena uko isi izaba imeze ejo hazaza.

Narendra Modi atangiza Inya VoiceOS, model ya AI yihariye ikora mu buryo bw’ijwi-ku-jwi itanyuze mu guhindura ijwi mo inyandiko.

One of these partners is Abusol Ltd, a poultry farming company operating in Bugesera District in Eastern Rwanda. Over the past 10 years, the company has raised more than 130,000 chickens on 14 hectares of land. At full production, the farm produces up to 80,000 eggs per day. The company initially started with 10,000 chickens.

Founder’s Journey

Musabyimana Jean Baptiste, the founder and Managing Director of Abusol Ltd, is a Rwandan who studied economics in France.

“I went to France in 2003 to study. After completing my studies, I worked there for some time. Later, I realized it was important to return home and contribute to building my country. I studied economics, stock markets, and commercial law, and I returned to Rwanda in 2016,” he said.

He chose to invest in poultry farming after recognizing its importance in improving nutrition and its strong market demand.

“I decided to rear chickens because eggs are a nutritious food that helps prevent diseases and are affordable for many Rwandans. My initial plan was to meet the demand for eggs, and later venture into broiler production. That is why I founded Abusol Ltd,” he explained.

Regarding his long-term goals, Musabyimana says he is not only focused on profit but also on improving livelihoods.

“My dream is for every Rwandan household to include an egg in their daily meals. I also want many young people to find employment in this sector,” he added.

Partnership with AGRA

Musabyimana says partnering with AGRA through the YEFFA project has been a major opportunity for both his company and young people in the Eastern Province.

“We were pleased to join the YEFFA project because it aligned with our goals. We were tasked with training young people in the Eastern Province on entrepreneurship and self-employment,” he said.

In just two years, Abusol Ltd has trained more than 10,000 youth through the YEFFA project supported by the Mastercard Foundation. The training covers poultry project management, mar ket access, disease prevention and control, and other key aspects of modern poultry farming.

Youth Testimonies

Some of the youth beneficiaries say the training helped them transition from traditional poultry farming to modern, professional practices.

Jean Chrysostome Dukuzumuremyi from Bugesera District said:

“The YEFFA training has been very helpful. Previously, in our village, we raised chickens without proper methods. Now we understand that the best way is to keep them in proper housing to protect them from pests and diseases. You can raise many chickens on a small piece of land, use less feed, and still get high production. As youth, this allows us to start with small capital and gradually expand to own many chickens in a short time.”

Nyiransengimana Josephine from Nyagatare District said the project gave her in-depth knowledge and confidence.

“The YEFFA project provided me with detailed training on poultry farming. I learned about different chicken breeds and how quickly they generate income. Chickens can be raised on small land and produce fast returns, enabling farmers to improve their livelihoods and contribute to national development,” she said.

She added that the project empowered youth to become self-reliant.

“As young people, the project encouraged us to be confident and work hard without depending on others, which helps us improve our lives,” she noted.

Training Approach

Out of the beneficiaries:

• 2,100 youth received 10-day training sessions at Abusol’s training center, combining classroom lessons with practical sessions inside poultry houses.
• 900 youth were taken to modern poultry farms to observe advanced farming practices.
• Around 4,000 youth were trained directly at farms where poultry activities were already taking place.
• Approximately 3,000 youth were reached in villages to raise awareness about the benefits of engaging in agriculture and livestock farming.

Through the partnership between AGRA and Abusol Ltd, thousands of young Rwandans are gaining the skills and confidence needed to build sustainable careers in poultry farming and agribusiness.

Musabyimana Jean Baptiste, Founder and Managing Director of Abusol Ltd, at his poultry farm in Bugesera District, where more than 130,000 chickens are raised.

Youth participants attend practical training session under the YEFFA project implemented by AGRA

Inside the poultry houses of Abusol Ltd, where the farm produces up to 80,000 eggs per day at full capacity

Among the most scrutinized figures is Britain’s prince Andrew. The royal publicly denied allegations of sexual misconduct connected to Epstein and later reached out of court settlement in a civil lawsuit without admitting wrongdoing. Not only him but also the Epstein files that came out in years such as 2008, 2015 and 2016 even in 2021 include former US president Bill Clinton, although he denied of being aware of any criminal activity.

To add the current president of the US Donald Trump was also stated in the files “I think it’s time the country got on other things nothing came out of those files other than it being a conspiracy against me “president Trump said this in an interview with CNN

 Rumors swirls around online implicating singers, actors and stars from Beyoncé’ and Jay-Z to Rihanna, Michael Jackson, Elon musk, Chris Martin and many more although none were formally accused or charged these rumors, fueled by social media conspiracy theories only added to the intrigue surrounding Epstein’s network and the unanswered questions about who knew what and when.

 While royalty and politicians dominated headlines it also ended up in the media industry, these celebrity rumors while widely discussed online remain unverified still, they contribute to the intrigue and speculation surrounding Epstein’s criminal records, illustrating the powerful blend of wealth, fame and secrecy that characterized his life.

Jeffrey Epstein, The financier whose powerful connections, criminal charges, and unanswered questions continue to fuel global scrutiny and speculation.

The partnership comes at a pivotal moment as Africa advances implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. With 50 countries having ratified the Agreement, attention shifts from legal commitment to practical implementation, particularly in agriculture. “The AfCFTA offers Africa a historic opportunity to shift from exporting raw commodities to building regional value chains that create jobs, raise farmer incomes and strengthen food security,” said H.E. Wamkele Mene. “Our partnership with AGRA is about moving from ambition to execution, ensuring that agricultural trade delivers tangible benefits for producers, processors and consumers across the continent.”

Through the AfCFTA Agri-Trade Action Plan, which proposes several interventions, including, among others, reducing non-tariff barriers, improving trade facilitation, promoting value addition and mobilising investment in regional agricultural value chains, the collaboration will advance agricultural trade under AfCFTA.

“Trade will not transform Africa’s food systems unless farmers and agri-enterprises are able to produce competitively, meet international quality standards, and connect to reliable markets,” said Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA. “This partnership is about making intra-African food trade work in practice—linking policy to delivery so that agriculture becomes a driver of inclusive growth, resilience and shared prosperity.”

Together, the AfCFTA Secretariat and AGRA will drive this partnership toward practical, farmer-centered action, enabling agriculture to fully leverage integrated African markets and deliver inclusive growth, resilience, and shared prosperity across the continent.

“AGRA was founded in 2006 following the vision of the late Kofi Annan, who believed that transforming agriculture was the fastest way to transform Africa,” Ndagijimana said. “Over 60 percent of Africans depend on agriculture, so any serious development agenda had to start there.”

