Kigali, Rwanda — On 25 February 2026, the Government of Rwanda, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, and UNCDF, launched the Rwanda Green Food Future – Accelerating Investment in Food System Transformation Joint Programme at Mövenpick Hotel Kigali. Supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund, the multi-agency initiative aims to accelerate the transition toward sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient agri-food systems across six food-insecure districts: Rubavu, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru, and Burera.
The programme focuses on strengthening strategic partnerships, enhancing access to finance, and promoting affordable green technologies across horticulture, poultry, and livestock value chains. It provides targeted support to agri-MSMEs and cooperatives through financial literacy training, investment-ready business planning, and enhanced lending capacity among financial institutions. Government and UN representatives emphasized that empowering farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses with climate-smart solutions and financial access is key to building a resilient agricultural sector that improves livelihoods and supports national development.
Dr. Ozonia Ojielo, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, highlighted the collective commitment of the UN system, noting that the programme creates a platform to mobilize resources, scale innovation, and accelerate progress toward inclusive and climate-resilient food systems. The launch brought together government ministries, district authorities, development partners, financial institutions, agribusinesses, cooperatives, and UN agencies to align priorities and reinforce commitments for effective implementation.
The initiative is designed to de-risk private investment, strengthen value chains, and expand financial inclusion, ensuring farmers and small enterprises can access the tools, capital, and knowledge needed to scale sustainable production. Through coordinated action among public and private stakeholders, the programme seeks to expand adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies, improve investment readiness of agri-MSMEs and cooperatives, increase access to finance across agricultural value chains, and advance inclusive economic growth and food security in vulnerable districts.
The Joint SDG Fund Food Systems Transformation Window, established through the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and Joint SDG Fund Secretariat, supports government-led food systems transformation and accelerates progress toward the SDGs. The programme also receives backing from the European Union and governments of multiple countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The launch marks a key milestone in building a shared platform for sustained collaboration, advancing Rwanda’s journey toward a resilient, competitive, and inclusive agri-food system.
