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Enabel supports Maternal and Child Health Week 2025
Denise NSANGA | 20/01/2025
Enabel proudly participated in Rwanda’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Week, held from January 13–17, 2025. This important initiative, led by the Ministry of Health and its partners, plays a significant role in addressing maternal and child health challenges that remain in the country. While Rwanda has made great strides in improving maternal and child health, issues such as neonatal mortality, high stunting rates, and limited access to family planning services remain.During the campaign, Enabel focused on two critical health interventions: screening for malnutrition (with 63,676 children under 2 years old screened) and providing family planning services (serving 1,840 women with modern contraceptive methods), in the districts of Gisagara, Karongi, Nyamasheke, and Rusizi. These services aim to reduce malnutrition and ensure that women and men have access to the information and resources needed for healthier families.Enabel’s involvement is part of the Belgium-Rwanda cooperation programme 2024-2029 in the health sector, aiming to strengthening access to quality healthcare, with a particular emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and combating gender-based violence. The bi-annual MCH Week offers an essential platform for decentralised health services, reaching out to communities with vital interventions like vitamin A supplementation (administering 212,320 doses to children under five) deworming, nutrition screening, family planning services and immunisation catch-ups for children who have missed doses.By addressing gaps in maternal and child health services, MCH Week plays a vital role in promoting behaviour change, raising health awareness, and improving health outcomes for women and children across the country.
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Enhancing Public Finance Management skills in Rwanda: a strategic training initiative for senior officials
Denise NSANGA | 20/01/2025
Enabel, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), on January 15th, 2025 organised a strategic training session on PFM aimed at strengthening the Public Financial Management (PFM) capacity of senior officials. This strategic training focused on major ongoing PFM reforms and systems which are currently implemented by the Government of Rwanda such as Performance-based Budgeting and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).The training brought together 31 participants, including project managers and thematic experts from Enabel, representatives of the Embassy of Belgium in Rwanda, and several development partners who have recently joined the PFM Technical Working Group. The session offered in-depth insights into various aspects of Rwanda’s PFM landscape as well as essential updates on the key elements of the newly adopted PFM SSP 2024-2029 which is central to accelerating Rwanda’s socioeconomic transformation through effective fiscal policy and accountable public.The session was not just informative but also participatory, featuring presentations by experts from MINECOFIN and hands-on discussions on enhancing PFM sector coordination, accountability, and ensuring smooth implementation of grants in key sectors like Health, Agriculture, and Urbanisation. The success of this training reflects the necessity of continuous collaborative efforts of both national and development partners to foster a deeper understanding of Rwanda's PFM systems and reforms to ensure that all PFM players contribute effectively to the goals set under the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST 2).
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Belgium-Rwanda cooperation programme 2024-2029 brochure released: A joint commitment to sustainable development and prosperity
Denise NSANGA | 10/01/2025
Enabel has been active in Rwanda since 1999 through partnerships and programmes with funding from Belgium and other commissioners. The current Belgian cooperation programme 2024-2029 of 95 million euros aims to contribute to Rwanda's socio-economic development, with focus on healthcare, agriculture, urbanisation and public financial management.It is complemented with a five-year Belgium-funded thematic portfolio on social protection worth 17.6 million euros. This highlights Belgium’s and Rwanda's joint commitment to fostering significant, long-term growth and prosperity, to enhance the quality of life for all Rwandans.With a budget of 45 million euros financed by the European Union, the Luxembourg Government, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Enabel has several projects focusing mainly on health, agroforestry and urbanisation. The projects align with Rwanda's Vision 2050 and the 2nd National Strategy for Transformation (NST2, 2024-2029), with priority sectors and objectives mutually agreed upon by the Belgian and Rwandan governments. Their goal is to promote sustainable development, enhance living conditions, and encourage inclusive growth within a climate-resilient welfare state. Find out more in this brochure.
