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October 2017 This FY 2017 Annual Progress Report was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was prepared by International Resources Group for the Rwanda PSDAG Project.

RWANDA PRIVATE SECTOR DRIVEN AGRICULTURAL GROWTH (PSDAG)

FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2016 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

Cover photo: Tuzamurane Cooperative employees processing fresh organic pineapples for export markets, [REDACTED] District (Photo by Wil

Boaz, RTI International

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RWANDA PRIVATE SECTOR DRIVEN AGRICULTURAL GROWTH (PSDAG) PROJECT

Fiscal Year (FY) 2017

Annual Progress Report: October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017

DISCLAIMER This FY 2017 Annual Progress Report was made possible through support provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of contract no. AID-696-C-14-00002. The opinions expressed herein are those of Research Triangle Institute and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

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PSDAG FY 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2017– SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 | PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE | III

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ································································································· 10

1. PROJECT PERFORMANCE···························································································· 13

1.1 OBJECTIVE 1: ASSIST Government of Rwanda (GOR) TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT ............................................................................................................................ 13 1.1.1 IMPROVING INVESTMENT PROMOTION .................................................................. 14 1.1.2 IMPROVING PUBLIC-PRIVATE DIALOGUE ............................................................... 22 1.1.3 ENHANCING THE BUSINESS ENABLING ENVIRONMENT ...................................... 31 1.1.4 INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING ............................. 37

1.2 OBJECTIVE 2: FACILITATE INCREASED PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT TO UPGRADE VALUE CHAINS ......................................................................................................................... 43 1.2.1 SELECTION AND APPROVAL OF PSDAG PRIVATE PARTNERS ............................ 44 1.2.2 OBJECTIVE 2.1.1: IMPROVING ACCESS TO RAW MATERIALS.............................. 46 1.2.3 OBJECTIVE 2.2.2: IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE OF STANDARDS ............................. 83 1.2.4 OBJECTIVE 2.2.3: IMPROVING ACCESS TO PACKAGING MATERIALS

AND SOLUTIONS ......................................................................................................... 84 1.2.5 OBJECTIVE 2.2.4: IMPROVING ACCESS TO FINANCE FOR FARMERS

AND AGRIBUSINESSES .............................................................................................. 87

2. MONITORING & EVALUATION AND CROSS-CUTTING THEMES ········································· 94

2.1 Monitoring and Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 94 2.1.1 FY2017 M&E Plan ......................................................................................................... 94 2.1.2 Performance Tracking and Reporting ........................................................................... 95 2.1.3 Capacity Building for Private Sector Partners ............................................................... 95 2.1.4 Use of ICT ..................................................................................................................... 95 2.1.5 Data Quality Assessment (DQA) .................................................................................. 96

2.2 Social Inclusion .......................................................................................................................... 97 2.2 Communication .......................................................................................................................... 99

2.2.1 Marking and Branding ................................................................................................... 99 2.2.2 Media Coverage ............................................................................................................ 99 2.2.3 Success Stories .......................................................................................................... 100

2.3 Capacity Building and Knowledge Management ..................................................................... 101 2.3.1 PSDAG Staff Capacity Building .................................................................................. 101 2.3.2 Business Development Services ................................................................................ 102 2.3.3 Capacity Building Support to Partners ........................................................................ 103

2.4 Environmental Compliance ...................................................................................................... 104

3. PARTNERSHIPS AND LINKAGES ················································································· 106

3.1 USAID Community Health and Improved Nutrition (CHAIN) Partners ..................................... 106 3.2 World Food Program (WFP) .................................................................................................... 106 3.3 MINAGRI/ RCA/NCCR/Cooperative development program .................................................... 106 3.4 World Bank and The UK Department for International Development (dfid) ............................. 107 3.5 DFID Projects in Support of MINAGRI ..................................................................................... 107 3.6 GIZ 107 3.7 TradeMark East Africa ............................................................................................................. 108 3.8 Access Finance Rwanda (AFR) ............................................................................................... 108 3.9 Clinton Development Initiative (CDI) ........................................................................................ 109

PAGE | IV PSDAG FY 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2016 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 | PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

3.10 KENYA COMMERCIAL BANK (KCB) rwanda ......................................................................... 109 3.11 USAID Climate Services for Agriculture Project ...................................................................... 109 3.12 USAID HD Project .................................................................................................................... 109 3.13 HINGA WEZE........................................................................................................................... 110 3.14 East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (EATIH) ...................................................................... 110

ANNEXES ······················································································································· 111

ANNEX I: PRIVATE SECTOR FACILITATION BY PSDAG EIA AT MINAGRI .................................. 111 ANNEX II: MINAGRI Flagship Project Tracker FY2017 ..................................................................... 112 ANNEX III: PRIVATE SECTOR FACILITATION BY PSDAG EIA AT RDB ........................................ 113 ANNEX IV: Private Partnerships Identified through 2015 Request for Applications (RFA) ............... 114 ANNEX V: Private Partnerships Identified through 2016 Annual Program Statement ....................... 115 ANNEX VI: PRESS RELEASES ......................................................................................................... 116 ANNEX VII: MEDIA COVERAGE OF PSDAG ACTIVITIES .............................................................. 120 ANNEX VIII: SUCCESS STORIES ..................................................................................................... 122 ANNEX IX: FY2017 STTA – Q1 (oct 2016 - dec 2016) ...................................................................... 129 ANNEX X: FY2017 STTA – Q2 (jan 2017 - MARCH 2017) ............................................................... 130 ANNEX XI: FY2017 STTA – Q3 (APRIL 2017 - JUNE 2017) ............................................................ 132 ANNEX XII: FY2017 STTA – Q4 (JULY - SEPTMBER 2017) ............................................................ 133 ANNEX XIII: ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING REPORT ...................................... 135 ANNEX XIV: MAP OF PSDAG PROJECT INTERVENTIONS ........................................................... 143 ANNEX XV: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding - KCB ......................................................... 144 ANNEX XVI: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding - BRD ........................................................ 145 ANNEX XVII: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding - PSF ........................................................ 146 ANNEX XVIII: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding – KUMWE Logistics ................................ 147 ANNEX XIX: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding – RDB ....................................................... 149 ANNEX XX: PSDAG INDICATOR RESULTS METRICS - FY2017 ................................................... 168

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. NATIONAL AGRIBUSINESS INVESTMENT PROMOTION STRATEGY ························· 14

FIGURE 2. QUICK USER GUIDE FOR ALIS INVESTOR APP ····················································· 17

FIGURE 3. NATIONAL AGRI-PPD PRIORITY ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY THE TASK FORCE ············· 23

FIGURE 4. AGGREGATION SERVICES CENTER BUSINESS MODEL ········································· 33

FIGURE 5. INVESTOR JOURNEY MODEL ·············································································· 38

FIGURE 6. E&FOODS GREENHOUSE WITH TOMATOES ························································· 54

FIGURE 7. KIGALI FARMS BUTTON MUSHROOM PRODUCTION ············································· 58

FIGURE 8. COMPONENTS OF THE COOPERATIVE PROFESSIONALIZATION ACTIVITY ·············· 71

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1. FY2017 OBJECTIVE 1 MILESTONES ······································································ 13

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TABLE 2. KEY ISSUES IDENTIFIED THROUGH LOCAL PPD “MEETS THE COMMUNITY” EVENTS 24

TABLE 3. NYAGATARE DISTRICT AGRI-PPD MEETINGS ON WATER SHORTAGE CONSTRAINTS 25

TABLE 4. PPD ACTIVITIES PER DEVELOPMENT PARTNER ···················································· 26

TABLE 5. INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING GRANT APPLICATIONS ····································· 31

TABLE 6. SUGGESTED SERVICES AT EXPORT AGGREGATION CENTER ································ 32

TABLE 7: RESULTS FROM PSDAG'S SUPPORT TO INPUT SUBSIDY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM · 34

TABLE 8: SELF-REPORTED AVERAGE INCOME STATEMENTS OF AGRODEALERS BY SIZE ····· 35

TABLE 9. CAPACITY BUILDING ASSESSMENT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ··············· 38

TABLE 10: SUMMARY OF FY2017 RESULTS FROM PSDAG GRANT ACTIVITIES BY VALUE CHAIN 43

TABLE 11: SUMMARY OF PARTNER COMPETITION, SELECTION PROCESS, GRANT FUNDING, AND PARTNER LEVERAGE ··························································································· 44

TABLE 12. COOPERATIVE ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED BY VALUE CHAIN ····························· 71

TABLE 13. IRISH POTATO PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS ··························································· 78

TABLE 14. PSDAG’S SUPPORT TO PRIVATE PARTNERS ON INTERNATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS ··············································································································· 83

TABLE 15. EXAMPLES OF PSDAG PARTNERS INVESTING IN PACKAGING ······························ 85

TABLE 16. AGRI-INSURANCE PRODUCTS PRESENTED DURING THE STAKEHOLDERS’ ROUNDTABLE WORKSHOP ·························································································· 92

TABLE 17. INDICATOR REPORTING FREQUENCY—CHANGED FROM QUARTERLY TO ANNUAL REPORTING ················································································································ 94

TABLE 18. DQA RECOMMENDATIONS ················································································· 96

TABLE 19. SUMMARY OF SUCCESS STORIES IN FY2017 ····················································· 100

TABLE 20. PROVISION OF BDS TO PSDAG PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS ···························· 102

TABLE 21. CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY PSDAG THROUGH ITS PRIVATE PARTNERS ··············································································································· 103

PAGE | VI PSDAG FY 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2016 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 | PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

ABBREVIATIONS

AFR Access Finance Rwanda

Agri-PPD Agricultural Public Private Dialogue

Agri-SME agricultural small and medium enterprise

APTC Agro Processing Trust Corporation

AIF African Improved Food

ALIS Agricultural Land Information System

APS Annual Program Statement

ASIP-II Agriculture Sector Investment Plan

ASWG Agriculture Sector Working Group

BDS business development services

BRD Banque Rwandaise de Development (Rwanda Development Bank)

CBO community-based organization

CDI Clinton Development Initiative

CEO Chief Executive Officer

CESB Capacity Development and Employment Services Board

CHAIN Community Health and Improved Nutrition

CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture

CIP International Potato Center

COP Chief of Party

CPP Cooperative Professionalization Program

DFID Department for International Development (UK)

DOC Day-Old Chicks

DPs Development Partners

DQA Data Quality Assessment

EATIH East Africa Trade and Investment Hub

EDC Education Development Center

EIA Embedded Investment Advisor

ENAS Enterprise Nkubiri & Sons

ERR Environmental Review Reports

EUCORD European Cooperative for Rural Development

PSDAG FY 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2017– SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 | PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE | VII

FAMA Farm to Market Alliance

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FFS Farm Field School

FTF Feed the Future project (USAID)

GAP Good Agriculture Practices

GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

GOR Government of Rwanda

GSA Green Systems Africa

GSI Gender and Social Inclusion

ha hectare

HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point

HD Huguka Dukore

ITC information communication technology

IFC International Finance Corporation

IRG International Resources Group

ISU Investment Support Unit

KCB Kenya Commercial Bank

kg kilogram

KWMFP Kigali Wholesale Market for Fresh Produce

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MCC Milk Collection Center

MINAGRI Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources

MINALOC Ministry of Local Government

MINEACOM Ministry of Trade and East African Community Affairs

MINECOFIN Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning

MINICOM Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industries

MINIMEX Les Minoteries Industrielles Import-Export

MIS Management Information System

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

MSME Micro/Small and Medium Enterprises

NAEB National Agricultural Export Development Board

NAIPS National Agribusiness Investment Promotion Strategy

PAGE | VIII PSDAG FY 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2016 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 | PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

PASP Post-Harvest and Agribusiness Support Project

PCC Potato Collection Center

PEBEC Producing and Export Bird’s Eye Chili

PPD Public Private Dialogue

PPP Public-Private Partnership

PSDAG Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth

PSF Private Sector Federation

PSTA-III Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture, phase 3

PSTA-IV Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture, phase 4

PWD People with Disabilities

RAB Rwanda Agricultural Board

RCA Rwanda Cooperative Agency

RCAL Rwanda Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock

RDB Rwanda Development Board

REMA Rwanda Environmental Management Authority

RFA Request for Applications

RGCC Rwanda Grains Cereals Corporation

RPPDS Rwanda Public Private Dialogue Secretariat

RSB Rwanda Standards Board

RTI RTI International

RWF Rwandan franc

SACCO Savings and Credit Cooperative

SAF Spatiotemporal Apps Framework

SAIS Smart Agriculture Information System

SID Strategic Investment Department

SMEs small and medium enterprises

SMS Short Message Service

SOW Statement of Work

SPU Safe Pesticide Use

STTA Short-Term Technical Assistance

SUAP Safe User Action Plan

t metric ton

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TMEA TradeMark East Africa

TOT Training of Trainers

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USD United States Dollars

VCCF Value Chain Competitiveness Fund

WFP World Food Program

PAGE | 10 PSDAG FY 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2016–SEPT 30, 2017 | PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) project is a five-year (August

2014–August 2019) USAID-funded initiative implemented by International Resources

Group (IRG), a subsidiary of RTI International. The goal of PSDAG is to increase

incomes of smallholder farmers by promoting private sector investment through two

complementary objectives:

(1) to assist the Government of Rwanda (GOR) to increase private sector investment,

and

(2) to facilitate increased private sector investment by upgrading agricultural value

chains.

This is the Annual Progress Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 for the period October 1,

2016–September 30, 2017. The report covers the following areas of project

management and implementation: Project Performance by Objectives; Monitoring and

Evaluation (M&E) and Cross-Cutting Themes (including Social Inclusion); and

Partnerships and Linkages.

Achievements under Objective 1: Under this objective, PSDAG supports government

efforts in increasing private sector investments. In 2017, PSDAG worked closely with the

Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the Rwandan Development

Board (RDB), and the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). Further,

we finalized a number of Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) this year, including

with 1) with Private Sector Federation (PSF) to implement Agricultural Public-Private

Dialogue (Agri-PPD) activities, 2) a MOU with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to

collaborate in improving investment promotion in agriculture sector.

PSDAG finalized capacity needs assessments for GOR and other institutions -

MINAGRI, RDB, Rwanda Private-Public Dialogue Secretariat (RPPD), the Chamber of

Agriculture and Livestock (RCAL), and NAEB that have a mandate to support investment

promotion. A pilot capacity building program to address identified gaps is under

development to be implemented during FY2018. Finally, PSDAG continued to support

government efforts in increasing private sector investment through the support of two

Embedded Investment Advisors (EIAs) stationed at MINAGRI and RDB.

In 2017, PSDAG made progress on the following agricultural business enabling

environment policies and strategies:

1) Finalized the National Agribusiness Investment Promotion Strategy (NAIPS) and

included Pillar IV, Professionalization of the Supply Chain.

2) Facilitated private sector input to the drafting of the Fourth Strategic Plan for the

Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA-IV),

3) Finalized the support to MINAGRI in budget planning for FY2017/18 that resulted in

approval of budget allocation for the Smart Agriculture Information System (SAIS)

and Agriculture Land Information System (ALIS).

PSDAG FY 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2016 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 | PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE | 11

Additionally, PSDAG 1) continued to support upgrading of ALIS, 2) phased-out support

to the National Input Subsidy Distribution Program, 3) collaborated with National

Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) to develop an Export Commodity

Aggregation Services Model, 4) continued to implement the GOR guidelines on

marketing Irish potatoes through Potato Collection Centers (PCCs), 5) supported

MINAGRI to conduct Poultry Competitiveness Study, Day Old Chick Addendum, which

contributed to $[REDACTED]M investments in the poultry sub-sector, and 6) in

collaboration with MINAGRI and AgriProfocus, facilitated stakeholder consultations on

Contract Farming.

Achievements under Objective 2: Under Component 2, IRG is using a Value Chain

Competitiveness Fund (VCCF) to catalyze relationships between investors, financial

institutions, and investment facilitators and to demonstrate value-enhancing innovations

and reduce risk. A dedicated portion of the fund is reserved for grants that support

women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWD).

During FY2017, PSDAG continued with implementation of project activities under

various grant mechanisms including 28 grants under the Value Chain Competitiveness

Fund (VCCF); 13 grants under Farmbook and Potato Collection Center (PCC)1 Upgrade

Grants; 33 Maize Grants through cooperatives; and 16 new partnerships with Agri-SMEs

under the VCCF. Aggregate results from all of PSDAG’s partnerships with the private

sector include:

• $5,484,770 gross income for 85,234 farmers (40,910 women);

• $1,328,535 in new capital investments;

• $5,845,500 in exports of agricultural products;

• $2,683,944 in incremental sales (collected at farm level);

• $11,076,001 in value-added domestic sales;

• 101 new jobs (43 women) created by PSDAG private sector partners; and

• $2,923,745 in loans and credit to upgrade agricultural business models.

Under the FY2016 APS to create partnerships with private sector partners. PSDAG

released four RFAs under the FY2017 APS: 1) Cooperative Professionalization; 2)

Asset-Based Financing; 3) Institutional Capacity Strengthening; and 4) Women, Youth

and People with Disabilities (PWD) in Entrepreneurship and Leadership Program.

Selection of partners under these RFAs is underway and expected to be finalized by end

of Q1 FY2018.

PSDAG entered into MOU partnerships with three institutions: 1) MOU with BRD to

increase its capacity to develop appropriate products and increase lending to agricultural

value chain actors, 2) MOU partnership with KUMWE Logistics to help the company

mobilize capital financing, and 2) MOU with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Rwanda to

increase access to finance for the project partners.

1 MINICOM in collaboration with FECOPORWA and other partners developed a concept paper on the organization of Irish potato value chain in 2015. The PCC concept paper was never ratified into legislation or policy.


Under Cooperative Professionalization Program (CPP), PSDAG signed MOUs with 60

cooperatives that will be supported to improve their governance, planning, member

services, operations, market linkages and access to finance. PSDAG began to provide

technical assistance to these cooperatives on Business Development Services (BDS)

and Quality Management Standards (QMS).

In addition, progress was made toward achieving project deliverables and goals under

M&E and Cross-Cutting Activities as reported under Section 3. Progress on partnerships

and linkages with other partners is discussed under Section 4.

Challenges: PSDAG experienced challenges with implementation of planned activities

under Objective 1. The MOU with RDB was which was planned to have been signed

early in Q1 was signed in Q4 due to restructuring and staff changes. Consequently,

there were delays in implementation of eight planned activities. In addition, during MOU

negotiations with RDB, three of the activities originally requested by RDB and included in

the FY2017 Work Plan were dropped. At the same time, although PSDAG signed a

MOU with PSF/RCAL in Q3 to implement Agri-PPD activities, modalities of funding

activities under this partnership have taken longer than anticipated. This and coupled

with changes at the RPPD Secretariat (staff changes), resulted in delay in

implementation of planned Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) activities, both at the district

and national levels.


1. PROJECT PERFORMANCE 1.1 OBJECTIVE 1: ASSIST GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA (GOR)

TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT

During FY2017, PSDAG supported completion of at least one stage of the following 11

Agricultural Business Enabling Environment policies, strategies, frameworks and or

guidelines as shown in Table 1.

Table 1. FY2017 Objective 1 milestones

Policy, Strategy, Framework, and Guideline A C/V D/R A/P I

1. National Agribusiness and Investment Promotion Strategy (NAIPS) X X X X

2. Agricultural Land Information System (ALIS) X X X X X

3. Poultry Competitiveness Day Old Chick Study (Addendum to Poultry Competitiveness Study)

X

4. Fourth Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA-IV) X X X

5. Budget allocation for the Smart Agriculture Information System (SAIS) and ALIS for GOR FY2017/2018 to FY 2023/2024

X X X X

6. National Input Subsidy Distribution Program X

7. Pilot National Agricultural Public Private Dialogue (Agri-PPD) Framework X X X

8. Export Commodity Aggregation Services Model X

9. GOR Guidelines on marketing Irish potatoes through Potato Collection Centers (PCCs)

X

10. Contract Farming X X

11. Investment Promotion Marketing Strategy/Materials X

A = Analysis C/V = Consultation/Validation D/R = Draft/Revision A/P = Approval/Publication I = Implementation

In addition to these policies, strategies, frameworks, and guidelines progress was made

on the following initiatives to support the investment promotion framework:

• Completed capacity needs assessment for GOR and other institutions (Ministry

of Agriculture and Animal Resources [MINAGRI], RDB, RPPD Secretariat, RCAL,

and National Agricultural Export Development Board [NAEB]) that have a

mandate to support investment promotion. In consultation with these GOR

institutions, PSDAG is designing a pilot capacity building program to address

identified gaps. The proposed capacity building program will be implemented

during FY2018.


• PSDAG and PSF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) partnership to

facilitate provision of technical and financial assistance to RCAL, and

collaboration on pilot national and district-level PPD processes.

• PSDAG signed an MOU with RDB to collaborate on improving investment

promotion in the agriculture sector. Key activities planned in this MOU with RDB

include: Development of agriculture land use and management guidelines,

development of agriculture investment databank, improvements to investment

promotion marketing materials and activities, and land profiling for commercial

farming. Implementation of these activities began late in Q4 and will continue into

FY2018.

• PSDAG published a Request for Applications (RFA) for institutional

strengthening for private sector advocacy in agriculture grants. Under this RFA,

PSDAG will offer technical assistance and capacity building aimed at

strengthening the functional and operational efficiency of eligible institutions and

associations to engage with the GOR on policy advocacy. Selection of partners is

underway.

Finally, PSDAG supported government efforts to increase private sector investments

through the support of two Embedded Investments Advisors (EIAs) stationed at

MINAGRI and RDB. The advisors assisted in investment promotion and privatization

activities with interested new investors, provided after-care support to current investors,

and provided technical support to privatization activities for various MINAGRI flagship

projects.

1.1.1 IMPROVING INVESTMENT PROMOTION

ACTIVITY 1: THE NATIONAL AGRIBUSINESS STRATEGY, IMPLEMENTATION, AND CAPACITY BUILDING

National Agribusiness Investment Promotion Strategy (NAIPS)

During FY2017, PSDAG in consultation and

collaboration with other stakeholders

(MINAGRI, the World Bank/International

Finance Corporation [IFC], and Department for

International Development [DFID]) supported

the analysis, and review of the NAIPS (Figure

1). The main purpose of the NAIPS is to

promote increased private sector agribusiness

investment in Rwanda and to guide public

sector measures to achieve this goal. It is

intended to be inclusive of all public and

private sector stakeholders, and dynamic as it

takes into account the evolving business

environment. This is in line with GOR goals

stipulated by Agriculture Sector Investment

Plan (ASIP-II), Strategic Plan for

Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA-III, Vision2020, Economic Development and

Figure 1. National Agribusiness Investment

Promotion Strategy


Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS-II), PSTA-III, ASIP-II, and the Private Sector

Development Strategy (PSDS).

The NAIPS core objectives are:

• To promote competitive, profitable, and environmentally sustainable private

agribusiness investment and management; and

• Improve government support to new and ongoing private agribusinesses,

maximizing economic benefits for the nation and stakeholders.

During Q1, MINAGRI requested PSDAG to develop Pillar IV – Professionalizing of

Cooperatives for the NAIPS that would address strengthening and professionalizing

cooperatives to meet commercial business needs. In consultation and collaboration with

MINAGRI, the World Bank/IFC, NAEB, and other donors, PSDAG facilitated

development and inclusion of the contents of Pillar IV in the revised draft NAIPS before

sharing it with stakeholders (through the Agribusiness Cluster 2of the Agriculture Sector

Working Group [ASWG]) for feedback in December 2016.

During Q2, PSDAG shared the final draft of the NAIPS with MINAGRI. The NAIPS draft

included infographics and an additional section devoted to Pillar IV. During Q3, PSDAG

presented Pillar IV to the ASWG at the MINAGRI. The Agribusiness Cluster

recommended that Pillar IV be validated with the Cooperative Movement in Rwanda. To

that end, PSDAG organized a workshop for stakeholders to review and validate the

inclusion of Pillar IV of the NAIPS for Rwanda. The workshop brought together 19

participants drawn from local and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),

Rwanda Institute of Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship and Microfinance (RICEM), National

Cooperatives Confederation of Rwanda (NCCR), WFP/Farm to Market Alliance (FAMA),

NAEB, MINAGRI, Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA), and private sector

partners. The following changes were incorporated in the draft NAIPS based on

feedback from stakeholder validation workshops:

• Title of Pillar IV in NAIPS changed from “Cooperative” to “Supply Chain”—to

extend the professionalization to other viable business models in addition to

cooperatives (example: out-grower schemes) and other groups of farmers

working together but who do not necessarily want to formalize.

• Established National Guidelines for Standards instead of a grading system—

because establishing a formal system may be very complex, costly, and time

consuming.

PSDAG incorporated additional information provided by the stakeholders and presented

Pillar IV to ASWG for adoption on May 11, 2017.

During Q4, the NAIPS was finalized and validated by the ASWG. PSDAG conducted a

final edit, finalized graphics in the NAIPS, and submitted the document to the Permanent

2 The Agribusiness Cluster is a subsector working group to the Agribusiness Sector Working Group. Both are multi-stakeholder groups chaired by MINAGRI to gather feedback from other GOR agencies related to agriculture, donor organizations, and the private sector. The Agribusiness Sector Working Group was set up to conduct such activities for all things concerning agribusiness and is chaired by the Deputy CEO of NAEB and DFID.


Secretary of MINAGRI on September 15, 2017. During FY2018, PSDAG will monitor and

report on implementation of the NAIPS.

Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture- IV (PSTA-IV)

The NAIPS is subordinate to the National Agricultural Policy and PSTA-IV, which were

being developed in FY2017. During Q3, MINAGRI asked PSDAG to participate as a

member of the Nucleus of Development Partners to assist MINAGRI in the development

and validation of PSTA-IV. PSDAG helped review

and provide feedback on timelines, outlines,

scopes of work, and drafts for the development of

PSTA-IV. During the stakeholder consultation

process, PSDAG coordinated and assisted with

the implementation of the PSTA-IV Knowledge

Seminar conducted June 7–9, 2017. The seminar

gathered experts from around the word to provide

input and feedback on the draft PSTA-IV. During

this seminar, PSDAG contributed an international

expert to present on international best practices

and a case study on the nation of Georgia.

PSDAG shared an evidence-based case study

that highlighted the challenges faced by the

Government of Georgia in implementing a

proactive, targeted investment promotion and facilitation strategy, particularly as it

related to issues within the GOR’s investment promotion and facilitation strategy and its

enabling environment. PSDAG demonstrated a detailed description of the solution

implemented by the Government of Georgia, with the support of the USAID Economic

Prosperity Initiative from 2011–2013, and an outline of lessons learned through the

process.

In addition, in partnership with PSF/RCAL and MINAGRI, PSDAG coordinated and

supported a PPD to get feedback on PSTA-III and validate assumptions to be used for

PSTA-IV from local farmers and small businesses.

During Q4, PSDAG continued to work with MINAGRI and other stakeholders to ensure

that elements of attracting private sector investment found in NAIPS are included in

PSTA-IV. So far, the following four main areas from NAIPS have been considered in the

draft PSTA-IV: 1) Information systems, 2) PPD, 3) investment promotion and aftercare,

and, 4) PPPs.

[REDACTED] , PSDAG’s STTA making a

presentation during the PSTA-IV Knowledge Seminar, June 2017 (Photo

by PSDAG staff)


ACTIVITY 2: AGRICULTURE LAND INFORMATION SYSTEM: PHASE 1 & 2

Agriculture Land Information System

1 (ALIS 1)

During FY2016, PSDAG supported

MINAGRI in developing phase 1 of the

ALIS, a web-based Investor Application

(Investor App)3 to efficiently identify

public land parcels that could then be

available to prospective investors.

During FY2017, PSDAG continued to

support MINAGRI to improve and

expand the functionality of ALIS.

During Q1, ALIS was successfully

launched on October 11, officiated by

the Minister of State in Charge of

Agriculture, Hon. Fulgence

Nsengiyumva and the United States

Ambassador to Rwanda, Erica J.

Barks-Ruggles. Subsequently, PSDAG

conducted high-level meetings with the

MINAGRI Senior Management Team,

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of

NAEB, along with the Director General

of RAB to create awareness meetings

on the functionality of ALIS. In addition,

PSDAG conducted a refresher training

for Geographic Information System

(GIS) Specialists/Portal Power Users

(end users) for 21 technical staff drawn

from MINAGRI, RAB, Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industries (MINICOM), and

NAEB. To ensure full roll out of ALIS, MINAGRI requested additional support from

PSDAG to help expand ALIS to include privately owned land parcels, and conduct an

assessment to determine the project design and minimum equipment and staffing needs

to maintain ALIS.

During Q2, PSDAG continued to help MINAGRI expand the capability of ALIS to provide

information on an additional six million private land parcels designated for agriculture,

improve the user interface and search options based on stakeholder feedback, and

include additional MINAGRI-owned parcel descriptors regarding availability of public

land for lease. The process of improving the capability and functionality of ALIS was

conducted using a participatory approach. PSDAG conducted a workshop with relevant

staff at MINAGRI to identify limitations of the ALIS Investor App and conducted an

Investor App user survey to gather feedback from a broad range of private sector users

3 http://www.minagri.gov.rw/investorapp/

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources, Hon. Fulgence Nsengiyumva and the

United States Ambassador to Rwanda, Erica J. Barks-Ruggles, at the launch of ALIS on October 11, 2016

(Photo by PSDAG staff)

Figure 2. Quick User Guide for ALIS Investor App


from outside Rwanda. However, during the process of improving the capability and

functionality of ALIS, several challenges were encountered including: 1) constraints to

upload six million private sector parcels into the Investor App which were found to be too

large and their size too small to load and display in a user-friendly manner on an online

application stored in the cloud; 2) legal implications for the public to have specific

information on private parcels; and 3) delays in integration of climate change data into

the Investor App because MINAGRI had not received essential data requested from

Meteo Rwanda.

During Q3, PSDAG, continued with support tasks aimed at addressing challenges

experienced in implementation of ALIS. PSDAG provided technical assistance migrating

the developer/test environment to a new version, and troubleshooting issues together

with the National Data Centre to ensure access to data from around the world. PSDAG

also engaged USAID’s Climate Services for Agriculture Project implemented by

International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in order to understand how to use

ALIS to access improved weather information.

Despite improvements made on capability and functionality of ALIS, users of Investor

App still face the lack of clear guidelines, conditions, and timelines for such requests. In

addition, the profiles of public lands remain inadequate. To address these challenges,

PSDAG and MINAGRI agreed to develop the Land Use Management Guidelines (see

Activity 3 for details) and design ICT and software solutions for land profiling for

commercial investment (see ALIS 2 below). PSDAG will report on implementation of

upgraded ALIS Investor App in FY2018.

Smart Agriculture Information System (SAIS)

During Q1, PSDAG identified Short Term Technical Assistance (STTA) to help MINAGRI

staff create a budget and associated justification narrative for the maintenance of

subsequent phases of ALIS. The STTA worked with MINAGRI staff to develop the

Project Profile Document according to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning

(MINECOFIN) FY2017/2018 budget cycle process, which was submitted by MINAGRI to

the Public Investment Committee (PIC) for review consideration in January 2017.

During Q2, PSDAG STTA continued to support MINAGRI staff to develop the Project

Profile Document for FY2017/2018. This technical assistance entailed conducting a full

feasibility study and economic impact analysis for Smart Agriculture Information System

(SAIS), which would comprise of the ALIS and a comprehensive data system that would

harmonize other MINAGRI online data sources such as Management Information

System (MIS), e-Soko, and Rwanda Online. The SAIS would also provide additional

functionality such as interactive farmer and cow registration systems. Future versions of

ALIS under SAIS may include utilization of data from drones and available satellite

imagery. MINAGRI presented the project to the Public Investment Committee (PIC) on

January 25, 2017, and the concept was approved. Subsequently, MINAGRI requested

additional technical assistance to support development and implementation of SAIS by:

1) developing a cost-effective way to gather information on current agriculture land use

and attributes, both public and private (land profiling); 2) establishing a farmer

registration system to be used to help track transactions as part of the input subsidy

program; and 3) developing a mechanism to communicate with smallholder farmers.


During Q4, with the support of PSDAG, MINAGRI finalized and approved the SAIS

implementation plan. Progress and outcomes of SAIS implementation will be reported

during FY2018.

Agriculture Land Information System 2 (ALIS 2)

During Q3, at the request of MINAGRI, PSDAG began to support the development of

ALIS 2 by providing technical assistance to MINAGRI to simplify the ALIS Investor App,

develop a more complex Management Application that could manage large quantities of

data requested (e.g. the six million parcels of private sector agriculture land), and include

improved weather information for agriculture from CIAT-sponsored data sources. This

work will continue into FY2018 and will rely on MINAGRI to hire additional support staff

for the SAIS.

