Between November 18th – 22nd, the NICE project team from Kenya visited Rwanda for a peer learning exchange with their Rwandan counterparts. The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration and share experiences on initiatives implemented under the NICE project. The teams visited key sites in Rusizi and Rubavu, focusing on opportunities for collaboration between farmers’ hubs and cooperatives, small grants initiatives, community demand-generation activities, health and education sectors, and multi-sectoral food systems platforms.
In Rusizi, the teams visited a women’s poultry group, Dukatazemwiterambere A, in the Rwimbogo Sector. They toured two poultry sites: one with older chickens and another with three-month-old chicks soon to begin egg production. The group highlighted innovative practices, such as Rwanda’s chick insurance and daily veterinary support provided by the local government, which the Kenyan team saw as potential models for adoption.
The team also visited a demo farm in the Nyakarenzo Sector, managed by Network Manager Berchard Mudacogora. The farm showcased sustainable practices like composting and growing diverse crops, including passion fruits, spinach, and eggplants. Mudacogora collaborates with farmers’ hubs and smallholder farmers to boost productivity. Alongside Agronomist Nsenga Mustapha and Agricultural Advisor Nyirabambere Justine, the Kenyan team praised the NICE project for equipping farmers with skills in vegetable cultivation, fruit tree planting, and organic fertilizer use. They emphasized the shared goal of combating malnutrition and poverty, noting visible improvements in the community.
Another significant experience was the Food Systems Platform (FSP) in Rusizi, established by NICE in partnership with the district and managed by Caritas Rwanda under the Cyangugu Diocese. The platform brings together stakeholders from agriculture, animal husbandry, food processing, and distribution to promote food security and sustainability. The Kenyan team observed how the initiative fosters collaboration, boosts production and distribution, and educates communities on better food utilization.
In Rubavu, the teams visited several initiatives, including a shop run by Farmer Hub Manager Gentillesse Uwineza, where smallholder farmers access agricultural inputs and materials. They also visited a farm in the Mudende Sector, where thriving crops are grown using a mix of organic and minimal synthetic inputs. Farmers shared how the NICE project has empowered them to support others in their communities.
The team also visited a health center, where mothers of previously malnourished children shared stories of their children’s recovery, thanks to cooking demonstrations organized by NICE in partnership with the health center. At a farmers’ market, they witnessed how the project connects local farmers directly with consumers. Additionally, they visited a vegetable washing facility, which provides farmers with clean water and dedicated spaces for washing produce, improving hygiene, productivity and crop quality.
The visit left a lasting impression on the Kenyan team. Elizabeth Imbo, Project Manager of the NICE project in Kenya, shared: “The experience was truly enriching! We gained valuable insights, particularly from the effective food systems governance led by Caritas Rwanda and the lessons learned from the vegetable washing station.”
Elizabeth Imbo, Project Manager of the NICE project in Kenya Photo: Sandra Nadège/Sight and Life
Similarly, Daniel Nyauke, NICE Project Coordinator in Kenya, remarked: “I was more than impressed with Rwanda’s implementation of Outcome 3 through partnerships with local authorities. The milestones achieved by the Food Systems Platform and the women’s poultry group, whose daily production of over 750 eggs generates revenue to expand their operations, were particularly remarkable.”
Daniel Nyauke, NICE Project Coordinator in Kenya Photo: Sandra Nadège/Sight and Life
This peer learning exchange offered a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and enhance food systems in both Kenya and Rwanda. It underscored the power of mutual learning to drive sustainable improvements in food security and nutrition.