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Enabel’s UEDi Phase 2: Building sustainable, smart satellite cities for Rwanda
Denise NSANGA | 08/01/2025
Enabel’s urbanisation project, Urban Economic Development initiative (UEDi) Phase 2, is strategically aligned with several key objectives of Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). The primary focus of this new phase, running from 2024 to 2029, is to develop sustainable and attractive satellite cities that will serve as hubs for economic growth and social development while respecting the environment. By partnering with government authorities, this project will contribute to address multiple national priorities in a holistic and cross-cutting manner: The project seeks to create off-farm jobs and support the development of the construction value chain, directly contributing to the NST2 ambitions in terms of employment generation. By fostering a robust construction sector, we not only create job opportunities but also stimulate broader economic activities. The initiative emphasizes the use of Made in Rwanda construction materials, with particular attention to enhancing the clay, stone, and bamboo value chains. This focus is guided by principles of green circular economy, promoting sustainability and minimizing environmental impacts.Urban agriculture and urban agroforestry will be promoted in satellite cities. This initiative aims not only to address malnutrition and contribute to the development of “sponge cities,” which are designed for sustainable water management and enhanced urban resilience, but also to promote eco-tourism attractions in these satellite cities.Finally, UEDi Phase 2 will also contribute to transformational governance. The project supports the development of smart city tools such as the Urban Dynamic Map. This will boost citizen engagement and enable informed decision-making in city planning.By embracing cities as dynamic, living ecosystems that continuously evolve, the project aligns with both the aspirations of the Rwandan people and the long-term goals of national urban development.
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Empowering Rwanda: Enabel’s role in achieving NST2 goals through Social Protection and Decent Work
Denise NSANGA | 19/12/2024
The thematic portfolio on Social Protection, funded by the Kingdom of Belgium and implemented in Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC, aims to enhance the opportunities for women and young people of working age in the Great Lakes region to access decent work. It seeks to ensure better protection through labour rights, improved social protection, and more inclusive social dialogue. The portfolio signed between Rwanda and the Kingdom of Belgium in May 2022 continues to align with Rwandan development priorities resulting from joint co-creation during the formulation of the portfolio. Under the Economic transformation pillar of NST2, Rwanda ambitions to create 1.25 million productive and decent Jobs (250,000 annually) over the next five years. Aligning to this ambition, the portfolio promotes micro and small enterprises (MSEs) development, supports skills training, and enhances employability, particularly for young workers entering the labour market. Targeting sectors like mining, construction, trade, and manufacturing in the Kivu Belt and the City of Kigali, the programme focuses on workplace learning and formalising informal businesses to create sustainable job opportunities and boost economic resilience.Under the social transformation pillar, the portfolio is enhancing households' capacity to sustainably graduate from poverty, reduce vulnerability, and contribute significantly to eliminating malnutrition and reducing stunting. This is achieved through the Parasocial Workers initiative, a partnership with the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), which plays a key role in educating households on nutrition, tracking children’s health, and supporting vulnerable households. Most importantly, it fosters mindset change. Additionally, initiatives like pilot maternity leave programs, in collaboration with the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), aim to improve the well-being of informal workers.
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Rwanda: Enabel through TREPA Project builds capacity on Simplified Forest Management Plans
Abu Bernard MUTIJIMA | 13/12/2024
From Monday 9th to Friday 13th December 2024 Enabel through Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation (TREPA) Project is training Private Forest Management Unity (PFMU) leaders, District foresters and TREPA partner’s technicians on planning for sustainable management of PFMUs established under the TREPA project being implemented in all seven districts of Rwanda’s eastern province namely Ngoma, Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kirehe, Nyagatare, Rwamagana and Kayonza . The trainings are focusing on the need and concept of Simplified Forest Management Plan (SFMP), a planning and forest management tool that will guide them on further sustainable management for established PFMUs. It also provides skills on how to elaborate and implement a Simplified Forest Management Plan (SFMP). These trainings will provide details on further elaborate SFMP concept and techniques, SFMP elaboration process to the community group leaders and District technicians and partners that who will cascade it down to the community to enhance their participation. This includes details on restored PFMU (location, map, area, species, management blocks (MB), management regime, PFMU members organization and leadership. SFMP has also a specific emphasis on sylvicultural operation plan, harvesting plan and other key guidance techniques on PFMU management. Along with PFMU establishment, the Simplified Forest Management Plan (SFMP) is a long-term forest management plan elaborated to guide on proper management for established private Forest Management Units (FMUs) and to that will help support the forest owners PFMU members, District and forest stakeholders to enhance their role in increasing and maintaining forest cover. of understanding and capacity in PFMUs sustainable management. About TREPA The Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation (TREPA) Project is a six-year intervention operating in all seven districts of Eastern Province. This project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by six implementing partners (RFA, IUCN, Enabel, Cordaid, ICRAF, and World Vision), where each institution has a specific component to implement. In TREPA project, Enabel- Rwanda is responsible for the implementation of activities related to restoration of 6,545 hectares of private smallholder forests through the private forest management unity (PFMU) approach and the one related to dissemination of 100,000 improved cooking stoves to the project beneficiaries.