During Q4, PSDAG selected a vendor to provide technical assistance to GOR (MINAGRI

and RDB) to design ICT and software solutions for use for farmer registration and land

(farm) profiling system for commercial investment. The technical assistance to MINAGRI

to adequately design systems to profile public and private agriculture lands available for

lease and to register farmers. Private land to be profiled would only include land under

the Land Consolidation Program implemented by RAB and farmers to be registered

would be based on Twigire Lists4 from MINAGRI/RAB. These ICT and software solutions

will be integrated into the existing MINAGRI’s SAIS.

ACTIVITY 3: AGRICULTURE LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

The goal of this activity is to help the GOR facilitate investor access to information

regarding available public land for sublease, and establish a clear and transparent

process for reviewing and processing those applications in a timely manner. During

FY2017, PSDAG and MINAGRI finalized the SOW for Agriculture Land Use and

Management Guidelines Consultancy. Under this consultancy, PSDAG will help

MINAGRI:

• Review the current Land Lease Client Charter, the Land Use Consolidation

Ministerial Orders, and any other processes proposed to manage agriculture

land;

• Develop the criteria, guidelines, and processes for managing public land

concessions and private land demarcated for agricultural use according to

Rwandan law;

• Establish a clear and transparent process for reviewing and processing

applications for available public land for sublease, in a timely manner; and

• Establish a clear and transparent process for both GOR and private sector land

owners regarding “optimal use”5 of land demarcated for agricultural use.

4 Twigire Lists are lists of farmers at the village level participating in government subsidized programs.

3 “Optimal Use” has not been defined in the legislation. This will need to be determined in more detail through the consultation process with MINAGRI and RDB. LAW No 43/2013 OF 16/06/2013 GOVERNING LAND IN RWANDA Article 52: Where there is tangible evidence that land meant for agriculture, livestock or forestry, has spent a period of three (3) consecutive years when it is not in use with no sound reason, the Minister in charge of land has power to


PSDAG is finalizing recruitment of a firm to provide technical assistance to the GOR for

development of Agriculture Land Use Management Guidelines. Progress on

implementation of this activity will be reported in FY2018.

ACTIVITY 4: INVESTMENT ROADMAP SIMPLIFICATION AND INVESTOR HANDBOOK

During FY2016, PSDAG competitively identified a local consulting and design firm to

help develop an Agriculture Investment Handbook for Rwanda. The handbook, originally

intended to simplify the 2013 Investment Roadmap, is expected to provide

comprehensive and relevant information that potential investors in the agriculture sector

will need to make informed investment decisions and to assist them with solving issues

that require GOR services. However, this activity was put on hold waiting for signing of

an MOU with RDB. Subsequently, PSDAG and RDB agreed to include development of

the Agriculture Investor Handbook in the MOU between the two parties that was signed

on August 29, 2017. Implementation of this activity will resume and progress will be

reported in FY2018.

ACTIVITY 5: AGRICULTURE INVESTMENT DATABANK

During FY2017, PSDAG planned to support the GOR (through RDB) in developing a

centralized databank that both archives and links to the most up-to-date agriculture data

frequently sought by investors. Information accessible through the databank may include

links to agricultural statistics, trade data, current policies and strategies, publicly

available feasibility and value chain studies, and the pipeline of current investment

opportunities. The databank is intended to be available to the public through the relevant

GOR websites, though institutions may reserve portions of the databank for internal use

at their discretion. During Q1, PSDAG developed a draft SOW for the development of an

Agriculture Investment Databank. However, restructuring and staff changes at RDB

delayed implementation of this activity.

During Q2 and Q3, following consultations between PSDAG and RDB, development of

the Agriculture Investment Databank was included in the MOU between the two parties

that was signed August 29, 2017. Before implementation, further discussions will be

conducted with RDB and MINAGRI to harmonize with SAIS.

ACTIVITY 6: IMPROVING BEFORE AND AFTERCARE SERVICES

The goal of this activity is to find a way to improve how the network of GOR staff working

on investment promotion coordinates and communicates through existing information

communication technology (ICT) systems used by various institutions. The existing

systems include the RDB Client Response Management (CRM) system, the Ministry of

Trade and East African Community Affairs (MINEACOM) Company Issues Tracker, and

the Integrated/Interface Business Management Information (IBMI) system to gather

private sector issues via Short Message Service (SMS) implemented by the German

Society for International Development (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale

Zusammenarbeit [GIZ]).

order requisition of the land for a period of three (3) years. When the land owner does not demonstrate the will and the capability to use that land, that period may be renewable.


During Q1, PSDAG developed a SOW for Investment Promotion Before and After Care

Systems Assessment Consultancy. However, during MOU negotiations between

PSDAG and RDB in Q2 and Q3, RDB reduced the number of activities under the MOU

partnership, and this activity was eliminated from the MOU.

ACTIVITY 7: IMPROVE INVESTMENT PROMOTION MARKETING MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES

PSDAG began to support the GOR to evaluate the tools and methodologies that have

been used in the past by RDB and the MINAGRI Investment Support Unit (ISU) to

market agricultural opportunities to potential investors, make recommendations for

improvement, and subsequently build the capacity of these institutions to use the new

tools and methodologies developed.

Following the signing of an MOU with RDB in Q4, PSDAG recruited a consultant to

conduct a benchmarking of Rwanda’s investment attractiveness analysis to provide a

data-driven estimate of Rwanda’s relative investment attractiveness, as compared with

its regional competitors: Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, and Ethiopia in the East

African Region. This analysis is inspired by a case study on the nation of Georgia

whereby another USAID Feed the Future (FTF) project implemented a strategy that

successfully attracted $49 million in new agriculture investment.

The draft report on benchmarking of Rwanda’s investment attractiveness analysis is

under review before submission to stakeholders for validation and inputs. Findings of

this analysis will be reported in Q1 of FY2018 and will inform the process of supporting

RDB to develop promotional materials customized for the specific targeted investor

groups and based on the specific investment promotion strategies developed by the

GOR.

ACTIVITY 8: IMPROVE PPP PROCESS

The goal of this activity was to work with the RDB Strategic Investment Department

(SID) and the identified Contracting Authority for agricultural public-private partnerships

(PPPs) to develop sector-specific guidelines (including selection criteria) and templates

for concept notes, applications, and agreements. The activity was also intended to assist

with development of guidelines and best practices for conducting an accurate feasibility

study as well as guidelines and best practices for negotiating with the private sector.

As part of the GOR Capacity Building Assessment activity, the needs of the SID in these

areas were further validated (see Section 2.2.4, Activity 17). The SOW for a PPP

consultancy was developed and shared with RDB. However, during MOU negotiations

between PSDAG and RDB in Q2 and Q3, this activity was not included in the activities

under the MOU partnership.

ACTIVITY 9: IMPROVE PRIVATIZATION PROCESS

PSDAG had planned to support RDB SID to assess and make recommendations on

reforms to the 1996 Rwanda Privatization Law to allow investors who take over GOR

assets to adapt to changing circumstances and to provide assistance, capacity building,

and mentorship to RDB SID staff for restructuring select GOR-owned businesses and

assets and marketing them to the private sector.


However, restructuring and staff changes at RDB resulted in delay in implementation of

this activity. Subsequently, during MOU negotiations between PSDAG and RDB in Q2

and Q3, RDB reduced the number of activities under the MOU partnership, and this

activity was eliminated from the MOU.

During FY2017, the PSDAG EIAs for MINAGRI and RDB participated in privatization

efforts to identify partners to acquire GOR-owned businesses, specifically a seed

factory, a fishery, two tea factories, and the national hatchery. One of the successful

bidders for the national hatchery, Uzima Chicken Limited, facilitated by AgDevCo,

utilized the PSDAG Poultry Competitiveness Study for due diligence. This $3 M

investment, is expected to be finalized in Q1 of FY2018 (See Activity 14).

1.1.2 IMPROVING PUBLIC-PRIVATE DIALOGUE

ACTIVITY 10: PILOT OF NATIONAL AND DISTRICT-LEVEL PPD PROCESSES

PSDAG signed an MOU with PSF on

March 23, 2017, to create a formal

framework for partnership and

collaboration to pilot national and district-

level PPD processes. Under this

partnership, PSDAG and the RCAL of

PSF in collaboration with stakeholders

(RDB, MINAGRI, MINEACOM, and

Ministry of Local Government) will

facilitate development of an Agri-PPD

framework to harmonize the Agri-PPD

activities (national and district-level).

During Q3, PSF developed a draft Agri-

PPD framework to be presented to

stakeholders for validation. The framework will help harmonize the Agri-PPD activities

(national and district-level), taking into account pilot activities that have taken place so

far. However, in Q4, PSF applied for the Institutional Capacity Development Grant.

Under this grant agreement partnership (at advanced stages of negotiation) the following

Agri-PPD activities will be implemented:

• Establish the Agri-PPD framework for national and district level Agri-PPD

processes.

• Conduct local Agri-PPDs at the district level to gather, organize, and rank issues,

as well as conduct the district-level dialogues.

• Organize national Agri-PPDs on issues identified through district Agri-PPDs or

other mechanisms.

• Strengthen the capacity of lead farmers and PSF staff in advocacy by organizing

training sessions and study tours as well as exposure visits to learn best

practices in advocacy.

PSDAG Chief of Party (COP) Melanie Bittle (right) with PSF CEO Stephen Rusibiza (center), during the

MOU signing ceremony, March 23, 2017 (PSDAG Staff)


Progress on Agri-PPDs under Institutional Capacity Development Grant to PSF will be

reported in FY2018

National Agri-PPDs

The national taskforce formed during FY2016 on PPD held a workshop in Q1 to prioritize

issues and plan the dates for the national and local PPD events for FY2017. Six priority

issues were identified (Figure 3) for the national Agri-PPD and five national dialogues

were planned to take place in FY2017. The first national Agri-PPD event concerning

access to agriculture inputs planned for November was postponed due to the

restructuring at RDB that affected the RDB representative for the RPPD Secretariat,

which is the coordinating body for all PPD and therefore is integral to any process and

event that may take place.

During Q3, PSDAG hosted another Agri-PPD national taskforce meeting to validate key

issues identified in Q1 to be addressed through national dialogues. The taskforce

reaffirmed the following priority issues: 1) agricultural insurance, 2) access to finance, 3)

packaging, 4) access to agricultural inputs, 5) tax issues and 6) climate change

adaptation. As mentioned above, national Agri-PPDs will be implemented under

PSDAG’s grant agreement partnership with PSF once the Institutional Capacity

Development Grant partnership is finalized and approved. PSF was part of the meeting

and requested to subsequently be the primary chair of future meetings and to be the

primary author of a re-vamped National and Local Agri-PPD Framework.

• The distribution systems for seeds, fertilizers and other inputs and the subsidy payment process are problematic

Access to agricultural inputs

• Need for drought-resistant crops and irrigation Infrastructure

Climate Change adaptation (policy and investment)

•The application of taxes on Agri-processors•Taxes on imports (VAT and import duties)•Tax withheld by formal businesses levied on producers not liable for tax

Tax

•The list of exemptions is not agreed•Unfair competition from imported products because the plastic ban cannot be applied to other EAC producers

Packaging

•Farmers cannot access weather insurance due to risk levels. They need government support

Agriculture Insurance

• Farmers still have major issues accessing finance. Are there opportunities for GOR to provide additional incentives/subsidies or improve on those that are already provided (such as guarantees)?

Access to Finance

Figure 3. National Agri-PPD priority issues identified by the Task Force


District Agri-PPDs

District-level Agri-PPD consultations were held with relevant stakeholders—district

officials, farmers, RDB, PSF, and representatives from the Linking Farmers to Markets

program (LIFAM). In November 2016, local authorities and PSF, with PSDAG’s technical

and financial support organized “PPD Meets the Community” events with a total of 148

local agribusinesses and farmers in Musanze, Rubavu, and Nyagatare Districts to gather

issues (Table 2) to be discussed under the PPP mechanism.

Table 2. Key issues identified through local PPD “Meets the Community” events

District Issues for the local Agri-PPD Issues for the national Agri-PPD

Musanze • Existence of many local milk collectors • Lack of area to install apiary (beekeepers) • Lack of proper storage technologies and facilities for

potatoes • Inputs and subsidies not timely delivered • Substandard weighing machines • High rates of diseases (especially on tomato trees &

eggplants) • Low competence in horticulture practices

• Build more Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) within the proximity of dairy farmers

• Privatization of existing MCC to dairy farmers’ cooperatives

• Fertilizers not balanced and there’s need for soil testing

• Poor quality seeds • Existence of fake pesticides

Rubavu • Low price of milk • Low access to agriculture services • Banana produce not properly collected • Cattle stolen and/or injured • Unscrupulous plantlet suppliers (lying on grafted

plants) • Low access to lowlands and marshlands poorly

used (youth) • Poor quality seeds (fruit and vegetables) and

lack of some specific seeds (garlic, tomatoes) • Poor capacity in handling and supplying flower,

vegetable and fruit (high loss rate) • Poor knowledge in fertilizer application (applying

high dose of fertilizers) • Need of affordable irrigation techniques and

equipment.

• Pesticides applied on potatoes kill bees

• Free grazing destroying environment

Nyagatare • Advocate for more animal feed shops in Nyagatare sectors (near dairy farmers)

• Water supply in the prairies • High incidence of diseases • Inadequate supply of quality drugs and

insecticides as well as timely supply of semen • Low farm gate price due to existence of few

proper storage facilities

• Increase the farm gate price by promoting more open/large market (diversify buyers)

• Attract more investors for milk processing

• Climate change


The first district-level PPD on water shortages for

both crops and livestock was conducted in

Nyagatare District in Q1. The meeting was

organized by the PSF on behalf of local PPD

champions, and PSDAG provided technical and

financial support. The meeting was attended by 25

stakeholders drawn from private and public sectors

who identified water shortage constraints in

agriculture (see Table 3). During Q3, a follow up

district Agri-PPD meeting was conducted with local

PPD champions to review progress on

implementation of resolutions made to resolve water

shortage constraints on agriculture in Nyagatare

District.

Table 3. Nyagatare District Agri-PPD meetings on water shortage constraints

Issue Action point Responsible Implementation Progress

Low access to water both for livestock and irrigation

Source lower quality dam sheets that can be used to line water collection pits. Dam sheets are already subsidized by the Districts at 50%.

District Authority

Nyagatare District subsidized 180 dam sheets to farmers (each one costs RWF 800,000; the district gave a subsidy of RWF 500,000 for each). The district constructed five valley dams and a pipeline supplying water to 100,000 farmers in Musheri Sector, and the district drilled 86 boreholes.

Farmers lack funds to construct boreholes and underground cemented pits to store water

Link farmers to finance institutions to access credits for tanks and dams

District Authority

PSF

Ongoing—sensitization of farmers to apply for credits through community-based savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs).

Limited number of agronomists to provide agricultural extension services on irrigation, animal water needs and coping with water shortages

irrigation

More technicians to support agronomists and vets in sectors.

Built capacity of agronomists and vets.

District Authority

MINAGRI

The district appointed farmer mobilizers in sectors.

Capacity building of agronomists and vets included in the district plan for FY2017/18.

As mentioned above, additional district Agri-PPDs will be implemented under PSDAG’s

grant agreement partnership with PSF.

Collaboration with Development Partners

During Q3, PSDAG organized a PPD discussion between development partners (DPs)

with the aim of determining who is intervening where, how best to collaborate to meet

each organization’s program goals, and how best to support and work with RPPDS. The

meeting brought together GIZ, IFC, World Bank, TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), and

PSDAG. The DPs shared their current interventions in PPD in Rwanda and future plans

(see Table 4). PSDAG shared the findings on RPPD’s assessment conducted in late

PSF Chairperson addresses Agri PPD in Nyagatare District, December 13, 2016 (Photo by PSDAG staff)


2016 and updated the partners on the ongoing Agri-PPD activities at the local and

national levels. In addition, participants brainstormed on how to collectively support the

growth and sustainability of PPD in Rwanda and discussed possible synergies in

developing strong Agri-PPDs.

Table 4. PPD activities per development partner

Development Partner Current Interventions Related to PPD

GIZ

• Focus has shifted from District PPD to Sector PPD targeting wood, tourism, ICT and creative industries.

• Providing technical assistance in research through a Development Advisor (DA) based at PSF.

• To place more DAs in Chambers of Tourism, Women and ICT. • To support contributions to PPD processes.

IFC

• Working with RDB on a government-business feedback mechanism on 6 topics with six relevant institutions (e.g. Rwanda Revenue Authority [RRA], and immigration) for investment climate reform.

• Have a focal point at RPPD secretariat.

World Bank • Currently designing impact evaluation project on District level PPD. This is

contingent on successful implementation of PPD projects.

TMEA

• Originally involved in setting up RPPD secretariat but not directly working with it now.

• Working with PSF on 8 PPD thematic topics including taxes, standards, environment, information services and others.

• Set up PPD thematic technical committees that meet on quarterly basis. • Plan to continue to work with RPPD secretariat.

PSDAG • Working with PSF/RCAL to pilot national and district PPD processes. • Under MOU partnership, support PSF to develop a framework for Agri-PPD. • Considering a grant to the PSF for institutional strengthening activities.

PPD for PSTA-IV

During Q3, MINAGRI initiated consultations with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs),

NGOs, and DPs to gather contributions and feedback to develop the upcoming new

PSTA-IV. In May 2017, MINAGRI asked PSDAG to support gathering feedback and

contributions from the private sector actors in the agriculture sector, namely smallholder

farmers and local agribusinesses. In collaboration with the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations (FAO), PSDAG supported the RPPDS to organize a

special PPD event to inform the PSTA-IV. The PPD event was held June 2, 2017, and

brought together 60 farmer representatives and agribusinesses.

PSDAG summarized stakeholder feedback and shared it with MINAGRI to feed into the

PSTA-IV Knowledge Seminar conducted June 7–9, 2017 (see Activity 1). In respect to

PSTA-III (2013-2018), farmers and agribusinesses witnessed increased agriculture

production and appreciated:

• GOR initiatives (land consolidation use, subsidies on seeds and fertilizers, tractor

use, irrigation and management of marshlands).

• Increased access to extension services through Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and

model farmers.


• GOR efforts to promote investment in the agriculture sector.

• Efforts to support youth and women entering the agriculture sector.

• Regional market integration—East African Community (EAC).

However, farmers and agribusinesses identified the following challenges, not addressed

by PSTA-III:

• Low level of consultation in preparing and implementing PSTA-III.

• PSTA-III didn’t address poor-quality seeds and fake pesticides as well as low

competence of agronomists and extension workers in practical skills (like

irrigation).

• Horticulture has not been supported at the full potential.

• The agriculture sector still faces lack of timely access to fertilizers.

• Research still at basic stage and not aligned with current demand.

• Livestock keepers think that PSTA-III was too general on their respective

subsectors (dairy farming, beekeeping, fish farming, poultry, and pig farming).

• Local agribusinesses think they are receiving less support than foreign investors.

Farmers and agribusinesses welcomed their involvement in consultations to inform

PSTA-IV and want to be more involved in its validation as well as implementation,

monitoring, and evaluation. Farmers want PSTA-IV to focus on the following areas:

• Adapting emerging agricultural research to local needs. Set up mobile

laboratories for soil testing and analysis; produce adapted varieties resistant or

tolerant against recurrent drought periods; improve access to veterinary services

by setting up mobile veterinary laboratories; and control pests and diseases on

eucalyptus, cassava, bananas, and potatoes.

• Mitigating climate change. Strengthen the irrigation program by promoting

affordable irrigation techniques to small scale farmers, improving water storage

and irrigation schemes development, and focusing on weather forecasting and

season planning.

• Increasing technical skills. Improve skills in using technologies in agronomy

and livestock production (for farmers and technical specialists); build capacity

and continue to promote entrepreneurship; and integrate practical and technical

food processing skills into formal education (i.e., processors need skilled

workers).

• Standardizing quality. Regulate and control the quality of agro inputs (seeds,

fertilizers, pesticides, and tools).

• Providing agri-focused banking and insurance. Set up an “agriculture

fund/bank” to help farmers finance investments with easy conditions; set up

agriculture insurance scheme (or program).


• Improving communication. Set up clear communication channels to ensure

that farmers receive timely information on markets and opportunities,

disseminate agriculture information and facilitate access by farmers (“we do not

want to hear again that available funds have not been used and we want a “one-

stop center” to access statistics”, a farmers’ representative stated).

• Accessing land. Lend public lands to farmers.

• Supporting horticulture. Provide horticulturists with training on product quality

and required certificates, greenhouses, and marketing.

• Growing livestock. Promote professionalism in livestock (dairy/beef farming,

beekeeping, fish farming, poultry, and pig farming) and set up the livestock

strategy.

• Enhancing post-harvest processing and value addition. Simplify access to

Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) certificates, address packaging challenges, and

promote local processors and agribusinesses.

• Implementing nutrition. Integrating nutrition into programming was missing

under PSTA-III; make it a specific area under PSTA-IV.

PSDAG will work with MINAGRI to organize a PPD event to present the draft of PSTA-IV

back to farmers and agribusinesses for validation. This event is expected to be

conducted in Q1 of FY20186.

Other PPDs

During Q4, with support from PSDAG, MINAGRI and AgriProfocus conducted a PPD

workshop on contract farming for 61 stakeholders. During the workshop, stakeholders

discussed the current status of contract farming in Rwanda and various experiences with

contract farming. Key outcomes of the consultative workshop included:

• Stakeholders committed to improve the environment for and operation of contract

farming;

• A common understanding of the key challenges to contract farming operations in

Rwanda was formulated;

• Roles and responsibilities between stakeholders in contract farming were

outlined; and

• The organizing committee (MINAGRI, AgriProfocus Rwanda, and PSDAG) plan

to organize a follow-up meeting with the aim of developing a roadmap for

developing a policy on contract farming.

In addition, PSDAG is in consultation with Rwanda Environment Management Authority

(REMA) to organize a PPD on the amendment of the 2008 law relating to the prohibition

of manufacturing, importation, use, and sale of polyethylene bags in Rwanda. PSDAG

6 Results gathered from the event that occurred on November 1, 2017, indicated that the majority of private sector concerns were addressed.


will determine the scope of support to the consultative process once REMA has shared

the draft amendment of the 2008 law.

ACTIVITY 11: SUPPORT TO RWANDA PUBLIC-PRIVATE DIALOGUE SECRETARIAT

As discussed under Activity 17, PSDAG conducted an institutional capacity building

needs assessment of the RPPD Secretariat in order to inform PSDAG on areas of

intervention that would strengthen their capacity to coordinate PPD. However, due to the

restructuring of RDB, the need to develop an MOU with RDB and PSF, and staffing

changes at the RPPD Secretariat, implementation of this activity was delayed.

The assessment established that the RPPD Secretariat is hampered by limited

coordination between its two partners, PSF and RDB, in decision making and,

increasingly, by an apparent lack of institutional ownership. In addition, reorganizations

and staff transitions in RDB and PSF continued to disrupt operations of the secretariat.

Furthermore, RPPD has limited financial resources, and future donor support for PPD is

likely to decrease. To address these challenges and gaps, there is a need to build PPD

capacity at RDB and PSF/ Rwanda Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock (RCAL) to

help the RPPD Secretariat resume a more active role.

Following signing of the MOU with RDB and PSF, PSDAG began to design a tailor-made

capacity building program to strengthen the whole PPD framework including the RPPD

Secretariat. This capacity building program will be implemented in FY2018.

ACTIVITY 12: SUPPORT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FEDERATION AND PRIVATE SECTOR ASSOCIATIONS

MOU with PSF/RCAL

PSDAG and PSF signed an MOU to create a formal framework for partnership. Annex

XVII includes a copy of the MOU signed with PSF. Under this partnership, PSDAG and

PSF will collaborate on the following areas:

• Provide technical and financial assistance for the institutional assessment of

PSF’s RCAL;

• Provide technical and financial assistance for the implementation of

recommended and agreed upon interventions for PSF’s RCAL; and

• Support PSF (through an institutional capacity building grant) in the activities of

consolidating a database of member farmers and agribusinesses, establishing an

operational PPD Secretariat, and improving market access for agribusinesses;

and

• Maintain regular communication about relevant agribusiness opportunities in the

country.


Following the signing of the

MOU with PSF in Q2,

PSDAG began working with

RCAL to implement PPD

activities (see Activities 10

and 11).

Prior to the signing of the

MOU with PSF, PSDAG

conducted a comprehensive

organizational capacity

assessment for the

Chamber of Agriculture at

PSF to identify required capacity building support to meet the needs of the private sector

through advocacy. During Q3, PSDAG resumed and finalized the institutional

assessment of the RCAL. Subsequently, PSF/RCAL applied for the institutional

development grant in response to the RFA for Institutional Strengthening for Private

Sector Advocacy in Agriculture. Under this grant request (currently at budget negotiation

stage), PSF/RCAL is requesting technical and financial support for the following

activities:

• Establish strategies to effectively and efficiently sustain the RCAL (develop the

financial sustainability strategy, establish a membership strategy, and develop

monitoring and evaluation [M&E] systems);

• Develop a comprehensive and dynamic database of members and nonmembers

stakeholders;

• Establish effective and efficient mechanisms to solve issues pertaining to

agriculture and agribusinesses; and

• Support farmers and agribusinesses to access remunerative markets.

Under the MOU and grant agreement, PSDAG will provide technical and financial

support to PSF to address identified institutional capacity gaps as well as develop and

implement an Agri-PPD framework for national and district PPDs.

RFA for Institutional Strengthening for Private Sector Advocacy in Agriculture

Grants

PSDAG published an RFA for institutional strengthening for private sector advocacy in

agriculture grants. Under this RFA, PSDAG will offer technical assistance and capacity

building aimed at strengthening the functional and operational efficiency of eligible

institutions and associations to engage with government. PSDAG interventions aimed at

promoting the private sector will help ensure input of investors into GOR policy efforts to

increase investment. These activities will complement efforts by the GOR and private

sector institutions and associations, including the RCAL of the PSF, related private

sector agriculture-focused associations, and any other private sector entity interested in

fostering effective PPD and policy advocacy activities.

Christine Murebwayire (right), Chairperson of RCAL at Institutional

Assessment Verification Workshop, April 2017 (PSDAG staff)


During Q4, PSDAG continued with the evaluation of applications for grants submitted by

private sector associations. So far, four applications are under various levels of grant

selection as presented in Table 5.

Table 5. Institutional strengthening grant applications Institution Application Status

The National Seed Association of (NSAR)

Applicant asked to provide additional information pre-award documents (Company registration certificate, list of members (seed companies), NSAR annual action plan and budget; references and accounting policy and procedure.

The Association of Cassava Processors and Exporters of Rwanda (ACPER)

Applicant reviewed and re-submitted its grant request and is under internal evaluation.

PSF/RCAL After budget negotiations, PSF/RCAL submitted a revised budget as well as the required additional documents.

The National Confederation of Cooperatives of Rwanda (NCCR).

PSDAG received request for partnership with PSDAG. Subsequently, a meeting was organized to explain to them their eligibility and modalities to access the grant. It is expected that they submit their grant request in October.

In addition, PSDAG conducted capacity building assessments of PSF/RCAL, NSAR,

RYAF, and ACPER and suggested tailor-made strategies and activities to support their

institutional development under a grant agreement partnership. The suggested

strategies and activities will guide PSDAG’s support to the grantees for FY2018.

1.1.3 ENHANCING THE BUSINESS ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

ACTIVITY 13: EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY ANALYSIS

PSDAG planned to work with the RPPD, PSF, and other relevant entities identified

through the PPD process to conduct such analysis and create position papers. Following

the signing of the MOU with PSF in Q2, this activity was combined with support to pilot

the national Agri-PPD framework, which will now take place in FY2018. (Activity 10).

ACTIVITY 14: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS

Poultry Competitiveness Study

Following the finalization and presentation of the Poultry Competitiveness Study in Q4 of

FY2016, at the request of MINAGRI, PSDAG conducted an analysis to assess the

determinants of the high cost of domestically-produced day-old chicks (DOCs) in

Rwanda. A rapid assessment was carried out between September and October 2016,

and entailed visits to eight hatcheries in the northern and southern provinces as well as

in Kigali. Data from the DOC analysis was used to inform development of the National

Livestock Sector Development Framework (see Technical Assistance to the MINAGRI

ISU for contributions of the embedded investment advisor, Activity 18).


PSDAG will look for ways to work with the Rwandan National Poultry Association to

determine how information from the Poultry

Competitiveness Study can be disseminated to the

private sector for investment purposes. Already, there

are success stories of utilization of the study findings

to make investment decisions. For example,

AgDevCo7 relied on the data and information for the

study report to make an investment of [redacted] in

Uzima Chicken Limited. PSDAG will continue to

monitor and report on data and information in the

Poultry Competitiveness Study.

Export Commodity Aggregation Services Model

In 2015, PSDAG funded the Airfreight

Competitiveness Study. This study summarized the status of airfreight options from

Rwanda to international markets as well as describing the current logistics and

infrastructure environment within the country which supports airfreight services. As a

follow-on from the 2015 study, an additional study was undertaken in 2016 titled

Proposed Business Model for Airfreight Export Aggregation Services. The rationale of

this study was to design a model which would enable exporters to negotiate lower

airfreight costs through the design of an aggregation services model for goods going in

the same direction. This study described airfreight export commodity aggregation

practices in neighboring countries and recommended the design of a practical and

probable business model for export commodity aggregation services in Rwanda without

specifying how that model should work (see Table 6 and Figure 4).

Table 6. Suggested services at export aggregation center Service Name

Service Description Charge for Service (Y/N)

Institution Being Paid

Value Add to Exporter

Sorting Will provide support in sorting agricultural export to ensure they are conform to export standards

Y Aggregation center

• Assisted sorting, less rejects, improved quality control

• NAEB will provide staff to assist exporter's staff in sorting to reduce staffing cost.

• NAEB is only supporting the exporter, not entirely replacing his already trained staff

Packing Centre will pack in accordance with Airfreight export standards


Packing assisted by NAEB who stock standard packaging material at a fee

Electronic Window

Proposed Export electronic window located on site, pending government approval.

Declarations and pre-shipment inspections can be done here. Until

Y RRA Most export procedures done in one location, saving time

4 http://www.agdevco.com/

Announcement of AgDevCo’s investment in a Rwandan poultry

company (Twitter)


this center is certified by the authorities, the final inspection will be at the airport.

Storage The aggregation center will store produce. No free period - applicable rates start soon after acceptance into cold stores


Storage for both processed freight and unprocessed freight in the same location

Negotiating rates with airlines

The aggregation center will deal with airlines so as to pursue the best deal


Avoids negotiation, increased negotiating power

SMS/Online Aggregation service

Similar to M-Shamba, allows aggregation to complement freight loads by contacting other exporters/producers, improve coordination

N Avoids low shipment quantities, improves export coordination, can be expanded beyond airfreight to more exporters

Figure 4. Aggregation services center business model

PRODUCER

� Frame contract

�Weekly / monthly

production

�Deliver produce to

exporter a day before flight

date

�Prepare invoice

EXPORTER

� Process freight for carriage�Weekly / monthly estimates / orders�Required cargo space�Pay producer�Prepare invoice for importer

NAEB AGGREGATION SERVICES CENTRE

�Create seasonal plan�Estimate volumes�Define carrier & schedule�Consolidate request from exporters�Negotiate rates�Develop day plan�Invoice exporters- handling, cold-storage charges etc.�E-commerce ( commercial + communication infrastructure)

FREIGHT FORWARDER

�Arrange for pre-shipment inspection�Phytosanitary certificate�Customs inspection�Customs entry� Deliver freight 4 hours before departure to MAGERWA�Complete flight documentation�Freight loaded to aircraft

IMPORTER

�Issue Purchase Order to exporter�Issue seasonal/ yearly plan�Receive copy of invoice�Pay exporter�Pay clearing agent

AIRLINE

�Issue contract / seasonal capacity / allotment �Freight rate�Schedule�Deliver freight to destination airport

CLEARING AGENT

�Customs handling�Transport arrangements to importer�Deliver shipment to importer�Receive payment from importer

1

1

2

2

3

4

5

6

7

To implement the Proposed Business Model for Airfreight Export Aggregation Services

study findings, a Technical Coordination Committee was formed in December 2016.

Under the NAEB’s leadership, the committee, composed of NAEB, PSDAG, RDB,

MINAGRI, Rwanda Agriculture and Livestock Inspection and Certification Services, and

RwandAir, was tasked to coordinate the establishment of a Commodity and Services

Aggregation Model for Rwanda. In addition, the committee was to coordinate the

issuance of a Request for Information (RFI) to get private sector information on their

expectations for the functioning of the proposed Commodity Aggregation Model.


However, after the previous two studies (Airfreight Competitiveness Study and Proposed

Business Model for Airfreight Export Aggregation Services Study) were finalized, a

number of new factors emerged including: 1) NAEB-managed packhouse has become

operational; 2) RwandAir has begun offering special rates for horticulture products for all

its destinations; and 3) the Kigali Wholesale Market for Fresh Produce (KWMFP) under

development by NAEB to centralize all fresh produce in a one-stop center for cleaning,

sorting, and processing before reaching local and export markets, was close to

completion.

