feed the future rwanda hinga weze activity

Implemented by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)

Submitted to:

Jean Damascene NYAMWASA

Contracting Officer’s Representative

Agriculture Productivity Team Leader

USAID/Rwanda

April 28, 2020

DISCLAIMER

This Quarter 2 (Q2) FY2020 Quarterly Progress Report (QPR) was made possible by the support

of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The contents are the responsibility of CNFA and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United

States Agency for International Development or the United States Government (USG).

FEED THE FUTURE RWANDA

HINGA WEZE ACTIVITY

USAID CONTRACT #AID-696-C-17-00001

QUARTER 2 PROGRESS REPORT OF FISCAL YEAR 2020

(JANUARY 1, 2020 – MARCH 30, 2020)

OCTOBER 1, 2017 – DECEMBER 31, 2017

]

Figure 1. Harvesting, sorting, and grading French beans on irrigated site in the Gatsibo district (photo

taken by HW staff).

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION BY THE CHIEF OF PARTY 1

CHAPTER I: PROGRESS TO DATE 2

ACTIVITIES BY PROGRAM COMPONENT 4

COMPONENT ONE: Agriculture Productivity Sustainably Increased 4

COMPONENT TWO: Farmers’ Market Access Improved 15

COMPONENT 3: Nutrition Outcome of Agriculture Interventions Improved 28

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES 42

I. Gender and Social Inclusion 42

II. Youth Engagement in HW Activities 43

III. Environmental Compliance Activities 43

IV. Communications, Branding, and Marking 44

V. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning 44

COORDINATION, PARTNERSHIPS AND LINKAGES WITH OTHER PROJECTS AND

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 46

KEY EVENTS OF HW THIS QUARTER 48

CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED 50

PLANS FOR Q3 FY2020 51

ANNEXES 52

Annex 1: Success Stories 52

Annex 2: HW Performance Monitoring 55

Annex 3. Summary of Grant Achievements in Q2 FY2020. 57

Annex 4: NUTRITION TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN YEAR 3 (Nutrition Specific and

Nutrition Sensitive) 59

Annex 5: Interim Pilot Report: Hinga Weze Village Agent Business Model to Improve Maize

Aggregation In Four Districts 63

Annex 6: HW Organizational Chart 65

iii

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Key Achievements Regarding Indicators and Quarterly Targets ........................................... 3

Table 2. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 1 ..................................................................................... 4

Table 3. Q2 Product and Yield Summaries ................................................................................................. 5



Table 6. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 4.1 .................................................................................. 7

Table 7. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 4.2 .................................................................................. 8



Table 10. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 7.1 ............................................................................. 11

Table 11. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 7.2 ............................................................................. 12

Table 12. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 8 ................................................................................ 13

Table 13. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 9 ................................................................................ 14

Table 14. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 10 .............................................................................. 16



Table 17. Milestone Status for BK TecHouse and MAHWI-TECH ................................................... 20


Table 19. Sales Made by Farmers on Irrigated and Terraced Sites .................................................... 22

Table 20. Sales Revenues Generated Through Contracts by Commodities (in USD) .................. 23

Table 21. Summary of Expected BDS Recipients by Category of Agribusiness Micro Small and

Medium Enterprises (SMEs)......................................................................................................................... 24

Table 22. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 14 (in USD) ............................................................ 24

Table 23. SG Membership and Performance ........................................................................................... 25


Table 25. External Loan Performance of HW-Supported Lending Activities for Q2 (Values in

USD) ................................................................................................................................................................. 27


Table 27. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 17.1 .......................................................................... 29






Table 33. Q2 FY2020 progress toward Activity 18.1 ............................................................................ 33

Table 34. Production, Sales, and Consumption of Chickens ............................................................... 34



iv













LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Harvesting, sorting, and grading French beans on irrigated site in the Gatsibo district . i

Figure 2. Agro-dealer being coached on recordkeeping and warehouse management in the

Nyabihu district . ............................................................................................................................................ 12

Figure 3. F2F volunteer Roy Ryniker training UR-CAVM students . ................................................. 17

Figure 4. Harvesting, sorting, and grading French beans on irrigated site in Gatsibo . .................. 21

Figure 5. HW staff train RYAF district coordinators on SG mapping . ............................................. 43

Figure 6. U.S. Ambassador, H. E Peter Vrooman talking to a farmer during the visit about

postharvest technologies. . .......................................................................................................................... 48

Figure 7. The Deputy Chief of Party of HW addressing staff during the retreat . ......................... 48

Figure 8. USAID delegates check out maize cooperative . .................................................................. 49

v

ACRONYMS ADECPR Rwanda Consumer’s Right Protection Organization

AF Agro-forestry

AIF Africa Improved Foods

ASWG Agricultural Sector Working Group

B2B Business to Business

BDA Business Development Advisor

BDS Business Development Services

BPR Banque Populaire du Rwanda

CABI Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International

CAHW Community Animal Health Workers

CBNP Community-Based Nutrition Program

CBV Community-Based Volunteer

CAES Customized Agriculture Extension Service

CHAIN Community Health and Improved Nutrition

CHWs Community Health Worker

CNFA Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture

COR Contracting Officer Representative

CRS Catholic Relief Services

CSA Climate-Smart Agriculture

CSO Civil Society Organization

DAP Diammonium phosphate

DFID Department for International Development

DPEM District Plan to Eliminate Malnutrition

DQA Data Quality Assessment

EAX East Africa Exchange

ECD Early Childhood Development

ECM Enterprise de Construction Mixte

ENAS Ets Nkubili Alfred and Son Ltd.

ERMA Emergency Refuge and Migration Assistance

F2F Farmer to Farmer

FFS Farmer Field School

vi

FI Financial Institution

FP Farmer Promoter

FSC Farm Service Centre

FSP Financial Services Provider

FY Fiscal Year

GALS Gender Action Learning System

GAP Good Agriculture Practices

GoR Government of Rwanda

ha Hectare

HF Health Facility

HH Household

HIB High Iron Beans

HW Hinga Weze

ICCO International Cocoa Organization

ICT4Ag Information, Communication and Technology for Agriculture

IP Implementing Partner

IPM Integrated Pest Management

ISM Integrated Soil Management

JADF Joint Action Development Forum

kg Kilogram

MAM Moderate Acute Malnutrition

MDD Minimum Dietary Diversity

MEL Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

MINAGRI Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources

MINICOM Ministry of Trade and Industry

MIS Management Information System

MIYCO Maternal, Infant, and Youth Child Nutrition

MOH Ministry of Health

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

MT Metric Ton

MTR Mid-Term Review

NECDP National Early Childhood Development Program

NPK Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium

vii

NSA Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture

OFSP Orange Flesh Sweet Potatoes

OSS One Stop Shop

PHH Postharvest Handling

PHHS Postharvest Handling and Storage

PWD People with Disabilities

Q1 First Quarter

Q2 Second Quarter

Q3 Third Quarter

Q4 Fourth Quarter

QPR Quarterly Progress Report

RAB Rwanda Agricultural Board

RBC Rwanda Biomedical Center

RCA Rwanda Cooperative Agency

RFA Request for Application

RFP Request for Proposal

RWF Rwandan Franc

RYAF Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum

SACCO Savings and Credit Co-operative

SAIP Sustainable Agriculture Intensification and Food Security Project

SAM Severe Acute Malnutrition

SBCC Social Behavior Change Communication

SEAT Sustainability Enterprise Assessment Tool

SG Savings Group

SHF Smallholder Farmer

SNS Smart Nkunganire System

SRHR Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

SSIT Small-Scale Irrigation Technology

STTA Short-Term Technical Assistance

SUN Scaling Up Nutrition

TWG Technical Working Group

UR-CAVM University of Rwanda/College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

USAID United States Agency for International Development

viii

USD United States Dollars

USG United States Government

VA Village Agent

VBA Village-Based Advisor

WASH Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

WFP World Food Programme

YARA Yara Rwanda Ltd.

1

INTRODUCTION BY THE CHIEF OF PARTY

This quarter of January - March of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, marked a number of remarkable events

for USAID-funded Feed the Future Hinga Weze (HW) Activity. The most impactful of these was

the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related restrictive measures implemented by the

Government of Rwanda (GoR) in late March. Although Hinga Weze lost a few weeks of momentum

as the quarter came to a close, we were able to adapt quickly and to leverage the Ministry of

Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) ministerial decision about continuing seasonal

preparation activities, which enabled us to continue implementation albeit with social distancing

measures in place. The continuation of implementation and the presentation of new ideas to assist farmers and MINAGRI with seasonal preparation efforts will allow Hinga Weze activity to provide

a significant contribution to Rwandan agriculture in the coming months.

Despite the challenges of attempting to mitigate the spread of the virus through social distancing, a

great deal of progress was made toward achievement of the contract targets. With the MINAGRI

ministerial decision allowing program activities to continue, Hinga Weze was able to continue work

on terracing and irrigation objectives, while respecting government instructions. At the same time,

the transition to working from home allowed time for the senior management team to focus on the

completion of a variety of reports that had been pending, including our data quality analysis (DQA)

report and a number of training and short-term technical assistance (STTA) reports, which will be

submitted to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) with this QPR.

This quarter, Hinga Weze also continued to collaborate with many other institutions and

development partners to strengthen the agriculture-enabling policy environment of Twigire Muhinzi

and has spearheaded the development of a customized agriculture extension system (CAES). This

will go a long way toward strengthening the grassroots extension system. We promote the fact that

an extension system works best for farmers when the private sector is encouraged and there are

stimulants for their participation, and in this case Hinga Weze is promoting performance-based

incentives for community-based volunteers (CBVs) who are vital in the current system. In the next

quarter, the sustainability of this system of incentivizing CBV’s will be strengthened through the

formalization of the Farmer Promoter Incentive Fund, described later in this report.

At the same time, Hinga Weze continued its focus on the establishment of terraces and irrigation

in conjunction with the activities of its partners, especially RAB. It is worth noting that supplementing

these efforts with development of the seed sector, capacitating seed multipliers and trying new seed

varieties, were key achievements for these efforts. In this context, Hinga Weze supported seed

adaptability trials and the use of blended fertilizers that, when training was provided to farmers to

learn how to properly apply, served to largely improve farmers’ productivity.

As always, I would like to conclude this section by expressing my gratitude to USAID, our GoR

partners at MINAGRI and the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), as well as other development actors

for the strong and cordial relationship that has prevailed since we launched this activity in Rwanda.

My appreciation also goes out to all of the HW staff for their hard work, commitment, and inputs

that have laid the basis for the significant achievements that we celebrate for this quarter. Thank you

for your partnership as we implement the important and much-needed program of Hinga Weze.

2

CHAPTER I: SUMMARY OF PROGRESS TO DATE

This Quarterly Progress Report for Q2 FY2020 outlines the accomplishments under the intermediate

results and cross-cutting activities, and highlights aspects of the performance management plan and

project administration. This section, and in particular Table 1, summarizes the key achievements

regarding the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) indicators and quarterly targets, as outlined

in the USAID-approved Year 3 Annual Work Plan.

Overall, the quarterly targets were achieved satisfactorily except for MEL indicator 1 which is lagging

compared with others. However, Hinga Weze is positioned to achieve this target to an acceptable

level based on the strategies set for grant support through Q3 / Q4. Achievement for this indicator

will support farmers with improved practices for soil and water management through expansion of

irrigation and terraces. Some sites including Kamabuye have been validated by the district authorities

and RAB, with the respective Request for Proposals (RFP) coming in April 2020. Other sites including

Gashora and Rilima were selected and the RFP is being drafted to be released in early May 2020.

Largely, the strong Hinga Weze quarterly performance was a result of successful efforts to stay

focused on the targets set for the period, to leverage support from collaborators and beneficiaries, as

well as the cohesion and transparency practiced within the 10 Hinga Weze districts. The result is that

Q2 saw an increasing number of farmers applying improved management and technology practices to

a level of 96.2% of the Year 3 target. This is credited to a strong presence and good working

relationships with the farmers and with the GoR extension apparatus, Twigire Muhinzi.

At the same time, the close integration of the Hinga Weze package of support played a key role in

stimulating agriculture productivity, increasing access to markets for farmers’ produce, and improving

nutrition outcomes. Hinga Weze focused on rallying the private sector for increased participation and

involvement, and continually reached out to women and youth to be key beneficiaries. This resulted

in the expanded outreach to 54,224 beneficiaries by the end of Q2 which led to strong progress of

76% toward the annual target. In addition, the strong partnership and collaboration of the Ministry of

Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the Rwandan Agricultural Board (RAB), the Twigire

Muhinzi (TM) agriculture extension system, farmer community organizations including Farmer

promoters (FPs) and CBVs significantly contributed to our target achievements.

In the coming period, Hinga Weze will keep strengthening the savings culture and encouraging farmer

group-based savings and microfinance development in districts as it has resulted in a steady impact

and is creating real change among farmers, especially vulnerable groups. This largely explains the

cumulative achievement by this quarter of 51,218 of individuals participating in group-based savings,

microfinance, or lending programs, equivalent to 109.6% toward the Year 3 target. This has shown

increasing impact and participation by youth, women and other vulnerable sections of the farmers

which often cannot access support from local structures. This will leave a solid legacy for Hinga Weze

among the farmer communities in the 10 districts with which it operates.

Specific lessons learned include observing farmers’ necessity to improve and diversify nutrition with

animal-sourced protein, which saw increased distribution of chickens to another 14,400 HHs using a

payback model, which created solidarity among farmers and improved community knowledge on

balanced nutrition. This will inform the final phase of the Hinga Weze poultry program and inform

next strategies to transition the chicken program towards each local community.

3

This quarter, Hinga Weze continued building on the collaborative models described above, which has

demonstrated strong results for the realization of increased impacts and benefits for farmers. Tale 1

below highlights the achievement of the quarterly MEL targets.

Table 1. Key Achievements Regarding Indicators and Quarterly Targets

Indicator

Year 3

Target

Q2, FY2020

(January-March 2020) Year 3

Cumu-

lative

Throug

h Q2

Year 3

Perfor-

mance

Through

Q2

Q2

Target

Q2

Achieve-

ment

Q2

Perfor-

mance

Custom

1. Number of hectares (ha) under

improved practices for soil and water

management

770 100 42.2 42.20% 42.20 5.5%

EG.3-2 3. Number of individuals participating in

USG food security programs 218,000 50,000 54,224 108.45% 165,552 75.9%

EG.3.2-24

6. Number of individuals in the agriculture

system who have applied improved

management practices or technologies

with USG assistance

171,200 40,000 54,098 135.25% 164,615 96.2%

EG.3.2-25 7. Number of ha under improved

management practices or technologies 59,920 23,000 15,133 65.80% 43,565 72.7%

EG 3.2-28

8. Number of ha under improved

management practices that promote

improved climate risk reduction and/or

natural resources management

8,945 2,300 2,987 129.87% 6,212 69.4%

Custom

9. Number of GoR staff trained in updated

climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices

for national extension program

145 20 86 365.00% 86 59%

Custom

10. Number of agro-dealers with

improved capacity to sell appropriate

inputs to smallholder farmers for CSA

307 122 0 0.00% 318 103.6%

Custom 11. Number of farmers reached by new or

improved market information systems 114,000 40,000 42,801 107.00% 73,586 64.5%

EG.3.227 12. Value of agriculture-related financing

accessed as a result of USG assistance $1,250,000 $338,043 $462,806 136.91% $584,413 46.8%

EG.4.2-7

13. Number of individuals participating in

group-based savings, microfinance, or

lending programs with USG assistance

46,718 46,718 51,218 109.63% 51,218 109.6%

Custom 20. Number of households (HHs) using

improved supported food safety practices 6,600 1,000 2,948 294.80% 4,313 65%

HL.9-2

21. Number of children under two (0-23

months) reached with community-level

nutrition interventions

20,441 20,441 20,304 99.33% 20,304 99.3%

GNDR-2

22. Percentage of female participants in

designed to increase access to productive

economic resources

62% 62% 64.98% 104.80% 65.0% 104.8%

YOUTH-3

23. Percentage of participants designed to

increase access to productive economic

resources to youth (16-30 years)

27% 27% 24.18% 89.57% 24.2% 90%

4

ACTIVITIES BY PROGRAM COMPONENT

COMPONENT ONE: Agriculture Productivity Sustainably Increased

Introduction

In this year’s USAID-approved Work Plan, Hinga Weze (HW) has a target of constructing or

rehabilitating terraces on at least 620 ha. In Q2 FY2020, the focus was on the selection of the service

providers, a procedure that was completed through a competitive process. HW has started to

construct progressive terraces in the Karongi district, Twumba sector whereby 42.2 ha out of 80 ha

have been completed. For irrigation interventions, HW subcontracted two service providers (ECM

and SOCOSE) that started development of 50 ha of small-scale irrigation technologies (SSITs) in four

districts in the Eastern Province. The implementation will be completed in Q3 FY2020 so that the

beneficiaries will be able to irrigate their crops in season 2020C.

During Q2, Hinga Weze supported 50 seed multipliers in the inspection and certification process and

trained 100 seed multipliers and 100 GoR staff and private agronomists involved in seed production

and seed quality control. In addition, HW undertook seed adaptability trials, especially in the Western

Province, in order to be able to better advise farmers. HW also focused on improving farmers’

knowledge of the use of blended fertilizers, proper handling of pesticides, good agriculture practices

(GAPs), and nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA). As a result, 54,098 farmers applied improved

management practices and technologies on 15,133 ha of land during this quarter.

Sub IR 1.1 – Capacity of farmers to adapt to the impacts of climate change increased

Activity 1: Support terrace construction and rehabilitation

During Q2, interventions around land terracing focused on developing progressive terraces by the

previously contracted service providers and completing the subcontracting process for new service

providers to establish additional terraces on 460 ha in pursuit of the target of 620 ha set for Year 3.

HW completed 42.2 ha out of 80 ha in the Karongi district, Twumba sector where preliminary

activities, such as development of ditches and waterways and the protection of waterways with

grasses, were completed with 126 farmers now benefiting from the developed terraces. In addition,

through a competitive process HW selected seven service providers to support beneficiaries to

construct 200 ha of radical terraces and 60 ha of progressive terraces, and to valorize 200 ha of

existing terraces. Activities of construction and valorization of existing terraces will start in Q3

FY2020 and will be completed in Q4. Table 2 summarizes progress toward Activity 1.

Table 2. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 1

Annual Planned Target

Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

620 ha of terraces constructed,

rehabilitated, or valorized 42.2 42.2

7% achieved. The remaining ha will be

achieved in Q3 and Q4

1,500 farmers have benefited from

improved agriculture land 126 126

8.4% achieved. The remaining farmers

will be reached in Q3 and Q4.

12 farmer groups/coops

established or strengthened to

manage rehabilitated or valorized

terraces

0 1

Farmers at the Twumba site selected

representatives and started the process

of becoming formal cooperatives to be

completed next quarter.

5

The construction or rehabilitation of terraces serves as the basis for increasing agricultural

productivity of the terraced land. In Q2, HW continued to support farmers who benefited from

terraces constructed in Year 1 and Year 2. The support ranged from coaching farmers on GAPs,

registration in the Smart Nkunganire System (SNS) for subsidized mineral fertilizer and seeds, linking

farmers with buyers, etc. Table 3 summarizes yields for terracing sites in season 2020A.

Table 3. Q2 Product and Yield Summaries

High Iron Beans

(HIB) Maize Irish Potatoes

District Site

Area

(ha)

Average

Yield

(kg/ha)

Area

(ha)

Average

Yield

(kg/ha)

Area

(ha)

Average

Yield

(kg/ha)

Nyamagabe Tare 4.35 850 – – 3.19 15,050

Musebeya 19.11 837 – – – –

Bugesera Musenyi 5.25 960 24.59 2,883 – –

Karongi Mutuntu 1.26 916 8.27 1,460 1.10 18,129

Nyamasheke

Gihombo 8.00 2,093

Macuba 30.00 2,433

Bushenge 144.65 1,592

Note: For the Rutsiro and Ngororero districts, farmers haven’t harvested yet.

Activity 2: Support the establishment of small-scale irrigation schemes

In Year 3 of the Work Plan, HW planned to develop SSITs on 150 ha. In Q2, HW subcontracted two

service providers (ECM and SOCOSE), which started the development of SSITs in four districts of

the Eastern Province, including Bugesera (10 ha), Ngoma (10 ha), Kayonza (10 ha), and Gatsibo (20

ha). Ongoing activities include excavation of water storage reservoirs and pipe trenches/channels,

intakes, construction of energy houses, and supply of some irrigation equipment.