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Rwanda: Enabel Forestry Team takes part in a 3-day supervision visit at TREPA project activity sites
Abu Bernard MUTIJIMA | 03/12/2024
This week Enabel Forestry project Team is taking part in a three-day supervision mission of the Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation (TREPA) project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) the supervision team is composed of IUCN Regional & Rwanda office, Rwanda Forestry Authority, CIFOR-ICRAF, World Vision, and Cordaid. This first supervision mission aims to assess progress toward the project’s goal of restoring 60,000 ha of drought-degraded land in Eastern Rwanda. Through reforestation, agroforestry, and erosion control measures, to create climate-resilient ecosystems. The team visited restoration sites coordinated by Enabel and engaged with beneficiaries, witnessing positive developments in afforestation, agroforestry, breeding seed orchards, and silvo-pastoral land restoration, among other initiatives.For the past two years Enabel contribution to TREPA project achievements by mapping and organizing very degraded private forests (to be restored) in Private Forest Management Unity (PFMU) where around 3,700 ha mapped into Forest Monitoring Evaluation System (FMES) tool, organized into 65 PFMUs and their restoration is achieved on 1471 ha (37%) and is on-going across all 7 Districts of Eastern Province. Enabel has contributed also to the achievement of project output 1.5 through dissemination of 7000 Improved CookStoves (ICS) to the project beneficiary. TREPA project is a six years initiative aiming to achieve a paradigm shift in land management practices in Rwanda’s Eastern Province in all the seven districts of the Eastern Province namely Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Bugesera, Ngoma, Kirehe, Kayonza, and Rwamagana from landscapes that are degraded, fragile and unable to sustain livelihoods in the face of climate change to restored ecosystems and landscapes through building community resilience to enhance livelihoods, food, and water security of the most vulnerable rural population.
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Enabel & Rwanda TVET Board celebrate 1st graduation for dual training apprentices
Abu Bernard MUTIJIMA | 02/12/2024
On 28th November 2024, Rwanda TVET Board in partnership with Enabel awarded certificates of competence to 309 graduates who completed a 12-month short dual training program. This colorful ceremony took place in Karongi in Rwanda Polytechnic campus with 165 female & 144 male apprentices graduating in Carpentry, Tailoring, Masonry, Welding and Automobile technology. Since January 2023, Rwanda TVET Board is implementing a 12 -month short dual training program under the support of Enabel’s Decent Work and Social Protection project (DW&SP). The project supports skills development through workplace learning and workers’ skills upgrading in Construction, Manufacturing and Mining sectors, targeting youth and women in Kivu Belt region and in the City of Kigali. The training is delivered through the partnership between TVET schools and private companies & craftsmen. Trainees undergo five months at school to acquire theoretical and basic practical skills, followed by seven months of practical experience in the workplace. Both school trainers and In- company Instructors (ICIs) collaborate to facilitate trainees in acquiring a series of theoretical, practical hands-on skills and attitudes relevant for the labor market integration. Six schools namely Bumba TSS, ETAG Gisenyi TSS, Kanyinya TSS, Karengera TSS, Mizero TSS and Rubengera II TSS were selected to deliver the programs in collaboration with private companies. Enabel’s skills development initiatives are implemented under three projects and in different value chains: Decent Work and Social Protection project: In addition to developing skills for new labor market entrants through Workplace Learning, the project contributes to the upskilling/reskilling of informal workers in supported trades through the recognition of prior learning of existing workers in Construction, Manufacturing and Mining sectors. Urbanisation project (UEDi) aims at strengthening decent green job creation in the construction value chains through WPL (dual training) in construction trades where the “Chantier-Ecole” integrates the project-based learning approach allowing to find solutions to infrastructure-related challenges identified at school. UEDi operates in Bugesera and Rwamagana Districts and 4 schools namely Center for Champions TSS, Ecole Technique Saint Kizito (ETSK) Musha TSS, Nelson Mandela TSS and Nyamata TSS were selected to deliver the training programs in collaboration with private companies and craftsmen. Project for Inclusive Small Livestock Markets (PRISM) supports skills development in Piggery, Poultry, Fish farming and Beekeeping value chains through school-based short courses combined with industrial attachment program (IAP) and through industrial-based training (IBT). Five schools namely Kabutare TSS (Huye district), Ntendezi TSS (Gakenke district), Nyagahanga TSS (Gatsibo district), Groupe Secondaire Rilima Catholique (Bugesera district) and Rushashi TSS (Gakenke district) were selected and will work together with private companies and farmer schools (LFFSs) to deliver the training programs. Enabel fosters sustainability of its interventions through system strengthening and contributes to NST 2 priorities, focusing on the creation of decent, green, inclusive and productive jobs.