Consequently, during Q4, PSDAG recruited a consulting firm to assist NAEB in

conducting an Airfreight Export Aggregation Services Feasibility Study. The objective of

this feasibility study is to assess the need and scope of logistics management for

aggregation up to the aggregation center—for inclusion in any business model (including

a PPP proposal for NAEB)—and develop a five-year business plan including market

assessment, pro forma financial statements, indicators, and risk and mitigation analysis.

The study will be conducted in partnership with assigned personnel from NAEB, and in

consultation with SID at RDB. Outcomes of this technical assistance to NAEB to develop

and implement a business model for airfreight aggregation services in Rwanda, will be

reported during FY2018.

ACTIVITY 15: FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTION AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

In Q4 FY2015, PSDAG assumed overall responsibility of supervision and management

of 30 District Field Agents (DFAs) after the close of the USAID Privatization of Rwanda’s

Fertilizer Import and Distribution System (PReFER) project. Through the DFAs, PSDAG

supported the national input subsidy distribution program for 18 months from September

1, 2015 through December 31, 2016. Under direct supervision of PSDAG and MINAGRI

in close collaboration with local Government authority, the DFAs monitored purchases

and sales of subsidized fertilizers and seeds by traders within the district, especially

agrodealers and distributors. The DFAs were, as requested, monitoring stocks of

fertilizers and seeds within warehouses owned by importers with the district and

mentoring the agrodealers to utilize mFarms mobile application.

During Q1 of FY2017, PSDAG phased-out support (through DFAs) to the national input

subsidy distribution program. Under PSDAG program, the DFAs supported the input

subsidy program for three consecutive seasons, namely; 2016-A, 2016-B and 2017-A.

During these seasons, metric tons (t) of macro-fertilizers valued at $16 million was

supplied to 791,224 farmers by 868 agrodealers. Other key cumulative results of

PSDAG’s support to the input subsidy program are summarized in Table 7.

Table 7: Results from PSDAG's support to input subsidy distribution program

Season

2016-A 2016-B 2017-A Total

Quantity of macro-nutrients8 fertilizer supplied to farmers (t)

17,790 13,180 16,101 47,071

5 DAP, UREA, NPK, KCI, TSP


Season

2016-A 2016-B 2017-A Total

Quantity of micro-nutrients9 fertilizer supplied to farmers (t)

2 0 2 4

Quantity of fertilizer compounds10 supplied to farmers (t)

53 56 170 279

Quantity of seed11 supplied to farmers (t) 1,844 1,409 2,148 5,401

# of agrodealers supported by DFAs 868 868 751 868

# of agrodealers who applied mFarms 750 750 - 750

# of farmers 334,034 288,391 502,833 791,224

Source: DFAs’ Reports

For Season 2017-A, the GOR decided to limit the distribution of subsidized inputs to the

Agro Processing Trust Corporation (APTC) to remedy process gaps and prevent further

fraud. The DFAs provided data and

information to assist MINAGRI,

APTC and agrodealers to transition

to the new distribution model.

Following the expiration of PSDAG’s

support to the national input subsidy

distribution, the DFAs were absorbed

by MINAGRI as Recovery Officers to

support implementation of the new

distribution system.

During Q2 and Q3, PSDAG

conducted a profitability analysis of

the inputs distribution business. This

exercise was undertaken in

response to many complaints from

the agrodealers related to the loss

they faced in their businesses during Season 2017-A compared with the previous

seasons. The profitability analysis was conducted for 82 sampled agrodealers out of 751

supported by DFAs. Sampled agrodealers were categorized by volumes traded per

season as small (<6 t), medium (6 t - 32 t) and large (>31 t). Table 8 presents

profitability analysis of agrodealers using self-reported average income statements.

Table 8: Self-reported average income statements of agrodealers by size Unit Small agrodealer Medium agrodealer Large agrodealer

SALES (Total Subsidized inputs sold) t 3.086 14.561 76.821

Total Subsidized fertilizers sold t 2.397 11.736 68.556

Total Subsidized seeds sold t 0.688 2.825 8.265

6 Sulfate(S), Borax(B), Copper(Cu), Zinc(Zn) 7 NPK 23-10-5+S,Z,MG<CEREAL>; NPK 15-9-20 + S,B,ZN,MG,MN<WINNER>; 15N+25.6% CAO+ B<NITRABOR>; NPK 5-7-5-5+B,ZN,CU,MG,FE,MN,MO<TRACELBZ>; UREA+SULFUR(40N+5.5S)<AMIDAS> 8 OPVs/Maize, Hybrids/Maize, Wheat, Soybean

The DFAs from Rulindo, Burera and Musanze providing feedback on the implementation of the new input sudsidy distribution system for

Season 2017-A (Photo by PSDAG staff)


Unit Small agrodealer Medium agrodealer Large agrodealer

Unit Gross Profit RWF 30 30 30

GROSS PROFIT RWF 92,565 436,827 2,304,617

EXPENSES 273,522 381,787 919,419

Variable costs 63,135 94,005 307,884

Up/Offloading RWF 6,682 21,937 73,925

Printing & other office supplies RWF 4,201 5,731 10,594

Travel RWF 33,841 21,255 111,825

Input transportation RWF 0 3,300 11,700

Waste & losses RWF 18,411 41,782 99,841

Fixed costs 210,387 287,782 611,535

Salaries and benefits RWF 139,177 193,188 429,326

Rent RWF 38,921 52,818 109,534

Per diem RWF 14,712 17,306 28,499

Communication RWF 5,479 7,948 18,012

Utilities (electricity & water) RWF 4,406 6,856 14,473

Trading license RWF 4,568 4,978 5,471

Security fees RWF 3,123 4,688 6,221

OPERATING INCOME -180,957 55,040 1,385,198

Earnings Before Interests and Taxes (EBIT) RWF -180,957 55,040 1,385,198

Bank interests and charges RWF 9,201 70,602 124,431

PRETAX INCOME RWF -190,157 -15,561 1,260,767

The following conclusions were drawn from the findings of the profitability analysis:

• The new model of subsidized input distribution negatively impacted the profit of

agrodealers who were previously free to negotiate a gross profit more than the

new fixed gross profit rate of RWF 30 per kilogram (kg).

• Agrodealers with low sales volumes of between 0.7 t and 6.1 t generated a

negative pretax net income with the new fixed gross profit rate of RWF 30/kg. For

this category of agrodealers, selling subsidized inputs as a stand-alone business

generates losses even at higher gross profit margin rates. This category of

agrodealers represents approximately 27% of the total number of agrodealers

registered.

• Agrodealers with medium sales volumes of between 6.1 t and 31.8 t performed

better than those with lower sales volumes, but also registered on average a

negative pretax net income with the new fixed gross profit rate of RWF 30/kg.

However, an estimated 38% of agrodealers in this category sold above the

break-even value of 15 t and made a profit, though they are obviously less

profitable than with a higher negotiated gross margin.


• Agrodealers with high sales volumes of between 31.8 t and 175 t are the only

category that continued generating positive pretax net income on average with

the new fixed gross profit rate of RWF 30/kg.

• In total, it is estimated that 43% of agrodealers registered earned a pretax net

income under the new distribution system. Selling subsidized inputs is only

profitable for agrodealers that sell medium to high volumes. The gross margin

per kg set by APTC would mean an unprofitable stand-alone business for

agrodealers selling low volumes or trying to enter the business for the first time.

• Profitability can be improved by a combination of increasing volumes, increasing

the gross margin offered, and managing expenses of the businesses.

1.1.4 INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

ACTIVITY 16: SUPPORT FOR BUDGET AND IMIHIGO PLANNING CYCLE

PSDAG worked with MINAGRI to advocate for long-term GOR budget support for

PSDAG-funded activities and programs, such as future phases of ALIS. PSDAG

provided technical assistance support to MINAGRI staff in developing a budget and

associated justification narrative for the maintenance of subsequent phases of ALIS. The

STTA worked with MINAGRI staff to develop the PPD according to the MINECOFIN

FY2017/2018 budget cycle process.

PSDAG finalized the support to MINAGRI in budget planning activities for GOR

FY2017/2018. Following PSDAG’s technical assistance, SAIS and ALIS have been

included in the proposed national budget for 2017/2018 approved by the GOR cabinet

on June 6, 2017. Subsequently, the GOR parliament passed the budget law for the GOR

FY2017/18 on June 23, 2017.

ACTIVITY 17: CAPACITY BUILDING ASSESSMENT

During Q2 and Q3, PSDAG used STTAs to conduct capacity building needs

assessments for GOR institutions that have a mandate on investment promotion in

agriculture, including RDB, MINAGRI, NAEB and RPPD Secretariat. The capacity

building assessments were conducted using two dimensions: 1) a supply-side approach

that examined the roles, responsibilities, and outputs of each institution in relation to

investment promotion, facilitation, and development; and 2) a demand-side approach

based on the experiences of investors and intermediaries in dealing with the GOR

investment network. For the supply-side dimension, an investor journey model (Figure

5) was used to link institutional activity to each touch point12 with potential and actual

investors from the initial enquiry stage to the supply of key information and from

compliance/incentives negotiation to set up procedure support.

9 A “touch point” is a contact by the investor with the institutional framework along the “investor journey” (as illustrated in Figure 5). these are widely used terms in investment acquisition. Investor Journey Model created by Peter McDermott, PSDAG STTA, July 2017.


The draft assessment findings were presented to assessed institutions for validation

before finalization. A summary of key findings and recommendations from the

assessment of these GOR institutions is presented in Table 9.

Table 9. Capacity building assessment findings and recommendations

Key Capacity Building Assessment Findings Recommendations

Significant capacity gaps in each institution for promoting, facilitating, and developing private sector investment and PPD/policy advocacy. These are currently obstacles to Rwanda achieving its agricultural economic development goals.

Launch an initial, capacity building pilot program within 12 months, followed by a larger program based on the success of the pilot in demonstrating positive outcomes, to help obtain ongoing co-funding.

Scarce funding for capacity building. Investor-facing personnel are distributed widely across RDB, MINAGRI, and NAEB. They have limited opportunities to bid for scarce funding for capacity building in competition with the demand for training in each organization.

Develop a collaborative, coordinated funding approach across the public, private, and donor institutional network to maintain consistency of funding for capacity building projects that demonstrably deliver significant value.

Similar training needs across institutions/agencies (understanding companies’ decision-making processes and “soft skills,” e.g., empathy with investors, communicating effectively with them, team and partnering skills, and problem solving). There is also shared demand for “hard” technical skills related to privatizing State-Owned Enterprises, to PPP contracting and to joint venture set-up.

Form an Investment Development Network to deliver training to investor-facing staff across institutional boundaries and meet widely similar training needs, while avoiding a “silo” approach to capacity building.

Constantly changing corporate environments, frequent staff changes, limited induction support for new staff, and demands on staff from re-organizations make continuity for building capacity and longer-term sustainability difficult. Few capacity-building programs continue to deliver value in the longer-term due in part

Link future training needs assessment to the existing annual staff evaluation system in place across all GOR institutions, by adding a one-page training needs form to staff evaluation forms and measure capacity gains on a 1-5 scale that can be aggregated to departmental and institutional levels.

Figure 5. Investor journey model


to the absence of existing fundamental frameworks on which to base capacity building initiatives.

Limited collaboration across organizations. Research shows investors can be “lost” between various institutions; they may receive conflicting advice from different GOR sources; coordination of effort was often limited.

Creating an Investment Development Network can give investor-facing staff the opportunity to meet together regularly to network, build closer working relationships with counterparts in other institutions, and improve the quality of cross-institutional support along the investor journey. Training material produced by the PSDAG will provide an on-going cross-organizational training resource library.

Need for an effective PPD framework at the national level. The RPPDS is hampered by limited coordination between its two partners, PSF and RDB, in decision-making, and increasingly by an apparent lack of institutional ownership.

Build PPD capacity at RDB (and PSF/RCAL) to help RPPDS resume a more active role; support further development of a broad Agri-PPD framework and taskforce to work with a re-activated RPPDS if possible; or if RPPDS activity remains limited, to ensure Agri-PPD is effective at the national and local level.

Subsequently in Q4, PSDAG shared the final individual institutional capacity building

assessment reports with the assessed GOR institutions. Based on these assessment

findings, PSDAG started to develop a GOR Capacity Building Pilot Program to support

the assessed GOR institutions in addressing the identified capacity gaps and

weaknesses (see Activity 18 for details).

ACTIVITY 18: IMPLEMENT CAPACITY BUILDING PLANS

Following the Capacity Building Needs Assessment for GOR institutions conducted in

Q3, PSDAG recruited a consultant to design the GOR Institutional Capacity Building

Pilot Program. The consultant is helping PSDAG: 1) finalize prioritization modules for

training with input from each of the assessed institutions (MINAGRI, RDB, NAEB, and

RPPD Secretariat); and 2) design the proposed training pilot in collaboration with

MINAGRI, RDB, NAEB, RPPD Secretariat, and Capacity Building and Employment

Service Board (CESB).

During Q4, the consultant met key stakeholders (MINAGRI, RDB, and NAEB) to

prioritize modules for training. In addition, PSDAG met the CESB to explore

opportunities for collaboration during the implementation phase of the capacity building

pilot program and on a sustainability strategy. Moreover, PSDAG held discussions with

PSF on the capacity needs for the RPPD Secretariat in order to design a tailor-made

module to strengthen the whole PPD framework (see Activity 11 as well).

It is expected that a final report to be shared with the GOR in Q1 of FY2018 will include

the detailed content of the proposed curricula, the expected learning outcomes,

suggested trainees and trainers as well as the action plan for the Capacity Building

Program in FY2018.

Progress on capacity building of MINAGRI and RDB through PSDAG’s EIAs is

discussed below.

Technical Assistance to the MINAGRI ISU

The PSDAG EIA at MINAGRI provided technical assistance to the Investment Support

Unit, which is responsible for facilitation of private sector investments in the agriculture


sector. During FY2017, the EIA supported MINAGRI by assisting 49 private sector

partners (see Annex I for full list) in the following ways:

• Developed materials on investment opportunities that are shared with

prospective investors;

• Provided data/information on investment and partnership and opportunities;

• Connected investors with relevant GOR institutions for assistance in addressing

constraints such as registration (RDB), electricity and water connectivity (Ministry

of Infrastructure), land (Ministry of Natural Resources), special economic zones

and taxes (MINEACOM), exports (NAEB), seeds (RAB), tax exemption (RRA),

and funding (Rwanda Development Bank [BRD] and Business Development

Fund);

• Linked investors to other value chain actors (cooperatives and other existing

companies); and

• Supported investors in partnership negotiations (MOUs and PPPs) with

MINAGRI and other GOR institutions.

In addition, the EIA updated the MINAGRI Flagship Project Tracker for 23 projects with

an estimated value of $1 billion. The tracker is used by MINAGRI to monitor and report

to the Cabinet, IDEC, and Economic Cluster on implementation progress of flagship

projects in the agriculture sector. This tracker helps MINAGRI identify and resolve

constraints (e.g., taxes, water resources, and electrical infrastructure) hindering

implementation of these projects. See Annex II for the updated project tracker.13

Furthermore, the EIA at ISU in MINAGRI supported the process of institutionalization to

facilitate private sector investment. The ISU has been included in the PSTA-IV, and, if

approved, would be a fully staffed and funded unit under the office of the PS.

In addition to supporting the ISU to provide private sector facilitation support, PSDAG’s

EIA provided the following technical assistance to MINAGRI:

• Supported the ministry in carrying out physical verification and preliminary

analysis of youth agribusiness projects to be funded under the Agribusiness

Investment Facility Fund (AIFF)14. A total of 50 projects were preselected to

undergo the last phase of financial analysis. It is expected that one agribusiness

youth project per district will be funded.

13 The Investor Support Unit is composed of the PSDAG Embedded Investment Advisor at MINAGRI, Agriculture Investment Specialist and Agribusiness & Finance Specialist. They are responsible for updating the tracker. The PSDAG EIA reports the tracker to Hon. Minister of State who shares it with the Permanent Secretary and Hon. Minister. The IDEC meeting happens once in a quarter; the Economic Cluster meeting happens once a month; and Cabinet meeting happens once or twice a month depending on the needs.

14 GOR, through the National Employment Program (NEP) has developed AIFF tailored to support unemployed university graduates. The fund is RWF 300 million and will support selected agribusiness project, one per district (30 projects in total), for a pilot period of one year (2018).


• Participated in the development of the Livestock Sector Development Framework

which is a blueprint for the development of the Livestock Sector Strategy and

Livestock Development Investment Master Plan.

• Assisted the ministry with an impact assessment of the Rural Investment Facility

(RIF2), 2012-2017. This was a guarantee fund managed by Business

Development Fund (BDF) for agriculture projects – guaranteeing 20-25% of an

agriculture loan. The assessment aimed at establishing the contribution in

improving access to finance in rural areas, impact on livelihoods of the

beneficiaries and the community and identify bottlenecks encountered along in

implementation of the RIF. The results of the assessment will guide the decision

on the way forward for RIF 3.

• Aided the ministry in carrying out the agriculture livelihood mapping exercise and

agriculture water investment mapping under the Effective and Sustainable

Investment in Water for Poverty Reduction Project15. Results from the mapping

exercise will help MINAGRI and RAB develop irrigation investment projects.

• Participated in the development of the Rural and Agriculture Finance Service

Strategy (RAFSS 2016–2020).

• Reviewed the proposed Small-Scale Irrigation Trust Fund (SSIT Fund) designed

to facilitate farmers’ access to small-scale irrigation equipment to mitigate climate

change. MINECOFIN agreed to continue supporting the fund and subsidize 50%

of the cost; however, MINECOFIN recommended that the fund be routed through

a bank to provide farmers with easier access to the capital. MINAGRI suggested

routing the fund through the BRD because it has a banking system and already

works collaboratively with MFIs. The final decision was outstanding at the end of

Q4. PSDAG Objective 1 staff will coordinate with Objective 2 Access to Finance

staff who are working to provide technical assistance to BRD.

• Supported MOU negotiations between Rwanda Youth Agribusiness Forum

(RYAF) and African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN). The five-year MOU

partnership was signed to facilitate development of incubation centers in

Rwanda. The incubation centers will train youth in how to develop business ideas

into workable business plans, and then mentor the businesses through start-up.

The program will leverage systems and co-locate with incubation centers already

developed by the Workforce Development Authority. Funding for the capacity-

building and seed funding for the start-up of the business will come from the

CESB.

• Supported MINAGRI to organize and conduct Nk'Uwikorera Campaign in the

potato seed value chain. The campaign aimed to increase awareness of the

benefits of using quality potato seeds, organizing seed multipliers, and linking

potato growers to seed multipliers. The campaign demonstrated to local farmers

techniques for positive seed selection, weeding, fertilizer application, planting,

15 Funded by FAO, IFAD and International Water Management Institute (IWMI). This project target beneficiaries are small market-oriented famers (< 2 Ha).


and spraying; and also met with the Mayor of Musanze to emphasize the need

for professional and commercial multipliers. MINAGRI will also arrange for 30

interns to assist the region in upgrading to commercial activities.

• Participated in the design of an internship program for young agriculture

graduates. MINAGRI in partnership with RYAF and support from CESB have

started recruitment of interns to work with cooperatives and other value chain

actors to increase agricultural productivity. So far MINAGRI has selected 370

youth to work in rice marshlands in Eastern, Western, and Southern provinces.

More interns will be selected to work in potato, maize, cassava, and livestock

value chains. PSDAG initiated discussions with MINAGRI and CESB with the aim

of supporting the internship program by designing and implementing a capacity

building package for the interns.

Technical Support to Rwanda Development Board

During FY2017, PSDAG’s EIA at RDB continued providing technical assistance to

facilitate investment promotion in the agriculture sector. Specifically, the EIA assisted

more than 58 existing and prospective investors by providing data and information on

investment incentives and opportunities in agriculture. In addition, the EIA linked

investors to other GOR institutions (RAB, MINAGRI, or local authorities), other

partnership opportunities (value chain actors such as existing companies and

cooperatives), and funding institutions (BRD). Furthermore, the EIA provided support in

partnership negotiations for partners that required MOUs with GOR institutions or joint

ventures with other companies. Some successful investments that were registered and

began to operationalize in FY2017 that were facilitated by the EIA are as follows:

• Uzima Chicken, Ltd., estimated at up to [REDACTED] investment;

• Rugabano Tea, Ltd. estimated at up to [REDACTED] investment; and

• Sunfresh, Ltd, estimated at up to [REDACTED] investment.

See Annex III for a full list of private sector facilitation support provided by PSDAG EIA

at RDB.

PSDAG’s EIA at RDB also provided technical assistance to RDB as follows:

• Developed business case in agriculture sector “info-packs” that are shared with

investors. The info-packs contain value chain information and investment

opportunities;

• Represented RDB before organizing committees including: 1) The National

Organizing Committee in the preparation of East African Manufacturing Business

Summit conducted in Rwanda May 23–26, 2017; 2) The National Organizing

Committee for Forestry and Land Scape Restoration Forum (FLIF) which took

place May 16–17, 2017; and 3) The Steering Committee for Gabiro Commercial

Farm project16; and

16 This is a proposed joint venture between GOR and a private sector irrigation firm to develop 16,000 ha for commercial horticulture for export, in three phases.


• Represented RDB in a review of the Joint Imihigo for the agriculture sector for

GOR Fiscal Year 2017–2018.

1.2 OBJECTIVE 2: FACILITATE INCREASED PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT TO UPGRADE VALUE CHAINS

PSDAG continued with implementation of project activities under various grant

mechanisms including 28 signed Agri-SME grants under the VCCF (16 signed in

FY2017); 13 grants under Farmbook and Potato Collection Center (PCC) Upgrade

Grants, and 33 FY2017 Maize Grants. Progress and implementation outcomes of

ongoing grants by value chain are presented in Table 10.

Table 10: Summary of FY2017 results from PSDAG grant activities by value chain

Key Indicators Beans Irish

Potatoes Maize

Horticulture

Other Value

Chains Dairy Total

Value of gross farm incomes of assisted farmers ($)

282,522

2,219,676

2,617,009

163,099

151,147

51,318

5,484,770

$ of female farmers 255,234 891,102 1,080,808 82,631 32,821 17,285 2,359,881

# of farmers 2,235 7,631 32,657 40,865 259 1,587 85,234

# of female farmers 2,026 3,159 14,430 20,667 115 514 40,910

Value of new private sector investment in the agriculture sector or food chain leveraged by FTF implementation ($)

65,525 449,799 60,575 188,699 104,902 459,034 1,328,535

Value of exports of targeted agricultural commodities as a result of USG assistance ($)

239,834 140,458 3,757,654 325,218 140,617 - 4,603,780

Value of domestic sales of value-added agricultural products attributed to program implementation ($)

1,311,294

2,178,713 7,106,551 198,720 46,864 233,858 11,076,001

Value of incremental sales (collected at farm-level) attributed to FTF implementation ($)

157,297 967,608 1,371,952 64,671 103,573 18,843 2,683,944

Number of farmers and others who have applied improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance

2,558 9,896 25,806 8,276 464 354 47,354

Male farmers 1,209 6,017 14,065 4,535 395 215 26,436

Female farmers 1,349 3,879 11,741 3,741 69 139 20,918

Value of Agricultural and Rural Loans and Value Chain Financing ($)

- 4,234 178,836 182,143 2,320,952

237,580 2,923,745

Males - 2,265 118,662 106,623 552,000 237,580 1,017,130

Females - 463 24,459 15,996 368,000 - 408,918


Joint - 1,506 35,714 59,524 1,400,952

-

1,497,697

Number of jobs created - 36 5 24 29 7 101

Males - 18 3 15 17 5 58

Females - 18 2 9 12 2 43

1.2.1 SELECTION AND APPROVAL OF PSDAG PRIVATE PARTNERS

PSDAG has continued to build strong partnerships with the private sector under the

VCCF. The selection and approval process is documented in this section and progress

of signed partnerships is documented by objective and activity (see Table 11).

VCCF PARTNERSHIPS – 2015 RFA

All grants anticipated to be awarded under this RFA are now signed and under

implementation. PSDAG decided to terminate one grant to Agasaro Organic Ltd

because the company was not able to meet its contribution requirements. Kigali Farms,

Shekina, and Sarura completed all funded activities and remain strong partners to the

project as PSDAG provides technical assistance to enable them to reach new markets

and access private financing.

A list of PSDAG’s partnerships under 2015 RFAs is included in Annex IV.

VALUE CHAIN COMPETITIVENESS FUND (VCCF) PARTNERSHIPS – 2016 ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT (APS)

Under this selection mechanism, PSDAG signed 12 VCCF partnerships with agro-SMEs,

with four under final USAID approval. An additional 12 partners are at final stages and

expected to be submitted in Q1 of Year 4. PSDAG completed due diligence on, but

dropped or put on hold 14 applications. A complete list of grantees is provided under

Annex V.

Table 11: Summary of partner competition, selection process, grant funding, and partner leverage

Concept Notes / Applications

FY2015 RFA FY2016 APS

As of Dec. 31, 2016

Full Applications Concept Notes Full Applications

Received 98 • $48.3 million requested

• $59.6 million in proposed leverage

171 • $23 million requested

• $34 million in proposed leverage

63 • $9 million • $21.4 million in

proposed leverage

Accepted 20 • $2.6 million requested


42 • $10.4 million requested




Requested to Resubmit

0 N/A 9 • $1 million requested





Concept Notes / Applications

FY2015 RFA FY2016 APS

Under Negotiation 0 N/A 16 • $1.2 million in grant funding

• $4.6 million in leverage

Awarded 14 • $1.8 million in grant funding


N/A 12 • $1.2 million in grant funding


Total Anticipated Awarded

14 • $1.7 million in grant funding


N/A 28 • $2.3 million in grant funding


Note that leverage includes both capital and noncapital (e.g. working capital and investments in inputs) private sector investments directly relevant to the grant funded; value under negotiation is based on current negotiations not application amount and excludes applications that were dropped after due diligence. It is not anticipated that all grants under due diligence and negotiation will be awarded (i.e., the target number of grants awarded will be less than the sum of grants awarded and those under negotiation).

VCCF Partnerships – 2017 APS

In FY2017, PSDAG released four RFAs; progress on implementation includes:

• Cooperative Professionalization RFA: in collaboration with WFP, PSDAG

provided cost-share grants to 33 maize cooperatives for Season A post-harvest

handling. PSDAG selected 60 cooperatives identified and assessed in Year 3;

those cooperatives will be eligible to apply for grants in Year 4, contingent on

completion of technical assistance program.

• Asset Financing RFA: PSDAG received 16 applications and evaluated six of

which three were accepted for the next step of due diligence and three were

rejected. The remaining applications will be evaluated in Q1 of FY2018.

• Institutional Capacity Strengthening RFA: PSDAG received four applications

under this RFA. Two organizations were approved for the next step of due

diligence process: Private Sector Federation/Rwanda Chamber of Agriculture

and Livestock and National Seed Association of Rwanda (NSAR). One

organization was asked to resubmit and one was not selected.

• Women, Youth and PWD in Entrepreneurship and Leadership Program

RFA: PSDAG received 29 applications under this RFA. Five applications were

evaluated and three of them were selected for the next level of due diligence.

PSDAG rejected one applicant and requested a meeting with the other one to

understand more about their business before making the final decision. The

remaining applications will be evaluated in Q1 of FY2018.

PSDAG Build the Capacity of Private Sector Agri-SMEs to promote Gender Equity and Social Inclusion

PSDAG provided support to 11 private partners on Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) so that partners are able to identify opportunities for proactively engaging women, youth and people with disabilities (PWDs) within their


business models and put in place policies to reduce unintended negative consequences resulting from their businesses. For example, companies such Masaka Creamery have hired individual with disabilities, and companies such as Tuzamurane have improved leadership opportunities for women and hired a female staff as Head of Production. All partners agreed to review their policies and practices to ensure they are inclusive and PSDAG will continue to support these partners in Year 4 to monitor progress against the results. The curriculum was adapted to cooperatives’ specific needs under the Cooperative Professionalization Activity (Activity 21). Training under the CPP, including GSI training, started in Q4 2017 for the first cohort of 60 cooperatives.

1.2.2 OBJECTIVE 2.1.1: IMPROVING ACCESS TO RAW MATERIALS

ACTIVITY 19: STRENGTHEN VERTICAL LINKAGES THROUGH IMPROVED AGGREGATION, POST-HARVEST HANDLING, AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

PSDAG partnerships from the 2015 RFA and 2016 APS have made progress toward

their investment objectives in FY2017, strengthening vertical relationships with buyers

and quality management at aggregation. In addition to facilitating investment by private

partners in technology and their supply chains, PSDAG has supported horizontal

linkages between farmers, which are reported under Activity 21 Cooperative

Professionalization.

Under Activity 19, PSDAG implemented a successful strategy for building vertical

linkages driven by private sector partners and market opportunities. Leveraging its

VCCF, PSDAG was able to identify those buyers and aggregators that have a strong

interest in investing in the farmer supply chain, in particular to improve quality,

aggregation, and reliability. PSDAG also supported these businesses to improve their

contract farming strategies by providing two workshops and one-on-one coaching.

In addition, PSDAG has been supporting cooperatives to invest in post-harvest handling

technology that has improved their ability to manage quality after harvest, which is

particularly important in Rwanda where the humidity is high and rains are possible during

harvest.

Many PSDAG partners support multiple activities; partners highlighted under Activity 19

include:

• Sarura—maize and bean trader in domestic and regional markets

• Producing and Export Bird’s Eye Chili (PEBEC)—dried chili buyer and exporter

• Enterprise Nkubiri & Sons (ENAS)—maize and bean trader in domestic and

regional markets

• Les Minoteries Industrielles Import-Export (MINIMEX)—high value maize

processor

• Agrilift—crop monitoring solutions

• E&Foods Direct—wholesale horticulture, commercial anchor-tenant model

• WFP—partnership with maize cooperatives on post-harvest handling solutions

Sarura Commodities – Supporting Maize and Beans Farmers through

Establishment of Aggregation Centers


PSDAG and Sarura Commodities partnered to support investment in upgrading five

collection centers located in [REDACTED], [REDACTED], [REDACTED], and

[REDACTED] Districts and training farmers on production and supply of high value

maize and beans to these centers. Specifically, USAID grant funding helped Sarura

invest in [REDACTED] aluminum storage structures, [REDACTED] solar bubble dryers,

[REDACTED] blue boxes, [REDACTED] moisture meters, [REDACTED] weight scales,

[REDACTED] sheeting for grain handling, [REDACTED] sets of branded bags, and

[REDACTED] sets of gloves and masks.

The one-year (January 2016 to January 2017) grant funding period for Sarura ended in

Q2. With the support of PSDAG, Sarura acquired [REDACTED] Wiikhall storage facilities

([REDACTED] each) and equipped existing warehouses (in [REDACTED]—

[REDACTED] t, [REDACTED]—[REDACTED] t, and [REDACTED]—[REDACTED] t).

Consequently, Sarura’s storage capacity at the collection and aggregation centers

increased from [REDACTED] to [REDACTED]. With this increased storage capacity,

Sarura bought [REDACTED] of maize, and [REDACTED] of beans from 12 cooperatives

(10 maize and two beans), earning [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] in income for

[REDACTED] and [REDACTED] maize and beans farmers, respectively. In addition,

Sarura mobilized over [REDACTED] in loans through an inventory credit facility to

purchase maize and beans from [REDACTED] farmers ([REDACTED] women).

Progress on implementation of Sarura grant activity during FY2017:

• The company signed a new framework contract with [REDACTED] to supply

[REDACTED] of maize per season, including the possibility of expanding into the

soybean trade.

• The company acquired a loan of [REDACTED] from [REDACTED] for working

capital to buy beans from partner cooperatives.

• Sarura purchased [REDACTED] of maize from [REDACTED] partner

cooperatives and [REDACTED] of beans from [REDACTED] partner

cooperatives.

• Sarura engaged with [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] for low interest inventory

credit lines of [REDACTED] million and [REDACTED] respectively. Negotiations

are still underway.

• PSDAG hired a service provider to help Sarura develop a growth strategy,

conduct regional market analysis, prepare investor documents, and link it to

investors.

• Key outcomes attributed to partnership with PSDAG:

– [REDACTED] in incomes for [REDACTED] smallholder maize and beans

farmers ([REDACTED] women).

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of value-added maize and beans.

– [REDACTED] in value of loans accessed by Sarura to purchase maize from

smallholder farmers.


PSDAG Private Partners Invest in Women throughout the Supply Chain

Under the grant agreement partnerships, PSDAG continued to engage private partners with strong social inclusion targets who are investing in their supply chain and increasing opportunities for female farmers. For example:

• Sarura engages 2 women as full-time staff and has facilitated [REDACTED] in loans from Duterimbere for women. Inventory credit has benefited [REDACTED] women by enabling them to get a higher price for their maize and still get paid early in the harvesting season.