Remaining activities will be completed in Q3 and beneficiaries will be able to irrigate their crops in

season 2020C. HW has encountered a challenge to implementing 65 ha in collaboration with the

Sustainable Agriculture Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP)/MINAGRI, funded by the

World Bank, due to administrative processes that have taken a long time. As a result, though the

process was delayed, the remaining targets for this year will be achieved in Q4. Additionally, during

this quarter HW identified in the Bugesera district, Kamabuye sector 50 ha of existing irrigation

schemes to be rehabilitated. The process of contracting a service provider will be completed in early

Q3 FY2020. Table 4 summarizes progress toward Activity 2.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

150 ha of land irrigated by

pumps or other small-scale

irrigation methods

0 0

Activities to develop SSITs on 50 ha

started in Q2 and will be completed in

Q3; others will be implemented in Q4.

600 farmers farming newly

irrigated land 0 0

Planned in Q4

10 water user organizations

initiated and strengthened 0 0

Planned in Q3 and Q4

6

Activity 3: Ensure use of lime and promote agro-forestry (AF) and CSA practices

Hinga Weze promotes farming techniques that help farmers adapt to climate change effects and build

their resilience through the adoption of climate change mitigation technologies. During Q2,

corresponding to season 2020B, HW facilitated farmers in applying improved management practices

and technologies that promote improved climate risk reduction and natural resources management, including applying lime, producing and applying compost/manure, and planting AF trees on 5,360.11 ha

of land. HW also collaborated with local tree nursery producers to prepare and avail AF trees, and

71,232 trees were planted during season 2020B. In total, 31,494 farmers treated their land with lime,

compost, or manure on 2,105 ha. HW has also coached farmers to efficiently apply fertilizers and

facilitated access to climate-smart seeds including HIB, sweet potatoes, maize, and horticulture crops.

Table 5 summarizes the progress toward Activity 3.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

8,945 ha under improved management

practices or technologies that promote

improved climate risk reduction and/or

natural resources management 2,987 6,212

69.4% of the annual target was

achieved in Q2. Efforts will be

put into integrated pest

management (IPM) in season

2020B and preparation for

season 2020C.

Sub IR 1.2 – Intensification of agriculture and CSA practices are included in national

extension programs

Activity 4: Strengthen the capacity of GoR extension staff (trainers), farmer field school (FFS)

facilitators, and farmer promoters (FPs) to promote CSA practices

Subactivity 4.1: Support the policy environment for the national extension program

HW is supporting an improved enabling environment for the national extension program Twigire

Muhinzi. This activity was given much attention in Q2 and a number of workshops and meetings were

held with MINAGRI and RAB to develop the CAES, an improved national extension system being

developed by MINAGRI and led by HW. This approach is aligned with the Strategic Plan for

Agricultural Transformation-IV as well as the implementation of the current HW and University of Rwanda/College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (UR-CAVM) partnership. In this quarter, an

array of workshops was organized involving HW staff and partners, including the European Union

Mission, MINAGRI/RAB, UR-CAVM, One Acre Fund, and independent consultants to work on CAES.

The document has made much progress under the leadership of the HW embedded advisors, and it

is expected that the final draft will be available and presented to the partners in Q3 FY2020.

In addition, HW organized meetings with UR-CAVM to discuss joint activities, including conducting a

feasibility study of professional trainings and the Masters’ Program in Agriculture Extension with a

curricula revision, in the framework of implementing the memorandum of understanding (MoU)

between HW and UR-CAVM. In this regard, HW has recruited an STTA professor from UR-CAVM

who will implement the assignment, and the feasibility study will be completed early in Q3 FY2020.

7

Furthermore, this quarter Hinga Weze supported, with DFID/Palladium, a study on the use and

effectiveness of agro-input subsidies in order to recommend policy actions to MINAGRI. The study

was completed in Q2 and results are being assessed by MINAGRI together with other studies to

inform decision makers in the form of policy actions. The study is called “Determinants of Inorganic

Fertilizers and Improved Seeds and Extension Services Support for Agricultural Productivity in

Rwanda.”’ The objective is to understand and analyze the main barriers to increasing fertilizer uptake

among farmers, along with related inputs including seed use and engagement with extension services.

The findings identified various challenges in accessing extension services in Rwanda, such as extension

workers are not easily accessible, extension workers do not give good advice, extension support is

not provided on a regular basis, not enough agents are in place, and farmers do not know what the

available extension services are, among others. The outcomes of all the studies mentioned above were

incorporated into a policy document and a set of recommendations that will be shared with USAID

and with MINAGRI stakeholders in the Agricultural Sector Working Group (ASWG) in the coming

quarter. Table 6 summarizes progress toward Activity 4.1.

Table 6. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 4.1

Annual Planned

Target

Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

For three policy

initiatives and/or

documents, participate

in, work on, initiate,

and sign MoUs

2 3

Drafting of the CAES document will be

completed in Q3. The professional training

program for extension workers and the

Masters’ Program in Agriculture Extension

feasibility studies will be completed in Q3. The

agro-inputs study was completed in Q2.

Sub activity 4.2: Strengthen the capacity of RAB, MINAGRI, private-sector, and civil society

organization (CSO) trainers, and extension service providers

In this quarter, Hinga Weze organized three types of trainings in CSA and NSA in order to capacitate

different partners. The first one was organized in partnership with the National Early Childhood

Development Program (NECDP), RAB, Rwanda Consumer’s Rights Protection Organization

(ADECOR), and other partners with the objective of promoting an integrated CSA/NSA package

developed by HW. The second was organized by the HW team to train private-sector institutions on

extension, and the last training was conducted in partnership with the Centre for Agriculture and

Bioscience International (CABI) to promote the digitalization of extension messages, which was

piloted in the Bugesera district.

The Component 1 and Component 3 teams of Hinga Weze, together with different partners including

NECDP, RAB, ADECOR, and others, organized a training on GAPs, CSA, NSA, postharvest handling

(PHH), food safety, etc., to enhance their knowledge, and thereafter, to support HW in the

dissemination of these messages in order to achieve its targets. In that context, 86 government staff

from Nyamagabe, Bugesera, Kayonza, and Gatsibo and 279 FFS facilitators countrywide were provided

with training on GAPs and CSA for the HW promoted crops. These agronomists will use the skills

gained in their daily work to support farmers in their agricultural activities. The objective of the master

training was to equip HW district staff, health center staff, and others with appropriate knowledge

and skills for efficient planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of field activities and to

provide an orientation to help them provide an integrated service to beneficiaries for better nutrition

outcomes.

8

In addition, Hinga Weze collaborated with RAB, Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF), Youth

Engagement in Agriculture Network (YEAN) and other partners to identify and conduct training to

34 private-sector actors involved in extension services on CSA and NSA, including 9 females, 25 males,

and out of these 24 were youth. Through monthly education meetings, Hinga Weze staff and other

partners provided 2,481 FPs with a refresher training on CSA and NSA. The total number of FFS

facilitators trained so far is 3,976, including those trained in Q1 of this year.

As part of implementing the MoU between CNFA Hinga Weze and CABI, a pilot phase of the digital

learning solution for extension training was initiated. The project developed a web/mobile platform

that can be accessed online and offline by trainers (master trainers, sector agronomists, FFS facilitators,

and FPs) who then train farmers. As part of the partnership with CABI, Hinga Weze trained 12 master

trainers who are GoR staff from the Bugesera and Rwamagana districts. The development of the

web/mobile platform was slowed by the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, but its completion

is anticipated for Q3 FY2020 and the involvement of RAB will ideally ensure its rollout in the coming

months after completion of the pilot. The pilot study document and training materials will be shared

with USAID in the coming weeks. Table 7 summarizes progress toward Activity 4.2.

Table 7. Q2 FY2020 Progress toward Activity 4.2


Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

145 GoR staff and master

trainers trained 86 86

59% was covered in Q2 and the

remaining to be implemented Q3/Q4.

500 FFS facilitators provided

refresher training on GAPs and

CSA for the HW value chains

204 279

56% achieved and the remaining will

be implemented in Q3 and Q4.

70 private-sector players

including youth and women

trained on CSA and NSA

34 34

48.6% achieved and the remaining will

be implemented in Q3 and Q4.

3,000 FPs trained/coached

(refresher) on GAPs and CSA 2,481 3,976

132.5% of the target was achieved in

Q2. The overachievement is due to

the number of FPs in the new sectors.

Activity 5: Training and coaching farmers for the adoption of GAP, CSA, and NSA practices

Through the Hinga Weze methodology of cascade training, CNFA worked with FFS facilitators and

FPs using coaching sessions, demonstration plots, and in-farm follow-up sessions to continue to train

farmers this quarter. Demonstration plots were used to showcase different farming practices, test the

adaptability of seeds, etc. FPs in collaboration with HW staff established 200 demonstration plots of

which 95 are for HIB, 41 for Irish potatoes, and 64 for maize. Farmers were trained on GAP, CSA,

and NSA practices. At the same time, HW worked with FPs and FFS facilitators to mobilize farmers

for season 2020B preparation as well as to conduct training and follow-up sessions to ensure the

adoption of good practices. This resulted in 54,098 new farmers applying GAP and CSA practices on

land totaling 15,133 ha this quarter. Table 8 summarizes progress toward Activity 5.

9



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

59,920 ha under improved

management practices 15,133 39,993

66.74% achieved. Remaining targets

to be achieved in season 2020C.

171,200 farmers applying GAP and

CSA practices or technologies 54,098 165,309

96.5% achieved. The remaining

targets will be achieved in

agricultural season 2020C.

55,000 farmers will increase yield

by at least 50%. N/A N/A

Reported annually after beneficiary-

based survey

Increased yield of the targeted

value chains: 780 kg HIB, 1,448

metric ton (MT) maize, 6,860 MT

OFSP, 10,691 MT Irish potatoes,

and 7,804 MT horticulture

N/A N/A

Reported annually after beneficiary-

based survey

Activity 6: Support production and availability of quality seeds

During Q2, HW activities related to seed production and seed availability focused on:

1. supporting seed inspection and certification for 50 private-sector seed multipliers;

2. training for 100 seed multipliers and 100 agronomists/technicians (from both GoR and private

sector) involved in seed production and seed quality control;

3. establishing 100 seed adaptability trials for HIB, OFSP, hybrid maize, and Irish potato new varieties;

4. promoting an HIB seed swap model with at least one private-sector partner per district.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

50 seed multipliers certified 9 44 88% achieved

100 private and public agronomists

supporting seed quality control 74 74

74% on track, remained will

be achieved in Q3.

100 seed producers trained in quality

seed production 89 106

106% achieved

100 demonstration plots for seed

adaptability 105 105

108% achieved

1. Seed multiplication grant to support seed multipliers

In Q2, HW in collaboration with RAB supported the certification of 24 seed multipliers identified for

seed production during season 2020B. All seed producers were supported to declare their fields, and

RAB is undertaking field inspections. Certified seeds are being produced on 42 ha for HIB, 180 ha for

Irish potatoes, 20 ha for hybrid maize, and 5 ha for OFSP. The expected seed production is 48 MT,

1,800 MT, 70 MT, and 20 MT for HIB, maize, Irish potatoes, and OFSP, respectively.

2. Training of seed multipliers and agronomists involved in seed production

During Q2, HW in close collaboration with RAB inspectors provided training to 89 seed multipliers

(77 males and 12 females) and 74 private and government agronomists supporting seed production

10

(69 males and 5 females). All trainees received technical knowledge on seed production techniques,

seed storage and processing, seed quality control and certification, seed marketing strategies, and pest

and disease management.

3. Seed adaptability trials

Hinga Weze in close collaboration with RAB and FPs established 105 seed adaptability trials including

57 for HIB varieties to respond to the problem of poor adaptability of HIB seeds (HIB varieties are

not performing well) as reported by farmers. Five HIB varieties, including RWV 3317, RWV1129,

MAC 44, RWR2245, and RWR2154 were used to facilitate farmers in identifying the best variety that

adopted well to their specific agro-ecological conditions. Similar seed adaptability trials were

conducted using RAB maize hybrid varieties, including 25 seed adaptability trials using three varieties,

namely, RHM104, RHM1402, and RHM1407. In addition, 23 seed adaptability trials for OFSP varieties

were established using three varieties, namely, Vita, Kabode, and Terimbere.

4. Promoting the HW HIB Seed Swap Model1

HW has adopted a private sector–led approach named the HIB Seed Swap Model that consists of

engaging local seed multipliers/agro-dealers in the dissemination of HIB seeds to farmers and HW

beneficiaries. During Q2 a total of 13.404 MT of HIB seeds were disseminated to 902 farmers in the

Bugesera, Ngoma, Kayonza, Gatsibo, and Nyamasheke districts, with 3.014 MT, 4.2 MT, 2.5 MT, 2.29

MT, and 1.4 MT, respectively, going to six identified potential private-sector partners, namely,

Cooperative Umucyo from Bugesera, Nzeyalexis Ltd from Ngoma, Turatsinze Vianney from Kayonza,

Harerimana Gaspard and Busungu Seleman from Gatsibo, and Nsengimana Fabien from Nyamasheke.

HW is in the process of signing MoUs with these private-sector partners.

5. HW embedded advisor at RAB supporting the development of the GoR seed system

During Q2, the Hinga Weze Embedded Advisor at RAB organized a number of meetings with

stakeholders in the seed subsector and came up with strategic advice for RAB in the area of smoothing

the transition toward the involvement of the private sector in seed production and distribution and

for better planning of seed production and distribution for season 2020B and onward. The HW

Embedded Advisor organized 3 meetings at the district level bringing together RAB researchers, seed

producers, and agro-dealers. The objective was to estimate the number of potential seed buyers. The

seed producers were also informed about the privatization of local seed production. The meetings

were an opportunity to create business linkages in seed production and supply as a way to address

the challenges of the low seed quantities supplied by the private sector.

Sub IR 1.3 - Farmers’ access to agriculture inputs improved

Activity 7: Strengthening the capacity of agro-dealers to sell inputs to SHFs for CSA

Sub activity 7.1: Improved access to lime through agro-dealers

Despite the fact that the use of lime is being supported by the GoR under the subsidy program, many thousands of farmers in HW districts are not using lime, as they are often not aware of the benefits

involved or are unable to afford the investment. To address this challenge, during the reporting period

HW continued to encourage and mobilize farmers to use lime as a way to reduce soil acidity and

1 The HIB Seed Swap Model is a process of exchanging non-HIB for HIB seeds at a ratio of 1 to 1 in order to ensure

accessibility of HIB seeds by SHFs and to promote their use.

11

increase nutrient uptake by crops. As a result of these mobilization efforts and various demonstration

plots established to increase farmers’ awareness of the benefits of using lime, this quarter 15,462

farmers used lime on 2,545 ha of agricultural land. Table 10 summarizes progress toward Activity 7.2.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Q2 Comment

620 ha of agricultural terraces

treated with lime 0 0

Planned in Q4 after constructing terraces

400 ha of other agricultural

land treated with lime

2,545 5,040

1,260% Overachieved due to the increased

mobilization resulting in awareness of

benefits of using lime as well as linking

farmers with lime suppliers that led to an

increase in the number of farmers using

lime.

3,200 farmers farming land

treated with lime and with

compost or manure

15,469 32,469

1,015% (overachieved for the same

reasons as above).

Sub activity 7.2: Improving farmers’ awareness of secondary and micronutrient-

containing fertilizers

In Q2 FY2020, 52 agro-dealers organized 34 marketing events in 10 districts with HW support. During

these events, agro-dealers met with over 5,000 HW beneficiaries. At the same time, agro-dealers established 89 demonstration plots (53 for vegetable seeds, 20 for Irish potatoes, 3 for maize, and 13

for HIB) with the support of the HW district teams, as well as FPs and staff of HW partners YARA

Rwanda Ltd. (YARA) and ENAS Ltd. (ENAS). The purpose of these demonstration plots was to

demonstrate to farmers the benefits of using secondary and micronutrient-containing fertilizers.

In addition, this quarter 102 agro-dealers were coached on recordkeeping, warehouse management,

and climate-smart inputs. As a result of these interventions, out of 101 agro-dealers, 80% of them sell

fertilizers and seeds and some are now familiar with how to record sales using the Twigire Muhinzi

list of farmers. Out of the 80%, about 30% sell additional inputs such as pesticides, veterinary drugs,

agricultural equipment, etc. Supporting these agro-dealers in conducting their businesses more

effectivity and efficiently is an important methodology to enable them to better support farmers with

the agricultural inputs needed to achieve HW objectives.

Other areas in which agro-dealers were trained include proper hygiene in their shops, product

identification (names, ingredients, origin, date of fabrication, and date of expiration), and storage

principles, as well as the use of climate-smart inputs, among others. One challenge that was resolved

was that over 12 agro-dealers that sell Mancozeb initially used packaging that didn’t show the detailed

specifications. They were told why they should not keep doing that and were advised to purchase

small packaging that is affordable for farmers and has all the necessary information.

Hinga Weze district teams with the support of agro-dealers and YARA staff conducted a follow up on

the cascade training administered last quarter. They assisted 2,338 FPs in training 45,937 farmers on

blended and compound fertilizers (secondary and micronutrient-containing fertilizers) across all HW

districts and sectors. Table 11 summarizes progress toward Activity 7.2.

12



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

307 agro-dealers trained on

marketing strategies 0 318

104% achieved

20 agro-dealers trained on marketing

strategies 0 0

The training was initially planned to

take place on March 16, 2020 but due

to COVID-19, the training will

tentatively be conducted in June 2020.

307 agro-dealers coached on

recordkeeping, warehouse

management, and CSA inputs

101 101

33% achieved; the remaining agro-

dealers will be coached in Q3.

10 district agriculture productivity

officers and 10 outreaches trained on

blended fertilizers

- 20

100% achieved

1,000 FPs trained on blended

fertilizers 58 2,396

239.6% achieved. The over-

achievement from HW training other

FPs from 25 new sectors.

50,000 farmers trained on blended

fertilizers 45,937 46,729

93.4% achieved

100 demonstration plots established

by agro-dealers 89 89

89% achieved

Figure 2: Agro-dealer being coached on recordkeeping and warehouse management in the Nyabihu district

(photo taken by HW staff).

Activity 8: Support for agro-dealers and GoR agro-input policy/subsidy management

This quarter, HW staff provided information to 2,596 farmers on how to avoid the bad practice of

using chemicals on harvested fruits to activate their maturation. Farmers were warned to not mix a

variety of pesticides as they wish, but rather in accordance with manufacturer specifications. They

were taught the negative effects of not properly applying pesticides and how that can be avoided. HW

also improved the knowledge and awareness of farmers regarding proper pesticide use and handling

to avoid acute pesticide poisoning. Farmers received knowledge on practices and attitudes regarding

storage, handling, and disposal of pesticides, as well as the protective measures farmers should take,

13

including adoption of personal protective equipment and the reduction of occupational pesticide

exposure, among other topics.

During the current pandemic (COVID-19), as instructed by MINAGRI, Hinga Weze worked hard to

encourage agro-dealers to practice proper safety measures in their shops to prevent the spread of

the contagion. Agro-dealers were instructed to wear masks when selling agro-inputs to protect themselves and those around them and were encouraged to install kits in front of their shops where

customers can wash their hands before entering the shop. Agro-dealers were also encouraged to use

mobile money as a means of payment instead of cash in order to avoid being exposed to the virus.

In terms of business efficiency, agro-dealers were also trained and encouraged to use the Hinga Weze

joint procurement approach to cut their transportation costs. With the use of WhatsApp groups

developed for them in each district, HW informed agro-dealers of the price decreases of agro-inputs

(due to COVID-19) that were announced by Export Trading Group Ltd (discount to farmers of 5

Rwandan francs (RWF)/kg and 10 RWF/kg for agro-dealers, especially for NPK, Urea, and DAP) and

by YARA (DAP, NPK, and Winner: 20 RWF/kg and Urea: 15 RWF/kg discount for agro-dealers, but

not farmers). Table 12 summarizes progress toward Activity 8.


Annual Planned

Target Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through

Q2 Comment 10 awareness campaigns

conducted to ban

counterfeit products 0 0

Initially the activity was expected to start at end

of March. With COVID-19 it is now expected to

be done in Q3. We have already discussed the

feasibility of this activity with NECDP.

30 agro-dealers involved

in output marketing 0 0

Expected to be conducted in Q3

5 new initiatives of

income-generating

activities adopted by

agro-dealers’ coops

– 3

80% achieved. The Rutsiro agro-dealer’s

cooperative has planted Irish potatoes on 2 ha in

the Rusebeya sector as part of the initiative to

generate more income.

5 Initiatives of joint

procurement adopted by

agro-dealers’ coops

– 4

80% achieved. Cooperatives in the Nyabihu and

Kayonza districts are still under mobilization to

adopt the joint procurement approach.

10,000 farmers educated

on the use of appropriate

pesticides

2,596 2,596

26% achieved. More farmers will be reached

during the management of disease in season

2020B (April and May).

Directory of agro-inputs – 0 This activity is still ongoing.