In Rwanda, AGRA’s work began in the context of post-genocide reconstruction, when institutions including agriculture were being rebuilt almost from scratch. The organization identified human capacity as the most urgent gap.

“At that time, what Rwanda needed most was skilled people scientists, breeders, extension specialists,” Ndagijimana explained. “So AGRA invested heavily in education.”

Through partnerships with institutions such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Gates Foundation, AGRA supported more than 50 Rwandans to obtain Master’s degrees and over 27 to complete PhDs in fields including crop science, plant genetics, and breeding. Many of these professionals are now working in research institutions, government agencies, and the private sector.

AGRA’s support went beyond training. Over the past 20 years, the organization has invested approximately USD 20 million in Rwanda, channelled into research infrastructure, laboratories, equipment, vehicles, and production facilities.

“A country does not only need people; it also needs tools,” Ndagijimana said. “We supported laboratories, in-vitro facilities for potatoes, and research stations in Musanze and other areas.”

These investments contributed to Rwanda’s ability to develop its own improved crop varieties. Today, Rwanda produces locally bred, high-yield maize varieties and is making similar progress in rice, soybeans, and potatoes.

One of AGRA’s most impactful interventions focused on addressing aflatoxin contamination in maize a problem that once locked farmers out of major markets. When Africa Improved Foods (AIF) opened its factory in Rwanda, it was rejecting nearly 90 percent of locally produced maize due to quality concerns.

“It was painful,” Ndagijimana recalled. “The factory was in Rwanda, but farmers could not sell to it.”

AGRA worked with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and international partners to introduce biological control solutions such as Aflasafe, alongside improved post-harvest handling practices, including drying maize on the cob.

“Today, more than 90 percent of Rwandan maize meets AIF’s standards,” he said. “That completely changed the relationship between farmers and the market.”

AGRA also played a central role in shifting Rwanda’s seed system from state-dominated to private-sector-driven. In 2016, Rwanda had almost no private seed companies. Today, there are more than 20.

“Government was producing seed, distributing seed, and regulating seed it was too much,” Ndagijimana noted. “We worked with government to bring in private companies while allowing the state to focus on research and regulation.”

Private companies now dominate seed multiplication and marketing, while government institutions concentrate on breeder seed and quality assurance an arrangement that has strengthened sustainability and efficiency.

With youth and women forming the backbone of Rwanda’s population, AGRA has increasingly focused on making agriculture attractive, profitable, and modern.

“Young people don’t want agriculture that depends only on hard manual labor,” Ndagijimana said. “They want technology, data, and predictable income and that’s what we are supporting.”

Through greenhouses, irrigation systems, digital advisory services, and smart pest-management tools, AGRA has helped reposition agriculture as a business. The organization targets supporting 132,000 young people most of them women into agricultural employment by 2028.

AGRA’s latest strategy prioritizes value chains such as avocado, chili, and poultry due to their strong domestic and export demand.

“Chili can start generating income in as little as six months, and global demand is high,” Ndagijimana said. “Avocado offers long-term security one tree can produce for over 20 years.”

These commodities, he added, provide both quick wins and long-term income stability, especially for young agripreneurs.

Rwanda hosts the secretariat of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), a major continental platform convened by AGRA that brings together over 5,000 participants, including heads of state, investors, private companies, and development partners.

“Being the convener of AFSF shows the trust placed in AGRA,” Ndagijimana said. “And for Rwanda, hosting the forum generates millions of dollars in economic activity and invaluable knowledge exchange.”

He noted a growing trend of African and Rwandan diaspora investors using AFSF as a bridge to invest back home, particularly in high-value crops such as avocado and chili.

For Ndagijimana, the most meaningful measure of success is at the farmer level.

“What makes me happiest is seeing a farmer who used to beg for a buyer now negotiating prices with multiple buyers,” he said. “That power to choose that dignity that is real transformation.”

As AGRA looks ahead, its focus in Rwanda remains clear: strengthen implementation of sound policies, deepen private-sector engagement, and ensure that gains especially in seed systems and markets are sustained.

“We know where Rwanda is going,” Ndagijimana concluded. “The task now is to turn strong policies into everyday reality for farmers.”

After 20 years of AGRA’s engagement in Rwanda, the impact is no longer measured only in narratives, but in numbers. Over USD 20 million has been invested in Rwanda’s agricultural systems. More than 50 Rwandans have earned Master’s degrees and 27 have completed PhDs, strengthening the country’s scientific and institutional backbone.

Rwanda has moved from importing nearly 100 percent of its improved maize seed in 2017 to meeting domestic demand by 2022, with over 20 private seed companies now operating in the country, compared to virtually none a decade ago. In maize markets, rejection rates due to aflatoxin contamination dropped from 90 percent to below 10 percent, unlocking stable markets for thousands of smallholder farmers.

AGRA’s current strategy targets the creation of 132,000 jobs by 2028, most of them for youth and women, while high-value value chains such as chili and avocado are positioning Rwanda for long-term export growth.

Taken together, these figures point to a structural shift, from subsistence to systems, from uncertainty to structured markets, and from dependency to local capacity. For Rwanda’s agriculture sector, the next phase will be judged not by new pilots, but by how these numbers continue to grow and who benefits most from them.

Jean Paul Ndagijimana, AGRA Rwanda Country Manager, shares insights on 20 years of AGRA’s impact in Rwanda, from building local capacity to structuring agricultural markets on KPMEDIA Podcast

Youth in Poultry farming, turning effort into opportunity.

Behind every harvest is commitment, resilience, and hope.

When young people choose agriculture, they choose sustainability

Africa Improved Food factory in Rwanda ensures locally produced maize meets quality standards, connecting smallholder farmers to reliable markets

The conference was officially opened by the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba (MP), who reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to scaling up sustainable agricultural mechanization as a strategic priority for boosting productivity, reducing production costs, increasing farmer incomes, and strengthening resilient food systems.

In his address, the Prime Minister emphasized that mechanization is essential for modern agriculture and called for coordinated efforts among governments, the private sector, development partners, and research institutions to expand access to affordable and environmentally responsible mechanization services.

“Africa’s agricultural transformation requires deliberate investment in sustainable mechanization that is accessible, inclusive, and climate-responsive,” the Prime Minister stated, underscoring Tanzania’s focus on public–private partnerships and the participation of youth and women.

During the conference, participating countries and stakeholders adopted a joint communiqué, reaffirming their commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural mechanization through policy alignment, increased investment, regional cooperation, and inclusive mechanization models.

As part of ACSAM 2026, AGRA, together with its implementing partners, is participating in conference discussions and exhibition activities aimed at strengthening collaboration, knowledge exchange, and practical approaches to improving access to agricultural mechanization across Africa.

