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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

Erick Boy

researcher spotlight

Erick Boy

Erick Boy is the Chief Nutritionist in the HarvestPlus section of the Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit. As head of nutrition for the HarvestPlus Program since 2008, he has led research that has generated scientific evidence on biofortified staple crops as efficacious and effective interventions to help address iron, vitamin A, and zinc deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia.

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Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

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IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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Fertile field at sunset in the countryside (Rwanda/ Africa)

country program

Rwanda Strategy Support Program

Fertile field at sunset in the countryside (Rwanda/ Africa)

country programs

Overview

The Rwanda Strategy Support Program (Rwanda SSP) is an initiative aligned with the Government of Rwanda’s vision for accelerating agricultural transformation and rural development throughout the country. The program supports Rwanda’s forward-looking strategy for economic growth and transformation through policy analysis, capacity development, and partnership, with a focus on two main themes:

  • Collaborative policy analysis to prioritize agricultural transformation, increase agricultural productivity, improve nutrition, strengthen food systems and the rural nonfarm economy, and foster broad-based economic growth and development in Rwanda.
  • Capacity development and knowledge sharing to undertake timely and relevant policy analysis, communicate actionable findings to policymakers and their development partners, and build linkages for knowledge sharing across research, government, civil society, and other stakeholder communities.

The Rwanda SSP is supported by the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), CGIAR and contributors to the CGIAR Fund, as well as other donors and partners, reflecting a shared interest among Rwanda’s development partners in policy analysis and capacity development for informed decision-making. The program, launched in 2019, is a joint initiative between the Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and IFPRI.

To learn more, visit the IFPRI Rwanda website.

Links/Projects

IFPRI Rwanda Website

Africa Regional Website

N/A

Donors

Partners

Duration

2019 – Ongoing

Publications

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Brief

Synopsis: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development in Rwanda

2025Aragie, Emerta A.; Niyonsingiza, Josue; Thurlow, James; Warner, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian
Details

Synopsis: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development in Rwanda

The study systematically ranks investment options in the agrifood system based on their cost-effectiveness across multiple development outcomes. Investments in SME processors and traders and livestock extension are the most cost-effective for promoting agrifood GDP growth and employment. SMEs and livestock services together with seed systems and credit access contribute positively to social outcomes (poverty, undernourishment, and diet). The analysis finds a trade-off between economic gains and environmental outcomes— higher GDP effects often come with greater environmental costs. The Rwandan case demonstrates a slight shift in the relative cost-effectiveness of investments when accounting for historical climatic risks. The study emphasizes the need for data-driven investment planning, climate-aware policies, and balancing short-term gains with long-term sustainability objectives.

Year published

2025

Authors

Aragie, Emerta A.; Niyonsingiza, Josue; Thurlow, James; Warner, James; Xu, Valencia Wenqian

Citation

Aragie, Emerta; Niyonsingiza, Josue; Thurlow, James; Warner, James; and Xu, Valencia Wenqian. 2025. Synopsis: Cost effective options for inclusive and sustainable development in Rwanda. Rwanda SSP Policy Note 25. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174709

Country/Region

Rwanda

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Sustainable Development; Agrifood Systems; Investment; Agricultural Extension

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

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Working Paper

Unlocking agricultural efficiency: A stochastic frontier analysis of smallholder farmers in Rwanda

2025Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Warner, James; Missiame, Arnold Kwesi
Details

Unlocking agricultural efficiency: A stochastic frontier analysis of smallholder farmers in Rwanda

Agriculture is central to Rwanda’s economy, supporting the livelihood of about 70% of the population and contributing significantly to GDP. Smallholder farmers face many production challenges such as limited use of modern inputs, low productivity, and vulnerability to climate change. Despite efforts like the Crop Intensification Program and the Smart Nkunganire System, which aim to en hance access to resources, agricultural productivity remains suboptimal for Rwanda smallholder farmers. This study seeks to identify specific sources of technical inefficiencies among smallholder farmers, focusing on the total value of farmer’s crop output. By using stochastic frontier analysis, a robust quantitative method for separating inefficiencies and random shocks, the study assessed the overall technical efficiency of smallholder farmers in Rwanda and identified the key factors influencing crop output value. The analysis reveals that fertilizer use, pesticide application, labor, seed use, and land size are key drivers of crop output value. This research further indicates that farmers operate at only 45% of their potential productivity, given the same level of input and technology, highlighting substantial room for efficiency improvements to reach the optimal output value frontier. Furthermore, additional analysis emphasizes the critical role of socioeconomic factors in shaping technical efficiency. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to optimize resource utilization, streamline labor allocation and strengthen access to extension services and government initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural production value. These strategies can substantially improve technical efficiency, enabling farmers to achieve optimal crop output values and advancing Rwanda’s agricultural development objectives.

