The Government of Rwanda is set to add USD 25 million to the PRISM project, which aims to improve citizens’ livelihoods through agriculture and livestock development. This additional funding comes on top of the USD 45 million with which the project initially started. Although the project was originally scheduled to conclude in September 2026, it will now be extended for an additional three years.
PRISM is a Government of Rwanda project established in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. The project started in the 2020/2021 period and operates in 15 districts, namely Ruhango, Huye, Gisagara, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Ngororero, Musanze, Burera, Gicumbi, Gakenke, and Rulindo.
According to Joseph Nshokeyinka, PRISM Project Manager at RAB, the project has already helped 33,000 citizens move out of poverty through the provision of small livestock, including chickens, goats, sheep, and pigs. Infrastructure supporting livestock development has also been established, including 15 veterinary clinics, 15 small livestock markets, and modern pig slaughterhouses, which have improved the safety and quality of meat consumption.
PRISM has also emphasized nutrition, educating parents on providing balanced diets to children, resulting in daily access to eggs for many households. “As of today, we have reached 98% of the project’s target ahead of its scheduled end,” Nshokeyinka noted. The newly secured USD 25 million will further support poverty alleviation efforts, including the construction of seven new veterinary clinics, pig slaughterhouses in the Eastern Province, and the rehabilitation of goat breeding centers.
Livestock farming has transformed households, as illustrated by Nizeyimana, a beneficiary from Gicumbi District. He started with a single pig, whose ten piglets generated 400,000 Rwandan Francs, which he reinvested to expand his livestock business. Today, he owns three pigs and two cows, with livestock farming improving both his household income and family cooperation, particularly in promoting gender equality.
Vis Mayor of Gicumbi District in charge of Economic Development, Uwera Parfaite, highlighted that PRISM goes beyond livestock provision by fostering sustainable livestock systems and collective learning. “PRISM focused on building community capacity through learning groups and implementing the 12 Pillars of Sustainable Development, enabling citizens to become self-reliant and sustain their progress,” she said. The district will continue supporting PRISM beneficiaries and cooperative groups.
Through community learning groups, residents received training in livestock farming (pigs, poultry, goats, and sheep), savings and lending via Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), gender equality and household governance through the GALS methodology, and improved nutrition via kitchen gardens and mushroom cultivation. Farmers were also trained in modern livestock feeding techniques, including Black Soldier Fly production, hydroponics, azolla cultivation, and feed preservation using silage.
PRISM’s impact is evident: 105 collective groups were established, some evolving into legally recognized cooperatives. Members saved over 37 million RWF, while more than 2,680 individuals accessed loans totaling 18 million RWF. The project supported 250 pig farmers, 500 poultry farmers with 5,000 chickens, 368 goat farmers with 736 goats, and 275 sheep farmers with 550 sheep. Beneficiaries also received materials to construct livestock shelters.
To address climate change and promote social welfare, 178 farmers received solar-powered equipment, 127 households received water tanks, and nearly 2,000 farmers received vegetable seeds. Additionally, 3,294 avocado seedlings were distributed to more than 1,000 households. Veterinary services remain a cornerstone, with Community Agro-Veterinary Entrepreneurs and SARO groups monitoring animal health and providing ongoing advisory support.
PRISM is a project jointly implemented by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), and implemented under the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