• PEBEC has enabled [REDACTED] women to access new markets for chili and employs [REDACTED] women at its [REDACTED] collection centers.

• ENAS is working with [REDACTED] cooperatives at 10 collection centers in Kirehe; at least one cooperative has female leadership and it is anticipated that ENAS’s investment in the silo will support maize and beans marketing for [REDACTED] women.

• MINIMEX’s investment in post-harvest handling has enabled [REDACTED] women to adopt improved post-harvest handling technologies (dryers, shellers, weighing scales).

• E&Foods investments in greenhouses for horticulture and training for out-growers has facilitated [REDACTED] women to adopt improved irrigation technologies, marking high value horticulture to E&Foods who sells wholesale to hotels and retail shops in Kigali.

• In total, 42% of PSDAG partners’ suppliers were women and the increased value of sales for women was $2,359,881 in FY2017. The private sector’s investments in the supply chain have facilitated training in agricultural sector productivity or food security for 3,039 women and supported 20,918 women in applying improved agricultural technologies or management practices.

• PSDAG partners work with 194 cooperatives of which 30% have female leadership (i.e. Cooperative Representative is a woman); 31,478 women are members of these cooperatives, representing 44% of total cooperatives membership.

Producing and Aggregating Export-quality Birds-Eye Chili (PEBEC)

PSDAG’s partnership with PEBEC

supports co-investment in aggregation

centers for smallholder farmers

supplying Birds-eye chili peppers to

PEBEC for drying and export to

Europe. Under this partnership,

PEBEC is co-investing to upgrade its

rural drying, sorting, aggregation, and

storage points along the value chain to

meet export market standards and

volumes, targeted to increase from

[REDACTED] t to [REDACTED] t per

year.

Progress on implementation of PEBEC

grant activity during FY2017:

• Nurseries were prepared and aggregation centers equipped (with sorting tables,

cocoons, moisture meters, weighing scales) in all collection sites in [REDACTED]

districts. Subsequently, seedlings were distributed to supplier farmers for planting

in Q1.

• PEBEC completed the construction of dryers in [REDACTED] Districts. The

construction of dryers in [REDACTED] is ongoing.

New sorting and drying table at [REDACTED] collection center, November 24, 2016 (PSDAG staff)


• The company continued to buy fresh chili from farmers and exported

[REDACTED] t of dried chili to the [REDACTED].

• However, the company experienced delays in accessing a loan to finance its

cost-share contribution for the remaining equipment for collection centers in

[REDACTED]District.

• Key outcomes from implementation of grant activity:

– [REDACTED] in farm incomes for [REDACTED] chili farmers ([REDACTED]

women).

– [REDACTED] investment in capital assets.

– [REDACTED] in export sales to markets outside the East African Region.

– [REDACTED] in loans to invest in chili production and value addition

processes.

– [REDACTED] ([REDACTED] women) TOTs on Good Agriculture Practices

(GAP) including quality seed management.

Enterprise Nkubiri & Sons (ENAS) – Kirehe Grain Storage Facility for Maize and

Beans

PSDAG has co-invested with ENAS in a silo that will store and dry [REDACTED] t of

maize and beans in [REDACTED] District, helping the company significantly expand

operations and services to clients in the maize value chain. With PSDAG support, ENAS

has acquired two silos with built-in

dryers. As part of ENAS’s contribution,

the company has provided training to

farmers in post-harvest handling best

practices and has set up [REDACTED]

collection centers in [REDACTED]

District.

Progress on implementation of ENAS

grant activity during FY2017:

• The silo equipment (bought with

co-funding from USAID grant)

with all parts including a modern

dryer has been imported from Brazil and stored at the ENAS warehouse in

[REDACTED] District. Installation of silo equipment is expected to begin after

completion of silo foundations.

• ENAS continued with construction of the foundations where the new silos will be

installed at its warehouse in [REDACTED] District. Construction is anticipated to

be completed before the end of the 2017 calendar year, with installation of silos

expected to be completed by February 2018 in time to store Season 2017-A

maize.

• Key results from implementation of grant activity:

Construction activities of the silo installation site in [REDACTED] (Photo by PSDAG staff)


– [REDACTED] in income for [REDACTED] smallholder bean farmers

([REDACTED] women).

– [REDACTED] of new capital investments (construction of foundation for

silos).

– [REDACTED] in export sales ([REDACTED] in beans and [REDACTED] in

maize) to markets outside the East African Region.

– [REDACTED] farmers ([REDACTED] women) applied improved technologies

in production of beans.

Kumwe Logistics – MOU for TA to Mobilize Capital Financing

In Q3, PSDAG entered into a partnership with Kumwe, a transportation and logistics

company, through an MOU. Kumwe is focused on accelerating Rwanda’s economic

transformation through efficient and affordable transportation services, with the

agricultural sector as a key target market.

PSDAG and Kumwe are partnering to:

• Increase farmer and agribusiness access to transportation services that meet the

needs of the agriculture sector, including the transportation of farm inputs,

outputs, and equipment;

• Reduce the cost and improve the reliability of transportation services for farmers

and agribusinesses (cutting post-harvest losses);

• Facilitate efficient agriculture trade with Rwanda’s neighboring countries,

(increasing Rwandan agriculture exports);

• Increase employment for agriculture-focused transportation professionals by

training and employing an agent network of more than 50 individuals, as well as

establishing norms amidst a network of more than 250 unique transporters in the

first year; and

• Grow participation of women and youth in the transportation industry.

Kumwe had [REDACTED] sales in its first year, equivalent to approximately

[REDACTED] truckloads, or [REDACTED] t, which the company seeks to double in each

subsequent year. See Activity 28 for more information on how PSDAG is supporting

Kumwe to access finance are reach more farmers with its services.

The company would like to raise funds for technology improvement, working capital, and

aggressive marketing of its services. Under the MOU, PSDAG will provide business

development services in a bid to help the company be “investor ready” and raise capital

through equity or debt of between [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] to scale up Kumwe’s

business in Rwanda and link to surrounding export markets.

Technical assistance will cover the following areas: conducting a regional market

analysis, creating a pitch book for the company, and preparing investor documents. To

date, the pitch deck is nearly complete and the financial model is being finalized. In

addition to the pitch book, a data room has been established to collect valuable

company data and documents. The data room will help the company put together all


necessary documents for investors. This is designed to facilitate due diligence for

potential investors.

As for the regional market analysis, Karisimbi Business Partners conducted interviews

with market actors in Uganda (small and large transporters, the Uganda Shippers

Council, Uganda Commodities Exchange, a transport broker, the Uganda Revenue

Authority, and Uganda National Roads Authority) to collect data on approximate

domestic transport supply and demand, pricing, sales and marketing, risks, and

opportunities. Analysis of these data is being conducted to estimate market size and

identify potential partners to facilitate Kumwe’s Uganda expansion.

Les Minoteries Industrielles Import-Export Ltd (MINIMEX) – Introducing Improved

Post-Harvest Handling Technologies to Maize Cooperatives

A PSDAG partnership under a grant agreement with MINIMEX in collaboration with the

European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD), has introduced a number of

improved technologies and quality management practices into the MINIMEX smallholder

maize supply chain with the objective of reducing average post-harvest maize losses.

This improved the quantity and quality of maize available for processing and

consumption, increasing the incomes of an estimated [REDACTED] farmers from

[REDACTED] cooperatives located in [REDACTED] Districts.

Under this partnership, during FY2016, 21 cooperatives were supplied with assorted

post-harvest handling equipment including 8 local shellers, 12 high moisture meters,

2,000 Purdue Improved Crop (PIC) bags, 5 aflatoxin detection meters, 25 collapsible

dryer cases, 12 ultra-hermetic cocoons, and 12 oxygen meters. In addition, five

cooperatives were supplied with new drying technologies including five solar bubble

dryers and five AflaStop dryers.

The one-year grant funding period ended in Q2, but PSDAG continued to monitor

outcomes attributed to upgrading of post-harvest handling technologies by supported

cooperatives.

Farmers using Aflastop dryer and solar bubble dryer at [REDACTED] District, March 2017 (Photo by PSDAG Staff)


During FY2017, progress on the partnership with MINIMEX included:

• EUCORD trained 14 people (all men) from seven maize cooperatives in

[REDACTED] and [REDACTED] Districts as Training of Trainers (TOT) on

assembling and using the high moisture shellers. EUCORD also conducted a

refresher training for 3,291 farmers (1,522 women) on local low moisture shellers

acquired in 2016.

• Key outcomes from this grant partnership to support 21 maize cooperatives that

supply MINIMEX:

– [REDACTED] in income 8,685 smallholder maize farmers (3,147 women).

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of value-added maize (grits, flour, and bran).

– [REDACTED] in maize products (flour and bran) export sales to regional

East African markets.

– 8,685 smallholder farmers (3,147 women) adopted improved post-harvest

handling technologies (dryers, shellers, and weighing scales).

AgriLift – Advanced Crop Monitoring for Smallholder Irish Potato Farmers

Under its partnership with PSDAG, AgriLift

is implementing a project to pilot

geospatial advanced crop monitoring

solutions with [REDACTED] potato

farmers in Northern Province and develop

a sustainable service model for

smallholder farmers to engage in advance

crop monitoring service contracts. Under

this grant activity, PSDAG is supporting

AgriLift to use drones to provide advance

crop monitoring services to members of

the Imbaraga Cooperative Federation. The

Spatiotemporal Apps Framework (SAF)

that AgriLift has built is intended to monitor

and provide early warning for crop health during a particular season. Accurate yield

projections generated by the system are possible, but will take time. A baseline is

gathered followed by crop health and yield data over several seasons. Information

regarding crop stress is then pegged to specific yields actually recorded. As data are

collected season after season, SAF will begin to automatically and more accurately

predict yields. Yield projections in the beginning of a project (such as now), are a rough

estimate based on the plot sizes.

By the end of FY2016, all equipment to conduct remote sensing had been delivered and

used to conduct test flights and remote sensing data analysis. Over the past 6-12

months, AgriLift has had ongoing conversations with a number of organizations

regarding commercial service delivery and project development of crop monitoring

services. Target markets include potato processors; commercial sugar, coffee (Ethiopia),

Rwandan drone operators [REDACTED] prepare a drone at the launch of the crop monitoring project

implemented by AgriLift Ltd, December 7, 2016 (Photo by William Herkewitz, USAID/Rwanda)


and stevia farms; and the Rockefeller Foundation in Kenya ($130 million YieldWise

project).

Progress on implementation of AgriLift grant activity during FY2017:

• Conducted its first drone test flight at the beginning of Season 2017-A to assess

the functionality and efficiency of tools, understand the landscape, and take

some basic initial imagery and analysis. Subsequently, three Season 2017-A

drone flights were conducted to monitor health of crops of [REDACTED] farmers

([REDACTED] women) from [REDACTED] Irish potato cooperatives in Musanze

District.

• Held four meetings with members of [REDACTED] Farmers Organization to

present analyzed data (yield forecast and health index) to [REDACTED] farmers

with [REDACTED] plots registered in the SAF.

• Initiated consultations with stakeholders to develop post-project

commercialization strategies.

Key outcomes from implementation of grant partnership with AgriLift to use remote

sensing to improve productivity of Irish potatoes:

• [REDACTED] in new capital investment on remote-sensing equipment and

technologies.

• [REDACTED] smallholder farmers (including [REDACTED] women) applied

remote sensing crop monitoring technologies for Season 2017-B.

E&Foods Direct Ltd – Empowering Smallholder Vegetables Farmers through

Access to Market and New Technologies

PSDAG has a partnership with E&Foods Direct Ltd to increase investment in high value

horticulture greenhouses and wholesale marketing that will transfer knowledge to

Production of tomatoes in a greenhouse bought

with PSDAG grant, [REDACTED] District, September 2017 (Photo by PSDAG staff)

French beans produced using irrigation kits acquired under PSDAG grant (PSDAG staff)


smallholder vegetable farmers and increase their access to markets and new

technologies (see Figure 7). Under this partnership, E&Foods will increase in an anchor-

tenant model with smallholder farmers. The farmers in turn benefit from a stronger

market access, technology transfer, and increased incomes from sales of carrots,

French beans, and tomatoes.

With PSDAG support and co-investment, E&Foods will: 1) Add [REDACTED] more

greenhouses for tomatoes with irrigation facilities in [REDACTED] District (and will

engage [REDACTED] commercial farmers to produce [REDACTED] t tomatoes); 2)

produce [REDACTED] t of carrots annually on a [REDACTED] hectare (ha)

demonstration plot in [REDACTED] District; 3) engage [REDACTED] outgrower farmers

to produce [REDACTED] t over two seasons; and 4) produce [REDACTED] t of French

beans on [REDACTED] ha of its own irrigated land in [REDACTED] and will also work

with [REDACTED] farmers who will produce [REDACTED] t per year.

Progress on implementation of this grant activity during FY2017:

• Irrigation kits were procured, installed, and used for production of French beans

at a [REDACTED] ha farm in Rwamagana District. E&Foods provided technical

assistance to out-grower farmers growing French beans.

• The company bought and sold [REDACTED] t of French beans of which

[REDACTED] t was sold to Garden Fresh for export.

• Tomatoes were planted in Q4 using [REDACTED] operational greenhouses

equipped with irrigation facilities procured with a PSDAG grant. First harvest is

anticipated in early Q1 FY2018. The fourth greenhouse is under procurement.

• A new packhouse and cold room were bought (with PSDAG grant), installed, and

are awaiting use to pack and store crop produce.

• The company developed and operationalized an online shopping platform

(www.lamane.rw) to market its produce.

• Under technical assistance, PSDAG contracted a service provider to provide

business development services (BDS) support to E&Foods on accounting and

book keeping, financial accounting and reporting, budgeting and sales forecast,

investment readiness, and human centered management.

Figure 6. E&Foods Greenhouse with tomatoes



– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of French beans and tomatoes.

– [REDACTED] in new capital investments to upgrade production technologies

and packaging equipment.

– [REDACTED] in loans to upgrade production and value addition processes.

– [REDACTED] farmers ([REDACTED] women) adopted improved agricultural

production technologies (irrigation).

FY2017 Grants to Maize Cooperatives

PSDAG has partnered with WFP and RDO to support the Patient Procurement Platform

which is now called Farm to Market Alliance

(FAMA). This is an initiative to support consistent

market access for smallholder farmers. The goal

of FAMA is to establish pro-smallholder

agricultural value chains in partnership with

public and private off-takers and input providers

and other commercial actors. Rwanda is one of

the first pilot countries for this program, along

with Tanzania and Zambia. Under this

partnership, PSDAG signed grant agreements

with 33 cooperatives through co-investment in

post-harvest handling equipment such as

shellers, weighing scales, pallets, and packaging

bags.

Progress on implementation of FY2017 Cooperative Professionalization grants to maize

cooperatives:

• Six cooperatives received post-harvest handling equipment including moisture

meters, two bag-sewing machines, grain silos, packaging bags, and weighing

scales.

• All 33 cooperatives received all the equipment under the 2017 grants to maize

cooperatives.

• Key outcomes from implementation of this grant activity:

– [REDACTED] in value of incomes for 9,786 (4,690 women) smallholder

maize farmers.

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of value added maize.

– 33 cooperatives adopted improved post-harvest handling technologies and

accessed premium maize markets (WFP and RGCC).

Branding of sheller bought with USAID funding at [REDACTED] Cooperative in [REDACTED] District (Photo by PSDAG

staff)


PSDAG Agri-SME Partners Enabled Women to Earn Higher Incomes by Selling Improved Quality Goods at Higher Prices through the Market System

By leveraging the VCCF, PSDAG worked with private partners to ensure that new market linkages were created for smallholder farmers who can get higher prices for quality produce.

• Shekina almost exclusively sources fresh cassava leaves from women producers; a value of [REDACTED] was purchased in FY2017 from [REDACTED] women (92% of Shekina’s suppliers); it also increased the price of cassava from [REDACTED] /kg to [REDACTED] /kg as an incentive to encourage production and supply of quality fresh cassava leaves.

• Tuzamurane purchased [REDACTED] worth of fresh organic pineapples from [REDACTED] women producers in their cooperative; Tuzamurane members voted to use profits from higher exports to cover the cost of health insurance of all members and their families. Not only do women earn more income through Tuzamuane, but they are able to provide other valuable services to them such as health care, benefitting the whole community.

• MINIMEX bought [REDACTED] worth of maize from [REDACTED] women farmers (representing 36% of total group of beneficiaries) in Year 3.

• ENAS purchased [REDACTED] worth of beans from [REDACTED] women farmers (59% of total group of targeted farmers).

• DEYI is a new PSDAG partner and women are playing an important role in their business model; [REDACTED] out of [REDACTED] cooperatives have all women. Along with financial education, DEYI is building their capacity to sell substrate tubes and fresh mushrooms; DEYI anticipates increased income of [REDACTED], of which [REDACTED] will be for women (based on the assumption that the beneficiary group is 46% women).

In total, PSDAG partners’ investments generated at least $2.3 million in gross farm income (out of $5.48 million) for 23,659 women smallholder farmers in FY2017.

ACTIVITY 20: SUPPORT EXPANSION OF PROCESSING AND VALUE ADDITION

PSDAG has leverage the VCCF to identify and fund private sector processors across

multiple value chains. Most of these are small to medium enterprises with limited

collateral to access financing. The PSDAG support enabled companies to access

financing for at least 50–70% of the cost of their assets. Most processors have also been

investing in the supply chain, strengthening vertical linkages with producers (Activity 19).

PSDAG began in Year 3 to support these processing companies with BDS that will

enable them to target private investors to reach scale. When the PSDAG partnership

began, many of these companies were not yet attractive to investors and funds such as

AgDevCo. The goal of the support to these partners under the VCCF in Year 3, is to

enable them to demonstrate profitability, market demand, and sound financial

management, which will result in accessing private funding to reach scale.

Many PSDAG partners support multiple activities; the partners highlighted under Activity

20 include:

• Kigali Farms mushroom processing for substrate and high value exports,

• DEYI oyster mushroom processing for substrate and the Kigali market,

• Shekina cassava leaf processed specialty food products for export,

• Tuzamurane dried pineapple processing for export,

• Hollanda Fair Foods potato chip processing for domestic and regional markets,

• FarmFresh precooked mixed and iron-fortified beans for domestic and regional

markets,


• Norlega Macademia nut processors for domestic and regional markets,

• Masaka Creamery (yogurt and cheese) processor for domestic and regional

markets,

• Green Harvest “Sabana” processed chili sauces for domestic and regional

markets, and

• Ndiyo potato chip processing for domestic and regional markets.

Kigali Farms – Mushroom High Value Vegetable Crop for Export and Nutrition,

Button Mushroom Production

In FY2016, PSDAG partnered with Kigali Farms with the aim of building a commercially

successful mushroom substrate and growing plant in [REDACTED] District,

[REDACTED] Province. This project

activity facilitated engagement with

the local community, providing two

income-generating opportunities: 1)

local wheat and maize farmers supply

materials—straw, stover (chopped

corn stalks), and manure; and 2)

Kigali Farms uses the materials to

produce high-quality mushroom

substrate (see Figure 8).

As of the end of a one-year grant

agreement period (January 2016–

January 2017) with Kigali Farms in

Q2, with PSDAG support, the

company had bought and installed

substrate production facilities, constructed mushroom growing houses, and installed

mushroom production equipment—baler, tractor, generator, cold room, and precooler.

Progress on implementation of Kigali Farms grant activity during FY2017 included:

Button mushrooms produced by Kigali Farms packed in crates ready for distribution to retail stores, November 9, 2016 (Photo by PSDAG staff)


• Kigali Farms officially

launched its mushroom

production plant in

[REDACTED] in

November 2016.

Afterwards, the company

continued to produce

button mushrooms and

supplied them to retail

stores and hotels in Kigali

and Kenya.

• The company obtained

Hazard Analysis Critical

Control Point (HACCP)

certification for its

[REDACTED] mushroom

growing site. Kigali Farms

also received the S-Mark from RSB after quality testing its key raw materials for

compost production—spent grain, chicken manure, and peat.

• Kigali Farms trained [REDACTED] FFS facilitators who trained [REDACTED]

groups ([REDACTED] farmers [[REDACTED] women]) in growing oyster

mushrooms. Kigali Farms selected [REDACTED] farmer groups for buy-back

contracts of oyster mushrooms they produced.

• Under BDS support, PSDAG contracted consultancy services to conduct a

comprehensive assessment of smallholders’ demand for mushroom substrate

and interest in investment in oyster mushroom cultivation in Northern Province.

Findings of this assessment

will inform Kigali Farms

future engagement

strategies with farmers to

whom it markets mushroom

substrate. It will also help

validate some of the

nutritional objectives of

having smallholder farmers

produce mushrooms in

order to increase local

consumption and improve

nutrition, compared to the

commercial motivations of

farmers producing

mushrooms as a cash crop.

CEO Kigali Farms explaining to guests on substrate production during Mushrooms production plant launch

event at Musanze, November 9, 2016 (Photo by PSDAG staff)

Figure 7. Kigali Farms Button mushroom

production



– [REDACTED] of income for [REDACTED] farmers/collectors ([REDACTED]

women) through the purchase of wheat straw used as raw material for

production of button mushrooms.

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of mushrooms and tubes.

– [REDACTED] in mushroom export sales to regional East African markets.

– [REDACTED] ([REDACTED] women) mushroom farmers adopted improved

mushroom production practices.

– [REDACTED] in new capital investments to upgrade production and

processing facilities.

DEYI – Improved Mushroom Production and Processing Technologies

In Q4, PSDAG signed a partnership with DEYI Ltd, a company involved in mushroom

production. DEYI will invest to increase substrate production volumes, cold storage for

fresh mushrooms, and processing equipment for mushroom flour. These investments

will increase income for oyster mushroom producers by increasing their capacity to

supply mushrooms to DEYI through higher yields, and increase the market for

mushrooms that DEYI can buy and process from farmers. This will be done through

provision of technical assistance to agro-SMEs (tubes producers) who aim to produce

[REDACTED] tubes from [REDACTED] t of substrate annually. The project will also

Increased Investment by Private Sector Agribusiness Sustains and Increases Job Opportunities for Women, Youth and PWDs

PSDAG’s investment support to private sector partners enabled them to create new jobs for women, youth and PWDs.

• Agroplast initially hired [REDACTED] staff including [REDACTED] women and [REDACTED] youth. Under partnership with PSDAG, they hired [REDACTED] new staff including [REDACTED] women, [REDACTED] youth and [REDACTED] PWD. In addition, they buy plastic waste from youth and women groups for processing.

• Masaka Creamery is an example to follow for businesses looking to be more inclusive for people living with disabilities. It is the company’s policy to intentionally hire deaf employees and demonstrate that they can be just as productive as anyone else. Masaka Creamery’s team was initially composed of [REDACTED] staff ([REDACTED] women, [REDACTED] youth and [REDACTED] PWD) and in FY2017, the company provided job opportunities to [REDACTED] new PWD, alongside [REDACTED] new youth and [REDACTED] women employees.

• nFrnds hired [REDACTED] new staff including [REDACTED] youth and [REDACTED] women to support the [REDACTED] staff that nFrnds had already employed; under the Youth Fellowship program, nFrnds has also recruited and trained its first cohort of [REDACTED] young women entrepreneurs who will support them in reaching out to farmers and beneficiaries with their ICT services. This program offers long-term job opportunities for young women whose capacities in marketing, entrepreneurship and ICT are built throughout project implementation.

• E&Foods Direct initially had a team of [REDACTED] employees, with [REDACTED] women. In partnership with PSDAG, it hired [REDACTED] new staff including [REDACTED] women, [REDACTED] youth and [REDACTED] PWD. The company will build long-term capacity of its team in accounting and book keeping, financial reporting, budgeting and sales forecast.


strengthen

the capacity of fresh mushroom producers and link them to the agro-SMEs in order to produce

[REDACTED] t of fresh mushrooms. Up to [REDACTED] farmers will benefit from this activity.

[REDACTED] private companies, [REDACTED] cooperatives, and [REDACTED] vocational

training centers will be linked to DEYI. DEYI will purchase fresh oyster mushrooms, process

[REDACTED] % into flour, and sell [REDACTED] % as fresh oyster mushroom to identified

markets including schools, supermarkets, and hotels.

Progress on implementation of DEYI grant activity includes:

• PSDAG supported DEYI to access working capital of [REDACTED] to purchase

raw materials.

• DEYI purchased [REDACTED] kg of fresh oyster mushrooms from [REDACTED]

farmers ([REDACTED] women).

• The company trained [REDACTED] farmers (all women) on mushroom

production and marketing.

Key outcomes from grant partnership with DEYI:

• [REDACTED] in gross farmer incomes for [REDACTED] suppliers

([REDACTED] women) of fresh oyster mushroom.

• [REDACTED] in domestic sales of fresh Oyster mushroom.

• [REDACTED] in value of new capital investments to upgrade mushroom

production and processing technologies.

• $[REDACTED] in value of loans for working capital.

• [REDACTED] new full-time employees ([REDACTED] women and [REDACTED]

youth).

Shekina Enterprises – Strengthening Cassava Leaf Value Chain in Rulindo

District

PSDAG’s partnership with Shekina Enterprises aims to increase the income of women

farmers in Rulindo District by strengthening the cassava leaf value chain, and entails

training the members of [REDACTED] women’s groups, purchasing [REDACTED] t of

cassava leaves from these groups, processing and exporting cassava leaf products to

Europe, the United States, Canada, and Japan, and increasing buying and processing

capacity of dried cassava leaves from [REDACTED] t to [REDACTED] t annually through

co-investment in drying, blanching, and packaging equipment.

Progress on implementation of this grant activity during FY2017 included:

• PEBEC has [REDACTED] permanent employees, [REDACTED] are women and [REDACTED] youth. They also temporarily hire [REDACTED] casual workers, all women. PEBEC’s recruitment model is gender neutral, and empower women by offering jobs at aggregation center sorting chili.

In total, PSDAG’s private partners (including PCCs) have 623 full-time staff (29% women) and 10 new long-term jobs were created in FY2017 as a direct result of PSDAG’s support. Out of these 101 new positions, 42% are occupied by women;42% by youth and 7% by PWDs (both men and women).

Among 25 Agri-SME partners, nine are owned by both women and men (36% mixed ownership).


• Shekina used a PSDAG grant to buy new processing equipment including an

electric drying machine to manage growing demand for the product, a blanching

machine to replace outdated and inefficient existing equipment, and six electric

sealing machines to increase packaging capacity.

• The company raised prices for

purchase of fresh cassava leaves from

[REDACTED] /kg to [REDACTED] /kg

as an incentive to continue

encouraging production and supply of

fresh cassava leaves.

• An instant cassava leaf product

produced with the newly acquired

machines was certified by RSB.

• [REDACTED] women farmers were

trained on cooperative management,

harvest and post-harvest handling in

the five collection centers in

[REDACTED].

• Shekina began the registration process with the RCA for [REDACTED] cassava

collection centers and initiated a savings program for the women’s groups that

supply fresh cassava leaves.

• The company continued to buy fresh

cassava leaves from women producers

and process dried cassava leaves for

domestic and export markets and

distributed [REDACTED] cuttings to

farmers in the Base and Bushoki collection

centers in accordance with its cassava

production plan.

• Key outcomes from the grant partnership

with Shekina include:

– [REDACTED] in gross farmer incomes

for [REDACTED] suppliers of fresh cassava leaves ([REDACTED] women).

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of instant dried cassava leaves and dried

cassava leaf products.

– [REDACTED] in exports of processed cassava leaf products to the East

African Region and US markets.

– [REDACTED] female youth (ages 18–20) jobs created at the sorting facility.

Tuzamurane Cooperative: Dried Organic Pineapple Production

Women sorting fresh cassava leaves before processing at Shekina processing facility, [REDACTED] , February

16, 2017 (Photo by PSDAG staff)

[REDACTED] , Managing Director of Shekina at the cassava leaves processing facility equipped with

USAID funding (Photo by Franz Benjamin, PSDAG)


PSDAG launched its partnership with Tuzamurane Cooperative, which is co-investing

with PSDAG in value-added processing of organic pineapples. Under this partnership,

Tuzamurane will be able to increase land under organic pineapple production from

[REDACTED] ha to [REDACTED] ha; improve quality management of fresh and dried

pineapples; accelerate processing of dried pineapple in the factory using specialized

machines for peeling, slicing, scaling, and lot numbering; increase sales of dried organic

pineapples from [REDACTED] t in 2015 to [REDACTED] t by September 2017; and

strengthen linkages between value chain stakeholders.

Progress on implementation of grant

partnership with Tuzamurane during FY2017:

• Tuzamurane purchased pineapple

processing equipment including two

sealing machines, four slicers, a juice

extractor, and a dryer machine.

• The cooperative bought over

[REDACTED] t of fresh pineapples from

farmers for value-added processing. A

total of [REDACTED] farmers

([REDACTED] women) were reached in

[REDACTED] collection centers in

[REDACTED] District.

• Tuzamurane obtained an organic certificate after an international audit of

pineapple planting and use of manure practices. [REDACTED] ha of land were

added to organic production and [REDACTED] ha was renewed for production of

organic pineapples.

• A buyer from Europe increased demand

for dried pineapple products from

[REDACTED] t per month to

[REDACTED] t per month after visiting

the upgraded processing facilities.

• Key outcomes from the grant activities:

– [REDACTED] in value of gross

farmer incomes for [REDACTED]

([REDACTED] women) suppliers of

fresh pineapples.

– [REDACTED] in value of new capital

investments to upgrade pineapple processing line.

– [REDACTED] in value of exports of dried pineapples to Europe.

– [REDACTED] in value of loans for working capital.

– [REDACTED] ha under improved organic production practices.

[REDACTED] , pineapple farmer and a supply of Tuzamurane cooperative,

[REDACTED] District (Photo by Wil Boaz, RTI International)

An employee of Tuzamurane Cooperative packages dried pineapple for export,

[REDACTED] District (Photo by Wil Boaz, RTI International)


– [REDACTED] farmers ([REDACTED] women) trained on fair trade standards,

soil protection and manuring, and on risk analysis and management.

Hollanda FairFoods – Manufacturing Potato Chips for a Competitive Potato

Subsector in Rwanda and Beyond

PSDAG partnered with Hollanda

FairFoods Ltd to upgrade and expand

production its manufacturing facility for

domestic sales and regional exports.

Under this partnership, PSDAG is

supporting Hollanda to increase its

potato chip processing capacity from

[REDACTED] million bags per year to

[REDACTED] million bags per year.

Hollanda FairFoods is investing in new

processing machines and has

introduced new flavors to the local and

regional markets. As a result of

increased processing capacity,

Hollanda FairFoods will buy more fresh

potatoes from organized

farmers/cooperatives and PCCs.

Progress on implementation of Hollanda

grant activity during FY2017 includes:

• All new potato processing machines (processing, weighing, and packaging) were

installed at Hollanda FairFoods factory in [REDACTED] District and trials

conducted except for one fryer, which will be completed in Q1 FY2018.

• The Rwanda Environmental

Management Authority (REMA)

granted a waiver to the company

to use plastic packaging for local

Rwanda sales.17 This

development allows the company

to favorably compete for market

share against importers of potato

chips from other countries in the

East African Community.

• [REDACTED] Cooperative Union

helped the company find

cooperatives and farmers to

supply fresh Irish potatoes. As a result, Hollanda Fair Foods signed the first letter

of interest for a trial contract farming with two farmer cooperatives. If successful,

17 It took Hollanda FairFoods one and half years to be granted a waiver to use plastic packaging materials.

Hollanda employees displaying newly packaged potato chips products (Photo by Franz Benjamin,

PSDAG Project)

Hollanda employees managing quality of processing line potato chips before packaging

(PSDAG staff)


the company will enter into a long-term contract farming partnership for fresh

Irish potatoes.

• The quality of Irish potatoes supplied by farmers has improved significantly.

Before PSDAG support, the company had a conversion factor of [REDACTED] of

potatoes to [REDACTED] of chips, now it has a conversion of [REDACTED] kg of

potatoes to [REDACTED] kgof chips.

• The company reported increased and new market penetration. Market for

processed chips increased from one market (Kigali) to four other markets

including [REDACTED] . In addition, Hollanda FairFoods recorded increased

domestic sales in smaller towns like [REDACTED] .


– [REDACTED] in farm income for [REDACTED] large farmers ([REDACTED]

women).

– [REDACTED] in new capital investments to upgrade Irish potato processing

line.

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of processed Irish potato products.

– [REDACTED] in export sales of processed Irish potato products to markets in

the East African Region.

– [REDACTED] ([REDACTED] women) trained on Good Agriculture Practices

(GAP).