Year published

2025

Authors

Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Warner, James; Missiame, Arnold Kwesi

Citation

Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Warner, James; and Missiame, Arnold Kwesi. 2025. Unlocking agricultural efficiency: A stochastic frontier analysis of smallholder farmers in Rwanda. Rwanda SSP Working Paper 17. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/174560

Country/Region

Rwanda

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Agriculture; Smallholders; Stochastic Models; Crops; Agricultural Development

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Working Paper

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Fertilizer policy reforms in the midst of crisis: Evidence from Rwanda

2025Spielman, David J.; Mugabo, Serge; Rosenbach, Gracie; Ndikumana, Sosthene; Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Ingabire, Chantal
Details

Fertilizer policy reforms in the midst of crisis: Evidence from Rwanda

Fertilizer subsidies are a prominent feature of many agricultural development strategies in sub-Saharan Africa, but few countries have the necessary data to make rapid decisions about their management in the face of exogenous shocks. This was the case in Rwanda following the rapid increase in international fertilizer prices in 2021–22. Working within a constrained fiscal space that followed the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Rwanda aimed to revise its fertilizer subsidy system to accommodate higher fertilizer import prices without compromising progress against its agricultural growth targets. This paper explores both the economic analysis and policy process that shaped decision-making around Rwanda’s fertilizer subsidy system during the period 2020–23. The paper centers on the design and application of a microsimulation model that estimated—almost in real time—the impact of increased fertilizer prices on crop production during this period. It then explores the policy outcomes that followed, emphasizing the scope for subsidy reductions even in the midst of crisis, the critical importance of strengthening agricultural data systems, and lessons for countries facing similar challenges.

Year published

2025

Authors

Spielman, David J.; Mugabo, Serge; Rosenbach, Gracie; Ndikumana, Sosthene; Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Ingabire, Chantal

Citation

Spielman, David J.; Mugabo, Serge; Rosenbach, Gracie; Ndikumana, Sosthene; Benimana, Gilberthe; and Ingabire, Chantal. 2025. Fertilizer policy reforms in the midst of crisis: Evidence from Rwanda. Food Policy 133(May 2025): 102823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102823

Country/Region

Rwanda

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Fertilizers; Reforms; Subsidies; Data; Shock; Agricultural Development

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102823 Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

Blogs

Shaping strategies for Rwanda’s agricultural transformation
IFPRI Blog
 | 
June 30, 2025

Shaping strategies for Rwanda’s agricultural transformation

By Maria DiGiovanni, James Warner, and Serge Mugabo

How IFPRI research helps guide policy.

What can we really learn from sex-disaggregated data?
IFPRI Blog
 | 
January 11, 2022

What can we really learn from sex-disaggregated data?

By Bjorn Van Campenhout, Els Lecoutere, and David Spielman

Parsing sometimes contradictory responses in household surveys.

National policy dialogue: Charting Rwanda's agricultural transformation
IFPRI Blog
 | 
March 12, 2020

National policy dialogue: Charting Rwanda’s agricultural transformation

By Seth Kwizera, Claude Bizimana, and David J. Spielman

Researchers and policy makers must collaborate to implement a national strategic plan.

View all Blogs

News

March 31, 2021 | In the News

Rwanda banks on tech to get 18% households out of food insecurity (The New Times)

The New Times (Rwanda) published an article stating that experts in the agriculture sector have called for robust efforts to increase production and availability of nutritious food following revelations that over 18 percent of the country’s households face food insecurity. The solutions, experts say, could help to eliminate the stunting rate and achieve zero hunger by 2025 in […]

January 28, 2021 | In the News

European Union gives €1 million to support the Agriculture pillar of the National Economic Recovery Plan for COVID-19 in Rwanda (Rwanda News Agency)

Rwanda News Agency reported that the European Commission has provided EUR 1 million to IFPRI to support the Ministry of Agriculture in Rwanda to enhance skills in the analysis of public investment priorities and policy options for the Covid-19 recovery period. This grant will support the Government of Rwanda to implement the agriculture sector strategy and in particular its contribution to the […]

January 27, 2021 | Press Release

European Union gives €1 million to support the Agriculture pillar of the National Economic Recovery Plan for COVID-19 in Rwanda

The European Commission has provided EUR 1 million to IFPRI to support the Ministry of Agriculture in Rwanda to enhance skills in the analysis of public investment priorities & policy options for the COVID-19 recovery period.

