Rwanda development organization is a non-Government organization established in 1995 to support the initiatives of Rwandese in social and economic development with a vision to see Rwandans in control of their own destiny, enjoying good standard of living and sustainable development.
RDO mission is to “empower partner communities including those vulnerable to improve their human capital, achieve food and nutrition security, and establish market linkages in a sustainable natural environment.” RDO has 5 strategic objectives that are in line with the vision and mission
RDO’s Strategic Objectives
1: To provide institutional support to farmer cooperatives as well as build individual farmer capacities in order to enhance their capacities to promote their social-economic development.
2: To promote environmental conservation through planting trees, combating soil erosion, to ensure the fragile environment is able to sustain its economic and ecological functions.
3: To improve the food security situation of target population so that they have at all times access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life
4: To promote gender equality and women empowerment to enable acquire resources, knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process.
5: To support local communities to live a healthier life through Covid-19 pandemic prevention, Malaria& TB prevention and HIV/AIDS.RDO’s interventions have a national focus.
In line with objective 3, RDO is an implementing partner (IP) The global UN Joint Programme “Accelerating Progress Towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment” (JP RWEE) is being implemented by FAO, IFAD, UN Women and WFP. The programme provides holistic and integrated interventions to secure rural women’s livelihoods, rights and resilience and address the multiple challenges faced by rural women. RDO has been implementing partner in Phase I (2015-2022). The Programme activities in phase 1 were implemented to achieve four interlinked outcomes: rural women’s improved food and nutrition security; increased incomes to sustain livelihoods; enhanced leadership and participation in decision making; and creating a more gender responsive policy environment for rural women. RDO implemented phase I in 3 Districts of Kirehe, Ngoma and Nyaruguru and the reached 1,986 direct beneficiaries including 1,653 women and 333 men these are grouped in 20 women cooperatives. RDO trained them in entrepreneurship and business skills, tax laws and tax policies, financial literacy and leadership and quality standards and supported them with PH equipment to help improve quality of produce
Nkabikorere Kibimba women cooperative under JPRWEE supported with Moto Tricycle to facilitate transporting produce from the farm to the drying shed and transport commodities to market
Women cooperative in Nyaruguru district supported with crates and tarpaulins
JPRWEE PHASE 11 Main goal is to secure rural women’s livelihoods, rights and resilience to advance Sustainable development, Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. The programme has 4 outcomes: Improved food security and nutrition for rural women and their households that contribute to equitable and sustainable food; Rural women’s income, decent work and economic autonomy increased to secure their livelihoods and build resilience; Rural women’s voice and agency increased for full and equal participation and leadership in their households , communities , organizations and governance systems; Gender -responsive legal frame works , policies and institutions strengthened to create enabling environment for rural women to secure their livelihoods , rights and resilience
RDO is implementing partner in JPRWEE Phase II which will end in 2027 and extends in five districts namely: Gisagara & Nyaruguru in southern province, Nyamasheke in western province, and Kirehe and Ngoma in eastern province and targets to reach 9,101 Rights holders among whom 70% will be women. RDO has participated in targeting and profiling of beneficiaries, introducing the programme to local authorities in all the five districts. RDO is in exercise of mobilizing targeted rightsholders to form saving groups, train them in financial literacy and facilitate them to become formal cooperatives. I GISAGARA 98 saving groups have been formed with 2,274 members (F 1,551, M 623) and made savings of RWF 4,191,370 and in Nyamasheke, 56 saving groups have been formed with 1,366 members (F 1,177, M 189) and made savings of RWF 1,477,500. The exercise is going on even in other districts of Kirehe, Ngoma and Nyaruguru.
JPRWEE women group members in Ngoma district, after training on financial literacy
Mobilization meeting in Gitwa cell/Gihombo sector, Nyamasheke District
Mobilization meeting in Jarama cell/Gihombo sector/Nyamasheke District