FarmFresh – Marketing for Processed Precooked

Beans

PSDAG’s partnership with FarmFresh seeks to build

demand for processed, precooked beans for the middle-

class consumer, including nutrient-enriched HarvestPlus

beans. Under this grant agreement partnership, PSDAG

is supporting FarmFresh to develop and implement a

marketing strategy for precooked bean products and raise

second-round

equity financing

to expand its

business. This

will facilitate

FarmFresh to purchase beans from farmers

through a supply contract with HarvestPlus.

Progress on implementation of FarmFresh grant

activity during FY2017 included:

• FarmFresh reported increased sales of

iron-rich beans products. The company

bought [REDACTED] t of beans from

farmers and processed them for sale.

Sales have increased [REDACTED]

percent, from [REDACTED] t to

[REDACTED] t per month in the past

months due to increased demand for

pre-cooked beans products from the four largest local supermarkets in Kigali

City.

• A promotion campaign of iron-rich precooked beans products was conducted at

retail stores across Kigali supermarkets and other selling points. FarmFresh also

conducted marketing activities on social media (Facebook and Twitter) and radio.

Visit https://twitter.com/farmfreshrwanda and

www.facebook.com/farmfreshfoodcompany/

• The company secured four new retail export markets in Nairobi (Kenya) and

signed a distribution agreement with a Kenyan company to supply the current

and prospective customers with for iron-rich products.

• FarmFresh increased its domestic market portfolio after securing supply

contracts of precooked beans for [REDACTED] boarding schools in

[REDACTED] Province and the [REDACTED] ([REDACTED] t per month).

[REDACTED] , Managing Director of FarmFresh displaying new packaging of

iron-rich pre-cooked beans products (Photo by Franz Benjamin, PSDAG Project)

New advertisement posters for iron-rich beans products. Designs developed with

PSDAG grant (Photo by FarmFresh)


• The company obtained Standardization-Mark (S-Mark)18 for quality and food

safety compliance from the Rwanda Standards Board for all produced iron-rich

beans products.

• The company is conducting negotiations with BRD for financing to acquire and

renovate a processing factory in [REDACTED] District.


– [REDACTED] in new capital investments.

– [REDACTED] in new domestic sales of iron-rich beans.

– [REDACTED] in export sales of iron-rich beans to markets in the East African

Region.

– [REDACTED] cooperatives working with FarmFresh to market HarvestPlus

beans to FarmFresh and receiving technical assistance under the

Cooperative Professionalization (Activity 21).

Norlega Macadamia Nuts – Processing and Packaging for Macadamia Nuts

PSDAG has a partnership with Norlega to upgrade the collection, processing, and

packaging of quality macadamia nuts to meet market needs. PSDAG is supporting

Norlega to equip collection centers to purchase processing and packaging equipment for

macadamia nuts. This will facilitate Norlega to satisfy its market that requires quality nuts

that are well-processed and packaged. Before the grant, Norlega was supplying

1[REDACTED] t per month of processed roasted nuts to local and export markets. With

the new equipment, Norlega expects to increase processing capacity to [REDACTED] t

per month.

Progress on implementation of Norlega

grant activity during FY2017 included:

• All drying systems and weighing

scales acquired under the PSDAG grant

agreement were received and installed at

the four established collection centers.

• The company secured new markets

for their processed Macadamia nut

products. Norlega signed supply contracts

with two five-star hotels in Kigali, the

[REDACTED] , [REDACTED] , a French

company ([REDACTED] t/month), and a company based in Dubai.

18 S-Mark is specific to Rwanda. “The product certification is an attestation following assessment that; attributes, characteristics, quality, or status of goods, are in accordance with established standards. The scope covers foods and beverages, construction materials, cosmetics, paper based products and other industrial products.”

Packaging machine procurement by Norlega

as a co-investment leveraged by USAID funding (Photo by PSDAG staff)


• Norlega began the process of acquiring organic certification and a team from

International Trade Center (ITC) conducted an external audit. This certification

would open up new market opportunities in the US and Europe.

• Harvesting of Macadamia nuts commenced in Q3 and Norlega purchased

[REDACTED] t of macadamia nuts from farmers at [REDACTED] /kg and

exported [REDACTED] t to Vietnam at [REDACTED] /kg.

• Due to high demand for their products, Norelga opened a new sales location in

the [REDACTED] area of [REDACTED] .

• Norlega started trials on new biscuit (cookie) products to diversify sources of

income. The company is also testing production of cosmetics from Macadamia

processing waste.


– [REDACTED] in farm income for [REDACTED] beneficiary farmers

([REDACTED] women)

– [REDACTED] in export sales of processed Macadamia nuts to markets

outside and within the East African Region.

– [REDACTED] ([REDACTED] women) adopted organic farming, post-harvest,

and global GAP production practices.

Masaka Creamery – Production and Marketing of High-value Dairy Products

Macademia nut shelling; packaging machine shown in the background

(Photo by PSDAG staff).

New packaging of roasted Macadamia nuts (Photo by PSDAG staff)

New packaging of roasted Macadamia nuts (Photo by PSDAG

staff)


PSDAG partnered with Masaka Creamery to promote the dairy sector by facilitating

Masaka’s purchase of milk from farmer cooperatives to produce cultured products such

as fruit yogurt and cheese for both the domestic and export markets. PSDAG co-

invested in a dairy processing line, cold storage, and milk quality laboratory equipment.

With the support of PSDAG, Masaka Creamery works directly with smallholder dairy

farmers, cooperatives, and MCCs to produce the high quality milk required for

production of quality cultured products.

Progress on implementation of the Masaka Creamery grant activity during FY2017

included:

• The company bought and installed new

equipment, including the packaging

machine for the processing line, cold

storage unit, cream separator and cream

pasteurizer for production of pasteurized

cream, sour cream and part-skim

cheese.

• Masaka launched a new fruit yogurt

product named Bonjour!, which is

available at retail outlets in Kigali

including [REDACTED] . Another new

product, salted butter, was tested and

will be launched in Q1 FY2018.

• The company’s pasteurized cream

(a large-scale commercially produced

product) is already sold to hotels and

restaurants in the Kigali area.

• S-Mark certification from RSB was acquired for new products.

• Masaka Creamery constructed and relocated to a new factory located in Kigali’s

Special Economic Zone. The new factory was funded by an external investor for

[REDACTED] .

• A new milk producers’ cooperative in [REDACTED] District was contracted to

supply [REDACTED] L per day.


– [REDACTED] in value of incomes for [REDACTED] farmers ([REDACTED]

women).

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of processed milk products.

– [REDACTED] farmers ([REDACTED] women) adopted improved milk

collection, storage and handling practices.

Packaging of new yoghurt product using sealer bought with USAID funding

(PSDAG staff)

Production of new yoghurt product using a new processing line purchased with USAID

funding (Photo by Wil Boaz, RTI International)


– [REDACTED] in new capital investments to upgrade milk processing

equipment and construction of new factory.

– [REDACTED] in loans to invest in new factory and other milk processing

facilities.

Green Harvest “Sabana” Expanding Production of Chili Sauce

PSDAG partnered with Green Harvest for the purpose of increasing exports of

competitive Rwandan products and contributing to improvement of the country’s balance

of trade. Green Harvest is investing to

increase the volume of exported

“Sabana” processed chili, onions,

ginger, and garlic products to East

Africa, West Africa, EU, and US

markets. Under this partnership, Green

Harvest is on track to obtain an S-mark

certificate for the East African Region

and an HACCP certificate for EU and

West Africa countries. As a result of

the PSDAG-supported investment,

Green Harvest plans to increase

annual domestic sales from

[REDACTED] to [REDACTED] and

annual exports of finished packed products from [REDACTED] to [REDACTED] .

Progress on implementation of Green Harvest grant activity during FY2017 included:

• Green Harvest delayed procurement of equipment for the processing unit at its

new location, which in turn delayed contracts with farmers, and certification.

• The company began construction of a new factory in [REDACTED] District and is

in the process of changing the zoning on its land from commercial to industrial,

which will enable it to secure a loan facility to finance completion of the factory.

The company is currently negotiating for a loan of [REDACTED] with BRD.


– [REDACTED] in incomes for supplier farmers of fresh chili and onions.

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of chili sauce and ketchup products.

– [REDACTED] in new capital investments to construct a processing facility.

Ndiyo Business Group (NBG) – Ndiyo Chips Upgrade Project

PSDAG partnered with NBG with the goal of providing solutions to reduce production

costs related to external factors such as electrical service and potato sourcing. Under

this project, PSDAG is supporting Ndiyo to invest in a potato frying machine, a

generator, a smoke exhaustion system, a roto tiller, and an irrigation system. PSDAG

will also assist Ndiyo with marketing campaigns in the region ([REDACTED] ). With

PSDAG support, Ndiyo will reduce production costs and increase economies of scale to

Green Harvest employee labeling chili sauce products (Photo by PSDAG staff)


make its products more competitive in domestic and export markets—ultimately allowing

the company to survive by increasing sales volume. Ndiyo intends to expand its product

lines to include two additional flavored chips.

Progress on implementation of NBG grant activity during FY2017 included:

• The company initiated procurement of processing equipment including frying and

packing machines and a soap-making machine that will be used to process used

oil (a waste product from frying) into soap. Both frying and packing machines

have reached Kampala.

• Despite a prolonged dry season that led to high prices, poor quality, and delayed

supply of Irish potatoes by smallholder farmers, the company continued to buy

[REDACTED] t per week. In addition, Ndiyo secured land lease agreements for

[REDACTED] ha that will be used to produce Irish potatoes to complement

supply from farmers to mitigate risk of supply shortages and large price

increases.

• Ndiyo is still facing challenges from high electricity tariffs charged by Rwanda

Energy Group (REG), though the company believes it is eligible for lower small-

industry tariffs. Ndiyo has raised the concern with MINICOM.

• The company also engaged with MINICOM regarding zoning of the current

factory location, which is not considered suitable for “light industries” but for

“commercial use.” Ndiyo is following up with the ministry for redress. This has

delayed implementation of grant activities.

• Ndiyo conducted a successful test distribution of chip products to supermarkets

through a marketing agency.


– [REDACTED] in farm incomes to [REDACTED] farmers ([REDACTED]

women).

– [REDACTED] domestic sales of Irish potato chips.

– [REDACTED] in new investments to upgrade processing equipment.

Agasaro – Expansion of Pineapple Processing Factory

During Q2, PSDAG partnered with Agasaro Organic to promote organic pineapple

production. Under this partnership, Agasaro Organic Ltd. planned to increase the

number of farmers from [REDACTED] to [REDACTED] in four years and increase

annual exports from [REDACTED] t to [REDACTED] t of jam, and [REDACTED] L to

[REDACTED] L of juice concentrates. PSDAG decided to terminate the grant to Agasaro

Organic Ltd because the company was not able to meet its contribution requirements.

PSDAG ended this partnership, however, due to the grantee not being able to raise its

financial contribution for the processing equipment as anticipated.

ACTIVITY 21: PROFESSIONALIZATION AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCERS AND AGGREGATORS


In FY2017, PSDAG continued to build on its partnerships with SME buyers and

processors to strengthen horizontal linkages among producers and build these groups’

capacity to deliver quality products under formal or informal buying arrangements.

PSDAG launched the Professionalization and Quality Management Systems capacity

building and coaching activity, which combines technical assistance with a competitive

and performance-based grants program under the VCCF for select producer groups

targeting high quality markets. For these groups, the goal is to build longer term

strategies and relationships with buyers and to reduce the transaction costs incurred by

exporters or local buyers when working with many small suppliers.

The Professionalization and Quality Management Systems activity includes a

comprehensive approach to supporting cooperatives as presented in Figure 9. BDS and

QMS technical assistance is offered in six strategic areas of cooperative management

including: strategic planning, governance and organizational capacity, business

management, financial management and accounting, supply and operations

management, and member support services. PSDAG complements this technical

support with improved market linkages (names through VCCF partners), digitization of

data for improved decision making, and

access to finance support and coaching

by field officers. A select number of

cooperatives may successfully compete

for cost-share grants as part of the

program (in FY2018.

The Cooperative Professionalization

application for technical assistance was

released in Q1 and PSDAG received 76

applications from cooperatives involved in

maize, beans, Irish potatoes, and

horticulture. PSDAG conducted business

and management professionalism

assessments for 73 cooperatives and

selected and signed MOUs with 60

cooperatives (see Table 12).

Table 12. Cooperative assessments completed by value chain Type of Value Chain No. of

Cooperatives Illustrative Partners/Buyers

1 Irish potatoes 13 Wholesalers and processors (ex. Hollanda FairFoods)

2 Maize and Beans 33 Sarura, MINIMEX/PRODEV, WFP (through off-takers), ENAS, Farmfresh

3 Horticulture 14 PEBEC, Shekina, Agasaro Organic, Tuzamurane, Get It!, Green Harvest, Garden Fresh, Norlega.

Total 60

Figure 8. Components of the

Cooperative Professionalization Activity


To implement BDS and QMS technical assistance for these 60 cooperatives, PSDAG

competitively selected four local implementing partners (ADC, Solution Seekers,

SORWAFFA Ltd, and Sarura) that were oriented and trained on methodology and

content of the six cooperative professionalization modules. Key outcomes from

PSDAG’s support to PCCs included:

• In Q4, PSDAG and LSPs rolled-out implementation of BDS trainings. So far, 235

participants (90 women including 27 youth) from 24 cooperatives have been

trained on governance, member services, and strategic planning.

• Provided 24 cooperatives with BDS technical assistance covering governance,

organization structure, member services, strategic planning, and gender and

social inclusion. PSDAG will monitor and report on the impact of BDS support

which is expected to improve governance; member service delivery; inclusion of

women, youth, and PWDs; and overall business performance.

• Three cooperatives under CPP were supported to establish partnership with

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to facilitate access loans to farmers (see Activity

28).

• A total of eight cooperatives from Kayonza, Gasabo, Ngoma and Kamonyi were

facilitated to formalize their registration with Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA).

Upon registration, these cooperatives will be able to legally conduct their

businesses and enter into contractual partnerships with other stakeholders

(financial institutions and buyers).

Potato Collection Centers Upgrade and Farmbook Grants from 2016

During FY2016, PSDAG partnered with 13 cooperatives to upgrade 17 PCCs in

Musanze, Burera, and Nyabihu Districts in the Northern Province of Rwanda. The main

goal of PSDAG’s support is to strengthen the business skills and consolidation capacity

of PCCs to collectively sell to wholesale

buyers. PCCs co-invested in post-harvest and

handling equipment such as weighing scales,

bagging materials, pallets, basins, tables,

chairs, and bookkeeping records. The

equipment and materials helped 17 PCCs

establish standardized weighing, sorting,

cleaning, grading, packaging, and bagging

processes and practices. PSDAG piloted the

use of Farmbook’s19 Map and Track module

for all PCCs to improve their capacity to collect

information on farm suppliers and make

informed business decisions.

19 The Farmbook Suite, created by Catholic Relief Services, is a set of integrated field-based data collection and reporting tools designed to help farmer groups through field-based agribusiness training, business planning, market analysis, and GIS linked service delivery. The suite consists of Map and Track, SMART Skills e-learning, and e-business planning.

Busoro y’Abasinga PCC staff in Nyabihu using iFormBuilder to reconcile the purchases and sales of Irish potatoes (Photo by PSDAG staff)


Progress on implementation of PCC Upgrade and Farmbook Grants during FY2017:

• PSDAG procured and distributed digital data collection equipment (laptops and

printers) to four pilot Potato Collection Centers (PCCs) to purchase Irish potatoes

from 2,488

farmers

(773

women). In

addition,

the 12

PCCs staff

were

trained on

use of the

iFormBuilder platform20 for daily data collection, data management and reporting

on Irish potato daily purchases and sales.

• PSDAG supported the four pilot PCCs to roll out digitization of all transaction

processes including production estimation, purchases from farmers, and sales to

buyers.

• 870 farmers (267 women) registered and estimated production for Season 2017-

A and forecasted profitability. Digitization of processes have been beneficial to

both the PCCs and farmers. PCCs are able to make projections of their sales,

easily calculate their profits, easily determine payments for individual farmers,

and generate financial records for use in negotiating for with financial institutions

for working capital. Digitization has also been beneficial to farmers who can now

estimate production per season, estimate gross incomes from expected

production, and access credit from financial institutions using individual

transaction records from the PCC. In addition, farmers reported increased

incomes due to the higher accuracy in using digital weighing scales as opposed

to the non-digital scales used before PSDAG support.

20 iFormBuilder by Zerion Software, is a universal, cloud based mobile data collection platform helping customers around the globe collect data on their mobile devices. https://www.zerionsoftware.com/iformbuilder/.

Ezakias Bunane (on the left) using a digital data collection system to confirm

quantity of potatoes he sold at PLANIKAP PCC in Busasamana area of Nyabihu District (Photo by PSDAG

staff)

COVAMIS cooperative members using a sheller purchased with

USAID funding, Rwamagana District (Photo by PSDAG staff)


• PSDAG assisted the four PCCs (piloting digitization of transaction processes) to

conduct the first seasonal

debriefing events. The

purpose of the seasonal

debrief events was to present

and discuss data generated

from the Map and Track ICT

Platform in Season 2017-A to

track business transactions

and performance and present

business trends at the PCCs.

The pilot debrief meetings

also sought to increase the

ability of PCCs to interact

with partners such as buyers

and financial institutions and communicate their pilot results with their

stakeholders. In addition, PSDAG conducted an ICT learning event on the

digitization of the potato value chain for four PCCs that piloted Farmbook. The

purpose of the learning event was to share experiences about the digitization of

the potato value chain. Forty-six participants (nine women) from different

institutions including MINAGRI, RAB, RSB, banks, cooperatives, and PCCs

attended this important event.

Progress on Digitization of four PCCs supported by PSDAG

Sample aggregated data presented during ICT learning event

• In June, PSDAG participated in two District Open Days for Rubavu and Burera

District Development Partners Joint Action Forum (JADF), which is a consultative

forum for district development stakeholders including community-based

organizations (CBOs) and local and international NGOs. PSDAG showcased

project activities implemented in partnership with PCCs in Rubavu and Burera

Districts.

• Building on the success of the digitization program with four PCCs, PSDAG

engaged more PCCs in Nyabihu, Burera, and Musanze districts to establish their

demand for partnership to scale up digitization of processes. So far, PSDAG has

Planikap PCC accountant making a presentation during Season A 2017 debriefing meeting, Rubavu District,

March 9, 2017 (Photo PSDAG staff)


identified 21 additional PCCs to scale up digital data collection systems. During

FY2018, a grant agreement mechanism will be used to partner with PCCs and

cooperatives that will be supported to digitize their data collection and reporting

systems. On a cost-sharing arrangement, selected PCCs will be supported with

ICT equipment (laptop, tablet with power supply and bag, modem, and printer) to

digitize their transactions.

• Key outcomes from PSDAG’s support to PCCs:

– $2,090,295 in farm income for 6,805 supplier farmers (2,493 women).

– $3,024,550 in domestic sales of Irish potatoes.

– $ 80,407 in export sales to markets within the East Africa Region (Uganda).

– 6,805 farmers (2,493 women) applied improved technologies and

management practices—including post-harvest practices and Farmbook

technology for their Irish potato transactions with PCCs.

Support to African Improved Food (AIF) Cooperatives

During Q2, PSDAG established a partnership with Clinton Development Initiative (CDI)

and KCB Rwanda to provide in-kind technical assistance training for post-harvest

activities to [REDACTED] maize cooperatives and facilitate access to inventory credit

loans to be extended by the bank. Under this partnership, KCB was to receive technical

assistance to support the development and delivery of other value chain financing

products. KCB is partnering with CDI that provides both assistance to cooperatives for

production activities and serves as a bridge to the AIF market.

PSDAG contracted a local company to train and coach [REDACTED] cooperatives on

post-harvest handling and quality management. The local service provider prepared and

presented a capacity building report to [REDACTED] stakeholders including cooperative

representatives, CDI, and PSDAG. The report highlighted the following market issues

experienced in the maize value chain during Season 2017-A:

• High demand of maize from neighboring countries impacted prices that rose

constantly leading to many farmers selling directly to traders rather than selling

through their cooperatives.

• KCB had planned to support cooperatives with a lending facility for maize

collection from farmers. However, KCB was unable to agree with IFC on the

conditions required in providing the refinancing capital as initially planned.

• Consequently, cooperatives were unable to meet their supply contracts with

maize off-takers.

Key outcomes from PSDAG’s technical assistance to [REDACTED] cooperatives:

• [REDACTED] in farm income for [REDACTED] maize farmers.

• [REDACTED] in domestic sales of value-added maize grain to premium off-

takers such as AIF.


ACTIVITY 22: FACILITATE INCREASED ACCESS TO MECHANIZATION SERVICES AND IRRIGATION

In FY2017, PSDAG built upon partnerships it established in FY2016 and utilized the

APS to identify new partners. Partners targeted included equipment vendors and leasing

companies. In Q1, PSDAG provided technical assistance to selected financial

institutions in developing or adjusting appropriate financial products for asset-based

financing. This was in line with expanding the mechanization access for improved

productivity and income. Major outputs from this assignment include presentation of first-

hand ideas on the financing models for both mechanization and irrigation financing and

finalizing a RFA for asset-based financing.

In Q3, PSDAG launched the RFA on asset-based financing on April 24, 2017. The

purpose of this RFA is to increase investment and facilitate value chain actors’ access to

equipment including mechanization and irrigation equipment through asset finance. The

final deadline to submit applications under this framework is December 30, 2017.

PSDAG started evaluating applications under the asset-based financing RFA in July

2017. Selected private partners will increase investment and facilitate value chain actors’

access to equipment including mechanization and irrigation equipment through asset

finance. Selection of partners under this RFA is underway.

Under the 2016 APS, PSDAG signed grant agreements with Green Systems Africa

(GSA) Ltd and KNU Agro Mechanized Service Ltd. Progress on implementation of

projects under this partnership is discussed below.

In addition, BRD made an investment of RWF 176 million in a tractor vendor to supply

six tractors to a rice cooperative in Bugesera.

Green Systems Africa (GSA) – More Maize per Drop

PSDAG entered into a partnership with

GSA in Q3 to facilitate access to irrigation

technologies by smallholder farmers in

drought-prone areas. The project

objective is to increase the availability of

drip irrigation in Rwanda and to promote

investment in irrigation by smallholder

farmers. In addition, the project will

demonstrate that there is a market and a

network to market, install, and maintain

the drip irrigation systems in Rwanda.

Successful market demonstration will then

attract private investments in the

manufacturing and marketing of affordable drip irrigation hardware made in Rwanda.

The More Maize per Drop (MMPD) project co-invests with GSA in introducing a new type

of drip irrigation on the market and increases farmers’ adoption of irrigation technology

by leveraging cooperatives’ relationship to a large buyer, Bugesera Agri-Business

Company (BABC), and financial institutions. GSA will target a drip irrigation market that

will service [REDACTED] ha of maize farms managed by [REDACTED] cooperatives

Grant signing ceremony between PSDAG and Green Systems Africa (Photo by PSDAG staff)


and [REDACTED] smallholder farmers. It will initially focus on water-stressed districts

[REDACTED] in [REDACTED] Province.

Progress on implementation of this partnership with GSA includes:

• GSA began procurement of gravity-based drip irrigation equipment21 and a

training plan for [REDACTED] operators on the usage of drip irrigation kits.

• GSA procured drip irrigation equipment and started the installation of equipment

in a demo plot located in [REDACTED] District. Training of [REDACTED]

operators on use of irrigation kits and maintenance will be conducted in Q1

FY2018.

• Key outcomes from implementation of this grant activity include:

– [REDACTED] in new private sector investment in the agriculture sector or

food chain.

KNU Agro Mechanized Service Ltd

PSDAG signed a grant agreement with KNU in Q3 to facilitate access to mechanization

services by farmers. The project is expected to improve mechanization service provision

to farmers in [REDACTED] districts. With

PSDAG support, KNU will invest in eight

tractors with accessories and implements.

The objective of the project is to increase

the company’s revenues by providing more

efficient mechanization services and

covering more acreage to enable farmers to

cultivate unused land due to limited labor at

peak seasons. It is anticipated that

[REDACTED] farmers will access

mechanization services and [REDACTED]

ha will be mechanized by the end of

FY2018.

Progress on implementation of this grant activity includes:

• KNU (with PSDAG grant) purchased five tractors with accessories and

implements. KNU has begun to use these tractors to provide mechanization

services to farmers during Season 2018-A.

• KNU was unable to secure a loan of RWF [REDACTED] as their leverage under

the grant agreement partnership. The partner has approached another bank for a

loan facility of a similar amount and negotiations are underway.

• Key outcomes from implementation of this grant activity include:

21 GSA product is entirely gravity-based, requiring no expensive pump or electricity, and is designed to reduce clogging. This gravity-based technology is best suited for small scale farmers with small plots of lands hence suitable for the target beneficiaries that GSA will be working with.

Tractors bought with USAID co-funding, September 2017 (Photo by KNU)


– [REDACTED] in value of new private sector investment in mechanization

equipment (tractors).

ACTIVITY 23: EXPANDING ACCESS TO QUALITY SEED

PSDAG identified six partners who will increase the supply of potato seed. During

FY2017, PSDAG made the following progress towards expanding access to quality

seeds:

• Finalized the Potato Value Chain Consolidator Network Analysis and Profitability

Analysis for investment in potato seed production. These analyses generated

data and information on demand, supply, and pricing of potato seed (see Table

13. PSDAG continues to use these analyses in evaluating the feasibility of

business models proposed in private sector applications in response to the APS.

Table 13. Irish potato profitability analysis

Crop Plant Date

Area to plant22

(ha)

Expenses (RWF)

Yield (RWF)

Price/Unit (RWF)

Revenue (RWF)

Profit (RWF)

Cumulative cash flow

at each selling

period23 (RWF)

Minitubers March-17 1 12,009,000 486,000 80 38,880,000 26,871,000 (76,102,000)

Prebasic August-17 8 48,715,200 104,000 600 62,400,000 13,684,800 (77,019,400)

Basic seed February-

18 5.2 11,596,000 78,000 450 35,100,000 23,504,000 (2,838,200)

Certified seed

July-18 6 14,585,400 108,000 300 32,400,000 17,814,600 21,696,400

Ware potatoes

February-19

7.2 10,058,400 180,000 170 30,600,000 20,541,600 42,238,000

Depreciation 7,428,542

Total 104,392,542 199,380,000 94,987,458

Cumulative ROI

39%

NB: selling period is six months from plant date

• Under the 2016 APS, PSDAG completed the process of competitively selecting

seed companies involved in both early seed generation and other stages of seed

production. As a result, PSDAG signed grant agreements with INES Ruhengeri,

SPF Ikigega, and Agriseeds African Ltd. In addition, two applications from

Abatuburambuto and Mudende cooperative were approved and grant

agreements with the partners signed in October 2017. Another prospective

partner, International Potato Center (CIP), is at the final stages of grant award

22 Land amounts are based on the amount of land needed to plant the supply from the previous stage. For example, it will require 8 ha to process the amount of minitubers produced during the first phase. If farmers use smaller land say 1ha, it will take longer to break even or even cover the investment cost in assets for the entire process. 23This cumulative cash flow corresponds to the selling time for each of these crops e.g. If you plant minitubers in March, you will sell them in September and your corresponding cumulative cash flow is RWF 76,102,000


approval. With PSDAG support, these partners will invest in provision of early

generation Irish potato seeds.

The following projects implemented by PSDAG partners show progress on expanding

access to quality seed.

INES Ruhengeri – Increasing Quality and Quantity of Potato Seeds

PSDAG has a partnership with INES Ruhengeri to implement a project activity to

increase the quantity and quality of certified potato seeds in Rwanda. Under a grant

partnership, PSDAG is supporting INES to purchase laboratory equipment and a

greenhouse to supplement the potato seed production capacity of Rwanda Agriculture

Board (RAB) by 50%. It is expected that [REDACTED] vitro plants and [REDACTED]

mini-tubers will be produced. In addition, the number of seed producers will increase

from [REDACTED] individual farmers to [REDACTED] farmers, from [REDACTED]

cooperatives to [REDACTED] cooperatives, and from [REDACTED] companies to

[REDACTED] companies.

Progress on implementation of INES grant activity during FY2017:

• INES established formal business relationships with [REDACTED] potato seed

producers, who will purchase vitro plants and tubers.

• Two screen houses were constructed, equipped, and used to plant [REDACTED]

vitro-plants, which are expected to produce [REDACTED] mini-tubers. These

tubers are expected to be harvested and sold to seed multipliers during early Q1

FY2018.

• Extension of the tissue culture laboratory was completed and has been equipped

with USAID funding. The lab is fully equipped and operational and has already

been used to produce [REDACTED] vitro-plants.

• INES conducted a training on Good Agriculture Practice and on Integrated Pest

Management for [REDACTED] seed multipliers ([REDACTED] women).


- [REDACTED] in new capital investments (screen house and equipment).

- [REDACTED] in domestic sales of mini-tubers.

- [REDACTED] farmers ([REDACTED] women) applied new crop production

technologies—certified improved seed varieties.


Seed Potato Fund (SPF) Ikigega Ltd – Investing in Quality Seed Potato

Production and Commercialization

Under a grant agreement partnership with

PSDAG, SPF will invest in one aeroponic house

for producing mini-tubers, renovate and equip

seven warehouses with equipment for storing

seeds, and scale up its monitoring of seed

multiplication managed by a network of seed

producers. The company will buy and store

seeds from farmers in four districts including

[REDACTED] . With support from PSDAG, SPF

Ikigega will expand its operations and target

sales of [REDACTED] t of certified seeds over

the next two seasons, ultimately reaching

[REDACTED] t of certified seeds and

[REDACTED] t of basic seeds after four years of

implementation. Increased sales are expected

to result in turnover of RWF [REDACTED] in the

first year up to RWF [REDACTED] after four

years.

Progress on implementation of SPF grant

activity includes:

• Seven warehouses to be renovated and

equipped in collaboration with SPF,

PSDAG, and Post-harvest and Agribusiness Support Project (PASP)24 were

identified. Each warehouse will stock [REDACTED] t of potato seeds.

• Construction of an aeroponic house is underway and expected to be completed

during Q1 FY2018.

• Key outcomes from implementation of SPF grant activity include:

– [REDACTED] in income for [REDACTED] cooperatives supplying of basic

and certified potato seeds.

– [REDACTED] in value of new capital investment to upgrade potato seed

storage facilities (equipment and warehouse).

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales (basic potato seeds and certified potato

seeds) to [REDACTED] buyers.

Agriseeds African Ltd – Quality Potato Seed Production

In Q4, PSDAG signed a grant agreement partnership with Agriseeds to provide

investment support in production of early generation Irish potato seeds. The project will

establish a commercial plant tissue culture laboratory and aeroponic production system

24 Implemented by MINAGRI with funding from IFAD

Production of vitro-plants at a laboratory equipped with USAID funding,

[REDACTED] District (PSDAG staff)


which seasonally produces vitro-plants and mini-tubers. This is expected to boost the

production of quality Irish potato early generation seeds (vitro plants and mini-tubers).

Agriseeds will be able to supply [REDACTED] potato vitro-plants and 700,000 mini-

tubers each year, which is equivalent to [REDACTED] % of national market share for

vitro plants and [REDACTED] % for mini-tubers. With this project, Agriseeds will become

the second private company in Rwanda that invests in early generation potato seed at

the level of vitro plants.

Implementation of this grant activity began late in Q4 FY2017; implementation outcomes

will be reported during FY2018.

ACTIVITY 24: INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE FUND

PSDAG decided not to release the last RFA for the Innovation Challenge Fund. PSDAG

identified a partner through the 2016 APS that presented an opportunity to invest in an

innovated ICT solution that offers a communications platform for collecting information

from farmers, disseminating agricultural information to farmers and group

communications that can facilitate aggregation and market access as well as extension

services.

N-Frnds- Mobile Agriculture ICT Platform and Young Entrepreneurs Fellowship

PSDAG entered into a grant agreement partnership with N-Frnds to invest in the use of

ICT to increase the efficiency and productivity of the entire smallholder agricultural value

chain in Rwanda. This project will make ICT accessible and affordable to all agricultural

value chain participants without the hidden cost burden of mobile data, smartphones, or

an Internet connection. With PSDAG support, N-Frnds will be able to offer a

comprehensive package of agricultural, extension, and climate-related information and a

cost-effective communications platform adapted for and targeted to farmer promoters,

agribusinesses, buyers, and aggregators. N-Frnds foresees that within the first year,

their platform will help up to [REDACTED] smallholder farmers and [REDACTED]

private enterprises and cooperatives adopt improved technology and management

packages. In the first year, service will be free to farmers and subsequent fees are

around [REDACTED] per month, which is cost effective compared to the use of SMS

technology that costs RWF 10 per message).

