Gatsibo District, Eastern Province: The fields are dry, the sun unrelenting. Yet beneath the surface, something transformative is taking root.

On 31 July 2025, UNDP, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), undertook a field visit to officially initiate the next phase of its hydroponics and home biogas programme in Gatsibo District. This expansion will benefit 400 new households and lay the groundwork for three new Milk Collection Centres (MCC)-based hydroponic units in Gatsibo alone, part of MINAGRI’s broader commitment to establish 10 units across the country in FY 2025/2026.

This was a field-focused, community-grounded visit to assess readiness, listen to local voices, and reinforce partnerships that will determine the long-term success of the initiative.

Building on Proof, Powered by Partnerships

This new phase did not emerge in a vacuum. It is grounded in evidence and built on lessons from previous UNDP-supported pilots:

• In Ngoma and Rwamagana, 500 households received home biogas units: 250 in each district.
• At Rwimbogo MCC in Gatsibo, UNDP installed a hydroponics pilot system in 2023. The results were compelling. The hydroponics system meant improved fodder quality, increased milk production, and cooperative-level viability. UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, visited the site in 2024 and emphasized the power of community-rooted innovation to shape Africa’s development future.

Her visit became a catalyst. It reminded all partners that pilots must lead to scale, and that real transformation happens when solutions are anchored in ownership.

Government Commitment That Goes Beyond Words

The Government of Rwanda’s leadership and commitment at both national and local levels was evident throughout the visit. MINAGRI came prepared with a clear roadmap for implementation, including the mobilization of land, and a strategy to train youth in installation and maintenance, turning sustainability into a green job opportunity.

“We are working closely with local authorities to identify and train youth who will support the installation and maintenance of the hydroponic systems and in so doing, we are creating jobs while ensuring sustainability,” noted Dr Michel NGARAMBE from MINAGRI, reinforcing their commitment to locally anchored, climate-smart agriculture. 

The Governor of Eastern Province, Pudence Rubingisa, and the Mayor of Gatsibo District, Richard Gasana, joined the visit to Kibondo and Kiramuruzi MCCs, meeting community members, and contributing practical reflections on sustainability.

“UNDP and partners have kept their promise. The home biogas initiative is helping to protect our environment, and the hydroponics system has proven vital, especially during the dry season,” said Governor Rubingisa.

“Now, we must ensure we select households who are ready to own the system, maintain it, and pass on the knowledge,” added Mayor Gasana.

A Model Rooted in Community Ownership

At every level, the message was clear: ownership matters. And ownership starts with listening.

“We are here to reaffirm UNDP’s commitment. Not just to innovation, but to working side by side with communities, government, and partners,” said Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative. “When communities become champions of the solutions we bring, sustainability becomes possible.”

A company, contracted to install the systems, is committed to staying involved for at least one year after installation, to training youth in the community for maintenance of the home biogas systems and is held liable for three years with a warranty on the system for 10 years reinforcing long-term support and accountability.

Looking Ahead: One District at a Time, with inbuilt sustainability

UNDP committed to exploring the possibility of engaging a local financing institution to explore saving schemes where beneficiaries can allocate part of their monthly income, from increased milk production and previously spent on firewood or charcoal towards a maintenance fund. This would build local sustainability into the programme from the outset.

This field visit in Gatsibo is part of a wider vision; UNDP’s focus on scaling practical, inclusive solutions for food security, clean energy, and climate resilience through deeper local engagement. 

In the coming months, the three hydroponics units in Gatsibo’s MCCs will be installed, and 400 households will begin transitioning to clean, renewable energy using animal waste for biogas, reducing firewood use, protecting forests around vulnerable areas like Akagera National Park, and improving household health, especially for women and children.

“What we witnessed in Gatsibo was not just readiness. It was energy, momentum, and a collective will to succeed,” said UNDP Resident Representative. “With communities, local leaders, and national institutions fully on board, we are moving beyond launching projects to investing in long term transformation.”

The visit to Gatsibo was a strong reminder that when innovation, evidence, and partnership converge, scale becomes inevitable. With strong government leadership, committed communities, and dedicated partners like IFAD, MINAGRI and RAB, the next phase of Rwanda’s green transformation is well underway, one district at a time.