Activity 9: Championing one-stop-shop (OSS) farm service centers (FSCs) for SHFs

This quarter, HW initiated the establishment of the first FSC applicant in Nyabihu through a grant,

which is the ENAS FSC. At the end of Q2 FY2020, the agreement between HW and ENAS was

signed and the nascent FSC has already received support from the HW STTA, Dr. Waktola, who is

in-country assisting in the establishment process, finalizing the FSC floor design, and providing

guidance on the design layout. The work of the STTA was presented to the two current FSC

grantees, ENAS and KOPABINYA, where the STTA also reviewed vis-à-vis existing or customary

FSC building standards in Rwanda.

14

Dr. Waktola performed other miscellaneous activities, including a review of each FSC branding

strategy and marking plan, and incorporated all of these into the grant agreements. The FSC and OSS

negotiation memorandums and FSC grant agreements were reviewed. He provided observations on

four agro-dealers bidding for the OSS grant opportunity and the outcomes of his observations were

presented to the grants team to help in decision making for the grant opportunity. The elements

required for FSC business development, including human resources management, farmers outreach

(promotion), learning and knowledge management, and others, were clearly presented in order to

help guide them about how business development could be bolstered through FSC establishment.

Moreover, environmental compliance requirements, FSC promotion materials/kits, and FSC

personnel training requirements were reviewed and presented.

For the KOBINYA FSC of Nyamagabe, the HW team and the STTA prepared a floor plan for the

FSC building that was presented for review and approval. The FSC floor design was examined from

the perspective of inclusivity of all functional units, placement of the units, and conformity to requirements for a standard FSC building. After a thorough revision of the draft floor plan, consensus

was reached on the final floor design layout. Moreover, grant milestones were laid down and

understanding was reached on what “milestone achievement” was about and on how and when the

grants are released or payment is affected. Further support to the FSC grantees will be provided by

the HW team and will continue in Q3 and Q4 to make sure that each is fully operating. The

negotiation memorandum for the second FSC of the agro-dealers’ cooperative from Nyamagabe was

completed and the implementation will start in Q3 as well. The grant approval request and STTA

report will be shared with the COR in late April 2020. In the meantime, Table 13 summarizes the

deliverables achieved to date under this activity.


Annual Planned

Target Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment 3 FSCs established

0 0 1 FSC has been initiated, but is not yet fully

established. Others to be established in Q3/Q4.

15

COMPONENT TWO: Farmers’ Market Access Improved

Introduction

One fifth of Rwanda’s 12 million people are food insecure or likely to be food insecure [World Food

Program (WFP) 2018)]. The majority live in the Northwestern and Eastern regions, which are the

most prone to drought. Low input use and high postharvest losses are adversely affecting agricultural

productivity and having a large negative impact on the availability of food for famers’ own consumption

as well as a marketable surplus. At the same time, insufficient access to finance for SHFs and the

imbalance of power of market actors due to asymmetric information and low business acumen

drastically limit the ability of producers to address these issues.

Building on the achievements registered in previous quarters, HW continued the capacity building of

different value chain actors [farmers, agro-dealers, postharvest handling and storage (PHHS)

equipment suppliers] and supporting enterprises [financial institutions (FIs) and Information,

Communication and Technology for Agriculture (ICT4AG) technology firms] to tackle the above-

mentioned challenges. In concert with HW’s agricultural productivity and nutrition components, the market access component provided a comprehensive and integrated approach to empowering actors

and increasing their competitiveness in an inclusive way in the maize, bean, Irish potato, sweet potato,

and horticulture value chains in the 10 targeted districts. This was primarily implemented through

training, technical assistance, market facilitation services, technology development, and the provision

of incentives (grants).

Along these lines, HW facilitated 67,660 farmers in implementing improved postharvest loss-reduction

measures, 42,801 farmers in accessing improved market information, and secured USD $780,904 in

increased sales, while 8,021 farmers accessed HW-facilitated financial services under which USD

$462,806 of agriculture finance was secured by farmers and cooperatives.

Sub IR 2.1 - Access improved to postharvest equipment and facilities improved

Activity 10. Expanding postharvest management technologies and practices for better

handling, storage, and distribution

In order to fill the knowledge gaps in PHH practices through training and awareness creation, HW is

assisting farmers in understanding the magnitude of postharvest losses (including income and health

effects) and their mitigation practices. During Q2, HW cascaded the PHHS training to 620 lead

trainers (211 females, 409 males). The training focused on PHHS practices such as drying, threshing,

winnowing, sorting, storing, moisture content measurement, and increasing cold storage. The newly

trained lead trainers together with 3,088 lead trainers who were trained in previous years transferred

their learning of PHHS best practices to 67,660 SHFs (24,997 females, 42,663 males, and 3,779 youth)

involved in maize, beans, horticulture, and potatoes (64,305 farmers for maize and beans, 1,485

farmers for horticulture, and 1,870 famers for potatoes) as shown in Table 14.

In addition to this, these trainers also coached 27,155 farmers (10,706 females, 16,499 males, and

2,610 youth) who were trained by HW in Year 1 and Year 2 on PHHS best practices for maize, beans,

and horticulture, in order to continue to reduce postharvest losses at farm and HH levels (harvest

and food), thus increasing HH incomes. More farmers will be coached in Q3 and Q4 in help them

maintain the skills that have been gained during the PHH training.

16



Q2

Achievement Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

1,500 lead trainers trained

in new PHH technologies

and equipment

620 1,330

88.66% achieved; on track. In Q3 / Q4, the

priority will be given to the lead trainers

for new terraces and irrigation sites.

62,500 farming HHs trained

(2019 seasons A, B, and C) 67,660 80,902

129.44% achieved. This is due to the

strategy of using lead trainers who have

been trained in previous quarters during

HW cascade training.

Activity 11. Provision of business development services (BDSs) and technical support to PHHS

equipment manufacturers and suppliers

The objective of HW efforts under this activity is to assist private-sector firms in the design and

delivery of business models that increase affordability and accessibility of PHHS technologies. In order

to increase the use, adoption, demand, and acquisition of PHH equipment by resource-poor farmers, HW resolved to engage private-sector firms, including cooperatives, to transform their business

models into more tailored products with pricing and delivery channels that boost farmers’ buying

power and also suppliers’ selling of PHH equipment, as well as increase the participation of last-mile

agents (youth or cooperatives) providing PHHS services for a fee.

This approach has facilitated dealership models where 26 agro-dealers completed deals this quarter

with equipment suppliers to sell their PHH equipment to famers, allowing 941 farmers to access PHH

equipment and/or services at lower cost. HW also encouraged off-takers such as Africa Improved

Foods (AIF) to embed in their pricing models the provision of simple equipment such as tarpaulins,

while others like Kumwe Harvest and the East Africa Exchange (EAX) increased their drying services

provision to maize suppliers (farmers), reaching 374 HHs. In total, 1,315 farming HHs acquired low-

cost PHH equipment in Q2 FY2020.

Further, Hinga Weze designed a facility to support emerging cooperatives in the acquisition of small-

scale postharvest equipment in order to provide better PHHS and aggregation services to their

members. From an initially identified 79 cooperatives, HW worked with 67 cooperatives (of which 19

cooperatives are located on irrigation/terracing productivity sites) to fine tune their PHH business

plans and include appropriate equipment needs and models to work with PHH equipment suppliers,

including agro-dealers. It is expected that once these 67 cooperatives are awarded PHH grants, 16,408

farmers including 4,160 farmers involved in productivity sites (irrigation and terraces) will benefit.

In addition, HW in partnership with the Kilimo Trust and the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program

implemented by Catholic Relief Service (CRS) will tackle the technical skills in manufacturing low-cost

PHH equipment; business management skills inclusive of the business model approach and value

addition; and quality management systems and control for 29 previously identified equipment

manufacturers and 10 processors. The training program will take place in Q3 and will replicate the

best practices of the successful USAID Soybean Innovation Lab activity’s training in equipment

fabrication conducted in late 2019.

17

Moreover, the affordability of PHHS

equipment remains constrained by the price

of the imported raw materials. It is in this

regard that HW, in collaboration with WFP,

initiated a study to assess the demand and

supply of PHH equipment (tarpaulins and

hermetic bags) in Rwanda. The study will

serve as an advocacy document to initiate

discussions with the GoR for incentive

policy formulation to encourage private-

sector engagement in the fabrication and

supply of affordable PHH equipment,

especially hermetic storage bags and

tarpaulins.

The incubation centers that are used to engage youth business startups in PHHS services will include

a value addition. The agribusiness startups participating in the UR-CAVM incubation program have

limited skills and practical experience in financial resource mobilization, skills that would complement

the technical competences they acquire from UR-CAVM to grow their businesses and serve clients,

suppliers, and farmers. HW in collaboration with CRS facilitated the engagement of an F2F volunteer

to offer high-level financial resource mobilization training to 80 students from UR-CAVM that covered

advanced business planning and fundraising proposal writing.

During the training, incubates were given space to adjust their initial business plan and to practice

elevator pitches in front of external panelists. The newly acquired skills and adjusted business plans

will allow students to access finance from different FIs. Based on the success of this pilot phase, HW

is expecting to launch additional incubation centers to achieve planned targets in Q3 and Q4,

respectively. Table 15 summarizes progress toward Activity 11.



Q2

Achiev-

ement

Cumulative

Through

Q2 Comment

5 PHH equipment suppliers and

manufacturers facilitated to produce

PHH equipment via grants

– –

This activity will be done in Q3 and

Q4.

30 small and medium enterprises

identified and provided with BDS

technical assistance and CRS F2F

1 39

130% achieved. 29 local PHH

equipment suppliers and 10 processors

to be trained in Q2.

30 agro-dealers and farmer

organizations linked with 5 PHH

equipment suppliers and manufacturers

26 26

87% achieved; to be completed in Q3

and Q4. 4 mini-FSCs will be selling

PHH equipment.

2,500 farming HHs acquire low-cost

PHH equipment 1,315 1,397

56% achieved. The remaining HHs will

be achieved in Q3 and Q4.

Two operational incubation centers

established in regard to PHH equipment 0 1

50% achieved. One incubation center

initiated. Results from pilot will be used

to establish a center in the E. Province.

Figure 3: F2F volunteer Roy Ryniker training UR-CAVM students

(photo taken by HW staff).

18

Activity 12. Strengthening community of practice in PHH loss reduction and food safety with

a focus on mycotoxin (aflatoxin) reduction

Postharvest losses contribute to food hazards along the market chain. Efforts to reduce producer and

consumer exposure to hazards such as aflatoxins are multifaceted and therefore require better

coordination to effectively control food contamination. HW continued to support the GoR in improving coordination, co-investments, strategies, and policy directives to synergize efforts carried

out by different stakeholders for the complete management of mycotoxins in a more efficient way

that reaches many producers and consumers, and therefore, increases income and food utilization at

the HH level. This included the following activities.

1. Support the promotion of biological control of aflatoxin through Aflasafe2 trials

During Q1 FY2020, HW collaborated with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture/RAB to

test Aflasafe as a biological control for aflatoxin contamination at 31 plots identified in the Rutsiro,

Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, and Bugesera districts. Aflasafe was applied in these plots and in Q2 samples

were collected that are now waiting to be analyzed. Alongside the trials, HW organized training of

trainers for master trainers and lead farmers/FPs on aflatoxin prevention and control that resulted in

the training of 1,078 lead farmers (677 males, 401 females, and 113 youth).

2. Warehouse certification and control

Following the initiation of a partnership between HW and the Rwanda Standards Board to increase

the implementation of warehouse and commodity standards toward certification and to increase

market access, a joint team undertook a warehouse assessment exercise that revealed some

challenges and gaps that require corrective action. Among the identified gaps are limited awareness,

quality control capacity, and hands-on skills for the implementation of applicable standards. The team

designed a program for owners and staff that was supposed to take place in a three-day workshop

(March 18-20, 2020). The program was to include trainings and technical assistance customized to the

identified particular needs of each warehouse identified during the pre-assessment. The dates were

shifted, however, due to COVID-19. The expected outputs from this program are warehouses

complying with the existing standards and regulations that can be recommended for certification.

3. Increase capacity of risk assessment in public institutions to inform decision making

As part of the design of the study establishing national baselines of mycotoxin contamination in

Rwanda, HW collaborated with MINAGRI to prepare and facilitate a community of practice workshop

involving members and nonmembers of the Technical Working Group (TWG) to validate the findings

of the studies conducted by (1) the RAB-PASP (Post-Harvest and Agribusiness Support Project) titled

“Assessment of aflatoxin and fumonisin prevalence in maize and risk factors in Rwanda'' and (2) by

UR-CAVM under the USAID Livestock Innovation lab titled “Aflatoxin contamination in feed, milk

and maize flour: Status quo, challenges and learned lessons.” The review of these preliminary research studies was meant to identify the gaps that should be addressed as a national-level baseline under

discussion between the MINAGRI, DFID/Improving Market Systems for Agriculture in Rwanda, and

the Ikiraro cy’Iterambere Program under the leadership of Hinga Weze.

2 Aflasafe is a biocontrol approach to aflatoxin that uses natural competitors to tackle the toxic fungi in the soil instead of

using chemicals. Aflasafe contains four native nontoxic strains of Aspergillus flavus that out compete the toxin-producing

ones using the competitive selection principle when applied in the field.

19

The results will guide how the TWG will move forward with the National Strategic Plan for the

Control and Prevention of Aflatoxin Contamination (currently under development by the TWG). All

studies showed that there is a long way to go in the mitigation at the national level, as there is still a

data gap on the aflatoxin situation in Rwanda. In this context, Table 16 summarizes Q2 progress

toward strengthening the community of practice in PHH loss reduction and food safety with a focus

on mycotoxin (aflatoxin).


Annual Planned Target Q2


Through Q2 Comment 10 certified or controlled

warehouse / aggregation

facilities in place with partners

0 0

Planned in Q3 and Q4

36 Aflasafe trials 0 31

86% (on track). Remaining trials will be

done in season 2020B (Q3).

National strategy on

mycotoxin control established

and operationalized 0

Mycotoxin Task

Force Control

created and

operationalized

0%; not planned for Q2. The Mycotoxin

Task Force has been created and is in

process to develop a national strategy.

The strategy will be completed in Q3.

3,000 farmers and 100 GoR

staff trained on mycotoxin

control and prevention

1,078

367 farmers and

12 GoR staff

48% achieved. This activity is ongoing

and will be completely achieved in Q4.

Sub IR 2.2 – Farmers’ access to market information improved

Activity 13. Support the use of digital market information by SHFs and other actors

To ensure that farmers have access to real-time input and output market information to better make

investment and selling decisions, Hinga Weze is supporting its two ICT4Ag partners, BK TecHouse

and Mahwi-Tech, to improve their digital platforms to provide a wider range of services in market

information for inputs (SNS) and outputs (the Mahwi-Tech “MLIMA” system). During the reporting

period, these two partners carried on with all activities related to the completion of the first phases.

For Mahwi-Tech, this consisted of a System Upgrade Development Plan. For BK TecHouse, this

consisted of the first stage, which will enable HW to access business information via the SNS platform

(either directly or through reporting sent by BK TecHouse) in its 10 districts.

Under the Hinga Weze grant, Mahwi-Tech has finalized a detailed report on the System Development

Plan, including a summary of the new features; back-/front-end development, and system security

updates that will allow it to deploy a fully functional online marketplace. The marketplace under

development will enable farmers to sell their produce and interact with premium markets digitally. At

the same time, BK TecHouse has created a Hinga Weze portal on the SNS platform that allows direct

access to all information on the SNS with regard to subsidized crops, farmer registration, agro-dealer

registration, volume of fertilizers used, and volume of seeds used. This information can be collated by

Hinga Weze into a report that reflects the impact of the interventions.

20

For example, the report on the HW platform includes the following for every crop season:

• Farmer registration statistics from the district up to the village level

• Farmer gender statistics from the district up to the village level

• Farmer type statistics including cultivated crops from the district up to the village level

• Registered agro-dealer statistics at the district level

• Needed seed volume statistics from the district up to the village level

• Needed fertilizer volume statistics from the district up to the village level.

At the same time, BK TecHouse carried on with the next steps of upgrading the SNS platform to

offer a broader agro-input product range, including nonsubsidized commodities (registration upgrade

plan for nonsubsidized farmers, new features for nonsubsidized commodities), while Mahwi-Tech

conducted a system test of MLIMA with cooperatives and buyers. However, the second phase

completion has been slowed down by the world pandemic of COVID-19, especially the aspects of the

system upgrades that require face-to-face meetings with users. However, both partners managed to

undertake some activities that are expected to be completed by the end of May 2020.

As Table 17 shows, BK TecHouse has completed three of the eight feature upgrades while Mahwi-

Tech is at an advanced stage on five of the six feature upgrades.

Table 17. Milestone Status for BK TecHouse and Mahwi-Tech

BK TecHouse Mahwi-Tech

Feature

Development

Status Feature Development Status

Implementation plan Done Finalizing MLIMA system and

security configuration

Under development

Supplier adding new

stock and pricing

Under development System integration with third

parties and system deployment

Under development

Populating supplier

stock and price

Under development Quality assurance and testing Under development

Agro-dealers placing

unsubsidized orders

Done System documentation Under development

Supplier releasing agro-

dealer orders

Done Remote system testing with

end-users, i.e., SHFs,

cooperatives, and aggregators

Under development

Populating agro-dealer

stock and price

Under development

Farmer ordering

unsubsidized inputs

Under development Online trainings for system

end users

Not yet started

In addition to digital system upgrade–related activities, Hinga Weze, together with partners RAB, One

Acre Fund, and local authorities, has mobilized and supported farmers to register on the SNS platform

to access information on the availability of quality inputs. As a result, the platform allowed 285,341

farmers (114,398 females and 170,943 males) to access information on the availability of and eligibility

for subsidized inputs for season 2020B. HW’s contribution was 15% of this activity leading to a Q2

achievement of 42,801 farmers (12,620 females and 25,641 males) who accessed input market

information in the 10 districts of HW. Table 18 summarizes progress toward Activity 13.

21



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

Input and output market info

delivered to 114,000 farmers 42,801 73,586

65% (on track). Grants will continue in

the coming quarters (Q3 and Q4).

Activity 14. SHF engagement in lucrative markets through improved linkages, governance, and

inclusive aggregation models

To support SHFs in increasing their income by selling more to competitive markets, HW deployed

several efforts including increasing farmer production, reducing postharvest losses, and facilitating the

closing of deals with premium buyers by equipping farmers with skills related to farming as a business,

especially farmers involved in terraces and irrigation sites, such as market negotiations and contract

compliance, while also engaging buyers in innovative models to include farmers in their supply chains.

1. Business market vitalization of productivity schemes

In order to improve and create sustainable plans to keep improving the livelihoods of farmers in these

cooperatives with the aim of improving their self-reliance, HW continued to support farmers on

productivity schemes (irrigation and terraces) through coaching, including 15 terracing and four

irrigation cooperative committees, on cooperative governance and business planning skills. As a result,

five cooperatives have fully registered at the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) level, four have

submitted their registration documents at the RCA level, four have submitted documents at the

district level, and six are still mobilizing requirements before submitting their registration documents

at the sector level since they are newly formed cooperatives at identified sites for infrastructure

development. Nine cooperatives have developed business plans with cooperative committees to guide

their day-to-day business, linking productivity with income generation to sustain infrastructures.

In addition, Hinga Weze linked farmers on irrigated sites in Gatsibo and Kayonza to different buyers

(Excellam Company, AIF, and Kumwe Harvest) using business models that resulted in four contracts

to supply harvested crops. For example, Excellam under its out-grower scheme has already advanced

40 kg of French bean seeds on credit, valued at 500,000 RWF, as stipulated in the contract signed

between the two parties. The out-grower also provided farmers with a support staff who is currently

providing technical assistance related to the production of quality French beans that meet international

market standards, such as land preparation, seed selection and planting, use of organic manure, use of

fertilizers, and pest and disease control and PHH practices.

Figure 4: Harvesting, sorting, and grading French beans on irrigated site in Gatsibo (photos taken by HW).

22

Moreover, HW facilitated market linkages and contracting services for farmers in productivity

schemes, where terracing groups in Karongi and Nyabihu were facilitated to sign four contracts to

supply Irish potatoes to local buyers, while contracts signed in the last quarter on irrigated sites and

terraces for farmer groups in Gatsibo, Ngoma, and Karongi resulted in buyer contracts that generated

RWF 21,669,256 as detailed in Table 19.

