The agreement was signed on August 4, 2026, to fund the “Hangaribihe” programme, a national initiative aimed at strengthening Rwanda’s agricultural sector against the effects of climate change.
The four-year programme will run until 2029 and will focus on districts that are most vulnerable to climate change, particularly in the Eastern and Southern Provinces.
Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, said the funding will be invested in two major areas designed to modernize agriculture, increase productivity, and improve value addition.
“It includes increasing agricultural production and providing adequate processing facilities, with a strong focus on supporting smallholder farmers, cooperatives, women, youth, and small and medium-sized enterprises. It will also promote climate-resilient agriculture while protecting the environment,” Murangwa said.
EU Ambassador to Rwanda, Belén Calvo Uyarra, said the European Union has long partnered with Rwanda in various sectors and that this programme marks another important step in supporting environmental conservation through sustainable agriculture.
“This €40 million programme demonstrates our commitment to advancing agriculture. We are pleased that it will support initiatives that protect the environment while strengthening Rwanda’s agricultural sector,” she said.
Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, said the funding will complement existing government programmes, including irrigation projects, efforts to increase productivity in food basket zones, and the expansion of cultivated land.
“Our objective is to significantly increase productivity per hectare. To achieve this, new farming approaches must be introduced so that the desired yields can be realized despite climate-related challenges such as unpredictable rainfall, excessive rains, or prolonged dry spells. The goal is to ensure stable agricultural production despite these conditions,” he said.
Dr. Ndabamenye added that the programme will also reinforce ongoing initiatives such as agroforestry, soil erosion control, and the development of crop varieties that are more resistant to climate change.
“The project will continue supporting activities such as integrating trees into farming systems, combating soil erosion, and introducing new climate-resilient crop varieties. This will help increase agricultural production while ensuring environmental sustainability,” he noted.
The Hangaribihe programme is expected to support the implementation of Rwanda’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5), both of which prioritize sustainable agricultural growth, food security, and resilience to climate change.