Key Highlights

1. Official opening of ACSAM 2026 in Dar es Salaam by the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania.

2. ⁠Official launch of Tanzania’s Agricultural Mechanization Strategy.

3. ⁠High-level plenary discussions on sustainable agricultural mechanization and agri-food systems transformation.

4. ⁠Parallel technical sessions on investment and financing, mechanization supply chains, innovation, digital solutions, and youth employment.

Stakeholders gather in Dar es Salaam to shape the future of sustainable agricultural mechanization in Africa.

AGRA joins partners at ACSAM 2026 to strengthen access to inclusive and climate-smart mechanization.

AGRA engages African leaders at ACSAM 2026 to advance sustainable agricultural mechanization across the continent.

By Roquefields SAILO

He says: “Many people fear investing in agriculture, seeing it as exposing themselves to risk. I consider that as selfishness, and someone who is selfish has nothing. When you invest in agriculture, you invest wisely, because that is where there are opportunities to do many good things that benefit you.”

His journey in agriculture began with his service to the Government of Rwanda starting in 1997, where he had the opportunity to work with various organizations operating in the agricultural sector, which made him grow more passionate about farming. In 2007, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, where he was entrusted with leading the agricultural modernization unit.

He says that working for government gave him knowledge and experience that now form the foundation of what he does today.

“There is nothing better than working for the government: it employs you, trains you, connects you with people, and also pays you. When you leave government, you leave with many assets you can use in self-employment,” he explains.

In 2014, Nsengiyumva decided to leave government service and start working privately. He began collaborating with farmers and conducting research on maize. This led him to focus specifically on maize seed development, seeing it as a way to address the problem of low national productivity.

He says: “People should stop believing that one must only work in what they studied. Instead, they should work where there is a need, identify gaps, and see where they can contribute.”

As part of his journey, Nsengiyumva applied for improved maize seeds from CIMMYT, an international research organization that focuses on maize and wheat. Beneficiaries receive advanced seed varieties but are required to multiply them and distribute them to other farmers within a period not exceeding five years.

It was through this process that he developed a maize variety he named MUHABURA, and it was also during this period that he partnered with AGRA, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

He says: “AGRA provided us with financial support that enabled us to conduct different seed trials, rent land for production, and work with pioneer farmers across the country.”

After three years of trials in different districts, the MUHABURA variety was submitted to the government for registration in 2019 and was officially approved in 2022. Nsengiyumva says it became the first maize seed variety to be published in Rwanda’s Official Gazette.

The MUHABURA seed yields between 10 and 12 tonnes per hectare, compared to 5 to 6 tonnes per hectare in many other production areas, while the national average maize yield currently stands at around 2 tonnes per hectare.

He says: “This shows that we can significantly increase our productivity if we have quality seeds that reach farmers on time.”

Partnership with AGRA helped strengthen their capacity in seed marketing, distribution, and the establishment of demonstration plots where farmers can learn by observing. However, he notes that the journey has not been easy, as he often faced discouragement from people who did not believe in his ideas.

“Many people supported me, but many others tried to discourage me. Without AGRA’s support, it would have been extremely difficult,” he says.

Nsengiyumva calls on the government to strengthen collaboration with private seed entrepreneurs, closely monitor them, and organize field-based training programs, especially since government institutions have many highly skilled professionals. He also proposes that seed entrepreneurs be granted access to national seed storage facilities so they can store essential genetic materials, helping to prevent losses in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Currently, MUHABURA seed, produced by KILIMO BUSINESS LTD, is available on the Rwandan market and is popular among farmers. The company has also developed three additional maize seed varieties that are approved at both national and international levels. It now operates on more than 220 hectares and produces over 1,000 tonnes of seed annually.

The journey of Nsengiyumva François demonstrates that investment in agriculture is possible, profitable, and capable of playing a major role in transforming livelihoods and the national economy.

Nsengiyumva François, changing the mindset about agribusiness in Rwanda

Where innovation meets farming: transforming maize production

Quality seeds, higher yields, stronger food security.

The report’s short-term (two-year) top risks are dominated by geoeconomic and geopolitical tensions as well as social and technological disruptions, including trade wars, misinformation and disinformation, societal polarisation, extreme weather events, and state-based armed conflict. Over the long-term (10-year) horizon, it highlights environmental threats such as extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse, alongside misinformation, adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence, and natural resource shortages. Hunger appears in neither of the top risk lists.

AGRA recognizes the seriousness of the risks highlighted in the Global Risks Report, including the way geopolitical fragmentation can crowd out long-term priorities. However, hunger is not a niche humanitarian concern. It is a compounding, destabilising risk multiplier that fuels displacement, undermines political stability, deepens inequality, and weakens human capital and productivity. You cannot have strong economies without healthy ecosystems, and you cannot have healthy people without access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food.

 “When hunger is treated as a downstream outcome rather than a front-line risk, the world responds too late after livelihoods collapse, after conflicts intensify, after children’s nutrition and learning are permanently damaged, and after fragile economies lose years of progress,” said Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA. “The global community is rightly concerned about resilience and security. Food and nutrition security must therefore be integral to the global risk management architecture.”

A hunger crisis is already here, especially in Africa

The latest UN food security assessments show that hunger remains widespread globally and is rising in Africa. An estimated 673 million people faced hunger in 2024, and Africa’s prevalence of hunger surpassed 20 percent, affecting more than 307 million people. This trajectory is moving in the wrong direction for the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 on Zero Hunger. This, against the backdrop of a growing African population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050.

At the same time, the scientific consensus is clear that climate change is already reducing food security through its impacts on crop yields, livestock, fisheries, food access, and food prices, effects that are particularly severe in Africa and for small-scale producers. Without transforming agriculture, climate resilience will remain out of reach.

Climate and nature are one crisis—and hunger is how it reaches households

AGRA aligns with the growing global call, echoed by environmental leaders, for climate and nature to be placed front and centre, with measurable implementation rather than pledges alone. For food systems, this translates into a practical reality: degraded soils, water stress, biodiversity loss, and rising temperatures are direct threats to harvests, incomes, diets, and stability. Land and soil degradation are steadily weakening productive capacity and resilience, amplifying the effects of droughts, floods, and heat.

Meeting Africa’s future food needs will require nature and climate-positive innovations in agriculture that increase productivity and yields while reducing pressure on land, limiting further ecosystem conversion, and accelerating adaptation to climate change.

“Hunger doesn’t wait for the world to finish debating risk rankings. It grows quietly through depleted soils, failed rains, unaffordable diets, and stunted children,” Ruhweza concluded. “Davos should be a turning point where global risk leadership reflects the reality facing farmers and families.”

