Convening partners to support the Government of Rwanda’s bold ambition to eradicate childhood stunting
PARTNERS
- CIFF
- World Bank
- Government of Rwanda
- Herbalife Nutrition Foundation
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- UK Aid
- Sir Christopher Hohn
SDGS SUPPORTED
- SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
- SDG 1 - No Poverty
- SDG 3 - Good Health & Wellbeing
- SDG 4 - Quality Education
- SDG 5 - Gender Equality
- SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 17 - Partnership for the Goals
CONVENED FUNDS
$135m
LOCATION
Rwanda - 13 districts
DATES
2018 - 2023
Introduction
Malnutrition is a significant challenge in Rwanda, particularly for underserved groups such as young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
According to the 2021 Global Nutrition Report, stunting, which is a measure of chronic undernutrition, affects more than one in three young children in Rwanda. This can lead to developmental delays, reduced cognitive development and function, and increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. This also has a knock-on effect for the wider economy, costing Rwanda 11.5% of its GDP.
The Rwandan government has made efforts and progress to address malnutrition with an ambitious aim to eradicate the burden of stunting. But further investment and collaboration is essential to address the underlying causes of malnutrition and improve the nutritional status of the most hard-to-reach communities.
Programme interventions
Cash transfers
Providing cash transfers to pregnant women to incentivise uptake of health and nutrition services and improve dietary diversity (eating of different types of recommended nutritious foods).
Social and behavioural change
Creating social and behavioural change through local community gatherings – promoting the benefits of a balanced (and locally sourced) diet.
Health services
Integrating health services with early childhood development, where health workers monitor the wellbeing of young children.
Early childhood development
Supporting community early childhood development centres where young children receive rounded care as well as a nutritious meals.
Fortified blended foods
Distributing fortified blended foods for pregnant women and new mothers to improve their nutritional intake.
Our partnership
To tackle Rwanda’s high rate of malnutrition, in 2018 The Power of Nutrition convened a range of partners from the private and public sector to catalyse a $135 million programme with the World Bank and the Government of Rwanda. From national and local government, through to communities, people are working together with the single-minded vision to reduce stunting in Rwanda.
The programme multiplies and integrates actions on several different fronts:
- Strengthening the provision of health and nutrition services and health centres, providing critical support to those (as well as to prevent) suffering from undernutrition.
- Early childhood development centres are providing young children with nutritious meals, health care, as well as stimulating activities and education, to support their physical and cognitive development.
- Pregnant mothers are incentivised to attend antenatal care and cooking demonstrations through cash transfers, which are often invested in livestock to feed the family.
- Community gatherings which offer cooking demonstrations, guidance on climate friendly kitchen gardens and nutritional advice for parents.
Next steps
Whilst significant progress has been made, Rwanda’s ambitious goal to eliminate stunting in the country has yet to be reached. To continue supporting the government’s efforts to reach this milestone, a second phase of the programme is being implemented, again with the Government and the World Bank.
Read about our extension to this programme here.
Chantal Mother in Nyamagabe, Rwanda"My first child didn't attend the early childhood development centre, but the second one does. It has transformed him: he's doing well and has no problems. He talks to me and tells me about what he's learning: French, Kinyarwanda, and English. He's no longer malnourished."
Progress to date
5%
Reduction in stunting
The programme has contributed to the national rate of stunting reduction from 38% to 33%, showing the strength of the government’s single-minded determination on the issue and the power of partnerships to tackle it.
14%
more pregnant women now attend health and nutrition services
There has been a huge increase in the number of pregnant mothers attending health and nutrition services, now at 38% up from 25% before the programme.
100%
more children now enrolled at early childhood development centres
The number of children that are now enrolled at ECD centres has more than doubled since before the programme.
Partner with us
We never work alone. Below are some of the partners we work with - all sharing our vision of a world where every child has the right nutrition to reach their full potential.