Table 19. Sales Made by Farmers on Irrigated and Terraced Sites

District Cooperative/Gr

oup

Quantity/

MT Value/RWF Crops Buyers

Gatsibo Abahuje Akabuga 31 9,019,056 French beans, Maize Gasizi Co, AIF

Ngoma Twigire Muhinzi 2.6 980,000 Hot Pepper, Cabbage Lotec Co, Nyabugogo

Karongi Urunana Mutuntu 52 11,670,200 Irish Potato Umunezero business

Total 85.6 21,669,256

During this quarter, Hinga Weze facilitated 21 lead buyers to conduct trainings through the cascade

methodology conducted by lead farmers, CBVs, and FPs to train and coach their supplier

groups/cooperatives in embedded BDS services, such as compliance with contracts, recordkeeping,

market linkages, business plans, and aggregation business models where buyers are able to come and

collect produce in a structured manner through established collection centers/zones. As a result, a

total of 2,289 farmers were trained out of 690 planned targets in the 10 districts of HW, where 910

women, 975 men, and 401 youth were coached through embedded BDS services.

2. Strengthening and formalizing commercial relationships among market actors

This quarter, Hinga Weze continued to strengthen business linkages between farmers and buyers

through business-to-business (B2B) meetings. As a result, 233 contracts were signed in which 151

were made between FPs and Kumwe Harvest in Kayonza and Bugesera under a piloted village agent

(VA) model. The Village Agent Model consists of engaging Farmer Promoters in serving as village-based agents of other aggregators in addition to their traditional roles of providing GAP training to

farmers. The purpose of this model is to allow farmers outside of cooperative structures to access

formal markets. The FPs are very interested in the model as a form of income generation, which is

explained by the large number of signed contracts.

Recent unfortunate changes in market dynamics, partially as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, have

caused the pilot to change some of its features, especially in regard to the buyer. In this context,

Kumwe Harvest, the only buyer under the pilot, experienced difficulties to source and supply to AIF,

its main off-taker of maize, following the AIF decision to source directly from farmers, eliminating

smaller aggregators such as Kumwe. To adapt to the new dynamics, Kumwe changed its business

model from direct aggregation to providing grain-handling services at a fee (shelling/drying). A detailed

report of the piloting phase for Season A, 2020 has been provided in the annex 5 for more details.

As a result, Kumwe Harvest was unable to buy significant amounts of maize from FPs as initially

planned. Two VAs that had already aggregated in Kayonza and Bugesera sold 47 MT to Kumwe

Harvest and generated USD $12,033 for the farmers they served, generating a minimum of

approximately USD $182 in commission fees. Following these issues, Hinga Weze resolved to include

more buyers under the agent model since many FPs are now interested in the scheme, and the VA

model has proven to significantly increase the amount of good quality maize reaching formal markets.

23

Moreover, the follow-on activities of the HW-facilitated contracting processes resulted in a supply to

the market of commodities dominated by maize and Irish potatoes due to their peak season, which

coincides with the reporting period, generating revenues of USD $786,311 as detailed in Table 20.

Table 20. Sales Revenues Generated Through Contracts by Commodities (in USD)

District Contracts Horticulture HIB OFSP Chicken Maize I. Potatoes

Bugesera 43 – 6,553 – – 10,511 –

Gatsibo 1 3,640 7,215 – 736 6,165 –

Karongi 1 – – 2,025 – - 28,387

Kayonza 101 3,627 679 – 1,495 68,203 –

Ngororero 11 40,000 – – 153 – 7,202

Nyamagabe 3 507 – – 439 – 12,744

Nyamasheke 5 – 1,888 118 1,517 1,470 –

Rutsiro 26 97 – – – 194 –

Nyabihu 311 181,660 – – 27 – 247,919

Ngoma 11 2,380 – – 1,041 147,719 –

Total 513 231,911 16,335 2,143 5,408 234,262 296,252

3. BDS technical facility implementation

Hinga Weze concluded the development of the BDS related training materials that were tailored to

the findings of the cooperative assessment undertaken by the Cooperative Advisory Academy using

the Sustainability Enterprise Assessment Tool (SEAT®)3 that capture cooperative performance in the

dimensions of (1) financial health, (2) value proposition to market, (3) effective and transparent

leadership, (4) access to services, (5) external environment, and (6) member loyalty.

The seven modules undergone stages of reviewer, finalization, and translation into Kinyarwanda.

These modules include (1) process of identification of business ideas and development of business

plans, (2) development of strategic plan, (3) process of creation of cooperative and cooperative

management, (4) financial management and bookkeeping, (5) entrepreneurship and business growth

strategy, (6) inputs supply management and commodity aggregation, and (7) marketing and

development of marketing strategy. These modules were designed in a way that enables them to guide

the efforts of local coaches to professionalize business operations and to implement areas/gaps

identified during the assessment of performance and capacity needs for the targeted cooperatives.

As a result, the four-tiered approach to this BDS facility will focus on:

1. training, coaching, and registration support to startup cooperatives (Tier 1): farmer groups

involved in HW at various points especially in irrigation and terracing sites

2. establishment and formalization of business-oriented extension, agro-dealers, and seed

producers through their cooperatives (Tier 2): village-based advisors (VBAs) such as FPs, FFS

facilitators, SG facilitators, and VAs, as well as cooperatives of agro-dealers and seed producers

3. capacity development in professional cooperative and supply chain management for existing

cooperatives (Tier 3): aggregators, marketing cooperatives, VAs, and/or traders, and other

supporting functions such as seed producers and agro-dealers

4. Training and backstopping support to HW staff (master trainers) and agribusiness coaches

(Tier 4): HW staff (BFMD and Outreach Officers) and local agribusiness coaches.

3 The methodological approach that guided this study was the use of the standard and adapted SEAT® developed by the

Cooperative Advisory Academy. The report will be shared with the USAID COR during the month of April 2020.

24

The implementation of the delivery phase was slowed down by COVID-19, but groundwork for

preparations will continue in early May 2020 as the activity waits for the lockdown to be lifted. Table

21 summarizes the expected BDS recipients by category.

Table 21. Summary of Expected BDS Recipients by Category of Agribusiness (Micro as well as Small

and Medium Enterprises)

Cooperative Category

Number of Cooperatives

and SMEs

Number of Members to Be

Trained

Seed producer cooperatives 14 70

Agro-dealer cooperatives 7 35

FP/FF cooperatives 46 230

Farmer cooperatives/producers 89 445

Lead buyers/aggregators/SMEs 21 42

Total 177 822

4. Creating demand for nutrient-dense food and animal-sourced food.

Following the distribution of chickens through care groups in a bid to improve the nutritional status

of beneficiaries, in this quarter the chickens have started producing eggs and the cocks have reached

the mature stage. In addition to the cocks and eggs that were consumed by HW beneficiaries, care

groups were supported to sell to market to increase their incomes. Sales of USD $5,410 were

generated during this period. The range of buyers included restaurants, hotels, and local open markets.

In relation to other nutrient-dense food promoted by USAID, HW engaged the WFP’s Smallholder

Programme and the Crop Intensification Program’s Africa Bio-Innovation Challenge to design a

collaborative to strengthen the supply chains and consumer awareness of HIB and OFSP. This has

informed the design of an innovation facility dubbed “Promoting private sector driven models in HIB

and OFSP value chains in 10 HW districts,” which will source, incubate, and finance innovative private-

sector-led models that disrupt the OFSP/HIB food supply chains, starting from Q3 FY2020. Table 22

summarizes progress toward Activity 14.

Table 22. Q2 FY2020 Progress Toward Activity 14 (in USD)

Annual Planned

Target Q2 Achievement Cumulative Through

Q2 Comment

HIB: $40,495

Maize: $48,369

OFSP: $50,619

Irish potatoes:

$163,105

Horticulture: $14,623

Beans: $14,447

Maize: $234,262

OFSP: $2,143

Irish potatoes:

$296,253


Beans: $14,447

Maize: $235,788

OFSP: $3,013

Irish potatoes: $475,859


On track. An

underachievement was

observed for HIB and OFSP

because they are grown in

season B, which is ongoing. To

be achieved in season B in Q3.

25

Sub IR 2.3 - Farmers’ access to credit and financial services improved

Activity 15. Stimulate demand of agricultural loans/credit among SHFs, agro-dealers, seed

multipliers, and aggregators

The demand for loans from different segments of agriculture-sector actors is different in terms of

type, value, and features (terms) of loan products on offer. In this context, HW approached this diversity by offering tailored technical assistance to those segments while prioritizing resource-poor

farmers in Ubudehe category 1 and 2 by engaging them in asset-building-oriented SG schemes, building

up startup income-generating activities for youth, and supporting agro-dealers.

15.1.a. Improving SG operations of noncommercial SHFs

Through a wide-based team of Savings Group facilitators under Component 2, Hinga Weze coached

existing and newly created SGs in seasonal planning, increasing their savings asset base, and managing

their operations, especially with regard to internal revolving loans and group registrations as a step

toward linkage with FIs. Through this approach, the targets in Table 23 were achieved.

Table 23. SG Membership and Performance

Period of

Creation Number

SG Membership SG Operation in Q2

Male Female Youth Total

Accumulated

Savings (USD)

Revolving

Internal Loans

Existing 3,514 15,461 27,736 9,441 43,197 68,237 45,691

New 518 2,344 5,543 2,946 8,021 12,640 7,719

Total 4,032 17,805 33,279 12,387 51,218 80,877 53,410

15.1.b. Mapping and profiling existing SGs and identification of potential youth SGs

Recognizing that the savings and internal loan activities of the newly created SGs are still low, a quality

improvement and activation campaign was initiated through CBVs, RYAF field coordinators, and HW

district staff. This is being implemented for the period Q2 to Q3 FY2020 in order to boost savings

activities and to introduce youth-led SGs that mimic investment clubs jointly managed with FIs.

The intervention started by profiling all existing SGs in the 10 districts, which include 30 RYAF district

coordinators trained on the basics of the HW SCG Model. It includes a methodology to identify all

HW SGs, including rural youth, with income-generating activities in need of growth support to be aggregated into 50 “Youth Investment Clubs” that will be created as a savings scheme where young

entrepreneurs will be raising funds together to make a future business investment. As a result, 215

youth SGs were mapped while 2,426 other SGs were mapped out of 3,713 targeted SGs operating in

HW districts during the reporting period. The mapping assignment was not completed due to COVID-

19 constraints, but we expect to complete the remaining 1,072 SGs, while the other youth SGs will

be disaggregated as RYAF creates 50 youth investment clubs and strengthens their functionality from

Q4 FY2020 onward.

15.2. Creation of loan demand and bankability capacity of value chain actors

This activity includes training care groups, SGs, Twigire Muhinzi groups, and agro-dealers in

bookkeeping. Limited business and financial management capacity and the lack of business plans to

prove the profitability and viability of business farmer groups (SGs, care groups, Twigire Muhinzi

26

groups) as well as cooperatives and SMEs, are critical challenges borrowers face in order to prove

their credit worthiness. HW tackled these barriers by providing training to a total of 4,899 committee

members of care groups, SGs, and Twigire Muhinzi farmer groups in bookkeeping and financial-

tracking tools. Similarly, 318 agro-dealers were supported to improve their books and financial

projections before submitting loan proposals to financiers, both financial and nonfinancial service

providers. As a result, 115 agro-dealers have accessed loans totaling USD $270,770 to increase their

inventories (fertilizers and crop protection products). Table 24 summarizes the progress toward

stimulating demand for agricultural loans/credit among SHFs, agro-dealers, seed multipliers, and

aggregators at the end of Q2 FY2020.


Annual Planned

Target Q2


Through Q2 Comment 46,718 individuals

participating in group-

based savings,

microfinance, or lending

programs

8,021 51,218

On track: 109.6% achieved.

In upcoming quarters more focus will be

placed on quality assurance to identify

inactive and nonperforming SGs. New

creation will only focus on youth.

Activity 16. Building the capacity of financial services providers (FSPs) and non-FSPs in lending

to agricultural value chains

Insufficient access to finance for SHFs and low investments in agribusinesses are partly due to

perceived and actual risks in lending to agribusinesses created mostly by the FSPs’ poor understanding

of the functionality of the agricultural value chains. HW’s approach to accessing agricultural loans

continued to focus on value chain finance and agro-lending support to microfinance institutions for

SHFs and a selected a few commercial banks (such as KCBR and BPR banks) for emerging SMEs.

In Q2 FY2020, HW scaled up its successful input credit scheme to new value chain actors through

technical assistance that blends training in value chain finance management, exposure to successful

pilots, and a guaranteed last-mile presence to assist in recovery. This resulted into 1,838 SHFs

accessing credit worth USD $38,419 directly from 62 value chain actors (four farmer cooperatives,

three agro-dealers’ cooperatives, and 55 individual agro-dealers) to finance input needs for season

2020B. In addition, lending through FIs was promoted by integrating B2B meetings between clients

(farmers) and savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs), facilitating reflection on the design of

innovative loan products and creating incentive for microfinance institutions to increase their loan

portfolios dedicated to agriculture.

The following are the results this quarter of the above-mentioned activities by HW:

1. B2B meetings have not only exposed farmers to the range of available products but also FIs

were able to understand the real demand from their clients before 835 farmers (321 women,

483 men, 24 youth) could access loans totaling USD $146,644.

2. The participatory feasibility study for establishing warehouse receipt products resulted in

various actors, such as Duterimbere, KCBR, ACE Global, EAX, and SARURA Commodities,

not only contributing to the final model proposed by the study but also committing to

participate in the design and roll out of the product planned in Q3 and Q4, respectively.

27

3. A performance-based grant scheme was developed to incentivize FIs, especially SACCOs, with

an incentive grant of USD $53,957 (HW matching USD $14,668). As part of the grants process,

Hinga Weze has assisted five SACCOs to refine their financing models aimed at disbursing

USD $490,212 to over 4,929 SHFs in Year 3 and USD $1,168,513 to over 10,327 SHFs in the

districts of Nyabihu, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, and Rutsiro once the negotiations are finalized

in early April 2020 and approved by USAID.

Moreover, Hinga Weze has initiated partnership discussions with Equity Bank (under the MasterCard

Farmer Network) and with the Kenya Commercial Bank (warehouse receipts and inventory credit

models), as well as with the BPR Bank and AB Bank for irrigation finance models that will create more

financing opportunities in upcoming quarters. A more detailed update will be provided on these areas

in the upcoming quarterly report of Q3 FY2020.

For this quarter, the Hinga Weze target achievements are shown below in Tables 25 and 26.

Table 25. External Loan Performance of HW-Supported Lending Activities for Q2 (USD)

Type of

Lender

Farmers SMEs Total

Number Value Number Value Number Value

Financial

institutions 835 $146,645 79 $277,742 914 $424,387

Value chain

actors 1,838 $38,419 0 0 1,838 $38,419

Total 2,673 $185,064 79 $277,742 2,752 $462,806


Annual Planned Target Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Q2 Comment 5 new business models initiated to

support HW farmers to access

inputs and equipment from value

chain actors

2 4

80% (on track). Irrigation finance

model with BPR, AB Bank, and the

warehouse receipt system in Q3-Q4

will complete the target.

Two FIs supported to digitalize the

loan appraisal process 0 0

0% (not achieved). Change in grantee

technical and delivery model delayed.

Negotiation memorandum is at the

final stage.

Group lending product developed

for FIs around terracing and

irrigation sites to support access to

loans for HW SG members using

internal resources

0

Not achieved. Aligning the 5 SACCO

financing models with the

performance-based mechanism took

more time.

USD $1,250,000 in agriculture-

related financing accessed

$122,771

46.8% (on track). The financing was

dominated by the input loan finance

for 2020B, which is naturally smaller.

The 50% gap will be filled by the

award of 4 SACCO grants in Q3.

28

COMPONENT 3: Nutrition Outcome of Agriculture Interventions Improved

Introduction

Under the nutrition component this quarter, HW reached 121,280 HHs with nutrition messages

(75,083 existing and 45,941 new) grouped into 11,301 clusters and 2,735 care groups (specific and

sensitive) as well as with interventions targeting women of reproductive age, men, adolescents 10-19

years, and children under two. Furthering its effort to promote food safety and improved water,

hygiene, and sanitation outcomes in the community through the dissemination of messages, HW

initiated the food safety practices’ network at the sector level (safe milk processors, postharvest

processors, agro-dealers, and community health clubs) by identifying and bringing together CSOs and

private-sector players involved in food safety practices from farm to fork. During this quarter 84 CSOs

and private-sector actors were mobilized and four food safety practices’ network meetings were

formed to bring together these actors.

With regard to the promotion of gender mainstreaming and gender equality, in order to increase the

participation of both males and females in NSA activities and economic empowerment, HW trained

403 CBVs on the GALS methodology who in turn cascaded the training to 23,906 HHs. The GALS

approach was also used to help encourage male/youth engagement to actively participate in HH chores

and to prioritize the use of HH budgets toward the purchase of nutritious foods. With regard to the

NSA interventions, HW collaborated with GoR platforms and other key stakeholders to increase

participation of beneficiaries in community-level interventions for children and mothers, where 12,941

caregivers participated and 13,034 children under two received the community-level nutrition

interventions, including fortified blended food, micronutrient powder, and growth monitoring and

promotion services.

Sub IR 3.1 - HH income for purchase of nutritious foods for women and children increased

Activity 17: Build the capacity of care groups in HH nutrition and budgeting

Sub activity 17.1. Develop and implement an integrated nutrition-sensitive, capacity-

building package for nutrition care groups

With the support of internal resources for the integrated nutrition package, HW initiated the

development of an integrated nutrition-sensitive, capacity-building package for care groups in

collaboration with its partners, NECDP, RAB, UR-CAVM, Emergency Refugee and Migration

Assistance (ERMA), Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Alliance, ADECOR, and DUHAMIC-ADRI, through

a two-day facilitators’ workshop based on the findings and recommendations of the care groups’

capacity-building gap assessment conducted in CY2019. The integrated NSA packages are expected

to provide practical training for integrating all HW components from food production to postharvest

and consumption, and to serve as the guidance tool for graduating mature care groups into independent solidarity groups. The draft capacity-building package was piloted in four HW districts

(Bugesera, Kayonza, Gatsibo, and Nyamagabe) to 149 master trainers, and their inputs were

incorporated into the manual.

The same exercise will be done in the remaining districts in the next quarter, and the manual will be

finalized with the key stakeholders. Table 27 summarizes the work done on the development of the

integrated nutrition-sensitive, capacity-building package.

29


Annual Planned

Target

Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through

Q2 Comment

One integrated,

capacity-building

package developed and

distributed to HW

beneficiaries

1 0

80% achieved. The capacity-building package

was developed. The validation workshop will

be organized in Q3 and is under development

by HW in collaboration with experts from

NECDP, RAB, UR-CAVM, ERMA, SUN

Alliance, ADECOR, and DUHAMIC-ADRI.

10% of existing care

groups graduated into

solidarity groups 0 0

The care groups will start graduating into

solidarity groups in Q4 once the capacity-

building package is finalized, validated, and in

use at the community level.

Sub activity 17.2. Develop and implement a care group database to track and follow up

on the progress of capacity building acquired by care groups, as well as outcomes and

the graduation process (including both gender and nutrition activities)

To track and follow up monthly on the progress of capacity building acquired by care groups,

outcomes, and care groups graduating into solidarity groups, HW hired a consultant to map all care

groups and their beneficiaries and to create a care group database. The database will be linked to the

management information system (MIS) of CNFA Rwanda, which is currently under development. This

quarter, Hinga Weze staff met with the consultant and provided all required information, according

to the terms of reference, to guide the development of the care group database. The development of

the database will be finalized in Q3 or Q4 FY2020 once the MIS is completed. Table 28 summarizes

Q2 progress toward the development and implementation of the care group database.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

One care group database

with simplified tools to

collect data in the field

developed in 10 districts

0 0

STTA currently working on the care group

database. The care group database will be

linked once the MIS is completed.

Sub activity 17.3. Build capacity of master trainers on the integrated, participatory, and

practical capacity-building approach and use of the database to disseminate nutrition

specific and nutrition-sensitive information to care groups and report their activities

This quarter, in the process of developing the integrated capacity-building package, Hinga Weze used

the developed draft manual to pilot the capacity building of master trainers in four districts (Bugesera,

Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Nyamagabe). A three-day master trainers training was delivered to 149 master

trainers (43 female and 106 male), who in turn will train the CBVs and beneficiaries. Participants

included district and sector agronomists and district and sector veterinarians, as well as health center

staff and HW district staff. The master training was intended to increase participants’ NSA knowledge

and skills, from GAPs to good PHH practices and nutrition concepts. Providing this quality training

30

will enable the CBVs to cascade the skills in the community through care groups. Table 29 summarizes

Q2 progress toward building the capacity of master trainers.


Annual

Planned

Target

Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

50 project staff 18 18

36% achieved. 4 districts out of 10 were covered. The

remaining staff will be trained in Q3 and Q4.

280 health

center officials 59 59

21% achieved. Only some health facility staff were

trained due to a conflict with RBC training. The

remaining staff will be trained in Q3 and Q4.

100 agronomists 37 37

37% achieved. HF staff were trained. The remaining

staff will be trained in Q3 and Q4.