AGRA’s position ahead of Davos 2026

As leaders gather in Davos next week, AGRA calls for a clearer global risk posture that explicitly recognises hunger and malnutrition as strategic risks and invests accordingly. AGRA urges governments, development banks, philanthropic partners, insurers, and agrifood businesses to act with urgency because the roadmap is clear.

1.    The African Development Bank is projecting Africa’s food and agriculture market to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, an investment case representing the immense economic, social, and environmental benefits of ending hunger and building resilient food systems, and within reach. The question is whether development leaders, policymakers, and private sector actors gathered here in Davos will act with the urgency this moment demands.

2.    Reclassify hunger as a first-order global risk, tracked with the same urgency as conflict, cyber insecurity, and macroeconomic shocks, and integrated into national and global risk registers.

3. Scale climate adaptation that reaches smallholders, including stress-tolerant seeds, climate services, insurance and risk financing, and localized extension systems that translate science into farm-level decisions.
4. Put soil health and landscape restoration at the core of food security strategies, rewarding regenerative and sustainable practices that rebuild soil organic matter, reduce erosion, improve water retention, and protect ecosystems.
5. Invest in the enabling infrastructure of resilience, including water management, irrigation where viable, storage, rural roads, energy access, and efficient trade and market systems, so that climate shocks do not become food crises.

Because Africa faces a similar test in agriculture. We have the land, people and good climate. Yet too many of our children still go to bed hungry and many farmers struggle to make a living. Just as raw football talent does not guarantee trophies, fertile soil alone does not guarantee prosperity. What makes the difference is the system built around it.

Morocco offers a striking parallel. On the pitch its national teams and academies are now among the best in Africa. Off the pitch its farms and food factories tell a similar story. Two decades ago, Morocco decided to take agriculture seriously. It invested in research, in quality seed, in irrigation, in storage, and in markets that could connect farmers to buyers. Today agriculture is a major export earner and food processing is a strong pillar of the economy. None of this happened overnight but was the result of steady, patient planning much like building a winning football squad.

Walk through a football academy in Rabat and you will notice something else that matters. Nutrition is part of training. Young players are taught what to eat, how to recover, and how food fuels performance. Coaches know that no number of drills can make up for a body that is undernourished. This is where Africa’s bigger challenge comes into focus.

Across the continent some of our brightest athletic stars come from communities where meals are uncertain. Many of our children grow up stunted not because they lack ambition but because they lack protein, iron and a balanced diet in their early years. A stunted child may never reach full physical or cognitive potential. That is a tragedy not just for sport but for the economy and for society.

Brazil learned this lesson years ago, when alongside its football culture, it invested in programs that ensured poor families could feed and school their children. The result was not only better athletes but healthier more productive citizens. Africa needs a similar commitment. Imagine what could happen if every child in a farming village had access to safe nutritious food from infancy. The impact would echo in classrooms, hospitals, offices, and yes on athletic tracks and football fields too.

The connection between food and performance is personal for many of our athletes. One former East African striker once told me how he used to train on an empty stomach. His speed was there but his strength came late because his body had been undernourished as a boy. Though he still made it, many just as talented never do. The same story plays out quietly on our farms. Millions of farmers have the drive and the skill but lack the inputs, the finance and the markets that would let them thrive.

Just as football scouts look for raw talent, agriculture needs scouts too. We need extension officers who can help farmers improve yields, seed companies that deliver quality and banks that see farmers as entrepreneurs not risks. In Tanzania some local banks are stepping up and have started backing agribusinesses linked to strong value chains. In Uganda finance is flowing into processing and storage, making the first steps of the transformation.

Football analysis is famously candid. Commentators dissect tactical errors, highlight systemic weaknesses, and demand improvement. This honesty enables learning and adaptation. We need the same honesty in agriculture to judge which policies work, where money is wasted and where farmers see change. Being hypocritically polite will not feed anyone.

The truth is that smallholders matter as much as the players. You do not win AFCON by training only the national team. You anchor it with strong local leagues. In farming that means investing in village roads, in warehouses, in local processing plants, and in digital tools that let farmers are paid fair prices. 

When the final whistle blows at AFCON this weekend, we will celebrate goals and heroes but also the bigger story of the unseen work that made them possible. Africa’s nutrition and agriculture challenge is no different.

Manlan is Chief of Partnerships and Business Development, AGRA

“Our group started without any knowledge,” says group leader Nzabandora Ildephonse. “AGRA and AEE taught us modern farming. Many of us were unemployed when we started, but today we create jobs. During harvest, we employ at least 40 workers. If we continue with this support, we know prosperity is within reach.”

The group strengthened its savings culture and collective investment practices, enabling them to purchase essential inputs, expand their production area, and grow their business.

“Our goal is to grow from 62 ares to 3 hectares so we can create even more jobs for youth,” Ildephonse adds. “Before AGRA, our crops would rot in the garden. Today, buyers wait for our produce nothing goes to waste.”

Access to modern farming skills, high-quality seeds, and proper post-harvest handling tools has also increased community trust.

“Our parents used this land traditionally and harvested very little. When they saw our results, they trusted us with more land,” he explains.

From Household Chores to Job Creator: Ernestine’s Story

At just 24 years old, Bampire Ernestine is proving how opportunity and mentorship can unlock a young woman’s potential. After observing the success of the Dukorere Hamwe group, she was inspired to follow their path.

“Before this project, I thought chilli farming was for wealthy people,” she recalls. After receiving training under the AGRA-supported project and seeing how the group accessed buyers, she approached her parents for land and began farming on 17 ares. Her first harvest was profitable enough to allow her to lease more land.

Today, Ernestine farms 32 ares and expects 4–5 tonnes of chilli this season.“I used to wash dishes and cook in people’s homes. I earned nothing,” she says. “Now I am confident, smart, independent and I employ four workers who each earn 30,000 RWF a month. This project changed my life.”

In Mwulire Sector, Tuyizere Eric also drew inspiration from the success of his group. Seeing group members access reliable markets and apply modern farming techniques motivated him to scale his own ambitions.

After receiving comprehensive training and benefiting from AGRA-supported market linkages, Eric used his initial earnings from the group as startup capital. He then secured additional financing, leased a full hectare of land, and ventured into commercial chilli production.

“AGRA and AEE trained us professionally. They gave us tools that reduce post-harvest losses,” he explains. Equipped with drying nets, sheeting, and protective materials, his productivity has soared. He has already harvested two tonnes and counting.

“They told us a hectare can produce 18 tonnes. I am already harvesting about a tonne a week, I know it’s possible,” he says proudly.

A Model Ready for Wider Impact

In Rwamagana alone, 18 youth groups are benefitting from this AGRA–AEE initiative. The project strengthens access to quality inputs, improves post-harvest handling, links youth to reliable exporters, and unlocks new employment opportunities across the chilli value chain.