View all News

Events

Rwanda National Policy Dialogue: Building Productive Capacities for Rwanda’s Agricultural Transformation, Rural Development, and Food Security
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

February 26, 2020, 8:30 – 3:30 pm

Rwanda National Policy Dialogue: Building Productive Capacities for Rwanda’s Agricultural Transformation, Rural Development, and Food Security

The Food Security Portal, in partnership with the Economic Policy Research Network Rwanda (EPRN), will hold a one-day national policy dialogue on building Rwanda’s productive capacities. The event will be a follow-on to the 6th EPRN Annual Economic Research Conference and will emphasize engaging up-and-coming members of the policy and research communities, including mid-level policy […]

Rwanda Strategy Support Program: Enhancing Capacity for Evidence-Based Policy to Accelerate Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

December 6, 2019, 2:30 – 5:00 pm

Rwanda Strategy Support Program: Enhancing Capacity for Evidence-Based Policy to Accelerate Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development

The proposed Rwanda Strategy Support Program is an initiative aligned with the Government of Rwanda’s vision for accelerating agricultural transformation and rural development throughout the country. The program will assist the implementation of the 2018–2024 Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation through policy analysis, capacity development, and partnership. Welcome Keynote Address on the Collaborative Agenda Overview […]

Team members

James Warner

James Warner

Research Fellow/Program Leader, Rwanda, Development
Strategies and Governance

David Spielman

David Spielman

Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling (IPS), Innovation
Policy and Scaling

Xinshen Diao

Xinshen Diao

Senior Research Fellow, Foresight and Policy Modeling, Foresight
and Policy Modeling

Olivier Ecker

Olivier Ecker

Senior Research Fellow, Foresight
and Policy Modeling

James Thurlow

James Thurlow

Director, Foresight and Policy Modeling (FPM), Foresight
and Policy Modeling

Serge Mugabo

Serge Mugabo

Senior Research Associate, Development
Strategies and Governance

The Programs

  • Kutubdia Island in the Bay of Bengal

    Bangladesh Policy Research and Strategy Support Program

    Improving food and nutrition security is of paramount concern to millions in Bangladesh.

  • Wuxi, the fast growing city that was formerly known as White Horse Village.

    China Strategy Support Program

    Supports joint research & capacity strengthening as well as policy dialogues & communication to improve policymaking.

  • Farm land in Giza in Egypt

    Egypt Strategy Support Program

    Egypt SSP's main objective is to raise incomes of the rural poor and to improve food and nutrition security in Egypt.

  • Gayo village, Ethiopia

    Ethiopia Strategy Support Program

    ESSP is a collaborative program undertaken by IFPRI and the Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI)

  • amevi-wisdom-wiul_nyafcy-unsplash

    Ghana Strategy Support Program

    Conduct research & advise on policy to support agricultural growth, rural development & economic transformation.

  • Local vendors selling vegetables at a market in Kenya,Africa

    Kenya Strategy Support Program

    KSSP is a policy research, capacity strengthening and policy communication program with the main objectives to accelerate poverty reduction and to improve food security.

  • Mitundu Market, Lilongwe, Malawi

    Malawi Strategy Support Program

    This project facilitates and promotes evidence-based dialogue and decision-making in support of agricultural development, food security, and economic growth in Malawi.

  • Country program Myanmar

    Myanmar Strategy Support Program

    The project supports agricultural transformation and other development policy goals by enhancing national technical, institutional, and policy analysis capacities.

  • Nigeria Strategy Support Program

    NSSP responds to the research, analysis, and capacity needs of stakeholders in the Nigerian agricultural research and policy community.

  • Papua New Guinea Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Policy Support Program

    The Papua New Guinea Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Policy Support Program (PNG-AFNP) is an initiative aligned with the Government of Papua New Guinea’s vision to revitalize and transform its agricultural sector to improve economic opportunities, livelihoods, and food security.

  • Fertile field at sunset in the countryside (Rwanda/ Africa)

    Rwanda Strategy Support Program

    Rwanda SSP is an initiative aligned with the Government of Rwanda’s vision to accelerate agricultural transformation and rural development in Rwanda.

  • A sunset view of river Nile in Khartoum, Sudan

    Sudan Strategy Support Program

    The Sudan Country Strategy Support Program (CSSP), with key team members based in Khartoum, can provide needed analytical support to the Government of Sudan, local and international partners.