100

veterinarians 35 35

35% achieved. Some HF staff were not trained due to

a conflict with an RBC training.

Sub activity 17.4. Onsite monthly cascade capacity building and quarterly incentives to

CBVs, including community health workers (CHWs), FPs, and FFS facilitators

HW-trained project staff continued to enhance the capacity of CBVs across all 10 districts and

increased their motivation through onsite monthly meetings, coaching, demonstrations, and follow-

ups to enable them to transfer the knowledge and skills they have acquired to HW beneficiaries

around NSA messaging and to deliver community-level nutrition interventions properly. In Q2, HW

trained 5,265 CBVs (3,045 female and 2,246 male), including 2,247 CHWs, 2,719 FPs, and 299 FFS

facilitators through 28 onsite monthly meetings. Some monthly meetings at the end of March did not

happen due to the COVID-19 lockdown. In addition to the existing CBVs, HW also identified an

additional 1,016 community animal health workers (CAHWs) to specifically train, coach, and follow

up with beneficiaries on chicken rearing. They will be trained in the next quarter.

The monthly meetings covered seven new nutrition- and gender-related messages, including three

topics on nutrition, three topics on gender, and one specific message on HW’s measures to be

disseminated among beneficiaries following the annual 24 topics shared with them at the beginning of

the year (see Annex 5). The staff also reviewed the six topics they were trained on last quarter and

discussed the home visit and food safety practice trackers to reinforce nutrition practices and to

follow up on their adoption among beneficiaries.

The new topics focused on this quarter included (1) nutrition: basic concepts of nutrition

(consequences of mixed breastfeeding before 6 months and nutrition for adolescents (10-14 years)

and young girls (15-29 years); micronutrient supplements; balanced diet with increment of

micronutrient consumption, including vegetables and fruits for the family; promotion of GoR

community-level health and nutrition interventions, including antenatal care visits, mosquito nets, and

the Child Growth Monitoring Program; NSA [chicken rearing and management; home gardening using

the Home Garden Guide; savings/food safety/water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)], and also (2)

gender: the GALS approach (vision road journey, women’s empowerment, and gender equality/laws)

and gender role models (positive masculinity/male and youth role models, equitable decision making,

and gender-based violence prevention, including early teenage pregnancy prevention). Table 30

summarizes the Q2 progress toward this capacity-building activity.

31



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

2,500 CHWs trained

99 2,247

90% achieved including those attended

in Q1. On track. The remaining targets

will be achieved in Q3.

1,000 CAHWs/para-vets

trained 0 0

1,016 CAHWs were identified this

quarter and will be trained in Q3 after

the training of district veterinarians.

275 FFS facilitators trained

60 299

108% achieved. The overachievement

was due to new FFS facilitators identified

in new sectors.

2,000 FPs coached and

supported – 2,880


was due to new FPs in new sectors.

120 monthly meetings

conducted by district team for

CBVs; reports available (one

meeting/ district/ month)

28 57

47.5% achieved. The remaining meetings

will be achieved in the next quarters.

120 monthly meetings

conducted by CBVs to cluster

leads; plans and reports

available

30 57

47.5% achieved. The remaining targets

will be achieved in the next quarters.

24 nutrition and gender topics

covered by the district

7 13

54% achieved. One new topic about the

prevention of COVID-19 was added to

the 24 topics, making the list 25. The

remaining topics will be achieved in the

next quarters.

Sub activity 17.5. Continue the capacity building of care groups

In the area of care group capacity building during the reporting period, 30 monthly meetings for cluster

leads were organized by CBVs. In turn, the cluster leads reached out to 121,280 HHs grouped into

11,301 clusters and 2,735 care groups (new and existing) with nutrition, food safety, and gender

messages. The new care group members covered the nutrition-basic concept, the care group model,

the importance of saving, joint planning, and budgeting, while the existing beneficiaries learned about

maternal nutrition during pregnancy using food recipes, adolescent nutrition, promotion of home

gardens, small livestock keeping and management, food safety and WASH practices, GALS

methodology (vision road journey and gender balance tree tools), joint HH budgeting to purchase

nutritious foods, male involvement in nutrition and childcare activities, and women’s participation in

productive activities.

The above activities will help farmers to improve their nutrition and food safety practices and increase

their budget to purchase nutritious foods. Table 31 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.

32


Annual Planned

Target Q2 Achievement Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

92,647 existing HHs

strengthened and

grouped into 8,609

clusters and 2,297

care groups

75,083 existing HHs

strengthened and

grouped into 7,017

clusters and 1,760

care groups

75,083 existing HHs

strengthened and

grouped into 7,017

clusters and 1,760 care

groups

70% achieved. Some CHWs were

not able to reach all HHs as they

were in trainings on length

measurements organized by the

Ministry of Health (MOH). Other

HHs will be reached in Q3.

92,000 new HHs

reached and grouped

into 9,200 clusters

and 1,840 care groups

45,941 new HHs

reached and grouped

into 4,284 clusters

and 975 care groups

45,941 new HHs

reached and grouped

into 5,768 clusters and

2,459 care groups

71% achieved. The reasons are

the same as above. Other HHs

will be reached in Q3.

200,000 total HHs

reached and grouped

into 20,000 clusters

and 4,450 care groups

121,024 HHs

reached and grouped

into 4,390 and 1,016

care groups

121,024 HHs reached

and grouped into

12,282 clusters and

3,016 care groups

61% achieved. Reasons are the

same as above.

Sub activity 17.6. Conduct home visits to assess the use of promoted practices

During this quarter, 52,397 home visits were conducted including visits conducted by HW staff, CBVs,

and cluster leads to 42,828 HHs. The purpose of the visits was to assess the use of nutrition and food

safety–promoted practices and to monitor the changes happening at the HH level. The

overachievement of visits this quarter was due to the reinforcement of home visits to educate

beneficiaries on COVID-19 prevention and the establishment of home gardens. The remaining targets

will be achieved in Q3 and Q4 2020.

The results of the home visits revealed the following adopted behaviors: out of 42,828 HHs coached,

4,313 are using best food safety practices, such as postharvest hermetic bags, and have installed some

WASH facilities, such as hand washing kits, tip-taps, drying rack tables, and covered latrines to improve

hygiene and sanitation. In regard to the adoption of WASH and food safety practices, 6,644 HHs were

reported to have established 8,068 new home gardens, while 8,166 indicated they had renovated

existing home gardens to make them more productive. Table 32 summarizes Q2 progress toward

this activity.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

20 district visits conducted

by HW headquarter staff

to the district teams; visit

reports are available.

13 22

110% achieved. The overachievement is

due to the intensive visits by HW staff

from the head office through supportive

supervision to support the district staff to

increase service delivery.

160 home visits conducted

by the district team (4

visits/district/ quarter) 114 198


was due to the intensive visits by HW

staff to support HHs in improving food

safety practices and small livestock

keeping and management.

33


Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

30,000 home visits

conducted by CBVs (750

visits/district/quarter)

15,774 21,397

71% achieved. On track. The remaining

targets will be achieved in the next

quarters.

200,000 home visits

conducted by cluster leads

at HH level (5,000


52,397 64,431

32% achieved. The underachievement

was due to the farmers’ busy schedule

with agriculture season preparation.

200,000 HHs visited and

coached on nutrition best

practices (5,000


42,828 59,481


was due to the farmers’ busy schedule

with agriculture season preparation.

It was common to find one HH adopting many practices. The most common nutrition and food safety

practices identified among the community include but are not limited to washing hands with soap and

clean water, cleaning and sanitizing utensils, drinking safe water, installation of drying racks for utensils,

avoiding touching cooked food with bare hands, storing food properly, separating cooked and

noncooked food items, choosing safe food during purchase, preparation of a balanced diet, saving for

purchasing nutritious food, installation of tip-tap for hand washing, and making compost for their home

gardens.

Activity 18: Support the increased availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious

foods at the HH level

Sub activity 18.1. Support the availability, accessibility, and affordability of small livestock

(chickens) at the HH level

As reported in Q1 FY2020, over the past months 21,600 chickens were distributed to 3,600 HHs in

two districts (Bugesera and Nyabihu) as the first phase toward rearing chickens. Based on lessons

learned, HW extended the distribution of chickens to another 14,400 HHs and 23 care groups using

the payback model for a total of 112,600 chickens (average of 50% cocks and hens). Among these

chickens, 108,000 were distributed to HHs, while 4,600 were distributed to care groups. This year,

HW is following up with the distributed chickens and documenting lessons learned to initiate the final

phase and develop the strategies to transition the chicken program to the community. Table 33

summarizes Q2 progress toward supporting the availability, accessibility, and affordability of small

livestock (chickens) at the HH level.

Table 33. Q2 FY2020 progress toward Activity 18.1


Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

Existing 18,000 HHs that

received chickens, followed

and coached

0 18,000 HHs and

23 care groups 100% achieved

An additional 18,000 HHs

have chickens 0 0

Concept notes under development.

Activity to be achieved in Q4.

To support the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious foods at the HH level, during

Q2 a total of 887 cocks out of 1,770 cocks from all care groups in the 10 districts were sold and

34

generated 4,241,000 RWF (USD 4,565), as indicated in Table 34. Out of the 7,740 eggs produced

from 10 care groups in Gasange and Kageyo in Gatsibo, Ruramira in Nkamba and Ruramira in Taba in

Kayonza, Rukumberi and Mugesera in Ngoma, Gashora in Bugesera, Macuba and Gihombo in

Nyamasheke, and Musebeya in Nyamagabe, 5,617 eggs were sold generating 451,200 RWF, with the

price of one egg between 70 to 80 produced. In addition, 950 eggs were consumed, respectively: 220

eggs in Ngoma, 194 eggs in Kayonza, 181 eggs in Gatsibo, 160 in Nyamasheke, and 195 in Nyamagabe.

Through their own self-initiative, care groups in all districts bought 343 goats, 100 pigs, 2,056 chickens,

and 85 rabbits, with special attention to Bugesera, which after mobilization bought 798 chickens, 242

goats, 35 pigs, and 45 rabbits.

Table 34. Production, Sales, and Consumption of Chickens

District

Sec-

tor Layers Cocks

Cocks

Sold

Unit

Cost/

Cock

Amount

Received

from Cocks

Sold

Eggs

Pro-

duced

Eggs

Sold

Amount

from

Eggs

Sold

Con-

sumed

Eggs

Bugesera 3 193 225 69 4,000 276,000 72 0 0 –

Ngoma 2 213 168 172

4,500 -

5000 713,000 1,682 1,079 86,320 220

Kayonza 2 254 148 148 5000 740,000 1,702 1,094 87,520 194

Gatsibo 2 221 138 125

4,500 -

5,200 605,000 1,808 1,504 120,320 181

Ngororero 2 187 136 47 5,000 235,000 0 0 0 0

Nyabihu 1 86 87 4 5,000 20,000 0 0 0 0

Nyamasheke 2 106 252 250

5,000 -

6,000 1,292,000 1,666 1,360 110,640 160

Karongi 4 240 233 0 – 0 0 0 0

Nyamagabe 2 157 149 72 5,000 360,000 810 580 46,400 195

Rutsiro 3 238 238 0 – 0 0 0 0

Total 23 1,895 1,770 887 –

4,241,000

($4,565) 7,740 5,617 451,200 950

Sub activity 18.2. Support HHs to improve or develop and sustain home gardens

To support HHs to avail nutritious foods year round and to improve food consumption, in Q2 HW

used the recently developed Home Garden Guide to support HHs in establishing 8,068 new home

gardens and assisted existing HHs in renovating and maintaining 8,166 HHs in their existing home

gardens including demonstration plots that include seven types of horticulture, including two

vegetables, two tubers, and three fruit trees. Table 35 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.

35



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through

Q2 Comment

22,000 new home gardens created:

20,000 at HH level (2,000/district) and

2,000 demonstration plots (200/district)

8,068 13,993

64% achieved. The remaining targets

will be achieved during the next two

quarters.

6,718 existing home gardens maintained:

4,804 at HH level and 1,914

demonstration plots (200/district)

8,166 14,884

222% achieved. Overachievement

was due to mobilization of CBVs and

local authorities to have vegetables.

Sub activity 18.3. Promote water-harvesting systems

Hinga Weze promotes sustainable use of water during crop production through facilitating water

harvesting systems and use of tanks to harvest rainwater. This encourages farmers to save (money)

for the purpose of buying water tanks to harvest rainwater, which are used in their home gardens,

thereby improving the year-round production of nutritious fruits and vegetables. This activity was not

conducted this quarter and is planned to be conducted in Q4, as noted in Table 36.


Annual Planned Target Q2 Achievement

Cumulative

Q2 Comment

900 SHFs adopt water-harvesting

techniques N/A 15

1.67% achieved; others to be

achieved in the next quarters.

Activity 19: Promote gender equality and female economic empowerment, joint decision

making, and childcare

Sub activity 19.1. Educate couples on the importance of equitable, female economic

empowerment, joint decision making, and the division of labor using the GALS approach

To promote positive behaviors among HW beneficiaries around nutrition outcomes, HW is using the

GALS methodology to support HHs in enhancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. This

quarter, HW trained 2,403 CBVs on the GALS methodology, who in turn trained 16,407 couples on

the same approach and supported them in developing plans with targets to be achieved. Training on

GALS and developing plans helps couples enhance joint decision making around HH incomes to

purchase nutritious foods, promotes equal HH division of labor, and hence, increases women’s time

to participate in productive activities. Table 37 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Q2 Comment

2,500 CBVs coached in the GALS

methodology and gender activities

through monthly meetings

2,403 2,403

96% achieved. The remaining targets

will be achieved in Q3 and Q4.

108,000 HHs (3,000 existing and

105,000 new) followed up with and

coached in HH plans and GALS

methodology implementation

16,407 22,362

21% achieved. Underachievement

was from prioritization of CBV

training, who are now training the

couples. The activity is ongoing.

36

Sub activity 19.2. Develop and support male care group models

To enhance male engagement in childcare activities, HW introduced male care groups as a platform

for men to learn and share experience with their peers about nutrition, positive masculinity, and

supporting women’s empowerment. During this quarter, HW created 28 male care groups and

strengthened 68 existing ones in the Karongi, Nyamasheke, Gatsibo, Bugesera, Kayonza, and Ngoma.

Male care group members received training on the importance and preparation of a healthy diet and

joint HH planning and budgeting, as well as on men’s participation in HH activities often regarded as

women’s and girls’ activities. This training increased the active participation of men in cooking

demonstrations whereby 206 men participated in cooking demonstrations through male care groups

while 3,034 participated in community cooking demonstrations at the community level. Table 38

summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

120 additional male care groups

created and supported 28 43


was that CBVs focused on the training

of new male champions who will join

the new male care groups.

114 existing male care groups

strengthened through training,

onsite coaching, and provision

of promotional materials

68 68

60% achieved; on track. The remaining

targets will be achieved in Q3.

Sub activity 19.3. Engage and support male champions and other role models

To shift the gender norms and contribute to more equitable decision making, purchasing power, and

childcare responsibilities, Hinga Weze introduced gender champions and role models. In Q2, HW trained 224 new male champions, female role models, and youth for changes in their roles,

responsibilities, and the GALS methodology. Also, the project strengthened 312 role models, 16 new

and 18 existing male gender champions’ networks, and 31 youth clubs through onsite quarterly

coordination meetings. The trained community motivators reached out to their fellow 3,240 men,

8,073 women, and 3,868 youth and supported them in establishing home gardens and handwashing

kits and the mobilization of women to participate in saving activities using a peer-to-peer approach

and face-to-face dialogues through home visits. Table 39 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

Existing 400 (existing 150 male champions,

150 female role models, and 100 youth) role

models strengthened and supported

220 384

96% achieved. The remaining

will be reached in Q3.

Additional 400 (150 male champions, 150

female role models, and 100 youth role

models) identified and supported

224 276


will be reached in Q3-Q4.

23 networks for male champions and female

role models strengthened and operational 16 20



37

60 new networks for male champions and

female role models strengthened/operational 16 18



158 existing youth clubs strengthened and

functional 31 43



150 new youth clubs strengthened

(50/district in Nyabihu, Kayonza, and Ngoma)

for adolescent boys and girls 10-19 years

19 183

122% overachievement due

to the high mobilization of

youth to join the clubs.

Sub activity 19.4. Engage and support youth and adolescent nutrition models

To engage more youth and adolescents based on their needs, HW is conducting a formative research

on adolescent nutrition. In QI, HW conducted quantitative data collection on 1,440 adolescents, both

in school and out of school. This quarter, the focus was on the analysis of these collected quantitative

data and preparation for the qualitative data collection and hemoglobin tests. In line with this, the

project finalized the development of qualitative data collection tools, trained the enumerators and

health center laboratory technicians, and conducted a pre-test of the qualitative data collection tools

in the Bugesera. Data collection was expected to be conducted in March 2020; however, due to the

COVID-19, it was postponed. Table 40 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Q2 Comment

10 existing networks for youth

champions strengthened 0 0

Planned after the finalization of the

adolescent formative research

100 school feeding programs

supported (10/district) 0 0



10 new networks for youth

champions (in school and after

school) initiated and operational

0 0



Activity 20: Collaborate, support, and involve district leadership to make the District Plan to

Eliminate Malnutrition (DPEM) functional at all levels (district/sector/cell/village) using district

coordination platforms

To enhance efficient coordination, implementation, and reporting of nutrition activities from the

district to the village level, HW is working with the districts to improve the functionality of the DPEM. This quarter, HW supported five districts (Ngoma, Nyamagabe, Rutsiro, Gatsibo, and Bugesera) to

organize the quarterly coordination meetings and, at the same time, participated in three DPEM

meetings organized by the districts on their own initiative. During the meetings, participants proposed

an implementation plan for the recommendations drawn from the DPEM functionality gap assessment

conducted in Year 2. The implementation of these recommendations is expected to be conducted in

collaboration with NECDP, which is the lead government institution in charge of DPEM, after the

formal agreement if it is finalized.

Three CHAIN meetings and five joint field visits were organized in the Ngoma, Kayonza, Karongi,

Nyamasheke, and Nyabihu districts. As a result of the collaboration with partners around the

celebration of International Women’s Day in the Kayonza district, Hinga Weze saved 100,000 RWF,

which was paid by the USAID/Twiyubake project as the transport cost for youth for change (trained

38

by HW), who performed the sketch on positive masculinity supporting female economic

empowerment during the event. Table 41 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

10 districts and 56 sector

DPEM/Sector Plan to Eliminate

Malnutrition committees

strengthened and operational

0 0

0% achieved. This will be achieved in

Q3 and Q4 once formal agreement

with NECDP is finalized.

280 cell and 1,400villages

DPEM/Cell Plan to Eliminate

Malnutrition/Village Plan to

Eliminate Malnutrition

committees identified, trained,

and functional in 10 districts

0 0




Participation in 40 Joint Action

Development Forum (JADF)

meetings (one/district/quarter)

0 4




40 CHAIN joint field visits

conducted in HW lead districts:

Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe,

Ngororero, Ngoma, and Gatsibo

5 6

15% achieved. Most of the CHAIN

meetings were planned in the third

week of March and were affected by

the confinement caused by COVID-

19.

Sub IR 3.2 - Consumption of diverse nutritious foods that address nutrition gaps,

including nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables and animal-sourced foods improved

Activity 21: Review the existing social behavior change communication (SBCC) strategy to

make it more nutrition sensitive

Sub activity 21.1. Update the existing SBCC strategy for HW to make it more nutrition

sensitive following the agriculture-to-nutrition pathways

To continuously improve the SBCC interventions and NSA dissemination, the HW SBCC strategy

has been revised and simplified to provide integrated need-tailored messages based on the

community’s stage of change model which is SBCC model by which people who have successfully

made positive changes in their behaviors go through five specific stages including pre-contemplation

(there is no intention to change), contemplation, preparation, action and Maintenance. This quarter,

HW revised and adapted five messages developed in the SBCC strategy based on the needs identified

in the SBCC formative research and disseminated these messages to more than 131,207 HHs through

monthly care group nutrition education, role model groups, youth clubs, and male care groups. Table

42 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

10 key messages finalized for different audiences

(men, women, youth, cooperatives, CG groups, etc.) 5 8

80% achieved

39

Sub activity 21.2. Wide-scale dissemination of nutrition messaging

In this quarter, a wide-scale dissemination of nutrition messages has been conducted through the use

of interpersonal communications, such as care groups, solidarity groups, role models, and youth clubs.

The messages have also been disseminated through community meetings, such as community cooking

demonstration sessions, community nutrition interventions at health centers, and during the celebration of International Women’s Day, where more than 9,825 people across the Hinga Weze

targeted districts received messages.

