Blog Rwanda: Turning climate challenges into an opportunity for agricultural growth
The Rwanda Adaptation Accelerator Program (RAAP) empowers agrifood SMEs to address climate risks by equipping them with adaptation solutions, strengthened capacities and business proposals to secure financing.
By Fatimata Koné, Justine Umutoni, Ena Derenoncourt and Nasson Ntwari.
In Rwanda, where agriculture is vital to a large portion of the population's income, agrifood entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly aware of climate change impacts, and are taking steps to adapt. Sonia Umurungi from Green Dreams states: "Now I know more about carbon footprints, and I will try to produce more sustainably." This commitment reflects the spirit of the Rwanda Adaptation Accelerator Program (RAAP), which aims to strengthen the capacities of small and medium-sized agrifood enterprises (SMEs) to adapt to climate impacts within their value chains.
RAAP is a joint initiative by the CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF), in partnership with the Rwanda Green Fund (RGF) and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The program supports Rwandan agrifood SMEs by providing resources to understand, anticipate and mitigate the effects of climate change on their activities. It aims to build a robust pipeline of climate-smart agricultural projects and increase private-sector investments in agricultural adaptation. Through RAAP, agrifood SMEs now have access to the tools and knowledge necessary to overcome climate challenges and contribute to a more resilient future for Rwanda.
Equipping SMEs for climate resilience
From August to October 2024, RAAP offered a series of intensive training sessions to 31 participating SMEs, preparing them to integrate climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices into their business models. These trainings included practical courses on climate change awareness, climate impact management, gender-responsive CSA, and incorporating climate action plans into business and financing models.
By participating in this program, SMEs acquired the skills needed to proactively and reactively address climate-related challenges. Fidele Nshimiyimana of Prodev Kayonza explains: "We appreciated the program because we know that climate information can help us in decision-making, especially for seasonal planning." This initiative enabled agri-entrepreneurs to anticipate climate effects, improve their agricultural methods and adopt sustainable strategies that enhance their resilience. They also learned to prepare strong investment proposals to attract capital from climate-focused investors.
Mr.Livingstone Byandaga highligthing how CIS provides accurate weather forecasts, enabling farmers to adjust their activities based on real-time climate predictions.
The Agri-preneurs were given assignments in groups to make sure they got to put the knowledge into practices
Strengthening resilience through practical solutions
RAAP's training sessions were specifically designed to provide agrifood SMEs with practical tools and strategies to manage climate impacts. These sessions included modules on climate finance tools, impact management, and measurement methods, enabling SMEs to integrate climate-smart solutions while optimizing profitability. Munkundire Samuel of Yalla Yalla attests to the program's effectiveness: "There was a good training methodology with interactions that allowed us to fully understand the topics."
The focus was on embedding sustainability at the core of SMEs' business models and facilitating better access to climate finance to support adaptation efforts. Through these trainings, SMEs are now better equipped to navigate an increasingly unstable environment, leverage available resources, and address environmental disruptions, thereby improving their resilience and competitiveness in the agricultural sector.
A pathway to climate resilience
Completing RAAP's training sessions marks a decisive step toward transforming climate challenges into sustainable development opportunities. The program has strengthened SMEs' capacity to design effective impact monitoring frameworks and better communicate the socio-economic and environmental outcomes of their actions. These efforts enable periodic measurement of project impact with objective indicators, ensuring continuous progress assessment.
With the tools acquired, agri-entrepreneurs can now support smallholder farmers in evaluating the effectiveness of their practices and adapting methods to meet changing climate needs. These farmers, through their engagement with SMEs, are better prepared to tackle climate-related challenges and turn climate impacts into opportunities for growth. RAAP provides a tangible pathway to resilience by equipping SMEs with resources and fostering a climate adaptation culture that strengthens Rwanda's agricultural sector from the ground up.
Strategic partnerships for lasting impact
This strategic partnership between CGIAR, the Rwanda Green Fund, the Gates Foundation, and ImpactSF demonstrates a shared commitment to transforming climate challenges into sustainable growth opportunities. Together, these actors leverage climate analytics to de-risk adaptation, strengthening the resilience of Rwanda's agricultural sector and its economic development.
Completing RAAP's training symbolizes a significant milestone in building a climate-resilient agricultural sector. By supporting agrifood SMEs in integrating climate-smart practices, this partnership ensures better continuity of financing for Rwandan businesses and enhances their capacity to face the effects of climate change. These joint efforts not only support food security but also contribute to Rwanda's sustainable development and the prosperity of its agricultural communities.
This title and revised version highlight inspiring testimonials and reinforce the idea of Rwandan agriculture transitioning to address climate challenges through concrete adaptation efforts and strategic partnerships.
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