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Rwanda: Enhancing urban development in Rwamagana through community engagement
Denise NSANGA | 29/11/2024
On November 28, 2024, Enabel's Urban Economic Development Initiative (UEDi), in collaboration with the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) and Rwamagana District, organised a workshop and urban walk to assess and prioritise projects funded through the Belgium-Rwanda bilateral cooperation and EU contributions. The event aimed to envolve local stakeholders in the identification and prioritisation of urban development projects, defining roles, ensuring a collaborative and co-creative approach for sustainable outcomes. The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including local community representatives, Rwamagana District authorities, private sector operators, civil society organizations, and development partners. Through a participatory process, four key projects were identified for implementation after conducting the feasibility studies planned in coming days: the Rwamagana Expo ground and youth centre, public green spaces, an urban agriculture development marshland, and an urban road network. Engaging the community was a central focus of the event, with active participation from youth, women, private sector representatives, and people with disabilities. Their input ensured that the identified projects are tailored to the needs and aspirations of local residents, fostering a sense of ownership and promoting inclusivity in urban planning. The UEDi-phase 2, part of the 2024-2029 bilateral cooperation programme between Rwanda and Belgium, aims to support infrastructure development in Rwamagana as a satellite city. This phase aims to improve infrastructure, enhance living conditions, and create an inclusive, socio-economic, and environmentally sustainable urban ecosystem that is resilient to climate change, building on the successes of the UEDi-phase 1 (2019-2024).
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Enabel joins the Government of Rwanda to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
Denise NSANGA | 27/11/2024
On November 25, 2024, Enabel partnered with districts in Rwanda to launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The events, held in Gisagara District (Southern Province) and Rusizi District (Western Province), embraced the national theme, “All for GBV-Free Families.” This theme underscores the importance of family cohesion and collective responsibility in preventing conflict and addressing GBV.The activities featured dynamic and engaging sessions, including walks, songs, role plays, personal testimonies, and speeches, all delivering powerful anti-GBV messages. Participants also accessed family planning services to empower families—particularly women—to make informed reproductive choices, reducing dependency and addressing power imbalances that often lead to GBV. Mental health services were also provided at the sites for GBV victims. In addition, radio programs were broadcast on community radio stations to raise public awareness of the prevention and management of GBV, including the accessibility of health and justice services. The events brought together a diverse group of participants, including youth, especially students, local leaders, Community Health Workers, Friends of Families, teen mothers, parents, and representatives from security organs.The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign led by civil society. It begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and concludes on December 10, Human Rights Day. The campaign seeks to highlight that violence against women is one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide.First launched in 1991 during the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute, the campaign has grown into a global movement, mobilizing individuals, organizations, and international partners, including the United Nations. This year, it aligns with the global theme, “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Unite to End Violence Against Women,” reinforcing the urgent call to eliminate violence against women and girls.
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How we marked Fraud Awareness Week at Enabel Rwanda
Denise NSANGA | 21/11/2024
Fraud Awareness Week was a success at Enabel in Rwanda! We hosted 2-hour interactive sessions where every staff member participated, divided into four time slots of around 30 colleagues each. These sessions served as a valuable refresher on our code of conduct, integrity principles, and the essential ways to combat, prevent, and report fraud at Enabel. To deepen engagement, our Fraud focal person has been sending a daily quiz to all staff, featuring a fraud case to reflect on and think of the best ways to handle such situations. In addition to the sessions, anti-fraud posters were displayed across all Enabel offices, reinforcing our commitment to transparency and accountability.