Different activities marked the celebration of International Women’s Day, including an exhibition of

women’s best performers’ achievements regarding agriculture and food processing, testimonies of

self-reliant families, and dissemination of messages on women’s empowerment and men’s engagement

in HH activities, including nutrition and childcare. With regard to the dissemination of NSA messages,

105 vulnerable families were supported with small livestock, including pigs, goats, and chickens, and

52 home-based Early Childhood Development (ECD) locations received vegetable seeds from HW

to increase vegetable production to benefit the children and their mothers.

During the above events, different media were used to disseminate the NSA messages. HW used

brochures, posters, books, and flyers to distribute printed materials with useful messages and pictures

in the community. Regarding the printed materials distributed in the community, HW also

collaborated with the community to develop short sketches and songs with rich messages on NSA,

which have been disseminated in various community meetings. In Q3 and Q4, HW, in addition to the

printed materials, sketches, and songs, will collaborate with community radio and the best radio drama

group to develop and disseminate radio spots and a radio drama series focused on NSA. In addition,

in response to COVID-19, HW will conduct research to identify new approaches to disseminate

messages. Table 43 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.



Q2


Through Q2 Comment

5 separate messages designed using

radio, print, role models, sketches,

and other media

0 2

40%. Messages supposed to be

disseminated in Q2 were

postponed in the Kayonza district.

Participation in 3 days of recognition 1 2 100% achieved; on track

Activity 22: Identify Year 3 community-level nutrition interventions for children under two (0-

23 months) and report beneficiary participation

To increase awareness related to nutrition, preventing malnutrition, and improving nutrition

outcomes in Q2, 20,134 caregivers participated in community-level nutrition interventions, and 20,304

children (new and existing) were reached with community-level nutrition interventions, including

deworming tablets, vitamin-A supplements, routine immunizations, screenings of acute malnutrition,

growth monitoring, distribution of mosquito nets, and micronutrient powder/ongera in all 10 targeted

districts. Fifty-two ECD home-based locations received vegetable seeds from HW and other

equipment from CHAIN partners in the Kayonza, Nyamagabe, Gatsibo, Ngororero, and Rutsiro

districts. Table 44 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.

40



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

20,441 caregivers participated in community-

level nutrition interventions 20,441 20,134

98% achieved; on track

20,441 children reached with community-level

nutrition interventions 20,441 20,304


Activity 23: Improve cooking demonstrations to promote nutritious foods, including HW

nutritious value chains, dietary diversity for targeted groups, and food groups to be consumed

by women of reproductive age, children under two, and adolescents

To enhance HH members’ practical knowledge and skills related to the preparation of nutritiously

rich meals appropriate for children of different ages and women of reproductive age, in Q2 FY2020

HW held 6,277 cooking demonstration sessions in 10 districts attended by 151,948 HHs. During the

cooking demonstration sessions, three food recipes were demonstrated.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Q2 Comment

12 monthly meetings conducted by care

groups/district/year (38,604 demonstration

sessions organized by existing / new care groups)

6,277 10,712

27% achieved. The

remaining is planned in

the quarters ahead.

One food recipe booklet adapted 3 3 30% achieved; rest in Q3

56 care groups functional at sector level 0 0 0% achieved; rest in Q3

Sub IR 3.3 - Food safety practices by HHs improved

Activity 24: Identify CSOs/private-sector partners to promote food safety practices at HH level

To enhance the adoption of food safety practices at the HH level, in addition to the number of CSOs

and private-sector partners in the food safety arena, we identified 60 more partners this quarter in

the same area and organized five food safety network meetings in our districts. Participants at the

meetings committed to educating farmers about food safety practices using existing channels such as

cooperatives and promotional materials to link farmers with food safety and post-harvesting

equipment, and to advocating for affordable prices and availability of labor and time-saving equipment

for both women and men. Table 46 summarizes Q1 progress toward this activity.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

56 existing CSOs and private-

sector partners coached 0 56

100% achieved

100 new CSOs and private-sector

partners identified and engaged to

create food safety networks

82 82

82% achieved

40 food safety network meetings

organized (one food safety

network meeting/ quarter/district)

4 4


was that the team focused on the

identification of new partners

41

Activity 25: Identify methods to promote food safety practices at the HH level

During the reporting period, Hinga Weze trained 17,106 HHs on food safety practices, of which 4,313

HHs adopted the improved food safety practices, including the use of small post-harvesting equipment

(post-harvesting hermetic bags, the use of WASH kits like tip-taps, promotion of dry rack tables, etc.).

HW also developed a concept note to contribute to the promotion of food safety practices, including handwashing and prevention of the spread of diseases in this sensitive period of COVID-19. Next

quarter, HW will distribute 300 simplified kits (tip-taps and soap), providing 30 kits/district to 30 care

groups (10 vulnerable HHs of category 1 and 2 with children under two and women of reproductive

age in one care group, which makes 300 tip-taps/district), or 3,000 tip-taps for 10 districts.

Hinga Weze will also distribute soap and food safety practice leaflets with messages to protect food

from farm-to-fork and washing hands at the five critical times. Our field staff will work closely with

local authorities to select beneficiaries and spread prevention culture among other groups using their

own savings and locally-made materials for sustainability. A total of 30,000 HHs will receive messages.



Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

30,000 HHs trained on food

safety practices (3,000/district) 12,573 17,106

57% achieved, on track, remaining

targets be achieved in Q3.

6,600 HHs applying food safety

practices (660/district) 2,948 4,313


Activity 26: Competition for Model HHs

During this quarter, HW developed a concept note and a leaflet to use in the next quarter not only

to promote food safety practices, but also to curb the spread of COVID-19. The competition will be

oriented toward care groups, where the distributed equipment will be used by many people. With

partnership of MINAGRI/RAB, NECDP, and MOH/RBC, HW will disseminate food safety/WASH messages and equipment to reduce the spread of diseases, including COVID-19. In this context, to

achieve the nutrition indicator related to food safety practices (MEL 20), Hinga Weze will distribute

food safety/WASH kits so that the CHWs and FPs can distribute them to beneficiaries. It is expected

that the 30,000 beneficiaries will be educated on food safety practices, and 6,600 among them will

adopt these practices. With the farm-to-fork model4, the messages included GAPs, CSA, PHH, animal

handling, and food safety/WASH practices at the HH level.

The materials and equipment to be purchased include the provision of 300 food safety/WASH kits to

300 care groups (30 per district). The achievements will be reported in the next quarter (Q3 FY2020).

Table 48 summarizes Q2 progress toward this activity.


Annual Planned

Target

Q2

Achievement

Cumulative

Through Q2 Comment

150 model HHs

identified (15/district) N/A N/A

0% achieved; to be implement

in Q3-Q4 of FY2020

4 Farm to Fork model means the process of safety of Food from the cultivation (farm) with the selection of seeds,

application of allowed pesticides to the harvest, storage and hygiene at consumption.

42

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

Under the HW methodology of implementation, many activities cut across all areas of interventions

and affect almost all implemented activities to a greater or lesser degree. These include environmental

compliance, gender, and social inclusion, as described below.

I. Gender and Social Inclusion

In Q2 FY2020, a total of 63.3% women out of the 62% annually targeted (102%) accessed productive

economic resources. These achievements cut across all HW components. The key achievements on

female economic empowerment across HW’s key activities include

• 40,675 female (47%) farmers have applied GAPs/technologies including Integrated Soil

Management (ISM), weeding, IPM, harvesting, and post-harvesting handling good practices.

• 12 female seed multipliers (13%) were trained on seed production techniques, seed storage

and processing, seed quality control and certification, seed marketing strategies, and pest and

disease management, which increased the technical knowledge they needed to continue to

support farmers, especially other women.

• 318 agro-dealers including 81 females (25%) were supported to improve their books and

financial projections before laying down loan proposals to financiers, both FSPs and nonfinancial

service providers. As a result, 115 agro-dealers have accessed loans of USD $270,770 to

increase their inventories (fertilizers and crop protection products).

• 211 females (34%) were trained as lead trainers on good PHHS practices, such as drying,

threshing, winnowing, sorting, storing, moisture content measurement, dehulling, cold storage,

and other PHHS practices.

• 24,997 females out of a total of 67,660 Small Holder Farmers or 37% involved in grain (maize

and beans), horticulture, and potatoes were reached by cascade training on good PHHS

practices, such as drying, threshing, winnowing, sorting, storing, moisture content

measurement, dehulling, cold storage, and other PHHS practices.

• 114,398 females (40%) received information on the availability of and eligibility for subsidized

inputs for season 2020B, of whom 12,260 females (29%) accessed input market information

across the 10 HW targeted districts.

• Of the 51,218 solidarity group participants, 33,379 (65%) of them were females, with 910

females trained and coached in contract compliance, recordkeeping, market linkages, business

plans, and the aggregation business model.

• 415 female farmers (23%) have received agricultural loans equivalent to USD $259,568.

• 312 males gender champions and female role models have been supported to inspire their

peers, and 96 male care groups out of 3,016 total care groups were established and are

functional.

• 34 networks for male champions and female role models and 31 youth clubs were initiated

and are operational.

• 2,403 CBVs were trained on GALS and educated 16,407 HHs on the same methodology.

43

II. Youth Engagement in HW Activities

HW assists and strengthens the

operationalization of the SG model in order to

increase, in a cost-effective way, the performance

of existing Saving Groups (SGs). In addition, HW

supports the creation of youth-oriented SGs and

the introduction of youth-led SGs that mimic

investment clubs jointly managed with FIs in

order to bridge the gap of unemployment and

low entrepreneurship of rural youth that affects

their level of SG viability.

During Q2 FY2020, in collaboration with RYAF,

30 of RYAF’s district coordinators were given

instructions to identify all HW SGs, including rural youth with small income-generating activities. Of these, those in need of growth support are to

be aggregated into 50 “Youth Investment Clubs” that will be created as savings schemes where young

entrepreneurs will be raising funds together to make future business investments. This will contribute

to achieving HW’s youth-related MEL indicator #23, i.e., the percentage of participants in USG-

assisted programs designed to increase access to productive economic resources who are youth (16-

30 years). Progress will be reported next quarter.

III. Environmental Compliance Activities

During the reporting period from January 1 to March 31, 2020, HW implemented many activities

related to environmental compliance. As a condition prior to approval, all grants have to be screened

in order to ensure that the proposed activities will not have a severe impact on the environment and

to identify environmental risks and related mitigation measures. The following environmental

compliance activities were conducted.

1. Environmental screening of grants related to HIB seed multiplication: Field visits were

conducted to the sites proposed for HIB seed multiplication for the following companies, namely,

Agrinvest Group ltd, Harerimana Gaspard, KANYARUBIRA Assiel, Turatsinze Sole Proprietor

Enterprise, and UMUCYO Cooperative.

2. Environmental screening of grants related to Irish potato seed multiplication: Field

visits were conducted to the sites proposed for Irish potato seed multiplication for the following

companies, namely, Munyembaraga Innocent, Rwemera Jean d’Amour, Nkurikiyimana JMV,

FGRAPAZ Company Ltd, Ntabanganyimana Razaro, Banyurwaniki Donat, Dukanguke Cooperative, Musabyimana Ismael, and Hakizimana Innocent.

3. Environmental screening of grants related to PHH : Field visits were conducted to ZIMA

Company (a youth-based company).

A detailed environmental mitigation and monitoring report is attached to this report, as required by

the USAID-CNFA contract for HW.

Figure 5: HW staff train RYAF district coordinators on SG

mapping (photos taken by HW staff).

44

IV. Communications, Branding, and Marking

1. Promotional materials and infographics

All promotional materials were properly branded and shared with USAID for review and approval

according to USAID branding and marking guidelines. Key among these are stickers, T-shirts, banners,

wall posters, brochures, and flyers used at major events and shared with partners. HW also produced

and posted a number of social media clips about key events and has generated footage and a photo

archive to produce more videos as needed.

2. Media presence

Roughly 12 articles on HW activities this quarter appeared in different publications, including The New

Times, Imvaho Nshya, Kigali Today, Rebero News, and Igihe.com, and activities were also featured on the

Rwanda Broadcast Agency TV and Radio Rwanda. These featured key events including the launch of

Irish potato varieties in the Nyamagabe district, International Women’s Day, and the launch of the

HW irrigation scheme in the Ngoma district.

3. Presence on social media

The solid presence and frequent postings of Hinga Weze on social media including Twitter and

Facebook remained relentless, generating positive feedback in the form of numerous retweets and

comments. Followers on the HW Twitter account increased by 30% from 2,000 at the beginning of

the quarter to over 2,300 followers at the end of the quarter.

This growth in followers is mainly

due to the constant review of

Twitter analytics, regular updates on

national and international events,

online engagement with followers,

and positive posts from media personalities and partners, which

increased visibility. New high-profile

followers include the Feed the

Future Nigeria Agribusiness

Investment Activity, OneAcre Fund

Rwanda, SOSOMA Industries,

Rwanda National Union for the Deaf,

and Power Africa.

Hinga Weze’s presence on Facebook

also received good viewer

engagement recorded at 1,500 hits a month, on average.

V. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

The Hinga Weze MEL team assisted in implementing the USAID-approved FY2020 contract and MEL

indicator targets by systematically monitoring, documenting, and reporting progress to all

stakeholders across the period (accomplishments, lessons learned, and constraints) in various

progressive reports, including a biweekly report submitted to the USAID COR. Hinga Weze also

45

tracked implementation by progressively recording data as they accumulated from implementation

activities in the field. Every progress performance is indicator driven in consideration of the

contractual obligations of the project and targets; however other considerations are also considered

and taken into account when the needs of other stakeholders and the client are expressed.

The various MEL reports on Hinga Weze outputs, outcomes, and success stories and the general impact of the project among beneficiary populations are key parts of documenting the success of HW.

In this context, numerous activities were implemented to ensure that the activity is being implemented

in accordance with the Year 3 Work Plan for FY2020.

These activities include the following.

1. Preparation for the mid-term review (MTR)

As Hinga Weze is currently in its third year of implementation, the USAID-mandated MTR exercise

will take place soon. In this regard, through the MEL team, Hinga Weze reflected on five evaluation

questions provided in the draft scope of work shared by USAID. Much of this discussion took place

at the HW annual retreat, conducted in Musanze in early March 2020. From this reflection, Hinga

Weze came up with various findings in which many efforts were identified in order to continue serving

farmers by fulfilling all contractual obligations and meeting USAID standards. The MEL team will play

a key role in ensuring that program activities maintain coherence and alignment to the contract goals.

2. Data quality assessment

The MEL team also supported implementation of systematic processes that improve performance and,

in this case, during Q2 the final report on an internal DQA was completed. This exercise took place

in Year 2 and was in accordance with USAID DQA standards of validity, reliability, timeliness,

precision, and data integrity. This exercise was reinforced by engaging a consultant who covered five

districts. Overall, there is a need to merge related data collection tools to arrive at a reduced number

of data collection tools, which will reduce the data collection burden and improve quality of data.

46

COORDINATION, PARTNERSHIPS AND LINKAGES WITH

OTHER PROJECTS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

This quarter, Hinga Weze continued to achieve contractual targets in close collaboration with USAID,

GoR, and district leadership. Partnerships with MINAGRI and RAB during the quarter helped scale up

program implementation by creating linkages and ways within which it achieved its results. Lessons

learned from its aggressive collaborative approach proved that partnerships are key to achieving

results, especially with districts, communities, the private sector, and other implementing agencies.

The following activities were achieved through annual collaborations, partnerships, and linkages.

3. Collaborations with GOR and its institutions

CAES: In Q2, Hinga Weze collaborated with sector institutions and other development partners to

support the enabling policy environment of Twigire Muhinzi. A consultant was hired and continued to

work with HW staff to improve the CAES report/policy. The final draft is expected to be shared with

MINAGRI and other stakeholders for discussion at the upcoming ASWG. Additionally, HW facilitated

a workshop preparing the document for CAES that was attended by technical teams in agriculture

extension to gain skills on improving the current agriculture extension system.

RAB/MINAGRI capacity building on CSA: Hinga Weze supported private-sector trainers and civil

society and extension service providers on CSA and NSA. In this context, Hinga Weze identified

private-sector actors that included women and youth groups involved in extension services for

training on CSA and NSA. Participants were from 10 districts, including 15 farmers representing

cooperatives (Farmer-to-Market Alliance), seven youth private-sector extension service providers

(master trainers of FFSs) from RYAF, five youth engaged in the provision of agriculture and extension

services, three youth involved in private-sector extension service delivery from Agriwin Ltd, and five

HW AF grantees from the KOTIB youth cooperative. This will help improve the dissemination of

CSA and NSA skills crucial to improving agriculture productivity.

4. RAB/HW collaboration on control of aflatoxin

Hinga Weze collaborated with RAB/IITA to collect samples of soil and maize grains in the Nyamasheke

district, Cyato sector with the purpose of assessing the impact of the application of Aflasafe in the

prevention of aflatoxin in grains. This was part of ongoing Aflasafe efficacy trials.

CHAIN activities: Hinga Weze collaborates with a wide range of organizations including USAID IPs, extensively with CSOs, and with partners such as USAID’s CHAIN partners. CHAIN partners include

the SUN Alliance and GoR institutions such as NECDP and RAB. The support of these organizations

helped mobilize and organize community members as complementary entry points to foster NSA

interventions that are aimed at improving livelihoods.

Potato seed strategy: Upon request from RAB, the embedded advisors at RAB and MINAGRI

supported the finalization of the potato seed production and supply strategy. This is part of Hinga

Weze’s contribution toward enhancing agriculture policy development.

Collaboration with NECDP in training of CHWs on the Length Mat: Hinga Weze partnered with

NECDP and trained 3,747 CHWs in the Nyamasheke (Kibogora Hospital) and Gatsibo (Kizinguro and

Ngarama Hospitals) districts. The objective of the training was to provide technical skills to the CHWs

on length measurements using the Length Mat to monitor a child’s linear growth and ensure early

detection of child growth faltering.

47

Participation in a high-level consultative meeting organized by the Ministry of Gender and

Family Promotion and participation in the celebration of International Women’s Day: On

January 31, 2020, Hinga Weze participated in a high-level consultative meeting organized by the

Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion on preparations for International Women’s Day. The

meeting validated the national theme: “Transformational Change: Women at the Forefront

(‘’Umugore ku Ruhembe mu Iterambere”). International Women’s Day was celebrated in the Gasabo

district, Kigali Arena at the national level, and in nine HW-targeted districts at the village level. More

than 9,825 people attended the event.

Different activities marked the celebration of International Women’s Day, including an exhibition of

women best performers’ achievements regarding agriculture and food processing, testimonies of self-

reliant families, and dissemination of messages on women’s empowerment and men’s engagement in

HH activities to include nutrition and childcare. A total of 105 vulnerable families were supported

with small livestock, including pigs, goats, and chickens, and 52 home-based ECD locations received

vegetable seeds from HW, which could contribute to improving the children’s nutrition status. In

addition to this, community dialogues on gender equality and men’s engagement and the establishment of home gardens (66 new home gardens and 188 existing home gardens maintained) were conducted

prior to the celebration of International Women’s Day.

5. Partnerships with districts

Hosted RGB visit: Hinga Weze hosted RGB guests in the Gatsibo district together with the district

JADF secretary to assess how HW jointly works with district leaders and local authorities and with

budget usage and accountability, as well as activity implementation.

JADF: Hinga Weze partners with districts and participates in JADF meetings. In Q2, the Ngoma district

supported the discussion of activities.

DPEM: The Karongi and Ngoma districts participated in the quarterly district DPEM meetings and

discussed key challenges in fighting malnutrition as well as new strategies. It is important to note that

Hinga Weze with other development partners revived the DPEMs at district levels, as described in

the narrative of Component 3, above.

6. Private-Sector engagements and partnerships

Irish potato seeds: Hinga Weze collaborated with Solynta, a private practitioner, and identified two

sites (EAV Bigogwe and Kintobo sites) in the Nyabihu district for the trials of Irish potato true seeds5.

Solynta will provide seedlings to the identified sites and training for HW district staff and farmers for

the promotion of Irish potato true seeds.

5 This is kind of Irish potatoes seeds which are non-tubers; they are harvested from potato fruits

48

KEY EVENTS OF HW THIS QUARTER

1. U.S. Ambassador visit

This quarter, the U.S. Ambassador visited activities

implemented by Hinga Weze in Gatsibo on January 28,

2020. During this important event the U.S. Ambassador,

accompanied by other USAID delegates including the

USAID Mission Director, Economic Growth Office

Director, and the COR, witnessed preharvest and PHH activities and techniques supported by Hinga Weze

helping farmers to increase their crop yields and profits.

USAID was also able to see on the ground how farmers’

lives are being concretely impacted by Hinga Weze

support.

2. Grants signing ceremony

On February 13, 2020 Hinga Weze signed new grants worth approximately 500 million RWF

(approximately USD $525,713) from USAID with 11 new grantees. This grant support was to

construct small-scale irrigation sites and terraces, to add value to OFSP, to process fruits, to expand

the use of postharvest technologies, and to set up an OSS FSC for farmers. The grant support will

make a significant contribution to the achievements of HW contract targets.