This work is made possible through AGRA’s partnership with Mastercard Foundation, a key driver of youth employment and agri-food systems transformation in Africa.

As Ernestine puts it “There is money in agriculture. Young people should not sit at home with diplomas opportunities are right here in the fields.”

This is the future that AGRA and Mastercard Foundation are nurturing: youth-led, market-ready, and full of promise.

With modern skills and market access, AGRA and Mastercard Foundation are enabling youth-led agribusiness to thrive

From small plots to reliable markets: Dukorere Hamwe youth group proves agriculture can create decent work

Rural youth in Rwamagana are turning chilli farming into jobs, income, and a new future for agriculture

“I had never imagined agriculture to be my profession. It was not appealing. It wasn’t aesthetic,”
she said.

As a young girl, Mariette pictured herself wearing a white doctor's coat, becoming an engineer, or standing in a courtroom as a lawyer. That future felt cleaner, more modern far from the mud-stained image of farming she grew up knowing.

Determined never to cross paths with agriculture, she deliberately chose to study Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry (MPC) in high school.

“In mathematics we used to say parallel lines never meet. That was my plan to never cross paths with agriculture,”
she says.

She carried this mindset into university, pursuing Energy Engineering at the University of Rwanda. By her second year, she was already an entrepreneur dabbling in fashion, construction, and recycling. Agriculture was still far from the picture.

But while searching for new business opportunities, she stumbled upon a gap in agriculture one technology could fill.

Mariette began building an agri-tech system designed to monitor and control environmental conditions in greenhouses and open fields supporting precision and climate-resilient agriculture. The idea was strong, but It exposed a reality she had been avoiding

“I realized I couldn’t do that without being a farmer. I had to experience what farmers face every day to solve their problems.”

It was an unexpected turn. She wasn’t proud at first. She felt insecure, unsure of how to explain to people why she had become “an agriculture person.”

“I always felt like I owed people an explanation. I wasn’t convinced myself… but I had trust that the path would make sense someday.” She said.

Her greatest barrier was capital. She had no job and the only income she had was a 40,000 Rwf monthly university allowance.

“That money wasn’t even enough. But I still believed something would work.” She said.

Her breakthrough came when she applied for the Imali Agribusiness program by the Imbuto Foundation and won 10 million Rwf to begin her project.

But even that, she says, “wasn’t enough” for what she needed to deliver.

She continued seeking support, including through BDF, while also acknowledging her second biggest weakness was lack of agricultural skills.

Through Rwanda Extension Agriculture programs and partners like AGRA, FAO, and Mastercard Foundation, she gained technical skills, exposure, and most importantly, access to markets.

She highlights one experience with particular gratitude: “At the AgriShow in Mulindi, they paid for everything our stand, transport, food, accommodation. That changed everything for me.”

Mariette eventually launched Smart Greenhouse, a company combining greenhouse farming and precision agriculture technologies. Her innovations monitor and regulate conditions that influence crop growth directly supporting Rwanda’s 2030 goal of increasing agricultural productivity by 25%.

Today, Smart Greenhouse operates in Gicumbi, Rwamagana, and Bugesera, serving both local and international markets.

The company currently employs 6 permanent employees and 30 temporary worker’s daily

Mariette says agriculture taught her that transparency inspires others.

“We were taught not to talk about money. But I want youth to know there are opportunities.”

Revenues vary by season tomatoes take four months, sweet pepper 6–8 months, habanero a year, strawberries 8–12 months. But across all three greenhouses. Smart Greenhouse earns between 28–30 million Rwf gross per season, after covering salaries, taxes, and costs.

Her journey mirrors the barriers many young people encounter capital market access and skills and technical capacity. Yet she insists these problems should not discourage anyone.

“Dear fellow youth, agriculture needs you. We eat every day. The population is increasing while the land is decreasing. Agriculture needs creative, innovative youth more than any industry will ever need you.” She said.

Mariette urges partners to support farmers in accessing premium markets: “Middlemen take our produce for very low prices, then sell it high because they access bigger markets. We take all the risk yet earn the least.”

She hopes for collaborations that expand market access both locally and abroad.

Her dream is bold, clear and rooted in the future of controlled-environment agriculture: “In five years, I will be a big greenhouse farmer. Saying my name Mariette will mean greenhouse farmer. You won’t separate the two.”

Mariette’s journey reflects a larger shift in Rwanda’s agriculture at a time when the country must create over 850,000 agri-food jobs by 2030 and still loses up to 40% of horticultural produce due to limited market access. With only 2% of Rwanda’s farmland irrigated and more than 70% of citizens relying on agriculture for their livelihoods, her smart greenhouse model shows how technology can boost productivity and resilience.

By earning 28–30 million Rwf per season from just three greenhouses, she demonstrates the untapped potential of youth-led agribusiness and directly contributes to Rwanda’s national goal of increasing agricultural productivity by 25% by 2030 proving that innovation, not land size, will define the future of farming. 

She once vowed never to become a farmer, today she is one of Rwanda’s rising agritech pioneers, turning three greenhouses into a model of productivity, resilience, and youth-led transformation

From rejecting farming to redefining it, Bisenge Mico Mariette is using smart greenhouses to prove that innovation, not land size, is the future of agriculture in Rwanda

Where others saw mud and struggle, Mariette saw technology and opportunity, her Smart Greenhouse journey is inspiring a new generation to believe that agriculture can be modern, profitable, and powerful

“I started farming with very little knowledge,” he said. “When I attended the training in Rwamagana under the AGRA project, I gained practical skills on how to manage pepper production and how to connect to reliable markets. That is when I decided to expand the land I was cultivating because I was confident the market was assured.”

He expanded his farmland from 50 ares to one hectare and 10 ares, which he currently uses for pepper production.

Before working with the AGRA-supported project, Ruhumuriza says he struggled to get meaningful returns from farming due to poor agronomic practices and lack of markets.

“Previously, I harvested without proper follow-up on crop management, and I had no stable market, which often led to losses,” he explained. “Today, I monitor my crop from planting to post-harvest and marketing, and the difference is visible.”

Through the programme, he was linked to Virunga as a formal buyer, which has increased his confidence and financial stability.

“Now I am assured of a market, and I can also approach financial institutions because they trust my business,” he said. “I have even learned the importance of taking crop insurance to protect my investment.”

Ruhumuriza expects a harvest of up to 13 tonnes of pepper this season. His production activities currently employ six permanent workers, and during harvesting seasons the workforce rises to 25 laborers.

Financially, he estimates that investments made so far amount to around Rwf 6 million, while projected returns from the ongoing harvest range between Rwf 16 million and Rwf 18 million.

He calls on AGRA and partners to continue expanding training and market opportunities for farmers.

“We need more exposure and technical support so that we can grow further, employ more people, and improve our livelihoods,” he said.