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Engaging the community in Urban planning: A critical approach for creating inclusive and sustainable cities
Denise NSANGA | 20/11/2024
On November 15, 2024, Enabel's Urban Economic Development Initiative (UEDi), in partnership with the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), and the Rwanda Housing Authority and Bugesera District organised an Urban Walk and workshop to identify projects that will be funded through Belgium-Rwanda bilateral cooperation and EU contribution.The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including local community representatives, Bugesera District authorities, private sector operators, civil society organisations, development partners, and national public institutions involved in local economic development. Through a participatory approach, six key projects were identified for implementation: Nyamata Health Centre, two green public spaces, two affordable housing sites, an urban agriculture development site, the Integrated Crafts Production Centre (ICPC-Agakiriro), and an 8-kilometer urban road network.In today’s rapidly evolving urban environment, involving all stakeholders in decision-making is essential for ensuring urban development initiatives align with community needs and aspirations. Engaging the community not only ensures projects are better suited to the lived experiences of residents but also fosters a greater sense of ownership. In this context, community engagement includes a wide representation of residents, especially less-represented member groups such as youth, women from various social backgrounds, and people with disabilities. Equally important is the inclusion of private sector actors who shape the local urban landscape.To achieve genuine community engagement, it is crucial to acknowledge and address potential power imbalances. Effective participation requires inclusive mechanisms that ensure all voices are heard, not only during the execution of activities but also in the planning and preparation stages.The Urbanisation Project is part of the bilateral programme between Rwanda and Belgium for the 2024-2029 period, with additional funding from the European Union and the Brussels-Capital Region. This programme aims to develop sustainable and attractive cities by improving living conditions for all residents, particularly the most vulnerable, while creating an inclusive, socio-economic, and environmentally sustainable ecosystem that is resilient to climate change.As part of this initiative, the development of socio-economic infrastructure is one of the main outcomes in the two selected satellite cities: Bugesera and Rwamagana in the eastern province of Rwanda. Since these investments are designed to enhance the well-being of urban residents, community participation in prioritising these projects is vital.
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Rwanda: Team Belgium at United for Health Days 2024: Strengthening healthcare collaborations
Denise NSANGA | 18/11/2024
Team Belgium played a pivotal role at the United for Health Days (U4H-2024), held on November 14-15 at the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences (UR-CMHS) in Remera. The event brought together over 4,000 healthcare professionals, students, and stakeholders from across Rwanda to engage in a dynamic exchange of ideas, research, and opportunities aimed at improving healthcare systems and fostering innovation.Belgium’s participation, led by Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency and the Embassy of Belgium in Kigali, was aligned with their long-standing commitment to global health development. Enabel’s Lead Health Expert, Dr Nicole Curti contributed to a key discussion on the vital role of research in shaping evidence-based healthcare policies, as well as Belgium contributions in Rwanda’s health sector through the Belgium-Rwanda Cooperation Program (2024-2029), a comprehensive five-year initiative aimed at strengthening healthcare systems and improving health outcomes in Rwanda.In addition to these contributions, Team Belgium showcased several scholarship opportunities and collaborative initiatives aimed at empowering Rwandan students and health professionals. The United for Health Days is an annual event that serves as a vibrant platform for students, young professionals, and key stakeholders in Rwanda’s health sector to come together for face-to-face interactions, networking, and collaboration. It is a result of an innovative collaboration between the University of Rwanda and the University College Leuven Limburg (Belgium).Since its inception in 2022, the two-day event has become a platform for valuable exchanges on research, training, and capacity-building opportunities.
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Learning Café: Skills Development programme with Enabel in Rwanda
Denise NSANGA | 11/11/2024
At Enabel, we believe in mutual learning, sharing experiences and perspectives to gain new knowledge insights, strengthen partnerships, and create new synergies. That’s exactly what the Learning Café aims to foster: an environment where Enabel colleagues and stakeholders come together to share experiences and explore new ways to drive impactful change. The today’s Learning Café - held on November 08, 2024 - focused on Skills Development, a crosscutting initiative implemented through the Urbanisation, Agriculture and Social Protection programmes. Through a dynamic role play, the Skills Development team highlighted the practical applications of the initiative, and we were all thrilled to hear personal testimonies of programme beneficiaries, about how the Skills Development programme has made a difference in their lives and communities. Such learning exchanges will follow in other topics soon from various programmes to foster knowledge-sharing, and the collective effort towards achieving the Belgium-Rwanda cooperation’s objectives.
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TuriKumwe Rwanda Team concludes a successful retreat
Denise NSANGA | 04/11/2024
Today, the TuriKumwe Rwanda Team concluded an energizing two-day retreat that fostered collaboration and alignment within the new organisational structure. The retreat provided an opportunity for team members to clarify mandates and roles, strengthening cohesion through authentic relating.In addition to aligning roles, the team reviewed collaborative practices and discussed the implementation of Strategy 2030 and the Business Plan 2025 by co-creating the CAP 2025, emphasizing shared leadership and collective vision.To celebrate the outcomes and the team’s efforts, group photos were taken, capturing the enthusiasm and camaraderie that defined the retreat. The TuriKumwe Team looks forward to implementing the insights gained during the workshop and continuing to work together towards Enabel’s goals. The TuriKumwe Rwanda Team is composed of the Country Management Team plus Project management teams.