3. All-staff annual retreat

Hinga Weze organized an all-staff retreat in

Musanze from March 4-6 2020, and engaged the

entire team in intense discussions on preparations

for the MTR, reviewing District Action Plans that

enable implementation in districts, as well as team-

building exercises and discussions on

administrative issues. On the MTR preparation,

the team reflected on the five key questions and discussed ways to facilitate the forthcoming MTR

process. A team from USAID led by the COR also

attended and appreciated the progress made so far

to create support and ownership among

beneficiaries. In terms of challenges raised, the team was advised to add more effort in ensuring that

beneficiaries are able to adopt and utilize cost-effective agriculture technologies.

4. USAID Learning Disability Event

Hinga Weze participated in a disability inclusion event that took place at the U.S. Ambassador’s

residence, where USAID IPs were called and asked to share inclusion strategies for people with

disabilities (PWDs). The event took place on February 6, 2020, where the IPs were also asked to focus on inclusion of PWDs in their programming. Hinga Weze used the opportunity to update its

PWD Strategy, which enables the program to focus on leaving no one behind, especially PWDs, in

implementation of the activity.

Figure 7: The Deputy Chief of Party of HW addressing

staff during the retreat (photos taken by HW staff).

Figure 6: U.S. Ambassador, H. E Peter Vrooman talking to a farmer during the visit about postharvest technologies. (photos taken by HW

staff).

49

5. USAID field visit to the Gatsibo district

Hinga Weze hosted a team from USAID led

by the Economic Growth Director to Gatsibo

in January where they visited maize growing

cooperatives and viewed PHH practices. Guests visited two cooperatives supported

through HW to improve maize farming and

postharvest aflatoxin control, the team was

told about access-to-market efforts to

support the farmers.

6. Valorization of irrigation scheme

In Kayonza, Hinga Weze was joined by USAID (represented by the COR) and district authorities as

well as by farmers from the Ndego irrigation scheme to launch season 2020B at the site. The visitors

planted hybrid maize seeds on 8 ha and 200 fruit trees (mangoes and avocadoes), which will improve

the nutrition situation of the beneficiaries as well as increase land preservation.

7. Participation in the dissemination of study findings on financial services for women-

and gender-based value chain analyses by the WFP, Food and Agriculture

Organization, and International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)

On February 7, 2020, Hinga Weze participated in the dissemination of a number of studies on financial

services for women- and gender-based value chains analyses for beans in Rwanda conducted by WFP

in collaboration with ICCO.

8. Participation in a USAID “Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture” webinar

Hinga Weze participated in the webinar led by the USAID Advancing Nutrition Team and shared

experiences on the usage of the NSA guide tested in Rwanda in 2019.

9. Participation in the validation workshop on veterinary drugs authorized in Rwanda

Hinga Weze participated in the validation workshop on veterinary drugs authorized to be sold in

Rwanda. The workshop was organized by Rwanda’s Food and Drugs Authority with the participation

of various stakeholders, including importers of veterinary drugs, MINAGRI/RAB, and representatives

of agro-dealers in each district. During the workshop, the list of approved veterinary drugs was

presented, and importers and agro-dealers were given a one-year period to apply to sell products in

their stores that do not appear on the approved list.

10. Organization of Joint Field Visit of the Food Security and Nutrition Taskforce

This quarter, USAID/ Hinga Weze and CRS/Gikuriro as CHAIN IPs in Eastern Province/Ngoma

district were selected to be visited by other CHAIN IPs, USAID, and officials from Ngoma. The

Taskforce was conducted on a joint field visit to visit the food security and nutrition activities. The

activities visited included an irrigation site, home gardens, and viewing nutrition education for farmers

in HW, as well as the DPEM and growth monitoring activities of CRS/Gikuriro in Ngoma. The visit

took place in the Rukumberi sector, Gituza cell, Gituza village and at the district office. The activities

also included attending the regular meeting of the District DPEM Coordination Committee, and also

the CHAIN quarterly meeting, which included the district-level staff of both the visited organizations.

Figure 8: USAID delegates check out maize cooperative (photos

by HW staff).

50

CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED

During the quarter, Hinga Weze faced various challenges from which the implementation team was

able to draw important lessons. These include the following.

Challenge 1: Chicken feeds are not available and are expensive in most areas.

Lesson learned 1: Hinga Weze will train sector veterinarians to work with the productivity and

nutrition team and teach farmers to make chicken feeds using available local materials. HW will

also identify and train local suppliers to sell the feeds at an affordable price and mobilize farmers to

buy chicken feeds using income from egg sales. Hinga Weze will also work with CAHWs and

paravets to monitor the chicken program.

Challenge 2: Engaging youth in SG models was constrained by the naturally low numbers of youth in

farmer groups and by their relatively lower income streams compared to other members.

Lesson learned 2: Mapping youth in all 10 districts to identify youth with minimal income-

generating activities and supporting them to form SGs in the form of youth investment clubs

through RYAF grants will target early adopters who will attract others after an initial successful

savings cycle.

Challenge 3: In order to increase leverage of the irrigation grant funding, and to increase the

participation of GoR structures, Hinga Weze has identified the SAIP/MINAGRI funded by the World

Bank as a potential partner to implement irrigation projects on 65 ha. An MoU was signed but SAIP

delayed in the recruitment of a service provider.

Lesson learned 3: Gaining leverage is a worthy goal but can cause delays. The Hinga Weze team

quickly identified other sites as plan B and those sites were validated by the RAB and districts. The

projects will be financed and implemented by RAB and the districts. However, due to the lockdown,

the RFP is to be released very soon and the catching plan will be developed when the lockdown is

to be removed.

Challenge 4: With regard to the delay in approving grants due to the shift of our grants process to

subcontracts. The internal CNFA process took some time to adapt. Once approved the agricultural

season was already ongoing; farmers had planted and were on the fields. Hinga Weze therefore needs

to wait to implement some of the grants until crops are harvested in Q3.

Lesson learned 4: Hinga Weze has already developed a catch-up plan to accelerate the

implementation and to be able to meet the annual targets.

Challenge 5: Hinga Weze efforts to coordinate progress on its two primary agro-policy initiatives

this quarter, i.e. CAES and agro-input subsidy reform, made progress but also showed significant delays

due to the inclusion of many partners (MINAGRI/RAB, DFID, EU, OneAcre Fund, etc.). Clearly, the

Hinga Weze approach of aggressive collaboration has shown progress, but can also result in delays

due to the inclusion of many partners. The lack of a detailed timeline with delivery dates of some

contributors has limited progress and allowed partners to provide inputs over too long of a period.

Lesson learned 5: Hinga Weze has decided to approach partners in a firmer way through its

Embedded Advisors in order to motivate them to provide inputs over a shorter timeline, with

mutually-agreed deadlines, to be put in place in Q3 FY2020. To this end, the term of the Embedded

Advisors will be extended into Year 4 of Hinga Weze.

51

PLANS FOR Q3 FY2020

During Q3, Hinga Weze priority activities will be in compliance with the published COVID-19

adaptation measures as recommended by MINAGRI. We will continue to support our farmers in

closing season B and starting season C, where applicable. We will continue to ensure that they adopt

GAPs and adequate PHH practices and will link them to markets to channel well their produce from

season B. HW will finalize the capacity-building guide and promote the Home Garden Guide around

growing season C by supporting farmers in agriculture-related activities to ensure they adopt

vegetable cultivation and watering to have vegetables all year around and ensure availability to HHs.

New solidarity groups, SGs, and care groups will be created, and we will continue to strengthen them

together with the existing ones. Specifically, the following activities are the main priorities for Q3.

Component 1: Agriculture Productivity Sustainably Increased

1. Follow up on terrace construction and the establishment of irrigation infrastructures.

2. Prepare and implement season 2020C.

3. Train GoR staff and private extension service providers on CSA and NSA.

4. Follow up on activities and coaching farmers on GAP and CSA practices or technologies

including pest and disease control in cultivated land to ensure yield quantity and quality.

5. Support 24 seed multipliers through the RAB seed certification process during season 2020B.

6. Establish two FSCs and four mini-FSCs in the Nyabihu, Nyamagabe, Bugesera, Karongi, and

Ngororero districts.

Component 2: Farmers’ Market Access Improved

1. Implement PHHS small-grant schemes with the 67 cooperatives that were selected and assist

RAB in modeling the public–private partnership model that will engage the private sector in

the provision of drying services using public drying machines.

2. Finalize the design of phase 3 of the BDS technical assistance program and kick off delivery

through local agribusiness coaches from RYAF and MINICOM’s BDAs with HW’s BDS

providers assuring the trainer, coach, and backstopping roles of those frontline VBAs.

3. Test and deliver the newly upgraded features of the MLIMA and SNS platforms to farmers

and finalize the multipartite partnership between HW, MasterCard, Equity, and USAID Bureau of Food Security.

4. Scale up the input credit scheme to at least half of the agro-dealers and finalize product

development for WRS and irrigation finance with the AB Bank and BPR.

Component 3: Nutrition Outcome of Agriculture Interventions Improved

1. Finalize and print the integrated nutrition-sensitive, capacity-building package for nutrition

care groups.

2. Educate couples on the importance of equitable economic empowerment, joint decision

making, and division of labor using the GALS approach; implement the work plan that has

been developed.

3. Identify new CSOs/private-sector partners to promote food safety practices at the HH level

and involve them in HW’s activities across their value chains through network meetings

4. Continue strengthening the HH's and Care Groups who are now raising poultry under the

now-completed distribution scheme of Sasso chickens from previous quarters, to ensure

sustainability and income increases.

52

ANNEXES Annex 1: Success Stories

Participatory cooking demonstrations and nutrition education empower and improve farmer

communities and expand nutrition knowledge

The Hinga Weze Care Group (CG) model is a conduit for improved

nutrition for farmer communities. Comprised of household members, the

CG brings together community members for the purpose of nutrition

education and cooking demonstrations so participants can learn how to

prepare nutritious foods for themselves and their families. CGs are

typically comprised of 50-75 households, or approximately 100-150

people. CGs are facilitated by trained community-based volunteers

(CBVs) to disseminate basic nutrition concepts, good nutrition practices,

and food safety best practices to fight against all forms of malnutrition for

women of reproductive age and children under 2. Additionally, the CBVs

promote other healthy and essential practices such as water, sanitation,

and hygiene best practices, gender education and empowerment, methods

for improving savings culture, promotion of family-centered conflict

resolution, and enhancement of community-centered development.

This model was introduced in the Gatsibo District by the Feed the Future

Hinga Weze activity (Hinga Weze), which operates in 10 target districts

in Rwanda. Hinga Weze aims to sustainably increase smallholder farmers’

incomes through increased productivity, improved nutritional status of

Rwandan women and children, and increased resilience toward the

changing climate. The Tuzamurane Twita ku Mirire Myiza (“Develop

ourselves with a focus on better nutrition”) CG was one of the initial

beneficiaries of Hinga Weze, comprised of 73 households. This CG had

difficulties raising money to purchase nutritious foods for its members,

coupled with a general lack of knowledge on hygiene and food safety

practices. There was also limited participation of males in daily childcare

activities, which negatively impacted community development.

The leader of the CG, Mukazuza, noted that through support from Hinga

Weze, the CG members acquired knowledge on the components of a

well-balanced diet and how to prepare nutritious meals from locally

available foods or items grown in home gardens. CG members received

training on how to establish and maintain home gardens, which can serve

as a source of additional fruits and vegetables. Demonstrations were

provided on two kitchen garden sites established alongside the cooking

demonstration sites. Mukazuza credits the community nutrition

transformation and improved gender equity to Hinga Weze’s presence in

the district. She noted that, on a personal level, her own health and that

of her grandchild has improved considerably due to improved knowledge

acquired through her CG.

Since its inception in mid-2017, Hinga Weze has supported 66,562

households with 14,009 cooking demonstrations taking place in

communities across its 10 target districts in Rwanda, transforming

nutritional practices, stabilizing gender norms, and empowering farmer

communities.

A family-centered Care Group model transforms

farmer community, building their capacities to

improve nutrition.

Ph

oto

s: ©

HW

Sta

ff

“As a couple, we have acquired the skills and confidence to select

nutritious food mixtures and to prepare improved child and family

feeding recipes using locally available and affordable foods.”

– Alphonsine, cooking demonstration attendee

The objectives of Hinga Weze cooking demonstration sessions

are to improve and diversify family feeding practices and food

intake, with a specific focus on improving the nutritional quality

of families’ and young children’s diets. This is done through the

organization of food demonstrations to impart locally

appropriate knowledge and other activities aimed at

developing families’ and caregivers’ skills and confidence to

prepare nutritious meals using locally available foods.

Above: Care Group members (parents) attending a nutrition

education activity aimed at teaching them how to cook a balanced

and diversified diet to feed their children. Below: Care Group

preparing milk to feed children after the demonstration.

53

Post-Handling Practices Change Fortunes For Carrot Farmers

Situated in the Western Province of Rwanda, Nyabihu District is an area

with a very conducive climate for vegetable growing. One of the key

vegetable crops grown in Nyabihu is carrots, mainly for sale to urban areas

across Rwanda. However, all is not rosy as farmers continually grapple

with losses incurred due to the perishable nature of carrots - most of it

rots before reaching the market, becoming unsaleable and hence causing

significant losses.

Nyabihu farmer Mukasine Mariza (46) faced more than her fair share of

this challenge. In previous seasons, she would harvest an average crop but

then lose a large proportion to spoilage due to low-quality post-harvest

handling practices. Adding to her woes, Mukasine would sell off her

produce at a give-away-price, fearing to make additional losses since

carrots are very perishable. Like most farmers, she would be at the mercy

of aggregators who would take advantage of the perishability of carrots to

pay less, forcing the farmers to accept poor returns on their labor and

investment. Indeed, the lack of proper post-harvest handling skills and

equipment made vegetable farming an unprofitable venture for many

farmers in Nyabihu District.

Mukasine’s fortunes changed when USAID through Hinga Weze offered a

6,243,243 RWF investment to set up a cold room with a cool bot and to

construct a Zero Energy Cooling Chamber (ZECC) for her cooperative

called KOGIMUIN. The cold room stores up to 300 crates, each carrying

15 kg of carrots, and, to-date, 3,600 MT of carrots have been handled by

the facility. The cooperative of 55 members also received 150 crates and

1 scale.

The support is in line with Hinga Weze goals, as a USAID-funded program,

to sustainably increase smallholder farmers’ income, improve the

nutritional status of women and children, and increase the resilience of

Rwanda’s agricultural and food systems to a changing climate. Using the

facilities provided, Mukasine is now able to weigh her produce, ensure that

it is stored upon harvest to keep fresh, and it is safely transported to the

market without overexposure to heat.

From the training on good agricultural practices and post-harvest handling

received from Hinga Weze, Mukasine has increased her yield from 3 tons

per hectare to over 4.5 tons/ha. Most remarkably, she also managed to

increase earnings per yield from 375,000 RWF (about $398) to 562,500

RWF (about $597). Her earnings improved after Hinga Weze linked the

farmers to a cooperative of aggregators where they can negotiate good

prices.

“I almost gave up farming, but now I no longer make losses. I save enough

money for my children,” she happily observed. To Mukasine and her

cooperative members, carrot farming is no longer a curse but a blessing

as they continue utilize the skills and facilities to reduce losses and earn

more from farming.

Through USAID support, carrot farmers are

able to improve yields, reduce post-harvest

losses and have better access to markets

Ph

oto

s: ©

HW

Sta

ff

Zero Energy Cooling Chamber (ZECC) facility where farmers

can store carrots

“I almost gave up farming, but now I no longer

make losses. I save enough money for my children

and can have them schooled properly’’

- Mukasine

Mariza

54

Input Credit Scheme Links Agro-Dealers to Farmers

Agro-dealers provide loans and

inputs to farmers to improve

production

An agro-dealer assisting farmers to access input.

“We expanded our business by adding

inputs that farmers need”

Ange Ngabonziza, Agro dealer

Production levels of key crops in Rwanda including maize,

potato and vegetable, is relatively low. Agricultural productivity

depends on affordability and accessibility of agriculture inputs

including seeds, pesticides, fertilizer that are essential for

improving yield and raising incomes (AGRA, 2013).

Unfortunately, farmers in Rwanda must incur significant up-

front investment in agro-inputs before they can generate

revenues to recoup these pre-seasonal expenses. Without

access to finance, poor farmers are exposed to perpetual sub-

optimal yield and low revenues, due to their inability to invest

in appropriate inputs.

To bridge the gaps in the finance of agro-input supply for

farmers, Hinga Weze set up a pilot input-credit scheme in two

districts and later scaled it up on order to link more agro-

dealers to farmers to boost their production and incomes. This

is in line with part of Hinga Weze’s goal to sustainably increase

smallholder farmers’ income and increase the resilience of

Rwanda’s agricultural and food systems.

Funded by USAID, Hinga Weze has now enrolled 318 agro-

dealers in its 10 targeted districts of Rwanda into the scaled-up

scheme to gain technical knowledge on agrochemical

regulation, climate smart agriculture, nutrition-sensitive

agriculture and product knowledge in pesticides, fertilizers, and

lime. They were also provided with training and skills in

business record-keeping, warehouse management, and

marketing strategies to be able to give good services and

products to farmers who were able to double their harvest.

Through the model and Hinga Weze support, the capacitated

agro-dealers were also linked to financial institutions that have

so far provided 79 agro-dealers with loans worth over

$277,242. For example, 11 agro-dealers from Karongi were

assisted to access loans from banks and SACCOs worth

$21,019 (19,800,000 RWF) and were therefore able to provide

agro-inputs on credit directly to farmers, who, in turn, were

able to repay the loan upon harvesting. In the last three

months, the scheme has assisted 1,838 farmers to access inputs

worth $38,419.

Ph

oto

s: ©

HW

Sta

ff

55

Annex 2: HW Performance Monitoring

Indicator

Indicator

Type Disaggregation Frequency

Q2 FY2020

Through December

Comment Target Actual

Perfor-

mance

Goal: Sustainably increase SHFs’ income, improve nutritional status of Rwandan women and children, and increase the resilience of the agriculture and food

systems to the changing climate

Custom

1. Number of ha under

improved practices for soil

and water management as a

result of USG assistance

Output ha, location Annually 100 42.2 42.2%

The grant approval process took longer

than expected. The contract was signed in

February 2020 when B Season crops were

still in the fields. We will proceed with this

activity as soon as the harvest is over.

EG.3-2

3. Number of individuals

participating in USG food

security programs

Output Sex, age category,

type of individual Annually 50,000 54,224 108%

On target

EG.3.2-24

6. Number of individuals in

the agriculture system who

have applied improved

management practices Outcome

Farmers,

value chain actor

type,

commodity

technology type,

age, sex

Annually 40,000 54,098 135%

This quarter, the large number of farmers

who applied improved agricultural

practices were from the west with small

land size. This led to an over-achievement

of Indicator 6 and an under-achievement of

indicator 7.

EG.3.2-25


improved management

practices or technologies

with USG assistance

Outcome

ha,

technology type,

age, sex,

commodity

Annually 23,000 15,133 66%

See above

EG 3.2-28


improved management

practices or technologies

that promote improved

climate risk reduction and/or

natural resources

management

Outcome Number of ha

Annually 2,300 2,9876 130%

The capacity of agro-dealers to market

and to sell lime has significantly increased.

Custom

9. Number of GoR staff

trained in updated

agriculture CSA practices for

national extension program Output

Number of

individuals,

sex

Quarterly 20 86 430%

Planned trainings in Q1 were not done

and postponed to Q2.

56

Indicator

Indicator

Type Disaggregation Frequency

Q2 FY2020

Through December

Comment Target Actual

Perfor-

mance

Custom

10. Number of agro-dealers

with improved capacity to

sell appropriate inputs to

SHFs for CSA as a result of

USG assistance

Output Number agro-

dealers

Quarterly 122 – 0%

The capacity building of all agro-dealers

that we collaborate with was completed in

Q1. The overall annual target has been

achieved.

Custom

11. Number of farmers

reached by new/improved

market information systems

Output Number of

farmers Quarterly 40,000 42,801 107%

On target

EG.3.227

12. Value of agriculture-

related financing accessed Output

USD, type of

financing accessed

(debt/ nondebt),

size, sex

Quarterly 338,043 462,806 137%

In addition to banks, other value chain

actors such as agro-dealers have

successfully started providing loans under

Hinga Weze mentoring.

EG.4.2-7

13. Number of individuals

participating in group-based

savings, microfinance, or

lending programs

Output

Sex, age,

product

duration

Quarterly 46,717 51,218 109.6%

On target

Custom

20. Number of HHs using

improved supported food

safety practices as a result of

USG assistance

Outcome HH,

location

Quarterly 1,000 2,948 295%

The overachievement is due to the fact that

we have trained many HHs this quarter.