Ruhumuriza also appreciates government and partner support in strengthening irrigation and marshland development infrastructure.

“The infrastructure we have received, especially irrigation facilities have made a big difference in our farming activities,” he said.

Among those benefiting from the pepper farming enterprise is Liliane Tuyishimire, one of the workers employed on the farm. She says her monthly earnings have helped her improve household welfare.

“The money I earn from this job has allowed me to buy small livestock, including pigs and rabbits, I now have 12 rabbits,” she said. “I no longer depend entirely on my husband for financial support because I can meet some of my own needs.”

Liliane adds that the job has also been a learning opportunity.

“We learn a lot from our work here, and together with my colleagues we hope that, in the future, we will also start our own professional farming projects,” she said.

Another worker, Siborurema Jean d’Amour, who has been employed on the farm for a month, earns Rwf 60,000 per month. He says the income has already enabled him to start small livestock farming.

“From my salary, I managed to buy three goats and five chickens,” he said. “Before, I practiced farming informally, but working here has inspired me once I stabilize financially, I also want to start professional farming because I have seen that it can sustain a livelihood.”

According to global agricultural data, Rwanda is an emerging producer of pepper, with about 2,820 metric tonnes of black pepper produced in 2023, ranking the country among the world’s top 20 producers of this commodity. Historical export data also shows that Rwandan pepper exports which totaled more than 721 metric tonnes and generated over US $1 million in revenue during the 2018/19 fiscal year have been on a growth trajectory, signaling expanding market opportunities for farmers.

Ruhumuriza Jean Paul explains how agribusiness training helped him transition from subsistence farming to professional pepper production with reliable markets

Liliane Tuyishimire, one of the workers on the farm, says her monthly earnings have enabled her to invest in small livestock and improve her family’s welfare

Siborurema Jean d’Amour says the income from his job on the farm has helped him start small livestock farming, strengthening his journey toward financial independence

With support from the AGRA-supported project, Ruhumuriza expanded his farmland to 1.1 hectares, increasing productivity and strengthening market confidence

The development was announced on Sunday, 21 December 2025, by Mwizerwa Murisa, Founder, Managing Director and Exam Coordinator of the German Language Academy, during a press conference held to officially unveil the launch of the ECL German examination in Rwanda. Murisa said the certification will allow learners to obtain an internationally recognized language credential without having to travel abroad.

“This is a major milestone for us and for the country. Learners will now be able to sit for an international examination and receive a globally recognized certificate while remaining in Rwanda,” he said.

Since its establishment in 2022, German Language Academy has played a growing role in expanding German language skills among Rwandans. According to Murisa, the institution has trained more than 1,000 learners in German, with tangible outcomes already visible in migration, employment, and education pathways.

“We are proud of the impact we have made so far. More than 200 of our learners have already obtained visas, and many others are working in German-funded institutions and at the German Embassy here in Rwanda,” he noted.

Beyond language training for individuals aspiring to study abroad, Murisa explained that the academy also supports Rwandans employed in international organizations linked to Germany, equipping them with practical language skills required in their daily professional work. He added that the academy has established partnerships with several secondary schools across the country, where German is taught through specialized language clubs.

“Through these clubs, young people are introduced to German at an early age. It helps them build confidence and interest in the language long before they reach higher education,” he said.

Although the academy has been operating for three years, Murisa clarified that it is only now officially authorized to administer examinations leading to an internationally recognized certificate. The first ECL examinations in Rwanda are scheduled to take place in February 2026.

One of the beneficiaries of the academy’s programs is Munezero Marie, a former student who is now a staff member at the institution. She described her journey as life-changing, crediting the academy’s teaching approach for her rapid progress in the language.

“I joined the academy with a basic level of German, but the teaching methods here are intensive and effective. In a short time, I gained confidence in my abilities,” she said.

Munezero explained that within seven to eight months, she progressed from level A1 to B2, a leap she attributes to personal commitment and structured learning.

“I studied with full dedication. Moving from A1 to B2 in such a short time made me believe that passing an international exam is possible,” she added.

She said she arrived in Rwanda in April 2025 and immediately enrolled at the academy, where she later began supporting other learners as part of the teaching team. Munezero urged Rwandan youth to take foreign language learning seriously, particularly German, which she described as a gateway to well-paying opportunities abroad.

“Knowing multiple languages is a real advantage today. With German, there are opportunities to study and work in Germany at the same time, and in some programs learners can earn up to 1,250 euros per month,” she said.

She emphasized that while English remains a dominant global language, German offers distinct and growing opportunities for those who master it.

The ECL certificate, issued by the European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages, certifies language proficiency according to internationally recognized standards. It is widely used in applications for higher education, employment, and visas particularly within Europe and confirms a candidate’s ability to read, write, listen, and speak a foreign language at a professional level.

Rwanda becomes one of only five African countries where the ECL certification is offered, alongside Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and the Republic of Congo. Education stakeholders say this positions the country as a regional hub for internationally accredited language training, while opening new horizons for Rwandan learners in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

Mwizerwa Murisa, Director of the German Language Academy, speaks during the press briefing announcing the launch of the international ECL German language examination in Rwanda.

Munezero Marie, a former student and now a staff member at the German Language Academy, says the training she received enabled her to progress from A1 to B2 German proficiency within a short period

Students attend a German language class at the German Language Academy as the institution prepares learners for the first ECL international examinations scheduled for 2026

Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda was born in Masisi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1948, in what was then known as Zaire. His passion for education began early, as he started teaching at various universities in the DRC from 1974. He says that from a young age, he dreamed of doing something that would help people become self-reliant, aspiring to become a teacher in order to help others acquire lasting value.
“I wanted to do something that would help people help themselves, to gain a form of wealth that is not cattle, not land, nor any other wealth that fades away,” he says.

In 1994, Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda was appointed to a permanent teaching position at the National University of Rwanda in Butare, through a letter dated 09 December 1994. Although he had reached the level of teaching at the country’s public university, his vision went far beyond personal career achievement.

On 15 March 1996, Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda founded the Kigali Independent University (ULK). He says ULK was not conceived as a business venture, but as a project inspired by God.

“ULK is a project of God. I chose to invest my capacity in education rather than in anything else. I pray to the living God who hears and answers prayers. When a person has faith rooted in God, God gives them direction and the strength to do many things for His glory, not for personal enrichment, but to serve God and people,” he explains.

He notes that he never aspired to go into business, although he supports it, emphasizing that every decision a person makes depends on the vision they give to their life.

“Work comes fourth. First is thinking, second is planning, and third is organization. That is why I chose to establish ULK based on faith, without money, walking on foot, yet within me I felt it would become a very big institution,” he adds.