In January 2017, N-Frnds signed an MOU with MINAGRI to provide its information

dissemination and collection services to MINAGRI and Rwandan farmers. PSDAG

funding is being used to support these activities and expand them to other partners

including CIAT to distribute climate related information to farmers and selected PSDAG

private sector partners to collect and disseminate information according to their needs.

The platform also enables farmers and other agricultural value chain and eco-system

players to interact through its chat and group chat features which are built into the

platform.


Information from MINAGRI’s website redacted into N-Frnds platform for access by smallholder farmers

Sample of the daily milk collection data generated by N-Frnds platform

Progress on implementation of N-Frnds grant activity during FY2017:

• N-Frnds developed, piloted, and implemented a digital milk collection system for

MINAGRI. The system was made available to [REDACTED] MCCs throughout

the country. So far, [REDACTED] MCCs use the ICT platform to report on their

activities on a daily basis.

• N-Frnds has continued to increase information offered on the ICT platform. New

information on animal health was added. In addition, MINAGRI website

information was reformatted and added to the N-Frnds platform to facilitate

access to information on extension services, crops, and land consolidation.

nFrnds began to work with PSDAG partners to add additional modules including

pesticide information.

• N-Frnds has been working with a group of [REDACTED] coffee farmers and farm

promoters in [REDACTED] District. The company engaged these farmers to

receive the N-Frnds service free of charge, adding both the local and

international coffee prices and weather information to the platform (farmers can

select their region and receive relevant weather information).

• The company created

analytics reports to monitor

uptake of N-Frnds ICT

platform by MCCs. The

analytics reports were shared

with MINAGRI for use in

monitoring the situation of

MCCs across the country.

• N-Frnds recruited the first

Young Entrepreneurs

Fellowship (YEF) program. N-Training of YEF on use of N-Frdns

(Photo by N-Frnds)


Frnds trained [REDACTED] young women in communications, leadership,

critical thinking, marketing, entrepreneurship, and business development skills.

The fellows will work with Irish potato cooperatives to help them adopt the N-

Frnds ICT platform for access to market and weather information. The fellows

successfully conducted demonstrations to [REDACTED] farmers in [REDACTED]

District, showing farmers how to use the N-Frnds platform. They helped farmers

look up agricultural information on different crops such as Irish potatoes and use

the chat and group chat functions.

• N-Frnds trained [REDACTED] CIATs trainers who went to train [REDACTED]

Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) farmers on use

of the platform both for communicating among themselves and for receiving

weather information. N-Frnds is working with CIAT to add more information on

PICSA to the platform.


– [REDACTED] people ([REDACTED] women) including young women

entrepreneur fellows, farm promoters, and MCC representatives trained on

the use of ICT to access market, agriculture, and weather information.

– [REDACTED] people ([REDACTED] women) applied improved ICT

technologies or management practices.

1.2.3 OBJECTIVE 2.2.2: IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE OF STANDARDS

ACTIVITY 25: SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING AND INVESTMENT IN INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

In FY2017, under the VCCF partnerships, PSDAG supported companies to make

investments in international quality standards and meet certification requirements of the

domestic and export markets (see Table 14).

Table 14. PSDAG’s support to private partners on international quality standards

Partner Value chain Name of Project Activity

International Quality Standards and Certifications

Tuzamurane Cooperative Horticulture Dried organic pineapple production

Awarded Organic Certificate after an international audit on its compliance with fair trade certification requirements.

FarmFresh Beans Marketing for processed precooked beans

Obtained S-Mark certification for quality and food safety compliance from RSB for all their iron-rich products.

Masaka Creameries Dairy Production and marketing of high value dairy products

Obtained S-Mark certification for quality and food safety compliance from RSB for all their milk products.

Kigali Farms Horticulture High value mushroom and substrate production

Obtained HACCP certification for their


Partner Value chain Name of Project Activity

International Quality Standards and Certifications

for export and household nutrition

Mushroom substrate and mushroom production site in Musanze District.

Norlega Macadamia nuts Processing and packaging for Macadamia nuts

Begun the process of acquiring organic certification following an audit by the International Trade Center (ITC). This certification would open up new market opportunities in the US and Europe.

Cyohoha Modern Farming (newly signed partner)

Horticulture Contract farming and postharvest capacity building for farmers surrounding Lake Cyohoha.

Referred the partner to RSB/WTO for full information on quality requirements of countries where the partner intends to export onions.

Green Harvest Horticulture Expanding processing of chili sauce

PSDAG supporting S-Mark and HACCP certification.

Kizinga Farm Ltd (prospective partner)

Horticulture Marketing of organic tree tomato fruits

Conducted HACCP and organic certification assessment to establish capacity building and budget implications under the grant application which is under negotiation.

Get It (prospective partner under final negotiations)

Horticulture, meat and dairy

Cold storage for produce distribution

Assessed food safety measures to establish compliance with HACCP requirements.

Garden Fresh Ltd (prospective partner under negotiations)

Horticulture Increasing horticulture produce for export

Assisted the company to get information on local RSB certification process to comply with BRC Global

Standards25 for food safety certification. PSDAG plans to provide technical assistance to Garden Fresh to ensure compliance with BRC standards.

1.2.4 OBJECTIVE 2.2.3: IMPROVING ACCESS TO PACKAGING MATERIALS AND SOLUTIONS

ACTIVITY 26: ANALYSIS OF PACKAGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

PSDAG decided that based on current work by GIZ and MINEACOM as well as the

status of policy reform on packaging, it would not fund an analysis of packaging

256 https://www.brcglobalstandards.com/


opportunities. Recent studies have shown that at current volumes, SMEs are likely to

continue sourcing their packaging from regional and international vendors.

ACTIVITY 27: INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE FUND FOR PACKAGING SOLUTIONS

Based on the results of a MINICOM assessment and strategy around packaging

materials, PSDAG decided not to release an RFA specifically targeting partners

investing in domestic private-sector packaging solutions. Through a number of VCCF

partnerships, PSDAG has supported processor use of improved packaging solutions.

Under Objective 1, PSDAG has been engaging with REMA on public-private dialogue to

share challenges facing the private sector in Rwanda.

Under the VCCF, PSDAG has supported one company, Agroplast, to invest in recycled

plastic bag processing and has enabled a number of its partner companies to obtain

machines that improve product bagging and sealing. Table 15 shows how PSDAG

private sector partners have invested in improved packaging.

Table 15. Examples of PSDAG Partners Investing in Packaging

Partner Business Investment in Packaging

Green Harvest Processed “Sabana” chili products Acquiring machines for labelling, capping, and printing dates.,

Agroplast Production of packaging materials Acquiring a machine for production of netted bags for packing horticulture products and potatoes

Norlega Roasted macadamia nuts Automated packaging and sealing machine

Masaka Processed dairy products Acquired a sealing machine for yoghurt cups

Shekina Processed dried cassava leaves for local and export market

Acquired sealing machines for dried cassava leaves packaging

Tuzamurane Processed dried pineapple for local and export market

Acquired sealing machines for dried pineapple packaging

GASHORA Farm (under negotiation)

chili production and processing for export markets

Acquiring machines for bottle filling, capping and batch coding machine.

Agroplast – Production of Packaging Materials Using Plastic Waste Material

PSDAG has entered into partnership with Agroplast to co-invest in setting up a state-of-

the-art factory for the manufacture of packaging materials (netted bags), agricultural

tubes, and sheeting. Under this partnership with PSDAG, Agroplast will invest in

additional machinery required to transform plastic waste into netted bags for potato and

other fresh fruit and vegetable packaging, which in turn will facilitate added value for

those agricultural value chains. The main objective of this project is to improve quality

and add value to potatoes through the provision of good packaging material.


Packaging material, particularly for marketing potatoes, is a key constraint identified by

PSDAG and its partners that reduces the value of smallholder products on the market. In

addition to the jobs created by this processing facility, improved packaging will increase

farmer incomes by reducing damage and post-harvest losses.

Progress on implementation of grant activity:

• Agroplast bought new equipment for the recycling line. The company began to

use the new equipment to

produce plastic products (boots,

tubes, and sheeting) for use in

the agriculture sector.

• The company raised

[REDACTED] in capital to

invest in construction of the

processing factory which is

underway.

• Agroplast trained six

cooperatives on plastic waste

management and created a new

cooperative for plastic waste

collection in [REDACTED] .

• The company secured a market

for plastic products with one cooperative that produces small bananas (apple

bananas) for export. Agroplast also secured a contract with the [REDACTED] ,

which is a large off-taker of plastic packaging products, to supply agricultural

tubing.


– [REDACTED] in incomes to [REDACTED] suppliers of plastic waste

materials.

– [REDACTED] in domestic sales of agricultural plastic products (tubes, boots,

and sheeting).

– [REDACTED] in new capital investments in land and facility improvement.

– [REDACTED] suppliers (seven women) of plastic waste trained on

environmental protection.

- [REDACTED] jobs created ( [REDACTED] women).

Agroplast employees producing agriculture tubes and plastic products using plastic waste

materials, [REDACTED] District (Photo by

Franz Benjamin, PSDAG)


Access to Finance for Women Encourages Sustainable Growth and Increased Private Investment by Women in the Future.

PSDAG works with its Agri-SME partners to identify financing needs and then leverage suppliers’ relationships with buyers to increase access to finance. In FY2017, PSDAG continued to improve access to finance by linking grantees with financial institutions and through partnerships with MFIs that have a strong social inclusion and agriculture focus.

• PEBEC helped [REDACTED] women famers (40% of their suppliers) access [REDACTED] in loans from Duterimbere MFI to purchase post-harvest equipment.

• PSDAG negotiated a partnership with Duterimbere MFI, a national woman-focused financial institution that offers women financial products suitable for agribusiness. PSDAG will support Duterimbere in investing at least [REDACTED] in agriculture by providing [REDACTED] clients, including individuals, solidarity groups, and cooperatives with loan products adapted to their needs; their goal is 80% lending to women.

• Shekina is finalizing an electronic payment system aiming at facilitating access to finance for women producers and increasing saving. Farmers have been given passbooks to register sales and receive the payment using mobile accounts. The system is being developed in partnership with Tumba College of Technology.

In total, PSDAG facilitated access $2,923,745 in loans of which $408,918 benefited women and $1,497,697 benefitted both men and women (mixed-ownership) for investment into the agricultural value chains. PSDAG expects to strengthen these results in FY2018 through partnership with MFIs such as Duterimbere and Umutanguha Finance Company and by leveraging stronger vertical linkages between farmers and buyers to facilitate value chain financing.

1.2.5 OBJECTIVE 2.2.4: IMPROVING ACCESS TO FINANCE FOR FARMERS AND AGRIBUSINESSES

ACTIVITY 28: FACILITATE FINANCE FOR AGRIBUSINESSES

PSDAG works with its SME partners to identify their need for financing and opportunities

to leverage its relationships with buyers to increase access to finance by agricultural

value chain actors. In FY2017, PSDAG continued to improve access to finance by

linking grantees with financial institutions.

In total, PSDAG private sector partners accessed $ 2.9 M in loans to upgrade

agricultural value chains by investing in capital facilities and equipment and funding

operations expansions. The estimated total leverage of 12 newly signed grantees in

FY2017 is $3.5 million. Progress on implementation of this activity includes:

• PSDAG grant funding enabled PEBEC access to a [REDACTED] credit line for

working capital from [REDACTED]. In addition, PEBEC suppliers [REDACTED]

accessed [REDACTED] in loans from [REDACTED] to purchase post-harvest

equipment. Further, PSDAG linked PEBEC with [REDACTED] for a

[REDACTED] working capital loan. The bank agreed to finance PEBEC at an

[REDACTED] interest rate, which is lower than the [REDACTED] interest rate

offered by other commercial banks. PEBEC will use the loan to purchase fresh

chili from farmers to increase its export sales. Details are still under negotiation.

• PSDAG also linked KNU Agro Mechanized Service Ltd., a local mechanization

service provider, with [REDACTED] for asset financing. KNU requested a loan of

[REDACTED] as their leverage contribution under PSDAG’s grant agreement

partnership. This is still under negotiation.


• PSDAG linked Shekina with [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] for an investment

loan of [REDACTED] to expand Shekina’s factory. Negotiations for the financing

of this facility are underway.

• The project linked Green Harvest, a chili processor and project grantee, with

[REDACTED] for debt financing worth [REDACTED] for investment in equipment

to expand its processing capacity. Negotiations were not successful with

[REDACTED] and Green Harvest is now negotiating with [REDACTED].

• Because of partnership with PSDAG, Tuzamurane cooperative was able to raise

[REDACTED] from [REDACTED] to strengthen its pineapple collection capacity

from suppliers and has made the equipment received in the form of grants much

more attractive. Moreover, following the increase in market demand from

[REDACTED] t to[REDACTED] t per month, Tuzamurane needs to acquire more

dryers. PSDAG is supporting the business development of Tuzamurane and has

linked Tuzamurane with financial service providers. PSDAG is also providing

BDS support to Tuzamurane to support its ability to access and manage credit.

• PSDAG facilitated a loan worth [REDACTED] to DEYI from [REDACTED]. The

loan was provided as a working capital facility to procure raw material for its

processing unit.

• In Q4, under PSDAG’s Cooperatives Professionalization Program targeting 60

cooperatives, a capacity assessment identified access to finance for their

investment needs as a major constraint. PSDAG’s goal was to support 20

cooperatives in access to financing to professionalize their operations as well as

facilitate their members’ access to input financing. PSDAG presented 10 out of

20 identified cooperatives to [REDACTED] to facilitate access to loans for

Season 2018-A inputs. A training plan is under discussion with [REDACTED] to

help prepare the cooperatives for financing. The following cooperatives have

already formalized this partnership:

– Cooperative COIMU in [REDACTED] District signed an MOU with

[REDACTED] to recieve training and agricultural loans to PCCs owned by the

cooperative. Loan funds will be disbursed during FY2018.

– Indatwa za Kamonyi in-kind inputs (maize seeds and fertilizers) credit request

of [REDACTED] was approved by [REDACTED], a not-for-profit organization.

Farmers will use inputs during Season 2018-A and pay back the loans after

harvesting and selling their produce to AIF.

– Ubumwe Bugamije Iterambere Cooperative in [REDACTED] District is being

assisted to get a loan of [REDACTED] from [REDACTED] to buy maize from

farmers during Season 2018-A.

• PSDAG entered into an MOU partnership with Kumwe Logistics to help the

company mobilize capital financing. This MOU partnership is discussed below.


Kumwe Logistics – MOU for TA to Mobilize Capital Financing

In Q3, PSDAG entered into a partnership with Kumwe, a transport and logistics

company through an MOU (see Activity 19). The company is raising funds for technology

improvement, working capital, and aggressive marketing of its services. Under the MOU,

PSDAG will provide business development services in a bid to help the company be

“investor ready” and raise capital through equity or debt to scale up Kumwe’s business in

Rwanda and link to surrounding export markets. Technical assistance will cover the

following areas: conducting a regional market analysis, creating a pitch book for the

company, and preparing investor documents.

ACTIVITY 29: BUILD THE CAPACITY OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO INCREASE AGRICULTURAL LENDING

Support to Rwanda Development Bank (BRD)

PSDAG has an MOU partnership with BRD. Through this partnership, PSDAG will

support BRD and other partner finance service providers in increasing their capacity to

lend in agriculture by providing tailored technical assistance to both the BRD agriculture

department staff and those involved in lending to the sector. Under this MOU, BRD

agreed to extend an agriculture loan portfolio of [REDACTED] over one year and more in

the next year of partnership with PSDAG. Annex XVI includes a copy of the MOU with

BRD.

Progress on implementation of MOU with BRD during FY2017:

• A training needs assessment for BRD was carried out to determined capacity

building needs for the Agriculture Lending Department staff. Following this

assessment, PSDAG assisted BRD in developing training modules on value

chain financing, risk assessment, and refinancing that will fill capacity gaps

among BRD staff hence accelerating loan evaluation, approval and

disbursement. These modules will be delivered during FY2018.

• PSDAG facilitated training of eight BRD staff (four women) on a cash flow

analysis tool for cassava value chains. As a follow up to this training, PSDAG will

continue to coach and mentor BRD on how to use cash flow analysis skills to

assess viability of agriculture business projects for different value chains.

• BRD approached PSDAG for support in the design and development of specific

value chain financial products based on its strategic and operational plan for

2017. The targeted value chains are potatoes and maize. In addition, micro

financial institutions with wholesale refinancing facilities will also be targeted

under the BRD and PSDAG partnership. PSDAG hired a STTA and a local

consultant that provides this assistance to BRD as well as other technical support

as required by BRD.

• BRD approached PSDAG for support in the development of a [REDACTED]

million cassava value chain project. The project intends to mobilize farmers

cultivating around [REDACTED] ha of land in [REDACTED] District that will be

supplying fresh cassava to a processing company—TASCO. PSDAG supported

a rapid feasibility study and draft application to United Nations Land Neutrality


and Degradation Fund (LDNF). The application is on track to be submitted in Q1

of FY2018.

• Key outcomes from implementation of MOU with BRD:

– PSDAG staff supported BRD in analyzing a loan request from a rice

cooperative interested in investing in mechanization. Because of this support,

BRD disbursed [REDACTED] to a tractor vendor to supply six tractors to the

cooperative.

– Using cash flow tools developed with PSDAG support, BRD assisted SPF

Ikigega (one of PSDAG’s private partners) to conduct a business plan

analysis. Results from cash-flow analysis helped BRD develop a feasible

financing facility in terms of amount and frequency of loan disbursements as

well as the maturity period. BRD has approved a working capital loan

financing request of [REDACTED] million to SPF Ikigega. The loan will be

disbursed in FY2018. SPF invests in purchase of quality seed from seed

multipliers, stores the seed for three months, and sells it at the beginning of

the planting season.

Support to Partner Finance Service Providers

Asset Financing RFA to leverage VCCF. Under the asset-based financing RFA

(discussed under Activity 22) published in April, PSDAG will leverage VCCF funds to

increase investment and facilitate value chain actors’ access to equipment through an

asset finance program in collaboration with financial institutions and recognized

suppliers. Default risk and collateral requirements are the main constraints to businesses

and individuals being able to access financing to invest in these assets. Under this RFA,

PSDAG will help the private sector increase investment in agricultural assets by

reducing major constraints and risks to asset-based financing.

Duterimbere. PSDAG continued partnership negotiations with Duterimbere

Microfinance. Under this envisaged partnership, PSDAG will facilitate provision of

training on product development and financial education in order to increase the amount

of loans to agriculture sector actors. The grant award to Duterimbere was approved by

USAID and the grant agreement will be signed in Q1 of FY2018.

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Rwanda. PSDAG signed an MOU with KCB Rwanda

to create a formal mechanism for partnership between the two institutions with the

objective of increasing access to finance to the project partners. Under this partnership,

PSDAG will provide technical support to nine new KCB agriculture department staff that

need first hand skills and knowledge on lending to the agriculture sector. In addition,

PSDAG will provide technical assistance to KCB on cash flow training as well as on

developing irrigation and mechanization products. The technical assistance will help in

designing asset-based financial products and other value chain financing products to

selected financial institutions including BRD, KCB, Duterimbere, Atlantis Microfinance,

and Bank of Kigali.

Progress on implementation of MOU with KCB during FY2017:


• PSDAG facilitated training of 10 staff (5 women) in KCB’s agriculture finance

department. Topics included cash flow analysis tools for PSDAG priority value

chains including maize, Irish potatoes, pineapples, chili, and mushrooms. KCB

staff were also coached on how to use cash flow analysis tools to measure the

viability and profitability of agriculture business projects in different value chains.

• KCB has identified [REDACTED] rice cooperatives that need technical

assistance on post-harvest, governance and financial literacy trainings as a

prerequisite for the loan. PSDAG and KCB have agreed to support the selected

cooperatives as a prerequisite for the bank to lend to them. It is expected that an

estimated RWF [REDACTED] million will be disbursed to around [REDACTED]

farmers through their cooperatives as input loans and to rice millers as working

capital. The rice cooperatives

trainings preparations have started

for [REDACTED] Province

cooperatives; they will take place in

Q1 FY2018.

• KCB has started exploring the

opportunity of wholesaling to MFIs

and has already agreed on the

development of a wholesale product

for microfinance. Five MFIs have

already been assessed and selected

by PSDAG to be part of this product.

Subsequently, a two-day training on

MFI refinancing was conducted for

13 KCB staff (4 women) to provide

them with first hand tools in assessing and conducting due diligence to MFIs and

SACCOs. The trained KCB staff are expected to use acquired skills and

knowledge to design an appropriate financial product to serve MFIs purposes.

• Key outcomes from implementation of MOU with KCB:

– [REDACTED] million disbursed to [REDACTED] rice processors in

[REDACTED] Province for working capital ([REDACTED] %) and input loans

([REDACTED] %) advanced to [REDACTED] cooperatives benefiting around

[REDACTED] smallholder farmers ([REDACTED] women).

– As a result of the MFI Refinancing training and after product development,

PSDAG’s facilitation is anticipated to result in [REDACTED] in increased

lending to MFIs and SACCOs with a focus on lending to agriculture in

FY2018.

ACTIVITY 30: INCREASED PROVISION OF AGRICULTURE INSURANCE

During Q1, PSDAG co-hosted with Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) an agriculture

insurance roundtable attended by 28 participants from both public institutions (MINAGRI

and MINECOFIN), private sector actors, and development partners. Table 16 highlights

[REDACTED] (Managing Director, KCB) and Melanie Bittle (COP, PSDAG) at the MOU

signing ceremony between KCB and PSDAG on May 10, 2017 (Photo by PSDAG staff)


a summary of agri-insurance products presented and discussed during the roundtable

workshop.

Table 16. Agri-insurance products presented during the stakeholders’ roundtable workshop

Product type Features

Area yield • Preferred by farmers and financial institutions as they covered more risks beside rain fall. • Easier for clients to understand and have lower basis risk than weather index products. • For financial institutions, the coverage is more directly related to the default risk of input

credit. • Area-yield schemes require time to gather yield data information and may delay pay-out. • Area yield results are benchmarked for homogenous areas with farmers within a zone

getting a standard pay-out. • For area yield to work in Rwanda, there is a need to identify homogenous zones with similar

risks and have reliable 3rd party verified seasonal yield data.

Multi-peril • Is a more comprehensive product covering multiple perils. • Time consuming to do the sampling of farmers. • Inspectors look at individual farmers to determine pay-out.

Weather-index products

• Easier to design, require less labor to determine pay out and can be cheaper to scale but often only cover one peril (rainfall).

• In Rwanda, factors such as gaps in historical rain patterns and high variability of rain within a small area due to its topography increases basis risk.

• There is always basis risk with index-based products, but can be reduced with improved data; in Rwanda, data is challenging to collect and rely upon due to the topography and rainfall variations.

• Major losses at a country (macro) scale can be addressed quickly with quick indexed pay-outs.

• Farmers want comprehensive coverage but if comprehensive products are currently cost-prohibitive, an index product with more limited coverage could be offered while identification of homogenous zones and a distribution scheme are worked out.

As a follow-on to the agriculture insurance roundtable, PSDAG initiated discussions with

MINAGRI, MINECOFIN, donors, and other private stakeholders to complete the design

and feasibility study for a national universal product.26 Access Finance Rwanda (AFR)

identified a company to design a National Agriculture Insurance Scheme in Q3 and

PSDAG contributed to the review and selection process. The two institutions will

continue to help and lead this initiative

until the national agriculture insurance

products are designed and ready to be

tested.

Subsequently, MINAGRI commissioned

an agriculture insurance pilot scheme

through the financial support of AFR as

a result of PSDAG roundtable

discussions held in November 2016.

Once the pilot is finalized, PSDAG

plans to provide technical support to

26 At this stage, products are aimed at farmers for production.

PSDAG COP Melanie Bittle making a presentation at the Agriculture Insurance Roundtable, Kigali, November 10, 2016

(Photo by PSDAG staff)


insurance companies that will need to take part in the pilot; the type of support will be

determined once the needs are known.


2. MONITORING & EVALUATION AND CROSS-CUTTING THEMES 2.1 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

PSDAG implemented the approved FY2017 M&E plan by systematically monitoring,

documenting, and reporting progress (accomplishments, lessons learned, and

constraints) on implementation of Annual Work Plan activities. In addition, PSDAG also

tracked and reported progress against set performance indicator targets to measure

project outputs, outcomes, and success stories.

2.1.1 FY2017 M&E PLAN

During Q1, PSDAG finalized the FY2017 M&E plan by adjusting indicator targets to

include revised targets forecasted by 16 new prospective grantees shortlisted for award

of grants under the FY2016 APS. In addition, PSDAG in consultation with USAID COR

changed the reporting frequency of the following indicators from quarterly to annual

reporting to harmonize PSDAG results in FTFMS and AIDTracker+ (see Table 17).

Table 17. Indicator reporting frequency—changed from quarterly to annual reporting Code Name of Indicator

EG.3.2-20 Number of for-profit private enterprises, producers’ organizations, water users associations, women’s groups, trade and business associations and CBOs that applied improved organization-level technologies or management practices with USG assistance

EG.3.2-17 Number of farmers and others who have applied improved technologies or management practices with USG assistance

E.G.3.2-18 Number of hectares under improved technologies and management practices with USG assistance

Archived but converted to Custom

Number of members of producer organizations and community based organizations with USG assistance

EG.3.2-4 Number of for-profit private enterprises, producers’ organizations, water users associations, women's groups, trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG food security related organizational development assistance

4.5.2-Z04 Number of Micro/Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) receiving business development services from USG assisted sources


2.1.2 PERFORMANCE TRACKING AND REPORTING

PSDAG monitored and reported on implementation progress of FY2017 planned

activities on a quarterly and annual basis.

On a monthly basis, PSDAG Technical Grantee Focal Persons monitored and reported

on implementation of grant activities. These grant activity updates were used by PSDAG

to prepare FY2017 monthly progress reports to monitor performance against set

milestones and targets. Internal monthly progress reports were used to draw lessons

learned and appropriately adapt strategies to mitigate obstacles experienced in

implementation of planned activities. In addition, progress reports were used by PSDAG

to provide updates (on request) to stakeholders including USAID, GOR institutions, and

private sector partners.

As per contractual obligation, in Q1, PSDAG submitted its FY2016 Annual Progress

Report to USAID through the AIDTracker+ and FTFMS reporting platforms. In addition,

PSDAG submitted FY2016 Performance Plan Reports (PPRs) as part of the FY2016

annual reporting requirement. Furthermore, PSDAG prepared and submitted FY2017

Quarterly Progress Reports to USAID through the AIDTracker+ reporting platform. The

redacted versions of the reports were uploaded to the USAID Development Experience

Clearinghouse (DEC).

During Q3, PSDAG conducted an internal mid-year project review to reflect on progress

on implementation of planned activities and identify areas for improvement to meet

FY2017 annual indicator targets. The mid-term review identified priority areas relating to

the release of targeted RFAs under the FY2017 APS and the finalization of MOUs

between PSDAG and GOR (MINAGRI and RDB).

In fulfilment of the provision in Section 6 of PL 108-484, the Microenterprise Results and

Accountability Act of 2004, PSDAG submitted the 2016 Microenterprise Results

Reporting (MRR)27 in response to USAID partner data call in Q2.

2.1.3 CAPACITY BUILDING FOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS

PSDAG helped newly signed grantees establish M&E systems for monitoring and

reporting on grant activities. PSDAG M&E team supported prospective private-sector

partners to set up realistic indicator targets as part of the grant negotiation process.

Subsequent to signing 16 new grant agreements with partners, PSDAG conducted M&E

orientation meetings with these new partners to help them understand data collection

and reporting requirements, tools, and timelines. For ongoing grant partnerships,

PSDAG Technical and M&E staff provided continuous backstopping to partners to

ensure proper documentation and reporting in compliance with grant agreement

milestones and deliverables.

2.1.4 USE OF ICT

ICT is an important part of PSDAG’s M&E system to facilitate ease in data collection and

reporting results of project activities implemented by various partners. During FY2017,

PSDAG’s partners continued to use Map and Track (a digital data collection system

27 www.mrr.usaid.gov


using iFormbuilder technology)28 to register farmers and cooperatives as well as submit

quarterly indicator results. In order to document and report outcomes of private sector

grant activities on job creation, PSDAG modified the quarterly reporting tools to include

number of new jobs created by project activities funded under grant agreement

mechanisms. Results on this new indicator were subsequently tracked and reported.

PSDAG has included the FTF indicator on jobs created (EG.3-9 - Number of Full-Time

Equivalent [FTE] jobs created with USG assistance) in FY2018 M&E plan.

For the new 16 private partners signed during FY2017, PSDAG provided tablets (as in-

kind grants), created Map and Track accounts, and trained them on use of the ICT

platform for data collection and reporting. The Map and Track ICT platform has a

functionality for use by PSDAG and private sector partners to collect GPS coordinates

which were used to generate ArcGis maps29 project interventions.

As discussed under Activity 21, four PCCs piloted use of ICT to digitize their processes

and transactions including farmer production forecasting, farmer profitability assessment,

farmer registration, purchases, and sales. To demonstrate the importance of using ICT

to collect and analyze data to drive decision making, PSDAG facilitated four seasonal

debrief meetings with PCCs participating in the pilot PCC digitization program. Based on

lessons from the pilot PCC digitization program, in FY2018 PSDAG plans to scale up

seasonal debriefs to other value chains to facilitate data and information sharing

between value chain actors in order to improve performance in agricultural value chains.

2.1.5 DATA QUALITY ASSESSMENT (DQA)

In Q4, PSDAG facilitated USAID to conduct DQA for indicator on “Number of agricultural

and nutritional enabling environment policies analyzed, consulted on, drafted or revised,

approved, and implemented with USG assistance.” Table 18 summarizes areas for

improvement on documentation and reporting of this indicator.

Table 18. DQA recommendations

Weakness Action to Address Weakness

Not substantive but need to cross check EIAs reports

A simplified clearance process with counterpart institutions (RDB and MINAGRI) on EIAs reports. This is to ensure that beneficiaries/partners GOR agencies are on board with PSDAG agenda and provide more credibility to EIAs reports.

Not substantive but need to further collection of data/results at the last step of the indicator

Relevant staff be given responsibilities and tools to collect follow-up GOR or Private sector interventions that could be influenced by PSDAG developed analysis or policy/strategy.

To improve the quality of data received from private partners, PSDAG also designed a

quarterly data verification tool, to be used to confirm with partners the accuracy and

completeness of reported data before aggregation and reporting to USAID. Data

verification will be conducted by PSDAG’s Technical Focal Persons and M&E team.

19 iFormBuilder, by Zerion Software, is a universal, cloud based mobile data collection platform helping customers around the globe collect data on their mobile devices. https://www.zerionsoftware.com/iformbuilder/. 20 For live map, visit http://arcg.is/2cpeuEx


2.2 SOCIAL INCLUSION

ACTIVITY 31: IMPROVING ACCESS TO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, YOUTH, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (PWD)

In May 2017, PSDAG published an RFA on Women, Youth, and PWDs in

Entrepreneurship and Leadership Program in Agriculture that was extended to close on

December 31, 2017. The objectives of this RFA are to 1) co-invest in projects that

facilitate investment in women, youth and/or PWD-managed enterprises; and 2) grow

employment opportunities (formal and informal) for these target groups.

Under this RFA, PSDAG will support activities that increase private investment in Agro-

SMEs, and agent or microfranchise30 models that increase agribusinesses and

leadership income-generating opportunities for women, youth, and PWDs. The RFA was

translated into Kinyarwanda and shared with 43 potential gender and social inclusion

stakeholders including public, private, and CSO institutions. It was also published online.

PSDAG conducted three Applicants Conferences (held May 31, June 19, and

September 29) to provide additional clarifications on the RFA in terms of eligibility, the

application process, and grant evaluation criteria.

As at end of FY2017, 29 applications had been received and are at various stages of the

grantee selection process (evaluation of applications, oral presentations, and pre-award

assessments). The applications are being evaluated on bi-monthly basis and the first

batch of partners under this RFA is expected to be signed before end of FY2018 Q1.

ACTIVITY 32: DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL INCLUSION STRATEGIES

PSDAG implemented the Gender and Social Inclusion Integration Plan, which was

developed in FY2016. During FY2017, PSDAG recruited an international service

provider to develop a Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) curriculum, and train local

service providers to implement it with PSDAG partners. The goal is to build the capacity

of companies to develop social inclusion strategies, embed them in their business

models and value chain activities, and understand both the business and social impact

of businesses on women, youth, and PWDs.

