The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a $24.6 million contract to the International Resources Group (IRG) to implement a Private Sector-Driven Agriculture Development Program. Under the five-year activity, USAID aims to increase farmer incomes by stimulating increased private sector investment.
This USAID program supports the Government of Rwanda’s efforts to transform the agricultural sector by improving the country’s ability to attract and sustain private sector investments in upgrading key agricultural value chains.
To do this, the activity will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and the Rwanda Development Board to effectively establish, implement and manage Rwanda’s Agribusiness Investment Framework, as well as strengthen linkages among agricultural value chain actors to stimulate private sector growth, increase agricultural productivity, and create jobs.
Rwanda has seen impressive economic growth rates over the last several years – and as the largest driver of Rwanda’s economy, agriculture has played a key role in that growth. Though growth is occurring, private sector investment in agriculture in areas such as production of value-added products remains low.
USAID efforts will help address this gap and advance the Government of Rwanda’s Vision 2020 goal of “transforming agriculture into a market-oriented, competitive, and high value sector.”
“A robust private sector is essential for any economy to grow and diversify – and agriculture in Rwanda is no exception,” said Peter Malnak, USAID Mission Director. “Improving businesses’ involvement in agriculture will work to ensure that Rwanda’s future growth is broad-based, sustainable and contributes to poverty reduction. These objectives are fundamental to the new program.”
Over the next five years, this program will be a central component of USAID’s work in economic growth and agriculture in Rwanda under the U.S. government’s Feed the Future initiative.
Overall, USAID invests approximately $33 million each year in Rwanda under Feed the Future with activities that work to improve nutrition, strengthen the food security of Rwanda’s farmers while engaging the private sector in the country’s economic development.
UM– USEKE.RW
