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.

Food Security and Nutrition Assessment

RCID conducts comprehensive food security and nutrition assessments across Rwanda to identify vulnerable populations and develop targeted interventions. Our assessments include household surveys, dietary diversity analysis, and nutritional status monitoring to inform policy and program development.

Value Chain Development and Market Access

We support the development of sustainable food value chains by strengthening market linkages, improving post-harvest handling, and enhancing market access for smallholder farmers. Our work focuses on creating inclusive and resilient food systems that benefit all stakeholders.

Capacity Building for Food System Stakeholders

RCID provides training and capacity building for farmers, extension workers, and other food system stakeholders. Our programs cover sustainable farming practices, nutrition education, and business development skills to improve food system outcomes.

Policy Support and Advocacy

We support policy development and advocacy efforts to create enabling environments for sustainable food systems. Our work includes policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based recommendations for food system transformation.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Food System Interventions

Our monitoring and evaluation frameworks assess the impact of food system interventions, measuring outcomes related to food security, nutrition, income generation, and environmental sustainability to inform future planning and policy development.