There was progress on implementation of GSI curriculum. During Q2, two local service

providers (LSPs) were competitively contracted by PSDAG and trained on the GSI

curriculum content and methodology. Subsequently, during Q3, the two LSPs trained 17

people (6 women) from 12 PSDAG private-sector partners on the GSI curriculum. During

Q4, the LSPs conducted coaching and mentorship of private sector partners on

developing GSI strategies within their business models. Eleven private partners were

coached including Agasaro Organic, INES – Ruhengeri, Shekina Enterprise,

Tuzamurane Cooperative, Agro-Plast Ltd, Norlega Macadamia, Sarura Commodities

Ltd, Green Harvest Ltd, PEBEC, and N-Frnds. PSDAG will continue to monitor progress

21 Microfranchising is a business model that adapts a traditional franchising approach for very small businesses. It is a systemized approach to replicating micro-enterprises that sells products or services, enabling entrepreneurs to

become microfranchisees in proven businesses without having to make high upfront investments.


and outcomes of implementation of these social inclusion plans. During FY2018,

PSDAG will continue support to partners in the implementation of GSI plans.

PSDAG team also introduced the GSI mainstreaming approach in the BDS and QMS

training modules to be delivered to 60 cooperatives under the CPP (see Activity 21).

BDS and QMS service providers were also sensitized on GSI concepts, practices, and

approaches. As the service providers conduct various BDS and QMS trainings (to be

rolled out in Q1 FY2017), they will raise awareness against discrimination perpetrated

against women, youth, and PWDs in cooperatives.

ACTIVITY 33: INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUTH, WOMEN, AND PWD IN AGRIBUSINESS

PSDAG and the USAID Huguka Dukore (HD) project implemented by Education

Development Center (EDC) have identified potential areas of collaboration to create

opportunities for participation of youth, women, and PWDs in agribusiness. Under an

MOU mechanism that is being finalized, PSDAG and HD projects will work to promote

effective collaboration and interactions to sustainably facilitate youth inclusion in

agricultural value chains by the private sector partners of both projects.

In addition, PSDAG conducted consultations with Capacity Development and

Employment Services Board (CESB)—formerly the National Capacity Building

Secretariat—and MINAGRI to explore opportunities for collaboration to link youth with

opportunities in the agriculture sector. PSDAG plans to leverage the existing partnership

between CESB and MINAGRI to place graduate

interns at cooperatives to help local farmers to

improve productivity. RYAF is implementing the

internship program at MINAGRI. Under this existing

internship implemented by RYAF, CESB will pay a

stipend of RWF 50,000 per month for 12 months for

each intern. MINAGRI expressed willingness to

partner with PSDAG so that some of the interns can

be placed at PSDAG partners (private firms and

cooperatives). The Commitment Letter to formalize

this partnership is under development. PSDAG has

begun to conduct an assessment with partners

(firms and cooperatives) to establish the number and

qualifications of required interns.

Under this envisaged partnership with

MINAGRI/RYAF and CESB, PSDAG proposes to

develop a capacity building package for the interns.

Using a subcontractor, PSDAG will help interns

understand their roles/responsibilities and acquire

basics skills in entrepreneurship and work

readiness. In addition, PSDAG will facilitate M&E on

the performance of interns. Samples of USAID-branded materials


2.2 COMMUNICATION

2.2.1 MARKING AND BRANDING

During FY2017, PSDAG continued to implement USAID marking and branding

guidelines for ongoing as well as new project activities under different partnership

mechanisms (grant agreements and MOUs). PSDAG produced and used USAID-

branded materials (signage, stickers, T-shirts, caps, and fleece jackets) to brand project

activities. PSDAG also ensured use of USAID branding in project events and activities

such as grant launch events, learning events, and MOU/grant signing ceremonies.

In addition, new infographics were developed for the PSDAG project materials including

the FY2017 Project Brief and 2017 APS. Subsequently, PSDAG produced 2,700 Project

Briefs both in Kinyarwanda and English, and distributed them to stakeholders including

development partners, private sector associations, cooperative associations, and GOR

institutions. These briefs provide an overview of project objectives, implementation

strategy, and partnership opportunities through grant agreements or MOUs.

PSDAG Project Brief

2.2.2 MEDIA COVERAGE

During FY2017, PSDAG engaged various media outlets to ensure coverage of PSDAG

activities including project launch events and partnership signing ceremonies. PSDAG

issued press releases and shared them with media outlets to ensure proper visibility and

communication of PSDAG activities in newspapers, local radio stations, magazines, and

social media. Annex VII summarizes the extent to which PSDAG activities were covered

by the media. In addition, PSDAG continued to post PSDAG activities in social media

through PSDAG’s official Twitter account.31 which currently has over 270 Twitter

followers including MINAGRI, MINECOFIN, NAEB, IFAD, FAO, Drones for Agriculture,

and other notable key sector players.

22 See https://twitter.com/psdag_rwanda


2.2.3 SUCCESS STORIES

PSDAG continued to track implementation of grantee activities with the aim of

showcasing the effect, outcome, and impact of PSDAG investments on firms,

cooperatives, and smallholder farmers. During FY2017, PSDAG prepared seven

success stories as presented in Table 19.

Table 19. Summary of Success Stories in FY2017 Partner Project Activity Value Chain Title of Success Story

Planikap PCC Upgrading of potato

aggregation and value

addition, and digitization of

transaction processes

Irish potatoes ICT Transforming Potato

Collection Center (PCC)

Business in Rwanda

Shekina Enterprises Processing of cassava leaves

for export

Horticulture USAID Support to Shekina

Enterprises has doubled

Rwanda’s Exports of Cassava

Leaves

Abakundana Cooperative Post-harvest handling

technologies

Maize USAID Assistance Empowers

Farmer Group to Grow and

Thrive

Kigali Farms High value mushroom &

substrate production for export

& household nutrition

Horticulture In Musanze District, a Social

Enterprise with a Hunger for

Change

Tuzamurane Cooperative Production and processing of

organic pineapple for export

Horticulture Pineapples, a Sweet Success

for Empowering Women in

Rwanda

Samples PSDAG tweets


Partner Project Activity Value Chain Title of Success Story

New Tech Reaps Big Rewards

for Rwandan Pineapple Farmers

Masaka Creamery Development of innovative

dairy processor

Dairy Creamery Empowers Rwandan

Deaf Community Through

Inclusive Business Model

See Annex VIII for PSDAG success stories

recorded in FY2017.

A success story from PSDAG’s partnership with

a private-sector aggregator of maize and beans

bought from smallholder farmers, was also

featured in the Feed the Future Newsletter for

May 18, 2017.32

In addition, PSDAG completed the procurement

of a service provider for audiovisual

documentation of project activities. The

audiovisual materials will include quality

educational professional films, photographs,

interactive infographics, video clips, and short

documentaries tailored to different audiences

highlighting the impact of USAID support through the PSDAG project. The service

provider has started to develop audiovisual materials from PSDAG accomplishments on

Objective 1 and 2 activities which are expected to be complete in FY2018 Q1.

2.3 CAPACITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

2.3.1 PSDAG STAFF CAPACITY BUILDING

PSDAG continued to conduct staff capacity building training to impart required skills and

knowledge for implementation of FY2017 Work Plan activities and improve on

performance management.

During Q1, PSDAG conducted a staff kick-off meeting for FY2017 Work Plan in

Bugesera District. The purpose of the meeting was to help PSDAG staff understand and

internalize planned activities and expected outputs and outcomes during FY2017.

PSDAG also conducted an internal all-staff training on November 29, 2016, on Code of

Ethics, procurement, grants, marking and branding, and report writing.

In Q2 and Q3, PSDAG conducted a refresher training on grants to reorient technical staff

on grants processes and tools to ensure compliance with the approved grants manual.

Objective 2 and Grants teams also attended a three-day training workshop on market

facilitation approaches, and value chain systems and dynamics.

23 https://feedthefuture.gov/article/market-solutions-spur-prosperity-rwanda#overlay-context=article/mcc-bolsters-nigers-agriculture-sector


In Q4, PSDAG trained staff and supervisors on performance management to impart

them with skills for providing feedback, being accountable, documenting performance

outcomes, and channeling talents toward project goals. PSDAG also conducted its

FY2018 Annual Work Planning workshop to refine identified work plan activities, identify

areas for collaboration and partnership, and estimate resource requirements.

In addition, to assist with integration of International Resources Group into RTI

International, PSDAG staff were trained on RTI procurement, finance, and human

resources management, including policies, processes, and tools.

2.3.2 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

In FY2017, PSDAG completed needs assessments for nine of its private sector partners

evaluating their needs in terms of business management, market analysis, attracting

investors, applying for credit, and improving their business model. Based on responses,

PSDAG designed technical assistance to address specific gaps identified on a case-by-

case basis for select private partners. This activity is expected to lead to increased

access to finance, increased private investments and general business expansion. In

addition, BDS is also embedded in the cooperative professionalization program as

discussed under Activity 21.

Under the BDS support to private partners, PSDAG signed contracts with three service

providers to provide customized BDS technical assistance to 13 PSDAG private partners.

Progress on implementation of BDS support to private partners is summarized in Table

20.

Table 20. Provision of BDS to PSDAG private sector partners Service Provider

Private Partner Areas of BDS Support Implementation Status

Karisimbi Business Partners

Masaka Creamery Regional market analysis, preparation of investor

documents, and linkage building to investors.

Coaching is on-going on identifying regional markets and investor

preparedness.

Kumwe Partners Develop business strategy/ plan, preparation of investor documents

and linking to investors.

Coaching is on-going on developing a bankable business plan and investor

preparedness.

Shekina Identify regional and international markets, preparation of investor documents, link to investors, and

ICT in marketing.

Coaching is on-going on preparing investor documents and regional

markets analysis.

Open Capital Advisors

FarmFresh Regional market analysis, preparation of investor

documents, link to investors.

Identified areas of support on preparation of investor materials and identifying regional markets mainly in

Kenya. Service provider preparing coaching materials.

Sarura Design growth strategy, regional market analysis, preparation of

investor documents, link to investors

Identified areas of support on exploring regional markets for beans in Uganda and Tanzania. Service

provider preparing coaching materials.

Hollanda Regional market analysis and linking to regional markets.

Areas of support identified including identification of distributors and retailers of products in regional markets mainly DRC. Service


Service Provider

Private Partner Areas of BDS Support Implementation Status

provider preparing coaching materials.

Kigali Farms Regional market analysis, preparation of investor

documents, link to investors

Areas of support identified including preparation of investor materials and

identifying a regional distributor because the current one is not

enthusiastic enough to lead to growth of sales. Service provider preparing

coaching materials.

ENAS Design growth strategy, regional market analysis, Preparation of

investor documents, link to investors

Areas of support identified on preparation of investor materials and preparation of a bankable business

plan on beef. Service provider preparing coaching materials.

Inkomoko Business

Development Ltd

Shekina,

Norlega,

Hollanda Fair Foods,

E &Foods, and

Tuzamurane cooperative

Accounting and book keeping, financial accounting

and reporting, budgeting and sales forecast, investment readiness, human centred

management

Kick off meeting conducted and buy- in agreement signed. Boot camp

conducted with companies for 3 days to training on BDS modules, business

assessment phase is underway to inform coaching sessions.

2.3.3 CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT TO PARTNERS

PSDAG assisted and monitored partners in implementing capacity building activities

under grant agreement partnerships. PSDAG’s support included preparation of training

materials and monitoring delivery of training to ensure adherence of quality standards

such as use of participatory methods. In FY2017, PSDAG monitored the trainings of

private partners listed in Table 21.

Table 21. Capacity building activities supported by PSDAG through its private partners

Name of partner Location Name of training Number of persons trained

SHEKINA [REDACTED] Cooperative Forming & Management

[REDACTED] female cassava leaves growers trained

AgriLift [REDACTED] Spatiotemporal Agribusiness Framework Training

[REDACTED] field data collectors (1female)

PEBEC [REDACTED] Good Agriculture Practices – Bird’s Eye Chili

[REDACTED] farmers (women)

SARURA/CDI/Maize

Cooperatives and KCB [REDACTED] Post-harvest management

[REDACTED] participants (women)

MINIMEX [REDACTED] Training on use of high moisture shellers

participants (women) from the beneficiary cooperatives of MINIMEX

12 VCCF private partners PSDAG Training Room in Kigali

Gender & Social Inclusion curriculum training

17 participants (6 women)

Tuzamurane Cooperative [REDACTED]

Fair trade standards, soil protection and manuring, and on risk analysis and management

[REDACTED]farmers (women)


Name of partner Location Name of training Number of persons trained

24 cooperatives receiving BDS support under CPP

Various districts Governance, member services and strategic plan.

235 participants (90 women including 27 youth)

Hollanda Fair Foods [REDACTED] Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)


Norlega [REDACTED] Organic farming, post-harvest practices and global GAP requirements


KCB [REDACTED] Cash flow analysis [REDACTED] (women)

BRD [REDACTED] Cash flow analysis [REDACTED] (women)

N-Frnds [REDACTED]

Farm promoters and MCC representatives on the use of ICT and access to weather information

122 people (29 women)

2.4 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

During FY2017, PSDAG continued to implement the Environmental Mitigation Monitoring

Plan (EMMP) by conducting environmental

assessments for all grant applications and

preparing Environmental Review Reports

(ERRs) for new selected project activities.

PSDAG prepared 26 ERRs for shortlisted grant

activities. The ERRs are used to identify

activities that require monitoring and reporting of

environment mitigation measures.

In addition, PSDAG continued to monitor

environmental compliance of ongoing project

activities implemented by private partners.

Annex XIII includes a summary of environmental

mitigation monitoring of project activities under

various partnerships.

As per the SUAP, PSDAG finalized development

and translation of five infographics for Safe

Pesticide Use (SPU) best-practices “info-packs” as follows:

• Info-pack 1: Disposing of empty pesticide containers

• Info-pack 2: How to use personal protective equipment

• Info-pack 3: What time to spray crops

• Info-pack 4: How to spray

• Info-pack 5: How to safely store pesticides

PSDAG is finalizing the “info-packs” to incorporate comments and inputs from the

Agriculture Communication and Information Program at MINAGRI. During FY2018,

PSDAG will train partners on use of these SPU “info-packs” as well as distribute copies

SPU “info-pack” on Disposing of Empty

Pesticide Containers


to private firms and cooperatives through other partners such as the USAID Hinga Weze

project.


3. PARTNERSHIPS AND LINKAGES 3.1 USAID COMMUNITY HEALTH AND IMPROVED NUTRITION

(CHAIN) PARTNERS

During Q1 and Q2, PSDAG continued to participate in CHAIN collaborative activities to

ensure collaboration with CHAIN implementing partners. PSDAG shared partnership

opportunities for SMEs and cooperatives with CHAIN partners. During FY2017, PSDAG

circulated RFAs contained in the FY2017 Annual Program Statement including

Cooperative Professionalization (see Activity 21), Women and Youth Leadership &

Entrepreneurship Program (see Activity31) and Asset Financing (see Activity 22). In

addition, as part of the due diligence process to avoid duplication of funding to the same

activities, PSDAG shared information about private sector partners that have been

selected for grant funding with all USAID projects including CHAIN partners.

During Q3, USAID de-categorized PSDAG from USAID projects under CHAIN partners.

However, PSDAG continued to collaborate with CIP, which had submitted a project

proposal to PSDAG under the 2016 APS to implement a project activity on “Evaluation

and selection of disease resistant potato varieties with good processing qualities for

Rwanda.” This grant application from CIP is in the final stages of USAID approval and is

expected be implemented in FY2018. PSDAG also met with Harvest Plus and the CIP

Orange Flesh Sweet Potato project to review the 2017 RFAs and encourage them to

share the applications with their strong cooperative and SME partners; as of Q4 PSDAG

had not received any applications. Two Harvest Plus cooperatives, however, are

participating in the PSDAG Cooperative Professionalization activity and receiving BDS

support to sell directly to FarmFresh.

3.2 WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP)

PSDAG collaborated with the WFP to ensure cooperatives supply maize and beans

under the FAMA project. PSDAG supported 33 maize cooperatives that supply the WFP

under FAMA, to co-invest in post-harvest handling equipment such as shellers, weighing

scales, pallets, and packaging bags. During Q3, reports on outcomes of support to the

34 supported cooperatives included: $867,546 in income for 9,786 (4,690 women)

smallholder maize farmers and $902,449 in domestic sales of value added maize.

Progress of PSDAG’s partnership with WFP are discussed under Activity 20 – 2017

Grants to Maize Cooperatives.

3.3 MINAGRI/ RCA/NCCR/COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

PSDAG collaborated with MINAGRI, the World Bank/IFC, RCA, and NAEB to incorporate an additional Pillar IV on Professionalization of Cooperatives into the NAIPS. The collaboration with these partners entailed conducting meetings and workshops with


stakeholders to review NAIPS in light of the proposed Pillar IV and subsequently presenting a revised NAIPS (with Pillar IV) to MINAGRI, donor stakeholders, and the Agribusiness Cluster of the ASWG for validation (see Activity 1).

3.4 WORLD BANK AND THE UK DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID)

During FY2017, PSDAG was selected to be a part of the Nucleus of Developing

Partners to assist MINAGRI with the development of PSTA-IV. PSDAG worked

collaboratively with representatives from the World Bank and DFID to design and

implement the Knowledge Seminar in Q2. Throughout Q3 and Q4, PSDAG continued to

collaborate with these partners to provide feedback and ensure that private sector

engagement is adequately embedded in the new strategy (see Activity 1).

3.5 DFID PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF MINAGRI

DFID launched two projects in FY2016 to support MINAGRI. The first, the Agriculture

Technical Assistance Facility (Agri-TAF), is supporting MINAGRI to complete its online

management information system (MIS) and to improve on the mainstreaming of gender,

climate-smart agriculture, and nutrition into MINAGRI’s programming to meet PSTA-III33

requirements. During FY2016, PSDAG consulted with Agri-TAF representatives and

agreed to collaborate on 1) linking the MIS to ALIS, and 2) sharing experience and data

gathered after implementing various social inclusion activities. In addition, the MIS

system supported by Agri-TAF is part of the SAIS project, for which MINAGRI, with

PSDAG support, secured a GOR budget allocation for FY2017/2018 to FY 2023/2024

(see Activity 1).

The second DFID project, Improving Market Systems for Agriculture in Rwanda (IMSAR)

has a similar mandate to that of PSDAG’s Objective 2, in that is seeks to provide market

facilitation support to the agriculture private sector in the form of technical assistance,

grants, and equity. PSDAG has begun collaborative partnerships with the IMSAR

program in the areas of access to equity and working capital for SMEs working in similar

value chains that PSDAG is supporting. The equity portion of the project, implemented

through AgDevCo, is up and running and PSDAG has begun to link its partners for

access to equity financing.

3.6 GIZ

Over the past few years, GIZ has been supporting RDB and PSF in piloting and

implementing PPD at the local level and national level. In FY2016, PSDAG worked

closely with this team to ensure that PSDAG was complementing rather than duplicating

the years of work that GIZ has successfully completed. As GIZ does not have a mandate

to focus on the agriculture sector, the work of PSDAG is indeed complementary, and the

draft PPD framework to be used was based on the GIZ model.

24 Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture, phase three.


In FY2017, PSDAG continued to collaborate and consult with GIZ as the project

embarked on piloting the local and national Agri-PPD forums. In addition, for GIZ’s

newest phase of programming (June FY2016 to May FY2018), the organization began to

work with RDB on investment promotion support for the tourism, ICT, creative industry

(e.g. film), and wood products sectors. While these do not directly cross over to the

agriculture sector, some interventions like capacity building in investment promotion best

practices will require that the two projects continue to collaborate closely.

3.7 TRADEMARK EAST AFRICA

TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) is a not-for-profit established in 2010 to support the

growth of trade in East Africa. In Rwanda, TMEA is focused on improving physical

access to markets, investing in storage for grains and horticulture, improving quality

standards, and enhancing public-private dialogue. In the past, TMEA has worked with

PSF to establish national PPD platforms based on topics (such as tax issues), helped

develop the RPPDS, and provided extensive training to PSF staff in policy advocacy.

During FY2017, PSDAG continued to collaborate and consult with TMEA while working

with PSF/RCAL and RDB to pilot national and local PPD for agriculture. Specifically,

TMEA shared information with PSDAG on its activities to strengthen other PSF

chambers. This collaboration helped streamline the scope of technical assistance

provided by PSDAG to PSF under the MOU partnership and grant for institutional

strengthening partnership (see Activities 10 and 12).

In FY2018, PSDAG will meet with representatives from TMEA to identify opportunities

for PSDAG partners to leverage TMEA resources, including new marketing and

aggregation facilities. Additionally, PSDAG’s capacity building programs might be

appropriate for strengthening the agribusiness capacity of different stakeholders involved

with TMEA’s Trade and Logistics Hub.

3.8 ACCESS FINANCE RWANDA (AFR)

AFR partners with financial service providers to innovate and deliver products and

services that will create a positive and sustainable impact on the lives of the poor. Its

goal is to develop sustainable improvements in livelihoods through reduced vulnerability

to shocks, increased incomes, and employment creation.

PSDAG consults with AFR when partnering with financial institutions to ensure it is

complementing and not duplicating efforts. In Q1 of FY2017, PSDAG collaborated with

AFR to co-host an agriculture insurance roundtable workshop attended by public

institutions, private sector actors, and development partners. From this workshop,

MINECOFIN and MINAGRI formed an Agriculture Insurance Working Group to design a

National Agriculture Insurance scheme that will provide affordable crop insurance.

In addition, PSDAG agreed to provide technical input to AFR, MINAGRI, and

MINECOFIN in support of the consultancy that AFR will procure to complete an initial

design and study for a National Agriculture Insurance scheme. Based on the results of

this study, PSDAG will support the implementation of this scheme, particularly in

engaging private partners to provide input and roll out the insurance products through

distribution models.


PSDAG is also collaborating with AFR to build upon its support to Ugunka and

Umutanguha MFIs by sharing its cash flow tool and information on target value chains to

improve the analysis that is the basis for new agriculture loan products. PSDAG is

supporting these MFIs in accessing refinancing facilities in Year 4.

3.9 CLINTON DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (CDI)

PSDAG collaborated with the CDI to provide technical assistance to six maize

cooperatives under contract to sell 3,000 t of maize to the African Improved Food (AIF)

program. PSDAG, through a service provider (Sarura), provided technical assistance to

these cooperatives in QMS—sorting, grading and managing the quality of their maize at

aggregation points (see Activity 21).

3.10 KENYA COMMERCIAL BANK (KCB) RWANDA

PSDAG signed an MOU with KCB Rwanda to create a formal mechanism for partnership

between the two institutions with the objective of increasing access to finance to the

project partners. Under this partnership, PSDAG will provide technical support on skills

and knowledge in lending to agriculture sector to KCB’s agriculture department staff. In

addition, PSDAG will provide technical assistance support to KCB on cash flow training

as well as developing irrigation and mechanization products. The technical assistance

will help in designing asset-based financial products and other value chain financing

products to selected financial institutions including BRD, KCB, Duterimbere, Atlantis

Microfinance, and Bank ok Kigali. Progress of this partnership with KCB is discussed

under Activity 29.

3.11 USAID CLIMATE SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURE PROJECT

The USAID Climate Services for Agriculture Project, implemented by CIAT, participated

in the PSDAG/AFR Agriculture Insurance Event in Q1 of FY2017, providing a

presentation and contributing to the discussion on how current rainfall data is supporting

agriculture insurance and its limitations.

PSDAG also entered into a new partnership with N-Frnds in collaboration with CIAT to

increase the efficiency and productivity of the entire smallholder agricultural value chain

in Rwanda by making ICT accessible and affordable to all agricultural value chain actors.

Under this partnership, within the framework of the MOU between MINAGRI and N-

Frnds, the USAID Climate Services for Agriculture Project will help generate and share

(through N-Frnds ICT platform) climate-related information to farmers and PSDAG

private sector partners (see Activity 24). In addition, PSDAG collaborated with CIAT to

get access to additional agriculture weather information that will be used in ALIS 2 (see

Activity 1).

3.12 USAID HD PROJECT

The HD project is implemented by EDC in collaboration with other partners (Catholic

Relief Services, Akazi Kanoze Access, Souktel, Taking IT Global, and Connexus) with

the aim of imparting 40,000 youth (15–30 years old who have reached primary grade 6


but dropped out before attaining primary 9) with employability and entrepreneurship

skills in 19 districts of Rwanda.

PSDAG initiated discussions with the USAID HD project implemented by EDC to partner

and collaborate to on youth inclusion activities under an MOU mechanism. Under this

proposed MOU partnership, PSDAG and the HD project will collaborate to sustainably

facilitate youth inclusion in agricultural value chains by the private sector partners of both

projects. A draft MOU has been developed and discussed between PSDAG and HD.

However, subsequent consultations have been initiated with CESB (formerly the

National Capacity Building Secretariat) and Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum

(RYAF) to identify specific areas of leverage in the implementation of the MOU to link

youth with opportunities in the agriculture sector. The MOU between PSDAG and HD is

expected to be finalized and signed during Q1 FY2018.

3.13 HINGA WEZE

The Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze project seeks to sustainably increase

smallholder farmers’ income, improve nutritional status of Rwandan women and

children, and increase the resilience of the agriculture and food systems to the changing

climate. During FY2017, PSDAG conducted consultations with Hinga Weze to explore

areas of collaboration in implementation of FY18 Work Plan Activities. PSDAG expects

to collaborate with Hinga Weze to facilitate private investments to upgrade agricultural

value chains either through provision of extension services or support for accessing

finance.

3.14 EAST AFRICA TRADE AND INVESTMENT HUB (EATIH)

EATIH works to boost trade and investment with and within East Africa. The goal of the

EATIH is to deepen regional integration, increase the competitiveness of select regional

agriculture value chains, promote two-way trade with the US under the African Growth

and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and facilitate investment and technology that drives trade

growth intra-regionally and to global markets. During FY2017, PSDAG began hosting the

EATIH Country Representative in the PSDAG offices. During FY18 work planning

process, PSDAG identified areas of collaboration with EATIH, specifically in building the

capacity of RDB in investment promotion, supporting PSDAG partners to access new

markets, and providing technical and financial support to help companies obtain

certifications required to access domestic and international markets.


ANNEXES ANNEX I: PRIVATE SECTOR FACILITATION BY PSDAG EIA AT

MINAGRI

[REDACTED]


ANNEX II: MINAGRI FLAGSHIP PROJECT TRACKER FY2017

[REDACTED]


ANNEX III: PRIVATE SECTOR FACILITATION BY PSDAG EIA AT RDB

[REDACTED]


ANNEX IV: PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IDENTIFIED THROUGH 2015 REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

[REDACTED]


ANNEX V: PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IDENTIFIED THROUGH 2016 ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT

[REDACTED]


[ANNEX VI: PRESS RELEASES

CONTACT Jennifer Mujuni USAID-PSDAG Project Communications Specialist Tel: 0785-327-278 Email: [email protected]

USAID Launches Partnership to Increase Rwandan Agriculture Financing by 320 Billion RWF

KIGALI – On February 10, 2017, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Private Sector Driven

Agriculture Growth project (PSDAG) and the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) signed a memorandum of understanding to increase

agriculture financing in Rwanda. Through the agreement, BRD has reserved roughly 140 billion Rwandan Francs for loans to finance

agricultural mechanization, modernization, and processing technologies. BRD has reserved an additional 180 billion Rwandan Francs to

assist the export sector, including agricultural exports. Together the investment totals more than 320 billion Rwandan Francs.

The partnership between BRD and USAID—which was developed through USAID’s Private Sector Driven Agriculture Growth project—

will strengthen agricultural lending practices in Rwanda, and will provide a boost for the entire agricultural sector. USAID’s Private Sector

Driven Agriculture Growth Project will provide technical assistance to BRD staff and its partners as a contribution to achieving the national

objective of increasing agriculture financing. Increased access to loans and other financing will create more investment by farmers and

agribusinesses, and stronger market opportunities for small scale farmers.

BRD will use these funds for many purposes, including providing low-rate, affordable loans for small scale farmers through microfinance

institutions and community cooperatives. BRD will also finance commercial projects in livestock, fish, and feed production, and offer

financial guarantees for export and agriculture investments. In addition, BRD will help bankroll projects in high-value crop and seed

production, and more.

“We are grateful for this partnership with USAID, which is a timely boost to the Bank’s efforts of financing development and modernization

of the agriculture sector. As we embark on increasing lending and access to financial services to the sector, it is essential to provide technical

support and capacity building to our staff and clients,” said Alex Kanyankole, Chief Executive Officer of BRD.

USAID/Rwanda’s acting Mission Director Leslie Marbury said, “we are delighted to partner with BRD to increase financing and leverage

private investments in the agriculture sector. Through this critical partnership, our support will expand markets, create more jobs

opportunities and increase incomes in rural populations.”

The Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) program is a five-year (2014-2019) project funded by the United States Agency for International

Development (USAID). The goal of PSDAG is to increase smallholder farmers’ incomes by promoting private sector investments and to facilitate the transformation

of agriculture into a market-oriented, competitive, and high-value sector. USAID PSDAG is the largest project in Rwanda under U.S. Government’s Global

Food Security Strategy. For more information, please visit. www.usaid.gov



With Cutting-Edge Drone Technology, USAID Supports Crop Monitoring for Small-scale Farmers December 7th, 2016

KIGALI – On December 7th, 2016, AgriLift Ltd launched an aerial drone to monitor crops for Irish Potato farmers in the Northern Province of Rwanda. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSDAG), is partnering with AgriLift to pilot the drone-based crop monitoring technology. It will serve 2,000 potato farmers affiliated with 20 potato cooperatives in the Imbaraga Cooperative Federation, located in Nyabihu, Burera and Musanze districts.

With USAID support, the drone takes overhead images of growing crops at specific intervals. Those images are then analyzed with an open-source computer model of plant growth, which was specifically developed for potato farms. The drone technology can identify the optimal maturity of potato plants for farmers, and can also spot nutrient deficient or diseased crops. AgriLift’s goal is to use this eye in the sky to provide local farmers and agribusinesses with rapid information on their crops, allowing them to take corrective measures almost immediately.

At the beginning of the September-January growing season AgriLift conducted its first drone test flights in Musanze. To date, 242 farmers’ plots from four cooperatives have been registered for flights, with 114 of these plots owned by female farmers.

Speaking at the launch, USAID Mission Director in Rwanda, Marcia Musisi-Nkambwe stated, “It’s our hope that this aerial monitoring technology will directly increase the income of small-scale Rwandan farmers. USAID is proud to be a significant partner in this achievement.”

While AgriLift will continue to demonstrate the valuable use of advanced crop monitoring for small-scale farmers, the benefits won’t stop there. The real-time Irish potato crop data is also a powerful analytical tool for private sector buyers, agricultural equipment dealers and financial services providers.

### The Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) program is a five-year (2014-2019) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The goal of PSDAG is to increase smallholder farmers’ incomes by

promoting private sector investment and to facilitate the transformation of agriculture into a market-oriented, competitive, and high-value sector. USAID PSDAG is the largest project in Rwanda under President Barack Obama’s Feed the Future Initiative.

For more information please visit. www.usaid.gov.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MINAGRI to Develop a New Strategic Plan to Transform the Agriculture Sector in Rwanda

KIGALI – On June 2nd 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), conducted a workshop at the Lemigo Hotel to help craft the fourth Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA IV). The new plan will serve as the nation’s primary blueprint for guiding public investment in Rwanda’s agriculture sector.

The workshop was held in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Private Sector Driven Agriculture Growth project; as well as the Private Sector Federation/Rwanda Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock (PSF/RCAL) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FAO through Rwanda Public Private Dialogue (RPPD) mechanism.

At the event, representatives of local agri-businesses and farmers from around the country discussed successes, lessons and challenges from the past five years, and developed recommendations for the new strategic plan. Participants also suggested key priority areas for consideration by the government.

"The success of this strategy (PSTA) in Pipeline will count more on its inclusiveness. we want all the sector's stakeholders to contribute to its elaboration, and furthermore be involved in its implementation with full knowledge of all its components." Said Kayisinga Jean Claude the Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources

Pierre Munyura an AgriPPD farmer says that ‘Effective planning that has been demonstrated during PSTAIV formulation will result in strengthen the Agri-PPD forums across the country and the issues that affect them he hopes will be captured in the PSTAIV document. He continues to say that PSTAIV should also design strategies to interest the youth to engaging in agriculture through education’

In general, the PSTA IV will focus on attracting and expanding private sector investment in the agriculture sector. In doing so, the new strategic plan aims to further advance the Government of Rwanda’s goal of achieving an annual growth rate of at least 8.5% in the agricultural sector.

Information from the workshop will be consolidated with other feedback gathered from non-government organizations, civil society organizations, development partners, and international experts. PSTA IV will be finalized by December 2017, and will take effect in June 2018.

“The Private Sector Federation always supports all policies that aim at improving the business environment in the country, this is therefore an opportunity for farmers to influence business reforms through this dialogue,” says Donatien MUNGWARAREBA, Ag. Chief Advocacy Officer in PSF.

The Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) program is a five-year (2014-2019) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The goal of PSDAG is to increase smallholder farmers’ incomes by promoting private sector investments and to facilitate the transformation of agriculture into a market-oriented, competitive, and high-value sector. For more information, please visit. www.usaid.gov.