The early days of ULK were far from easy. Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda recalls renting two classrooms at Saint Paul, near Saint Famille, while setting up his office in a corridor. At the time, he was a volunteer, earning no salary, trusting that the small fees paid by a few students would cover rent and teachers’ salaries.

“I started believing that the little the students paid would help us pay rent and teachers. I earned no salary myself. But I was convinced that this initiative would grow into a giant university,” he recalls.

In its first year alone, ULK enrolled 204 students. Over the years, student numbers continued to grow, and ULK became a center of knowledge, making a tangible contribution to national development.

Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda says he does not like the term “capital”, because in his view, a true entrepreneur starts from zero.

“I don’t like the word capital. If you start with capital, you fail. A real entrepreneur is one who starts from zero. Even in the courses we teach here, there is a strong component of entrepreneurship,” he emphasizes.

His humanity was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when ULK chose not to abandon its staff. At a time when many institutions were shutting down, ULK had nearly 300 employees, and Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda made a bold decision to care for them.

“I said that no employee would starve. Those earning above one million francs had their salaries reduced by half, but those earning below 500,000 francs continued to receive their full pay. When the money ran out, I went to seek a bank loan, even though we did not know when COVID would end,” he says.

He adds, “I could not eat potatoes, sweet potatoes, or drink milk knowing that my employee had nothing. I am their parent. What I have, I share with others.”

Beyond education, ULK plays a significant role in social welfare through the ULK Foundation, established by Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda. Through this foundation, more than 2,000 underprivileged students have had their education financed, both in Rwanda and abroad.

Economically, ULK contributes at least 150 million Rwandan francs in taxes every month. Today, ULK has over 10,000 students, more than 4,000 of whom are international students, highlighting its role in international education and national development.

The story of Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda is a powerful lesson in how faith, vision, and perseverance can build a strong institution that benefits both the nation and its people. It is the story of a leader who believes that sustainable development is built on people, not on wealth that fades away.

 Seated in his office, Prof. Dr Rwigamba Balinda reflects on nearly three decades of building the Kigali Independent University (ULK) from vision and faith

Kigali Independent University (ULK), founded in 1996, now hosts more than 10,000 students from Rwanda and across the world.

Awards and trophies earned by ULK, symbolizing years of contribution to higher education, leadership, and national development

The newly launched initiatives aim to modernize veterinary service delivery, strengthen private sector participation, and enhance professionalism and accountability within the livestock sector. Through VSM, private veterinary practitioners are formally authorized to provide services on behalf of the public sector, addressing long-standing gaps in access, especially in rural areas. The reform aligns with national development priorities under NST2 and PSTA5, which emphasize productivity, resilience, and private-sector-led growth in agriculture

Local livestock farmers welcomed the reform, saying it responds directly to challenges they have faced for years. Marthe Bahate, a farmer from Ruharambuga Sector in Nyamasheke District, said delayed access to veterinary services had often resulted in losses.
“Many of our animals used to die because veterinarians arrived too late. Now that private practitioners can operate on behalf of the government, we expect services to be closer and faster, especially during disease outbreaks,” she said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Munyanshongore Jean Nepomscene, a cattle and pig farmer from Wimana Cell, Ruharambuga Sector, who stressed the importance of skilled and timely services.
“What we needed most were quick services delivered by qualified technicians. This program gives us confidence that our livestock is in capable hands,” he noted.

According to MINAGRI, the Veterinary Sanitary Mandate is designed to close service delivery gaps by decentralizing animal health services while maintaining strong oversight. Thirty-four private veterinary companies have already been accredited by RAB and are authorized to operate under the VSM framework in different districts. These companies work under legally registered entities, are selected through a restricted tendering process, and are required to submit monthly performance reports to both district authorities and RAB

Veterinary professionals themselves see the reform as a turning point for the sector. Niyonsenga Festus, a private veterinary practitioner in Nyamasheke District, praised the decision to formally entrust service delivery to accredited private actors.
“This is a milestone for private veterinarians. We have been provided with essential equipment, which was one of the biggest challenges in our work. With these tools, we can now offer professional and timely services,” he said.

The launch also marked the digitalization of veterinary regulation through the AMIS Veterinary Registration and Licensing Module, developed jointly by the MINAGRI Digital Office and the Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD). The platform replaces a previously manual and fragmented system, enabling efficient registration and licensing of veterinarians, accreditation of clinics and pharmacies, and strengthened compliance monitoring at the national level

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Ressources, Olivier Kamana, said the reform supports Rwanda’s broader ambition of building a knowledge-based and technology-driven agricultural economy.
“The Veterinary Sanitary Mandate is a new pathway to professionalize livestock services through collaboration with the private sector. It will improve service quality, strengthen disease prevention, and significantly reduce losses faced by farmers,” he said.

He further urged farmers to adopt professional livestock practices and to work closely with local authorities to access accredited veterinary services. Under the new system, farmers can use short-code telephone lines to quickly reach veterinarians wherever they are, ensuring timely intervention and affordable, standardized services.

To operationalize the program, each accredited veterinary practitioner in 3 districts of western province which is Nyamasheke, Rutsiro and Karongi received a professional equipment package valued at RWF 1,180,000, aimed at improving service efficiency and quality. The integration of these services into AMIS also enables real-time data collection, monitoring, and decision-making across the livestock value chain.

The VSM rollout begins with 34 accredited private veterinary companies, a 100% digital licensing and registration system, and equipment investments exceeding RWF 1.18 million per practitioner. The reform is expected to contribute to improved animal health outcomes, enhanced food safety, and reduced livestock-related losses key factors in strengthening rural livelihoods and national food security.

Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Kamana Olivier, hands over equipment

Mobile phones with short codes were provided for farmers to call whenever they need veterinary services

Dr. Florence Uwamahoro the Ag Director General of  Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB)

Launched nationwide on 2 December 2025, following a Cabinet decision on 28 November 2025, the new system is already reshaping how passengers move across Kigali.

Long Waits and Overcrowding — A Thing of the Past

For years, one of the biggest frustrations among commuters was the unpredictability of public transport. Long queues, delays, and buses waiting to fill up before departure pushed many residents to seek alternative means.

But since the introduction of the Eco-Fleet system, the experience is changing dramatically.

“Even with three people, the bus goes.”

Gateme Jean Marie Dynamique, a Kigali resident, says the improvement is visible.

“Many people used to arrive late at work because of traffic jams, but now things have changed. In the taxi park, a bus used to wait for 70 people just to be full. Now that’s no longer the case — even with three people, the bus goes.”

His testimony reflects one of the system’s biggest transformations: buses now move based on time, not the number of passengers.

Shorter Waiting Times for Passengers

Before Eco-Fleet, some commuters spent more than an hour waiting for a bus — especially during peak hours.