This will leave us with enough time to

follow up and maintain trained HHs.

HL.9-2

21. Number of children

under two (0-23 months)

reached with community-

level nutrition interventions

Output Number,

sex

Annually 20,411 20,304 99%

On target

GNDR-2

22. Percentage of female

participants in USG-assisted

programs designed to

increase access to

productive economic

resources

Output Number,

sex Annually 62% 65% 105%

On target

YOUTH-

3

23. Percentage of

participants increasing access

to productive economic

resources who are youth

(16-30)

Output Percent Annually 27% 24.2% 90%

On target

57

Annex 3. Summary of Grant Achievements in Q2 FY2020.

Q2 Planned Output Q2 Achievement Comment

Irrigation: Finalize identification of 100 ha

for SSITs and release a new request for

application (RFA). Submit USAID

approval for two selected service

providers on 50 ha of SSITs.

HW received COR concurrence to award SOCOSE and ENTERPRISE

DE CONSTRUCTION MIXTE (ECM) for the development of 50 ha

of SSITs in Ngoma (10 ha), Bugesera (10 ha), Gatsibo (20 ha), and

Kayonza (10 ha). The subcontract was signed in February and

implementation has started.

HW has identified 100 ha in the Bugesera district for rehabilitation that

includes 50 ha in the Kamabuye sector, 25 ha in the Gashora sector,

and 25 ha in the Rilima sector.

The Kamabuye site has been validated by the

district and RAB and the RFP will be released in

April 2020.

The Gashora and Rilima sites were selected and

the RFP is being drafted and will be released in

May 2020.

Terracing: Finalize the selection and

negotiation process of the service

providers to develop 620 ha of

progressive, radical, and valorization of

terraces sites identified in Nyabihu,

Ngororero, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke,

Karongi, and Rutsiro.

HW received COR concurrence to award J&R Engineering and General

Business Limited to develop 80 ha of progressive terraces in the Karongi

district. The subcontract was signed in February 2020 and

implementation has started.

HW received COR concurrence to award the following subcontractors

to develop 540 ha of radical terraces, progressive terraces, and

valorization of existing terraces. Subcontracts will be signed in April

2020:

● ACTIONS DE DÉVELOPPEMENT AGRICOLE ET

D’AMENAGEMENT (100 ha of radical terraces in Nyabihu and

Ngororero)

● BETTER SERVING COMPANY LTD AND MMT LTD JOINT

VENTURE (50 ha of valorization of existing terraces in Nyabihu)

● GSA LTD AND ECOPEN ITUZE JOINT VENTURE (50 ha of

valorization of existing terraces in Ngororero)

● ECE LTD (100 ha of radical terraces in Nyamagabe and

Nyamasheke)

● AB WORKING LTD (100 ha of valorization of existing radical

terraces in Nyamagabe and Nyamasheke)

● EPECOTGE LTD (40 ha of radical terraces and 60 ha of

progressive terraces in the Rutsiro district)

● PARVA LTD (40 ha of radical terraces in the Karongi district)

Subcontracts will be signed in April 2020 and

implementation is expected to start in May 2020.

PHH: Respond to USAID on four

negotiation memorandums. Release a

new RFA on cooperative development

HW entered into partnership with four PHH grantees (CARL GROUP,

MWEZI COMPANY LTD, BONA NATURAL FRUITS

TRANSFORMATION COMPANY, and DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS

CONSULTING LTD, formerly Agrifood Consulting Ltd).

HW released a request for quote to purchase the

grantee equipment and the evaluation and

selection of the vendor is in process.

58

Q2 Planned Output Q2 Achievement Comment

in Q1 and start the selection and

negotiation of potential applicants.

HW received applications from cooperatives in response to the RFA

released in Q1. 53 cooperatives were selected and the preaward

assessment was completed in March 2020.

HW will document the selection of cooperative

into a negotiation memo and will seek COR

concurrence in Q3.

Youth: Receive USAID approval on

RYAF and start implementation. Finalize

negotiation with one applicant and

request USAID approval.

HW received COR concurrence to award RYAF to expand the services

it offers to both new and established youth agribusinesses in HW target

districts and value chains.

Under youth RFA, HW selected one applicant and negotiation were

completed.

HW will finalize the negotiation memorandum to

award 53 cooperatives in Q3.

One negotiation memorandum for the selected

youth application will be submitted to USAID in

Q3.

FSCs: Complete negotiations with one

applicant, submit negotiation

memorandums to USAID, and begin

implementation. Release a new RFA to

look for potential applicant in the

Gatsibo district.

HW received COR concurrence to award ENAS to establish an FSC in

the Nyabihu district.

The negotiation memo to award KOPABINYA to establish an FSC in

the Nyamagabe district was completed and was submitted to Home

Office.

HW received an application for the Gatsibo FSC and the evaluation

process will start in April 2020.

The grant agreement will be signed in April 2020

and implementation is expected to start in May

2020.

Mini-FSCs: No previous quarterly plans. HW selected four applicants to receive a mini-FSC grant. The

negotiations were completed and are under internal review.

HW will submit the four negotiation

memorandums to USAID in Q3.

Access to finance: Submit negotiation

memorandums to USAID for approval

of five SACCOs and two private

companies.

HW received Home Office feedback on the five SACCOs and the two

FI negotiation memorandums.

HW will submit the six negotiation

memorandums to USAID in Q3.

ICT4Ag: Receive USAID approval and

begin implementation.

HW received COR concurrence to award Mahwi-Tech LTD to support

the development and customization of the grantee m-lima platform in

order to be used as an agricultural output market information delivery

platform. The grant agreement was signed in January 2020.

MAHWI TECH LTD started the implementation

of activities.

Seed multiplication: Finalize evaluation

and negotiation with potential applicants

and request USAID approval.

HW selected 18 applicants to receive seed grants that include six for

HIB, nine for Irish Potatoes, and three for OFSP. The negotiation

memorandums were completed and are under internal review.

HW has consolidated the applicants for similar

value chains into one negotiation memorandum

to ease the review process. HW will submit the

three negotiation memorandums in Q3.

An RFP to look for an STTA will be released in

April 2020.

Lime Grant: Release a new RFA to look

for potential applicant.

HW received an application for the lime grant and the evaluation

process will start in May 2020. HW will recruit an STTA to assist in the

evaluation process.

59

Annex 4: NUTRITION TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN YEAR 3

(Nutrition Specific and Nutrition Sensitive)

With the capacitated CBVs, based on the capacity-building needs identified in Year 2, HW will

continue to build the capacity of care groups (new and existing) in nutrition-specific and nutrition-

sensitive activities with a focus on graduating the mature care groups into independent business-

oriented entities (solidarity groups, cooperatives, agro-dealers, etc.). The capacity building will

focus on topics suggested by the HW DPEM Assessment 2019 and identified in the table below.

In the HH booklet (Imihigo y’urugo), CBVs will ensure that they conduct home visits to

disseminate these topics and identify the adopted nutrition practices.

Number Main Domain Core Nutrition Actions/Topics to Be Covered Quarter

1. Nutrition-Specific Interventions

1

Maternal, infant,

and young child nutrition

(MIYCN)

1. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months (Konsa gusa

kugera ku mezi 6)

A tool to use: Exclusive breastfeeding flyer (Kinyarwanda

version-Konsa gusa kugera ku mezi 6

Q1

2. Consequences of mixed breastfeeding before 6

months (Ingaruka zo kuvangira umwana utaragira

amezi 6)

A tool to use: Exclusive breastfeeding flyer (Kinyarwanda

version-Konsa gusa kugera ku mezi 6)

Q2

3. Complementary feeding (after 6 months - 23

months): To promote the consumption of minimum

acceptable diet, minimum feeding frequency at age, weekly

meal calendar to diversify foods.

To promote the consumption of four or more out of seven of

the food groups to meet minimum dietary diversity (MDD) for

breastfed children and six for nonbreastfed ones: (a) grains,

roots, and tubers; (b) legumes and nuts; (c) dairy products (milk,

yogurt, cheese); (d) flesh foods (meat, fish, poultry, and liver/organ meats); (e) eggs; (f) vitamin A-rich fruits and

vegetables; (g) other fruits and vegetables; and (h) breast milk.

A minimum meal frequency of (a) two or more solid or semisolid

feeds for breastfeeding children age 6-8 months, or three or

more solid or semisolid feeds for breastfeeding children age 9-

23 months, or (b) four or more solid or semisolid or milk feeds

for nonbreastfeeding children age 6-23 months.

A tool to use: Complementary feeding flyer or poster

(Imfashebere ku bana hejuru y’amezi 6)

Q1

4. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation:

Promote consumption of MDD, weekly meal calendar to

diversify foods.

Q1

60


To promote women to consume five or more out of 10 of the

food groups: (a) grains, white roots and tubers, and plantains; (b)

pulses (beans, peas, and lentils); (c) nuts and seeds; (d) dairy; (e)

meat, poultry, and fish; (f) eggs; (g) dark green leafy vegetables;

(h) other vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables; (i) other

vegetables; and (j) Other fruits

A tool to use: Maternal feeding poster (Indyo y’umubyeyi utwite

n’uwonsa)

5. Adolescent (10-14) and young girls (15-29) nutrition:

Eat three meals every day (dietary diversity) and low-fat

snacks between meals, choose healthy snacks such as

vegetables and fruits or baked snacks instead of fries.

A tool to use: Adolescent nutrition (Indyo igenewe ingimbi

n’urubyiruko)

Q2

2 Micronutrients

6. Micronutrient supplements: Promote community-level

nutrition interventions, micronutrients, and link beneficiaries

to them (iron and folic acid, Ongera, vitamin A, Shisha

kibondo, etc.) and promote other community-level nutrition

interventions available in the community

A tool to use: Community-Based Nutrition Program (CBNP)

booklet Kinyarwanda version

Q2

7. A balanced diet with an increment of micronutrient

consumption including vegetables and fruits for the

family: Promote the consumption of family meal calendar

with reduction of fats and increase of animal proteins,

vegetables, and fruits

A tool to use: Family balanced diet calendar from food recipe

booklet

Q2

8. Fortification: Promote fortified foods and link beneficiaries

to the private sector (vendors, including agro-dealers) for

those foods (bio-product fortification) including HIB, OFSP,

maize/wheat flours, etc.

A tool to use: List of HW nutritious foods to promote

Q3

3

Management of

moderate and

severe acute

malnutrition

(MAM/SAM)

and childhood

diseases

9. Malnutrition (forms of malnutrition, causes,

prevention, referrals, importance of growth

monitoring): Promote the GoR community-level health and

nutrition interventions and link beneficiaries to nearby HFs

(growth monitoring, deworming tablets, diarrhea treatment,

treatment of MAM and SAM)

A tool to use: MIYCN Facilitator Guide Kinyarwanda version

Q3

4

Maternal,

newborn, and

child health

10. Promote GoR community-level health and

nutrition interventions, including ante-natal care visits,

mosquito nets, and Child Growth Monitoring Program

A tool to use: CBNP booklet Kinyarwanda version

Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4

61


2. Nutrition-Sensitive Interventions

5

Food and

agriculture

11. Home Gardening 1: Promote home garden inputs,

materials, and technology (water harvesting tanks, watering

can, improved seeds) to sustain them year round with enough

and with diversified vegetables (minimum two leaves and two

roots) and fruits to feed the family and the following home

garden model (Mandala, terracing/upstairs, double dung, and

sunken bed); water tank payback model

A tool to use: Home Garden Guide/Flyer Kinyarwanda version

Q2

12. Home Gardening 2: Promote home gardening models

such as mound/cone garden, flatbed and container/sack.

Promote home gardening techniques, such as compost,

fertilizer, pesticides, watering, planting in rows, integration of

small livestock, harvesting, storage, home consumption, and

selling of home garden produce to sustain them year round

with enough and with diversified vegetables (minimum two

leaves and two roots) and fruits to feed the family

A tool to use: Home Garden Guide/Flyer Kinyarwanda version

Q3

13. Food Safety (Farm to Fork) 1: Promote food safety

practices from farm to fork (GAPs, processing, preservation,

storage, transportation, and food preparation safety)

A tool to use: Food Safety Flyer Kinyarwanda version

Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4

14. Food Safety (Farm to Fork) 2: Promote food safety

practices of HW value chains (OFSP, HIB, maize, potatoes,

horticulture) from farm to fork (GAPs, processing,

preservation, storage, transportation, and food preparation

safety)

A tool to use: Food Safety Flyer

Q3

15. Saving: Promote saving for nutritious foods and

purchase of nutritious foods (HIB, OFSP, animal protein) for

HH consumption. Promote savings in care groups. Promote

income-generating activities and linking care groups to FIs.

Train them on budgeting and making HH calendar

A tool to use: Saving Module Kinyarwanda version

Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4

16. Small Livestock Keeping: Promote small livestock

husbandry (production, biosecurity, disease management)

and HW payback model

A tool to use: Livestock Keeping Flyer Kinyarwanda version

Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q3

17. Small Livestock Business: Promote small livestock

business selling of eggs, chickens, animal feeds. Link care

groups to potential buyers of eggs and chickens and HW

payback model

Too to use: Livestock Module Kinyarwanda version

Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4

62


6

Nutrition

education and

counselling

(individual and

community)

18. Cooking Demonstrations: Promote food diversity

with food groups for women and children, as well as value

chains, school feeding, adolescent nutrition, and home visits

using the food Recipe Booklet

A tool to use: Food Recipe Booklet Kinyarwanda version

Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4

7 WASH

19. WASH: Promote food safety, hygiene. and handwashing

practices (improved toilet, tip tap, dish rack, drinking safe

water, drying rope for cloths, safe disposal of waste, etc.)

A tool to use: Food Safety/WASH Flyer

Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4

8 Social

protection

20. Advocate for vulnerable beneficiaries for social safety

nets and school feeding (one cup of milk)

A tool to use: One Cow Program Flyer from district

Q4

9 Gender

21. GALS 1: Teach GALS tools, including Vision Road

Journey, Diamond Dreams, Gender Balance Tree A tool to use: GALS Package

Q1

22. GALS 2: Teach GALS tools, including Production

Challenge Action Tree, Multilane Highway, Achievement

Journey.

A tool to use: GALS Package

Q2, Q3,

23. Women Empowerment, Gender Equality, and

Female Role Models: Provide women access to productive

economic resources (land, houses, businesses). Increase

decision-making power around access and control around

HH incomes to purchase nutritious foods. Promote women in leadership, including women representation and

participation in leadership positions including influential

positions in cooperatives, solidarity groups, etc.

A tool to use: Gender Package

Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4 to

be

combined with

GALS

24. Role Model engagement (A. Male Engagement): Promote positive masculinity; increase men engagement in

HH activities, including nutrition and childcare, and

participation in male care groups


Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4

25. Role Model Engagement (B. Youth Engagement): Promote youth participation in HH activities, including

nutrition and childcare. Promote youth participation in the

dissemination of nutrition messages, financial literacy. Involve

youth in the establishment of Kitchen Gardens, life skills

(SRHR, saving, etc.), and prevention of gender-based violence,

including teenage pregnancies


Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4

63

Annex 5: Interim Pilot Report: Hinga Weze Village Agent Business

Model to Improve Maize Aggregation In Four Districts

1. Introduction

The USAID Hinga Weze Activity under its “Improved Access to Markets” outcome (known as

Component 2) seeks to address key drivers of market failures in Rwanda, such as high post-

harvest losses, lack of an aggregation culture, low aggregation capacity, non-transparent and

asymmetric information on the demand and supply of agricultural produce (raw maize, beans,

potato, OFSP and horticulture) as well as limited access to financing. These challenges make the

functioning of value chains in agricultural commodities inefficient, and therefore hinder the

optimization of market opportunities for farmers at both demand and supply levels.

With a relatively weak agricultural extension system in Rwanda, Hinga Weze has learned that

building expertise and linkages close to the farmer at the village level is a key driver to improving

aggregation. In this context, Hinga Weze has been building local networks of motivated and well-

trained “Village Agent” farmers and using them to facilitate integration of market linkages to build mutually-beneficial relationships among farmers, traders, processors, cooperatives and other

value chain actors. Under this model, Village Agents are trained by Hinga Weze field officers

from both its productivity and market access teams to work with groups of farmers in order to

highlight the importance of well-coordinated post-harvest handling and aggregation.

To build on and expand this model, Hinga Weze partnered with Kumwe Harvest, a Hinga Weze

grantee and local aggregator for Africa Improved Food (AIF), piloted the Village Agent business

model in four districts of Rwanda. The model was aiming to test the level of performance-based

incentive for Village Agents to increase the production and sale of maize to Kumwe during

agricultural Season 2020A, focusing on farmers who want to produce maize for the market but

don’t currently belong to cooperatives.

The goal of the model was to motivate these Village Agents to increase production and sale of

maize to Kumwe Harvest within their peer group. In collaboration with Kumwe, the Village

Agents were offered a cash incentive that is determined by the level of maize aggregation

performance per village. If the Village Agents are able to get their peer group of farmers to

collectively sell over (10) metric tons of maize to Kumwe, an amount ranging from RWF 3-6 for

every kilogram thereafter were set and paid by Kumwe as an incentive to the agents.

2. The Village Agent Model Pilot in 4 Hinga Weze Districts

To assess the effectiveness of the model, Hinga Weze and Kumwe Harvest launched a pilot in

the four districts of Bugesera, Kayonza, Ngoma and Rutsiro that targeted 1,408 farmers and 49

youth as Village Agents. Over the course of agricultural season 2020A, the pilot was rolled out

in three phases that comprised of the following activities:

✓ A Training of Trainer phase: This was to build capacity of the Village Agents and farmers.

During this phase Kumwe Harvest trained eight field staff of Hinga Weze who in their turn

trained a total of 512 farmers in their respective districts. The trainings focused on the

Kumwe-established “Cob Model” and targeted the increase of quality of maize to a level that

is required by the market. In addition, the stronger farmers in each group were given an

64

assignment to go and discuss with farmers in their areas, so that those who are ready and can

produce would sign a commitment/contract with Kumwe Harvest.

✓ Harvesting phase: This phase comprised of a refresher training on PHH techniques,

aggregation processes, and the payment model. A total of 296 out of the 512 participating

farmers who had committed to participate in

the model and had signed contract with

Kumwe Harvest, were invited for the second

phase. Under the model, a total of 8,743 MT

of maize were pledged to be supplied to

Kumwe Harvest.

✓ Aggregation phase: Under the

coordination of Village Agents and strong

farmers, each agent was to aggregate at least

10 MT or more at the agreed-upon collection

centers where Kumwe Harvest trucks were called to come for pick-up of the maize.

3. Challenges, Lesson Learned and

Next Steps

During the pilot, the first two phases went as planned, and the farmers expressed strong interest

in this new model which was explained by the large number of signed contracts. There were

good successes at a localized level, for example two Village Agents in Kayonza and Bugesera that

were able to aggregate and sell 47 MT to Kumwe. This generated USD 12,033 for the farmers

they served, who had not sold maize to the formal market before, and therefore generated RWF

141,000 of commission fees for the agents.

However, some unplanned changes in market dynamics during season 2020A caused the pilot to

change its features, especially in the buying actor. In mid-season, Kumwe Harvest – the only

buyer under the pilot - experienced a cancelation of its contract with AIF, its main off-taker of

maize. With this adjustment of the model, Kumwe was unable to buy maize from farmers as AIF

was now doing so directly and offering a higher price.

Following the AIF decision to source directly from farmers, eliminating smaller aggregators such

as Kumwe, the latter changed its model from direct aggregation to providing a grain-handling

service at a fee (shelling/drying). Although Kumwe was able to generate some revenue from this

new approach, it was a significant loss of revenue for them, and it also lessened the effectiveness

of the Village Agents making it difficult to assess the model in all of the four districts.

In conclusion, the Village Agent model has proven to increase the amount of high-quality maize

that reaches formal markets, but the pilot requires further extension to address the new market

dynamics. In that context, as a lesson learned, Hinga Weze has resolved to lessen its reliance on

one buyer and to include more buyers under the scheme. As next steps, starting with the third

quarter of CY2020, the Village Agents will continue within the four districts of the pilot, but will

target other buyers such as EAX, Sarura and AIF, targeting season 2020B maize. The model will

be scaled up to other districts in 2021 depending on results and lessons learned from the new

approach. Hinga Weze will continue to propagate the results with the aim to increase the

sustainability of the additional revenue streams for farmers and Village Agents. To be continued!

Farmer Promoter Nsengiyumva Alfred beside a hangar in Kayonza

with 100MT maize cobs aggregated from farmers and to be

supplied to Kumwe Harvest. Picture taken by Hinga Weze staff.

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Annex 6: HW Organizational Chart

feed the future rwanda hinga weze activity

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