Supporting in the production and distribution of agroforestry and fruits for communities in Rwanda

From 2018 to 2019, the Regional Research Centre for Integrated Development (RCID) contributed to a significant initiative aimed at improving nutrition and environmental sustainability through agroforestry and fruit tree production in Rwanda. Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the International Agricultural Research for Development, this project served as a strategic intervention to promote organizational, technical, and methodological innovations in sustainable agriculture with direct benefits to poor and vulnerable populations. In this context, RCID was engaged by SOS Rwanda to build upon earlier work undertaken between 2015 and 2016, where it had successfully prepared and produced 50,000 seedlings of agroforestry and fruit tree species. RCID’s role included verifying afforestation sites, identifying appropriate species for local agro-ecological zones in government-managed nurseries, and supporting the practical implementation of afforestation plans.

These efforts encompassed site cultivation, labor mobilization, application of appropriate technologies, implementation of protective measures, and long-term site management. The seedlings were distributed to targeted communities in three sectors of Gasabo District—Gatsata, Kacyiru, and Kinyinya within Kigali City. The project not only contributed to environmental restoration but also played a pivotal role in addressing malnutrition by promoting household-level access to diverse fruit sources. RCID's involvement underscored its expertise in linking environmental sustainability with food and nutrition security and affirmed its capacity to deliver community-centered interventions that align with national agroforestry and reforestation priorities.

Mid-Term Evaluation of the Forest Landscape Restoration for Improved Livelihoods in Rwanda project

World Vision Rwanda, with the support from Australian Government, is implementing a Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) project which aims to improve food security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers (including cattle keepers) and their families in Rwanda. World Vision implements the project in collaboration with different stakeholders including the National Tree Seed Centre and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). The project is being implemented in Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Nyagatare districts of Rwanda with the overall goal to contribute to improved food security and livelihoods for over 11,800 smallholder farmers and cattle keepers reaching approximately 51,955 beneficiaries across Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Nyagatare districts, Rwanda.

RCID was contracted by World Vision from January to July 2020 to assess the project’s progress, efficiency, and relevance, with a focus on improving its design and implementation for the remaining phase in 2020. The evaluation verified achievements against baseline targets, focusing on disaggregated stakeholder outcomes and gender inclusiveness. A detailed gender analysis was conducted to identify strategic entry points for gender mainstreaming across activities.

The evaluation also reviewed implementation modalities, documented lessons learned, and provided recommendations for improved impact. In addition, wildlife conservation, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainable land use practices were central to the project’s goals. RCID applied GIS and mapping technologies to assess land cover changes, ecosystem restoration outcomes, and community-level biodiversity indicators. Through this assignment, RCID reaffirmed its technical leadership in landscape restoration, gender-responsive evaluation, biodiversity mapping, and conservation monitoring, supporting Rwanda’s national and global commitments to forest restoration and climate resilience.

Baseline Survey - Alliance for Restoration of Forest Ecosystems in Africa (AREECA) Project in Kirehe and Nyagatare districts of Rwanda

From October 2021 to March 2022, the Regional Research Centre for Integrated Development (RCID Ltd) conducted a comprehensive baseline survey for the AREECA project in Kirehe and Nyagatare Districts, located in Rwanda’s Eastern Province. The AREECA initiative, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in collaboration with the Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA), seeks to restore 5,000 hectares of degraded forest landscapes—contributing to Rwanda’s broader goal of restoring 25,000 hectares by 2024. The project aims to benefit approximately 113,158 people or 26,316 households across the two districts.

RCID was contracted by IUCN to conduct the baseline in close consultation with national and local stakeholders engaged in Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR). The study applied the Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM) and a rapid diagnostic approach to map restoration opportunity areas, assess restoration options with multiple benefits, and identify policy and institutional factors influencing FLR outcomes.

The baseline survey identified stakeholders’ roles, capacities, and interests in FLR, evaluated the enabling policy environment, and examined economic and financial considerations for intervention selection. It also established a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, including key performance indicators to guide project implementation, learning, and accountability. This baseline sets the foundation for targeted, evidence-based restoration efforts and reinforces RCID’s leadership in ecosystem restoration, sustainable land management, and applied conservation planning.

Baseline study on KOICA Ultra Poor Graduation (UPG) Project for Women Headed Household

From August to November 2021, the Regional Research Centre for Integrated Development (RCID) conducted a baseline study for the KOICA Ultra Poor Graduation (UPG) Project targeting women-headed households. This initiative, known as “KOICA III,” is implemented by World Vision Rwanda under the Tunga Cluster in Gihango and Mushubati sectors of Rutsiro District, Western Province. The project aims to eradicate extreme poverty among female-headed households by strengthening food security, promoting social inclusion, and enhancing livelihood capacities.

RCID was contracted to carry out the baseline study to generate evidence-based data for effective project planning and impact measurement. The main objective of the baseline was to provide KOICA and World Vision with updated information on the project's early achievements, particularly in reducing malnutrition among children under five. In addition, the study assessed community knowledge, attitudes, and practices influencing service delivery quality and implementation effectiveness.

Findings from the evaluation highlighted both the successes and challenges of initial interventions, offering actionable insights to guide future programming. The results are intended to help decision-makers prioritize interventions that show promise and reconsider less effective approaches. The baseline established clear benchmarks for outcome and output indicators and laid the groundwork for measuring the intermediate results of the project, thus ensuring evidence-informed adjustments and enabling the scale up of high impact strategies.