The USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose programme, funded by the United States, is nearing the end of its third year, with notable progress in enhancing child nutrition, inclusivity, and early childhood development (ECD) in Rwanda.

Launched in 2022, the project partners with the Rwandan government’s National Child Development Agency (NCDA) and operates across 4,592 villages in 10 districts.

The project’s primary aim is to enhance the health, nutrition, and developmental outcomes of children under six, with a special focus on the critical 1,000-day period from conception to two years of age.

Through Nurturing Care Hubs or community-based Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose provides integrated nutrition and health promotion services including early learning, nutrition, child play and stimulation, and rehabilitation for malnourished children.

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One notable success story among many is the ECD centre in Kibimba village, Ngoma District. Here, children receive daily nutritious meals prepared by their parents and engage in learning and play activities under the supervision of trained community health workers. This model has been instrumental in reducing stunting, improving overall child health, and more.

During a press conference, Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, Deputy Chief of Party of the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose at Catholic Relief Services, highlighted the significant accomplishments of the project. These achievements included supporting the development of the national family and nutrition policy and revising protocols for managing malnutrition. Furthermore, the initiative has set up 174 community-based Early Childhood Development centres, catering to more than 8,000 children, and has provided training to over 16,000 community volunteers, including community health workers and model parents.

In addition, he said: "Rehabilitating 5,381 children with acute and severe malnutrition through Village Nutrition Schools (VNS) and various campaigns, training more than 5,000 ECD caregivers on integrated ECD services, distributing over 15,000 storybooks to 226 ECDs to promote literacy and numeracy, and connecting over 7,000 people with disabilities to supportive services and enrolling 3,000 children with disabilities in ECD centres.”

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Standout testimonies

According to Denyse Unyuzuwera, a social inclusion officer for the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose in Ngoma District, the programme has supported over 7,000 people living with disabilities.

"Children with disabilities have a higher chance of being affected by malnutrition. Such kids need special care, so we follow up on them, include them with others, teach their parents how to prepare nutritious food, and get them out of isolation by bringing them to ECD centres.”

Gentile Dukuzumuremyi, a 13-year-old Primary Six student from Munege Village in Gashanda Sector, is one of the supported children. In her early years, her left leg was amputated below the knee after a diagnosis. She began school, which is a 30-minute walk from home, and her mother, Clementine Mukadusabe, had to carry her to and from school every day.

USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose supported her in getting a prosthetic leg. She underwent surgery at Gahini Hospital in Kayonza District. Now she walks independently, excels in her studies, and socializes with her peers, unlike before when she was hesitant to interact with others.

"After being able to walk by myself, my performance improved from 68 percent to 75 percent. My fellow students were also happy to see me walking. I will excel in the national exams. I want to be a doctor; that’s my dream career,” she said.

"My thanks to USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose for helping and supporting me when I had lost hope. Now I can focus on productive work, and she can walk by herself,” her mother, Mukadusabe, said.

Joselyne Mukansanga is a model parent (Umubyeyi w'Urumuri) in Kibimba village trained by the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose, who educates fellow parents on how to prepare nutritious and well-balanced meals.

"We received tools such as length mats and weighing machines to check children and know their nutrition status. We improve parents’ knowledge of nutrition so that they can feed their children a balanced meal,” Mukansanga said.

In addition, parents learn how to grow nutrient-dense crops in kitchen gardens (Imirima y’igikoni), at the ECD centres. The gardens contain foods such as carrots, onions, cabbage, tomatoes, amaranth (commonly known as 'dodo'), and more, all rich in nutrients, consumed by children at the ECD centres. Additionally, parents are encouraged to make the same farms and grow the same vegetables at home, helping them provide nutritious food to their children and reduce stunting.

Shyaka Irindabanga has two children at the ECD centre, one his own and the other a grandchild. Both have been at the centre for over a year. He provides for their necessities, including meal contributions and transport.

He noted: "I brought them here not because they suffer from malnutrition, but because I wanted them to learn how to interact with others, read, talk, and stimulate their brains. This way, when they start school, they won’t struggle with their studies. They are now progressing well, and I am able to focus on my own morning activities while they are here.”

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Empowering communities

Among other initiatives, USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose has introduced Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) that allow parents to save and access loans. These loans enable them to meet their families’ nutritional needs and start income-generating activities. One standout group, Ubutwari, is now in its second year.

The group has created transformational change by improving access to savings, loans, and shared profits. This has improved community investment in small businesses, improved food purchases, and increased access to livestock, agricultural inputs, land, and housing improvements among its members.

According to Dorosera Mukankusi, the group’s president, they convene every Monday and contribute Rwf 500 each, weekly.

"Within the group, we have learned how to create kitchen gardens and craft mats and baskets to sell, which helps us buy what we need at home. Before joining, I depended entirely on my husband, but now I can borrow money to start a business. I’ve bought chickens that provide eggs, and I can pay for health insurance myself,” she said.

Dr. Heather Baily, USAID Health Officer said, "When children receive nutritious meals, they thrive—they grow healthier, learn more effectively, and reach their full potential. This is the shared vision we champion; nurturing healthy children who will grow to contribute positively to a thriving, peaceful Rwanda. Thanks to the Village Nutrition Schools, parents and caregivers learn about their children’s dietary needs and practice preparing healthy meals.”

The Country Representative of CRS in Rwanda, Hans Fly, said that the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose fits under the national strategy and social transformation pillar in eradicating malnutrition and reducing stunting. "We're really happy for the results and the notable reduction in stunting," he added.

In 2020, the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2020 by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), reported a stunting rate of 33% decreasing from 38% in 2015. The government of Rwanda targets to reach 19% at the end of 2024.

Cyriaque Nyiridandi Mapambano, Ngoma District’s Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs, commended the initiative, highlighting the establishment of 22 ECD centres through a partnership with USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose, in addition to the over 900 centres across the district.

He said that the programme focuses on teaching participants skills like making their own items, preparing balanced diets, and raising chickens for eggs, aiming to improve family nutrition and address social needs sustainably.

He noted that while the stunting rate dropped from 37 per cent in 2022 to 27 per cent last year, the goal remains to reach 19 percent: "We urge everyone to embrace the movement and support the government along the way.”

USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose is a five-year project funded thanks to the American people and aiming to improve the health, functioning, nutritional status, and well-being of women of reproductive age and children under six years of age, with an emphasis on the 1,000-day window, strengthen the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities and improve positive parenting and child development. The project is implemented by a consortium led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and four consortium members that include Humanity Inclusion (HI), UMUHUZA, Three Stones International (TSI), University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), and four sub-partners: CARITAS, African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE), Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Duharanire Amajyambere y’Icyaro - Association pour le Développement Rural Intégré (DUHAMIC-ADRI). The USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose operates in Nyabihu, Burera, Rulindo, Nyanza, Nyamasheke, Ngoma, Kayonza, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, and Rwamagana districts.