“We used to wait 1 to 1.5 hours.”

Resident Nikuze Alphonsine recalls how difficult it used to be.

“Back in the day, someone could stay at the bus park for one hour or even one hour and thirty minutes. And the buses would stop at every single bus stop.”

She says the new approach, which limits unnecessary stops and follows a regulated schedule, has created a smoother and more predictable journey.

Even the Doubters Are Returning

For some, the change was dramatic enough to bring them back to public transport after years of avoiding it.

“It has been three years… but now everything has changed.”

Mugabo, who had not boarded a public bus in three years, says the new system convinced him.

“It has been three years without using public transport, but now everything has changed. I can encourage people in Kigali to come back to using public buses — it’s now convenient.”

His return signals renewed trust in a system that many Kigali residents had gradually abandoned.

Drivers Are Also Experiencing a New Way of Working

The new model does not only benefit passengers; drivers also operate under new guidelines aimed at improving efficiency.

“We no longer wait for a full bus.”

According to Hakizimana Emmanuel, a public transport driver:

“Things have changed. We used to wait until the bus was completely full before moving. But now, even with 10 people or less, we follow the timing. If the stop is three minutes, we leave after three minutes without waiting for more passengers.”

The shift eliminates delays and allows buses to maintain consistent circulation throughout the day.

Eco-Fleet: The Engine Behind the Reform

The system is managed by Eco-Fleet, a company created by Government of Rwanda, to modernize public transport operations — from scheduling to fleet management.

Its introduction marks one of Rwanda’s biggest investments in a public mobility ecosystem designed for speed, transparency, and sustainability.

“No more long lines or buses sitting idle.”

Abenawe Oswald, the Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Eco-Fleet, says the new model was overdue.

“We no longer have those long lines where people would sit in a bus for two hours without moving. This new system is a best practice that will help Rwandans move more efficiently, especially here in Kigali where the rollout has begun.”

He notes that the system will continue to expand into secondary cities as the model stabilizes in Kigali.

A Greener, More Sustainable Kigali

Beyond improving movement, the system supports Rwanda’s broader development goals — especially under NST2 and Vision 2050, which emphasize sustainable and environmentally friendly urbanization.

By reducing long waits, unnecessary trips, and congestion, the Eco-Fleet model aims to lower emissions and promote cleaner mobility.

Residents Hope the System Will Stay Consistent

While many are pleased with the early changes, commuters say long-term consistency will be the ultimate test.

For now, the early signs point to a city rediscovering the reliability of public transport — and residents who are eager to embrace the improved service.

As Kigali transitions into a more modern and efficient transport hub, public buses appear to be reclaiming their role in daily urban life.

Tresor’s journey began unexpectedly in late 2022. A trained food scientist raised in Rwamagana among farming families, he met a farmer named Alice, a mother of five who had harvested 10 metric tons of chili but could not find a buyer.

“I didn’t plan this business. When I met Alice, she was desperate. She had produced over 10 tons of chili during a low-demand season, but no buyer. I couldn’t help her at that moment, and it made me think about creating a lasting solution. That’s how the idea was born.”

Faced with the recurring challenge of post-harvest losses, Tresor decided to develop a product that would prevent chili from going to waste while creating new value on the market. That decision marked the birth of Incuti Foods.

Incuti Foods is more than a chili processing plant. It is a food brand built around “food experience” a blend of flavor innovation and modern culinary culture.

“We produce different chili sauce flavors, and we also offer a unique chicken wings experience through our kitchen concept and mobile app. Customers get to taste our sauces directly through our wings packages.”

The company has developed seven distinct chili flavors, crafted from Rwandan ingredients and designed for local and international palates.

Today, Incuti Foods Operates a production facility in Gahanga, Employs over 15 full-time staff, 95% of whom are youth and women, Collaborates with around 50 chili farmers, Has sold hundreds of thousands of bottles and Exports to Kenya, Nigeria, the UK, the US, and Oman

“We’ve built a strong brand. People truly love our products, and that drives us every day.”

AGRA, through the Mastercard Foundation Fund, is helping youth-led agribusinesses scale. Tresor says AGRA has been instrumental in providing mentorship, exposure, and international linkages.

“AGRA is doing an amazing job. They empower youth and women, provide market linkages, training, and even funding opportunities. At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, I pitched Incuti Foods to investors and met customers we are still engaging today.”

One of the buyers he met in Senegal even traveled to Rwanda recently for due diligence, showing the seriousness of the market opportunities AGRA creates.

Following the Dakar Africa Food Systems Forum, Incuti Foods successfully raised funding to open a new chicken wings kitchen, which launches on December 1st.

“After Dakar, we raised significant investment to build our new kitchen concept. It’s fully ready, and we’re excited to open.”

At the same time, the company is raising USD 500,000 to expand production capacity, increase exports, and scale brand visibility.

Tresor participated in the official launch of NSYEAS and highlights its importance:

“One big idea from NSYEAS is working in clusters. When chili processors unite, we can meet international market demands that are too big for one company. Bringing youth together in value chain groups is essential for competing globally.”

Networking was another major takeaway:

“At the NSYEAS forum, I met more than 20 people within the chili value chain alone. These connections will shape joint production and market expansion.” He said

Looking ahead, Tresor’s greatest ambition is scaling Incuti Foods into Africa’s leading hot sauce brand.

“We want partners who help us expand into global markets. Our goal is to make Rwanda the home of Africa’s premier chili sauces. When you think chili in Rwanda or Africa we want you to think of Incuti.”

Key asks include Partnerships for market expansion, Investment in production scaling, Support in meeting global food safety standards and Linkages to international buyers and distributors

After three years on the market, Incuti Foods has built a fully equipped processing plant, a strong national brand, Seven commercially successful chili flavors, a chicken wings kitchen concept, a workforce dominated by youth and women, a network of 50 smallholder farmers and presence in five export markets

He has a Message to Youth Who Want to Start Something: “Start with what you have. Be confident, act fast, fail, learn, and improve. Know your numbers they run everything. And make sure your product is something people truly want to buy.” He said

In just three years, Incuti Foods has built an impressive foodprint on the market, developing seven unique chili flavors and expanding its workforce to 15 employees, 95% of whom are youth and women while partnering with 50 local chili farmers. The company has sold more than 100,000 bottles both locally and internationally, reaching five export destinations and establishing itself as a rising player in Africa’s agri-food landscape. With a current fundraising target of $500,000 to scale production and strengthen its global presence, Incuti Foods has launched a new kitchen concept on December 1, marking yet another milestone in its rapid growth trajectory.

Tresor Gashonga turned one farmer’s crisis into a solution now transforming Rwanda’s chili industry

Inside the Gahanga facility where Incuti Foods produces seven signature chili flavors for local and global markets