###



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

With Cutting-Edge Drone Technology, USAID Supports Crop Monitoring for Small-scale Farmers December 7th, 2016

KIGALI – On December 7th, 2016, AgriLift Ltd launched an aerial drone to monitor crops for Irish Potato farmers in the Northern Province of Rwanda. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSDAG), is partnering with AgriLift to pilot the drone-based crop monitoring technology. It will serve 2,000 potato farmers affiliated with 20 potato cooperatives in the Imbaraga Cooperative Federation, located in Nyabihu, Burera and Musanze districts.

With USAID support, the drone takes overhead images of growing crops at specific intervals. Those images are then analyzed with an open-source computer model of plant growth, which was specifically developed for potato farms. The drone technology can identify the optimal maturity of potato plants for farmers, and can also spot nutrient deficient or diseased crops. AgriLift’s goal is to use this eye in the sky to provide local farmers and agribusinesses with rapid information on their crops, allowing them to take corrective measures almost immediately.

At the beginning of the September-January growing season AgriLift conducted its first drone test flights in Musanze. To date, 242 farmers’ plots from four cooperatives have been registered for flights, with 114 of these plots owned by female farmers.

Speaking at the launch, USAID Mission Director in Rwanda, Marcia Musisi-Nkambwe stated, “It’s our hope that this aerial monitoring technology will directly increase the income of small-scale Rwandan farmers. USAID is proud to be a significant partner in this achievement.”

While AgriLift will continue to demonstrate the valuable use of advanced crop monitoring for small-scale farmers, the benefits won’t stop there. The real-time Irish potato crop data is also a powerful analytical tool for private sector buyers, agricultural equipment dealers and financial services providers.

The Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) program is a five-year (2014-2019) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The goal of PSDAG is to increase smallholder farmers’ incomes by promoting private sector investments and to facilitate the transformation of agriculture into a market-oriented, competitive, and high-value sector. USAID PSDAG is the largest project in Rwanda under the Feed the Future Initiative. For more information, please visit. www.usaid.gov.

###


ANNEX VII: MEDIA COVERAGE OF PSDAG ACTIVITIES

Project activity Title of Press

Release Media Link to press coverage

Launch of AgriLift grant

USAID Assists Smallholder Farmers

in the Northern Province of Rwanda with a new advanced

crop monitoring technology for Irish

Potatoes.

The New Times http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-

12-08/206076/

Rwanda News Agency News

http://www.rnanews.com/national/12453-musanze-potato-farmers-get-aerial-drone-to-

monitor-crops

Xinhuanet News http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-

12/08/c_135888528.htm

China News.Org http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2016-

12/08/content_39871793.htm APD News Asia

Pacific Daily http://en.apdnews.com/xin-hua/545736.html

African Posts Premier média

participatif africain francophone

https://www.africaposts.com/2016/12/07/un-drone-pour-surveiller-les-recoltes-dans-le-nord-

du-rwanda/

Launch of Kigali Farms grant

USAID Assists Kigali Farms Ltd to Launch Rwanda’s 1st Button

Mushroom Production Facility

Inspira Farms Newsletter

http://www.inspirafarms.com/kigali-farms-case-study/

The New Times http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-

11-15/205348/

RNA News http://www.rnanews.com/national/12332-usaid-

assists-kigali-farms-to-launch-first-button-mushroom-production-facility

Inyarwanda http://www.m.inyarwanda.com/articles/show/OtherNews/mu-mafoto-uko-ibihumyo-bihingwa-kugeza-

bisaruwe-71965.html

Izuba Rirashe http://izubarirashe.rw/2016/11/musanze-gahunda-

ya-obama-ku-mirire-ibahesheje-uruganda-rutunganya-amatoni-yibihumyo/

Launch of Agriculture Land Information System (ALIS)

USAID Supports Investment in Commercial

Agriculture in Rwanda

East Africa Trade Hub Website

http://www.eatradehub.org/agriculture_land_information_system_to_help_attract_private_investme

nt

Rwanda News Agency

http://www.rnanews.com/national/12210-agriculture-land-information-system-launched-in-

rwanda

New Times http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-

10-12/204392/

Kigali Today http://ktpress.rw/2016/10/rwanda-makes-it-easy-

to-buy-land-online/

News Ghana https://www.newsghana.com.gh/rwanda-eases-

access-to-land-information-through-online-portal/

CNBC Africa http://www.cnbcafrica.com/video/?bctid=51701433

03001

TV-C News http://africa.tvcnews.tv/2016/10/12/rwandan-

launches-agriculture-land-information-sysytem/

BRD MOU Signing Ceremony

USAID Launches Partnership to

Increase Rwandan Agriculture Financing by 320 Billion RWF

Igihe http://www.igihe.com/ubukungu/article/usaid-

yahaye-brd-miliyari-320-frw-zizafasha-amabanki-kwakira-imishinga-y

New Times http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2017-

02-13/207940/

You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEOYKxgNuL

w&feature=youtu.be

Taarifa News- a continental paper

http://taarifa.rw/2017/02/10/relief-as-development-bank-allocates-390m-for-lending/


Project activity Title of Press

Release Media Link to press coverage

PPD event organized by RPPDS

Secretariat to inform the PSTA IV

MINAGRI to develop a new Strategic Plan to

transform the Agriculture Sector in

Rwanda

New Times http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/2136919/

Taarifa News http://taarifa.rw/2017/06/02/business-community-

meets-minagri-to-discuss-policy/


ANNEX VIII: SUCCESS STORIES

January 16, 2017

Photo: © PSD

AG Project/Jennifer Mujuni

Beranbe Uwiringiyimana (second right) buying potatoes from a farmer using Farmbook ICT platform on a dital weighing scale-part of PSDAG support.

Barnabe Uwiringiyimana is a 25-year-old youth employed by Planikap Potato Collection Center (PCC) in Rubavu District as an accountant. He recounts how USAID and PSDAG Farmbook ICT Platform enabled the PCC to digitize and simplify its key potato supply chain activities, which included supplier profiling, seasonal production/supply estimates, pre- and post-season profitability assessment support to suppliers, as well as inventory management. The platform also allows the PCC to track key business performance indicators such as daily purchases and sales via a dashboard report function. USAID through PSDAG, facilitated upgrading of 17 PCCs through co-investment in post-harvest and handling equipment such as weighing scales, bagging materials, pallets, basins, tables, chairs and bookkeeping records. In addition, select PCCs were selected to pilot a program to use ICT to digitalize its processes. The Planikap PCCs has reported an improvement of its turnaround time per client - from one hour to 15 minutes per farmer. The PCC has used the digital platform to register information pertaining to all of their suppliers, such as product produce weight, grades and price per kilogram. In addition, the platform automatically calculates and processes payment information, including deducting all outstanding loan balances for the supplier. Barnabe said that in the past two seasons, it had been a very difficult and time-consuming to plan and manage supply chain activities, as well as buying potatoes from the supplier using manual paper-based methods. For example, in 2016 Season B, the average turnaround time to buy potatoes from a single farmer was one hour, meaning that the PCC could only serve an average of 8 – 10 farmers per day. The manual, paper-based buying and selling method was also associated with numerous mathematical errors, which led to disagreements between suppliers and buyers. The time-consuming nature of the process also contributed to business social exclusion, as elderly people and people with disabilities could not wait for long periods of time. Women also reported lower participation because time spent waiting at the PCC interfered with other household responsibilities, including caretaking. ‘We are now serving up to 50 farmers per day, thereby enabling us to buy even up to 80 tons of potatoes per day. Our PCC business has improved so much, as has trust from our suppliers. Our supplier base has grown to 398 farmers, compared to 92 in previous seasons,’ said Barnabe. Because of the success of the ICT platform used by Planikap, 14 other business companies in the community including agro-dealers, potato seed traders and grocery retailers have shown interest in adopting the digital system to improve their competitiveness.

The Farmbook ICT platform is helping to increase supply chain visibility, transparency in business transactions, as well as operations efficiency for PLANIKAP Potato Collection Center (PCC) in Rubavu District

ICT Transforming Potato Collection Center (PCC) Business in Rwanda

‘“The Farmbook ICT platform has enabled us to fully digitize and

simplify our key potato supply chain activities. Data and

information is now also readily available to our PCC to make better

and informed business decisions, thereby enabling us to offer the

best value to our potato suppliers and buyers.’’

- Barnabe

Uwiringiyimana


USAID Support to Shekina Enterprises has doubled Rwanda’s Exports of Cassava Leaves Shekina Enterprises is a premier exporter of processed cassava

leaves popularly known as Isombe. It is based in its native district

of Rulindo. Pierre Damien Batezimana founded the company in

2007 primarily to add value to fresh cassava leaves, previously

considered to have no commercial benefit to farmers. ‘‘One

evening, I met a group of sullen-looking women throwing away Isombe

from their mud-baskets to which they sadly told me they failed to get

a buyer interested in taking in cassava leaves, even at the lowest

possible price’’, Damien said. Processing of cassava leaves has

traditionally been conducted solely for household consumption

and activities are therefore dominated by women.

Shekina began with a handful of suppliers, buying the fresh

produce from local farmers and then processing and packaging

the leaves into an ‘instant’ product for export to a diaspora

market in the U.S.A. Shekina was producing[REDACTED]MT for

export per year, but buyers were asking for [REDACTED]MT.

The company lacked the necessary infrastructure to increase

production. USAID, through the Private Sector Driven

Agricultural Growth project, partnered with Shekina Enterprises

to increase its buying and processing capacity. As a result, Shekina

has tremendously improved the business model and is able to

produce [REDACTED] MT for export.

‘‘To us, this is good business we are edging closer to closing the

production-demand supply shortage for our export market,’’ says

Damien.

‘‘We have been astounded at how Isombe is liked on the market

especially the export market; today we export to USA, Canada, Belgium

France, and Netherlands.’’ says Romain Murenzi, the deputy

Managing Director in charge of Production Division.

The company boasts of working with more than [REDACTED]

farmers, including [REDACTED] women. These farmers are

organized in Isombe Collection Centers (ICCs) to collect and

aggregate cassava leaves from suppliers. Investments in the

organization of the supply chain and improved processing

technology have resulted not only in an increase in the amount

the company can buy from suppliers, but have reduced overhead

costs and electricity costs.

‘‘Our business growth prospects are brighter ahead, and we look

forward to increasing our investments and expanding the factory.’’

Damien concludes.

‘’We have been astounded at how Isombe is liked on the market

especially the export market, today we export to USA, Canada,

Belgium France, and Netherlands. With USAID support we hope

to satisfy this demand out there’’

- Romain Murenzi, Deputy Managing Director-Shekina

Enterprises.

January 19, 2017

Photos: ©

PSD

AG Project, Jennifer Mujuni


April 3, 2017

Top: Joseph in his cooperative’s cassava seed plantation in Kayonza district at

Rwinkwavu.

Bottom: Abakundana Cooperative members shelling their maize with machines

bought through a USAID grant.

In 2003, 45-year-old Mwunvaneza Emmanuel developed an urge to join a farmer group. Despite being known as a model farmer, Emmanuel had realized he could not support his family financially. A firm believer in strength in numbers – even when it comes to business matters -- Emmanuel had realized he could not support his family financially if he continued to work his one-hectare plot on his own. He felt that, by working together, he and other farmers in Kayonza district could better attract large maize buyers and improve their financial wellbeing.

Emmanuel joined the Abakundana ‘Itsinda’ – what was then considered a farmers’ association – with high hopes. But he soon found that a lack of modern processing equipment and appropriate storage facilities hindered the group’s success. Maize shelling was conducted manually, using hired manpower. In the end, the shelled maize was of poor quality. As a result, he experienced crop losses, which translated to financial losses.

In 2016, the Abakundana, by then a maize cooperative, received a grant from Minimex Maize, one of Rwanda’s largest processors and among the top three buyers of local maize in the country. The grant, facilitated by the USAID/Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project, helped improve farmers’ post-harvest drying, processing, and storage and helped Abakundana become one of the company’s suppliers of quality maize.

“Being a member of Abakundana never paid off for me until 2016, when the cooperative acquired a modern maize shelling machine,” Emmanuel says. “Last season shelled 1 t of my maize in record time. Before, it cost me RWF 12,000 and took one month to shell 1 t of maize using hired labor. Now, it costs RWF 7,000 RWF to shell the same amount in only 2-3 hours,’’ he said, beaming. “With the shelling machine, I get quality maize that draws a high price, and I now have a ready market through our relationship with Minimex Maize.”

Joseph Nkurukiyimana, Abakundana’s president, says that the Minimex grant, combined with skills gained through USAID-funded post-harvest handling training, have created a total savings of over RWF 90,000 for the cooperative. He says that while the cooperative is led by a man, female members outnumber the men, and have prospered thanks to training and support provided through the cooperative.

‘’Our farmers were happy that our cooperative was selected as a grant beneficiary, which encouraged us to be more optimistic and improve our way of doing business,” Nkurukiyimana says. ‘’Despite the drought that hit Kayonza in the last maize season, we have still seen our revenues improve from our shelling business, which is made possible through support from USAID. We expanded the service of using our shelling machine to the nearby maize growers and have so far shelled over [REDACTED] MT of maize, fetching over RWF [REDACTED].”

Empowered by its recent success, the cooperative is branching out, leasing land for seed multiplication of a cassava strain that is resistant to the hazardous cassava mosaic virus.

“The demand is phenomenal; farmers have already booked almost the whole field,” Nkurukiyimana says. “From our leased land of 2.5 ha, we look forward to fetching over RWF [REDACTED] per ha from selling cassava seeds,” he adds happily.

Increased mechanization and training provided through USAID allow the Abakundana Cooperative in Kayonza-Rwinkwavu to usher in farmers’ prosperity, empowerment and market linkages.

Photo: © PSD

AG Project/Jennifer

USAID Assistance Empowers Farmer Group to Grow and Thrive

“Despite the drought that hit Kayonza in the last maize season,

we have still seen our revenues improve from our shelling

business, which is made possible through support from USAID.

We expanded the service of using our shelling machine to the

nearby maize growers and have so far shelled over [REDACTED]

t of maize, fetching over $[REDACTED] Rwf.’’’

-Joseph Nkurukiyimana, President of Abakundana

Photo: © PSD

AG Project/Jennifer


Top: Ngarukiye Leonard, a participating wheat farmer, threshing his wheat harvest at

one of Kigali Farms’ strageically located collection centers., Musanze District.

Bottom: Farmers in action -- threshing their wheat harvest using a thresher bought

with USAID funding

By better linking actors throughout the mushroom value chain, Kigali Farms is helping reduce post-harvest losses, increase grain quality, and alleviate physical and time demands for farmers in Musanze District.

In Musanze District, a Social Enterprise with a Hunger for Change

Kigali Farms is a social enterprise in Musanze district that uses a socially conscious business model to help lift poor smallholder mushroom famers out of poverty. The company has placed mushrooms at the center of its business based on the food’s high nutritional values, high yields, potential for export, minimal land-space requirements, and ability to grow without good soils – that is, if organic layers or “substrates” are placed on the ground where the mushrooms grow.

Kigali Farms initially started out growing oyster mushrooms that could be easily grown by local farmers, providing a boost to the local economy while fostering a profitable business for the company. Then, in 2016, Kigali Farms teamed up with the USAID/Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSDAG) to dramatically expand its business into mushroom substrate production, which allows the company to reach further across the mushroom value chain and help even more smallholder farmers increase their incomes. That is because the substrate required to effectively grow high-quality mushrooms is made from two other sources: wheat and chicken manure.

Using a grant provided through USAID, Kigali Farms purchased a mechanized thresher that helps separate wheat grain from the straw, a process necessary to creating the right substrate to support optimal mushroom production. In addition, the company strategically placed the threshing machines in collection centers near farmers’ fields where they can conveniently come to thresh their wheat, be paid for their wheat straw on the spot, and then walk away with high-quality wheat grain to sell in local markets. In March 2017 alone, 40 farmers took advantage of this service, which enabled Kigali Farms to collect 37 t of straw needed for its substrate while producers threshed 53 t of wheat grain for their own sale. This win-win arrangement has helped local wheat farmers earn extra income and has helped offset the 5 percent losses they would have experienced had they used traditional manual wheat threshing methods, which can crush wheat grains. These savings translated to an estimated 2.65 t of wheat for the farmers, valued at RwF [REDACTED] (RwF [REDACTED] / kg).

Venantie Nyirahabimana, a 49-year-old wheat farmer, was amazed at how the threshing machine had relieved her of the processing burden. “Winnowing one 100-kg bag would take me five hours,” she says. “We now have wheat grain that comes out of the threshing machine totally clean with no dust and less physical damage than if it was manually done; with this quality wheat grain, we hope to fetch higher prices at the market.”

“We now have wheat grain that comes out of the threshing

machine totally clean with no dust and wheat grains have less

physical damage than if it was manually done; with this quality

wheat grain, we hope to fetch higher prices at the market’’

Venantie Nyirahabimana, a woman wheat farmer.

March 29, 2017

Photos: ©

PSD


Photos: ©

PSD

AG Project, Jennifer


June 30, 2017

Above: Tereza Nyirantozi’s cow, which she bought from proceeds made from selling her pineapples through the Tuzamurane Cooperative.

Lower left: Tereza Nyirantozi tends to her pineapple plants. Lower right: A sign marks Tereza Nyirantozi’s organic-certfied field where she exclusively grows pineapples.

“It’s a beautiful thing when you are financially independent,”

says Tereza Nyirantozi, a 60-year-old pineapple famer in

Rwanda’s Kirehe district. To Nyirantozi, joining the

Tuzamurane pineapple processing cooperative has not only

meant an increase in income—it has served as an affirmation

of her power as a woman.

Years ago, Nyirantozi and her husband chose two different

professional paths; he chose to grow bananas while she

decided to undertake pineapple farming. Nyirantozi’s bet on

pineapples paid off. Today, she is a model farmer, as well as a

supplier and part owner of the Tuzamurane Cooperative.

“To me, the pineapple business is a miracle,” she says. “I can

hardly explain all that it has brought into my life. It

transformed how I operate, my lifestyle, and my rights as a

woman. In fact, I look forward to venturing into other

investments like buying a motorcycle that will facilitate

transportation for me and my husband while we go about our

daily work routines.”

With support from the USAID/Rwanda Private Sector Driven

Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) project funded through Feed

the Future, the Tuzamurane Cooperative has been able to

provide members like Nyirantozi with access to credit, as

well as personalized agricultural extension services in areas

such as post-harvest handling. Previously, she sold her

pineapples for $0.02 per kilogram (kg), but by 2016, when the

increase in the cooperative’s marketing created more

demand for her product, Nyirantozi sold her produce for

eight times more—$0.16 per kg.

Her newfound success has helped Nyirantozi boost her

income to more than $[REDACTED]over the last quarter

alone, as well as expand her certified farming field, purchase

a new cow—which also serves as an inexpensive source of

organic fertilizer—and send her son to school. She has even

been approached by her neighbors expressing interest in

joining her cooperative. “I think they are drawn into joining

Tuzamurane after seeing what I have achieved from my

pineapple growing,” she says.

“My husband never worries about money scarcity because I

am self-reliant,” she adds proudly. “Women were considered

less able people to do anything tangible, but now I am an

inspiration to so many. They come often seeking my advice

on how to do what I have achieved.”

Commercial pineapple growing in Kirehe district has ushered in farmers’ prosperity, empowered women, and linked farmers to international markets.

Photo: © PSD

AG Project/Jennifer

PINEAPPLES, A SWEET SUCCESS FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN IN RWANDA

‘‘To me, the pineapple business is a miracle. I can hardly explain all that it has brought into my life. It transformed how I operate, my lifestyle, and my rights as a woman. In fact, I look forward to venturing into other investments like buying a motorcycle that will facilitate transportation for me and my husband.‘’

—Tereza Nyirantozi, pineapple farmer and cooperative member in [REDACTED] District

Photo: © PSD

AG Project/Jennifer


NEW TECH REAPS BIG REWARDS FOR RWANDAN PINEAPPLE FARMERS

The Kirehe District in Rwanda’s Eastern province was always

an ideal location for pineapple growing due to its healthy soils

and favorable climate. So, in 2005 a determined group of local

farmers formed the Tuzamurane Cooperative, which became

a pioneer in producing ready-to-eat dried pineapple for

export. There was just one major problem—at the time, no

clear market existed for the cooperative’s product and there

were not nearly enough buyers. Although the pineapples

could be produced on a large scale, many ended up going to

waste.

Tuzamurane, which loosely translates to “lifting each other up

in a brotherly spirit” in the native Kinyarwanda language,

already had a great product. But it was the Feed the Future-

funded USAID/Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural

Growth (PSDAG) project that helped give them an edge in

the market, providing a grant so that the cooperative could

co-invest in improved drying machines. PSDAG also helped

Tuzamurane obtain an international certification that has

increased buyers’ confidence in its products, making it more

competitive in export markets.

Jean Damascene Hakuzimana, a 35-year-old Tuzamurane

member, says that since it partnered with PSDAG in 2016, the

cooperative has become much stronger. ‘’With PSDAG

support, we have doubled our annual production from

[REDACTED] metric tons (t) of dried pineapples to

[REDACTED] t as of June 2017, By the end of 2017, we

expect to produce 12 t for the export market.”

In helping grow Tuzamurane’s business prospects and

marketability, PSDAG is also supporting all 133 cooperative

members, who can now bring in additional income to support

their families and reinvest in their farms. In 2016, a kilogram

(kg) of organic pineapples for processing was valued at $0.14

per kg; now, in 2017, that price has grown to $0.16 per kg.

The improved market for the pineapple products has also led

the cooperative to expand the organically certified land used

to produce its product. Tuzamurane has increased organically

certified farmland from [REDACTED] to [REDACTED]

hectares ([REDACTED] to [REDACTED] acres) in 2016, and

Hakuzimana says they hope to reach [REDACTED] hectares

([REDACTED] acres) over the next three years to keep up

with buyers’ growing demand.

“With PSDAG support, we have doubled our annual

production from [REDACTED] metric tons of dried

pineapples to [REDACTED] metric as of June 2017.”

- Jean Damascecne Hakuzimana, Tuzamurane

Cooperative President

June 8, 2017

Photos: ©

PSD


Increased market access and an improved pineapple-drying technology are transforming Kirehe farmers’ lives.

Above: An employee of the Tuzamurane Cooperative packages dried

pineaple for export.

Below: Cooperative founder Jean Damascecne Hakuzimana explains how

PSDAG support has helped improve the group’s processing plant.

Photos: ©

PSD

AG Project, Jennifer


Photos: ©

PSD


July 14, 2017

“Our partnership with the USAID/Rwanda PSDAG project has been

a game-changer.”

–Jon Porter, Founder & Managing Director of Masaka Creamery

Above: Maria, who was born deaf and previously experienced exclusion and

exploitation in Rwanda, has found success and opportunity at Masaka

Creamery. Below: Members of a local milk collection center provide a regular

source of high-quality milk to Masaka Creamery.

Maria’s eyes tell a story. It’s a tragic tale, but fortunately one with a

positive twist.

Born deaf in Kigali, Rwanda, Maria experienced discrimination and

exploitation from an early age. She suffered through a difficult life,

unable to communicate and taken advantage of at every turn. Then

Jon Porter, the owner of Rwanda’s Masaka Creamery dairy

processing plant, entered the picture.

“I came to know about Maria when I was working with a group that

helps rescue children from the streets,” Porter says. “I met three

children and later learned that they and their two siblings shared

the same mother. The two-year-old sister was extremely ill at the

time and had fallen into a coma. I wanted to help, so I asked to meet

the mother.”

When Porter met Maria, he saw that her challenging situation was

the origin of the circumstances surrounding her five children. “The

deaf are socially excluded in Rwandan society; it’s hard for them to

access things like education and basic services, and most of them

aren’t taught sign language. This is all made worse if they happen to

be women,” Porter explains.

Then, Porter had an idea: He decided to develop a sustainable

community of deaf workers at his company through intentional

hiring. Maria—who does not know her last name or exact age—is

now one of Masaka’s best performing employees.

“Today I am happy to say that Maria is on a path toward supporting

her family, has a community surrounding her, and is learning sign

language,” Porter says. Porter says it is his company’s policy to

demonstrate to the world and to Rwanda in particular that the deaf

can be just as productive and able as anyone else.

With support from the Feed the Future-funded USAID/Rwanda

Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) project,

Masaka Creamery—which sources ingredients directly from small

family-owned dairy farms, dairy cooperatives, and milk collection

centers—has since boosted its domestic sales by $[REDACTED],

increasing the incomes of 834 farmers (250 of them women) by

$[REDACTED]. This partnership is allowing Masaka to expand its

factory and establish a laboratory to improve product quality, as

well as provide extension services and training to local farmers. So

far, the company has made $[REDACTED] in new capital

investments to upgrade the factory’s milk processing. According to

Porter, “Our partnership with the USAID/Rwanda PSDAG project

has been a game-changer” for his growing business.

Asked if he has any advice for other businesses looking to be more

inclusive for people with disabilities, Porter reflects for a moment

and responds, “I’d like them to know that it’s a lot easier than you’d

think.”

A socially conscious Rwandan dairy company finds

innovative ways to foster change in its community.

CREAMERY EMPOWERS RWANDAN DEAF COMMUNITY THROUGH INCLUSIVE BUSINESS MODEL

Photos: ©

PSD


Photos: ©

PSD



ANNEX IX: FY2017 STTA – Q1 (OCT 2016 - DEC 2016)

Name Organization Project (Y/N) Title Purpose Travel Dates From/To SOW

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Performance Assessment Expert

Provide an institutional assessment of PSF’s Chamber of Agriculture

November- December 2016

US/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Logistics Expert

Development of a Commodity Aggregation Model for Rwanda

September- November 2016

Kenya/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Business Development Expert

Development of a Commodity Aggregation Model for Rwanda

N/A Paris Completed

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Advisor, M&E and Food Security

Consultation with PSDAG management and CA Team and other administrative matters for C1 staff

December 2016

DC/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Economist Assisted MINAGRI with SAIS concept note & budget preparation

N/A N/A

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Economist Helped with development of M&E for National Agribusiness Strategy

N/A N/A

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Public Private Dialogue and Advocacy Expert

Technical Assistance to pilot PPD process al local /district level

N/A N/A

[REDACTED]

Connexus Y Agriculture Finance STTA

To provide technical assistance to PSDAG in Asset based financing

December 3 – 16, 2016

Canada/Kigali Completed

PAGE | 130PSDAG FY 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2016–SEPT 30, 2017 | PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

mechanisms and value chain financing.

ANNEX X: FY2017 STTA – Q2 (JAN 2017 - MARCH 2017)


[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Capacity Needs Assessment Expert

Conduct a needs assessment for MINAGRI, NAEB, RDB and RPPDS

February – April 2017

UK/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED]




Italy/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Public Private Dialogue and Advocacy Expert

Technical Assistance to pilot PPD process al local /district level

N/A N/A Completed

[REDACTED] Crown Agents Y Business

Development Expert

Crown Agents Technical Backstopping

N/A Paris

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Economist Assisted MINAGRI with SAIS concept note & budget preparation; NAIPs

N/A N/A Completed

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Monitoring and Evaluation Expert

Support for M&E for NAIPS

N/A N/A

[REDACTED] Crown Agents Y Performance

Evaluation Specialist

Organizational assessment of RCAL of PSF

November 2016 and April 2017

USA/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED]

Catholic Relief Services

Y Agriculture & Markets Specialist

Support for Professionalization and Quality Management Systems for

January - February 2017



Producers and Aggregators


ANNEX XI: FY2017 STTA – Q3 (APRIL 2017 - JUNE 2017)


[REDACTED]




UK/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED]




Italy/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED] Crown Agents Y Business

Development Expert

Crown Agents Technical Backstopping

N/A Paris Completed

[REDACTED]

Crown Agents Y Economist Assisted MINAGRI with SAIS concept note & budget preparation; NAIPS

N/A N/A

[REDACTED] Crown Agents Y Monitoring and

Evaluation Expert Support for M&E for NAIPS

N/A N/A

[REDACTED] Crown Agents Y Performance

Evaluation Specialist

Organizational assessment of RCAL of PSF

November 2016 and April 2017


[REDACTED]

RTI Y Investment Promotion Expert for PSTA IV

Presented a case study on proactive investment promotion in Georgia

June 2017 USA/Kigali Completed

[REDACTED]

Connexus Corporation

Y Technical assistance on access to finance, cash flow analysis and product development

Technical assistance on access to finance, cash flow analysis and product development

April –July 31 USA/Kigali On-going


ANNEX XII: FY2017 STTA – Q4 (JULY - SEPTMBER 2017)


[REDACTED] Crown Agents Y Capacity Needs

Assessment Expert

Present the results of the Capacity Needs

Assessment and agree on the priority areas for training in

the pilot phases

MINAGRI, NAEB, RDB and RPPDS

September – December 2017

UK/Kigali On-going

[REDACTED] RTI Y Investment

Promotion Expert

Conduct a benchmarking exercises for Agribusiness

investment, prioritize agriculture

investment for profiling, develop

marketing materials, develop a joint action plan for investment attraction and after care and Capacity

Building of GOR staff involved in

investment attraction and after care,

September 2017- March

2018 USAI/Kigali On-going

[REDACTED] Crown Agents Y Economist

Assisted MINAGRI with SAIS concept

note & budget preparation; Assisted MINAGRI with SAIS implementation plan,

NAIPs mainstreaming in

PSTA4

N/A N/A Completed

[REDACTED] Crown Agents Y Monitoring and

Evaluation Expert

Support for M&E and Capacity Building for

NAIPS N/A N/A Completed



[REDACTED] Connexus Y Financial Specialist

Support for BRD Lending for Irrigated Production Schemes

August 7 – September 7

Uganda/Kigali

On-going

[REDACTED] Connexus Y Micro Finance

Specialist

Training KCB staff on lending to MFIs and

SACCOs


Kigali Completed

[REDACTED] Connexus Y

International Agriculture

Finance Consultant

Training KCB staff on lending to MFIs and

SACCOs



[REDACTED] CRS Y Senior Technical

Advisor

Support Cooperative Professional Activities –

development of BDS modules and

orientation of local service providers and

PSDAG staff`




ANNEX XIII: ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING REPORT

Partner Title of activity Activity site (District) ERR determination Mitigation measures Status of implementation during FYT7

AgriLift

Advanced Crop Monitoring for Smallholder Irish Potato Farmers

[REDACTED] Categorical exclusion

Only AgriLift to seek authorization from competent body each time they plan to fly over the potatoes fields

Flights for June/July 2017 authorized by Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority. One crop monitoring flight was conducted. AGRILIFT submitted to PSDAG a certificate of registration issued by Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority as RPAS 008/2016 of July 28, 2017.

ENAS Kirehe Grain Storage Facility

[REDACTED] Negative determination with conditions

Construction permit required

ENAS got construction permit from Kirehe District to constrict the foundation for the silos. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted and an investment clearance issued to ENAS by RDB.

Hollanda Fair Foods (HFF)

Manufacturing potato chips for a competitive potato sub-sector in Rwanda and beyond

[REDACTED] Negative determination with condition

The premises they are renting were constructed without an EIA. HFF is selling the used cooking oil to local community. PSDAG advised HFF to seek advice from Rwanda Standards Board related to food safety of the used cooking oil

HFF participated into a workshop facilitated by FAO on agro-enterprises sustainability. Subsequently, HFF is looking to formalize business partnership with a regular waste cooking oil collector (women cooperative). Under this formal contract arrangement, the women cooperative would buy 600 litres of waste oil for use in soap production.

Kigali Farms

Mushrooms: a high-value vegetable crop for export and nutrition

[REDACTED] Negative determination with conditions

The company has obtained both an approved EIA from RDB and construction permit. The company is currently providing services for threshing wheat to farmers to produce wheat straw which is used as substrate for button mushroom production.

The company plans to use potential project waste from greenhouses into compost and sell it to farmers for agricultural related activities. To control pests in mushroom growing rooms, Kigali Farms uses Formaldehyde to treat/ prevent Trichoderma disease. The company also uses sticking traps in each growing room for button mushrooms to attract and catch flies, a good integrated pest management (IPM) approach vis-a-vis use of pesticides.



Farmers are harvesting wheat by uprooting instead of cutting stem.

Workers at mushroom production plant in Musanze wear personal protective equipment (overall gown, gum boots, head cover, gloves, and regular mouth cover). But there are no masks to prevent eventual irritation caused by Formaldehyde. Project closed.

Sarura

Supporting maize and beans farmers’ access to high value Rwanda and regional markets through establishment of crops aggregation centers in Eastern and Southern Province, Rwanda


Sarura sometimes do apply residual pesticides or fumigants to contrail weevils in the stored commodities (beans and maize)

Project closed.

Potato Collection Centres (17)

Potatoes aggregation, sales and washing.Farmbook suite


All PCCs are to undertake potatoes aggregation, and sales. Out of 17, 11 PCCs were set to undertake value addition though potatoes washing or brushing. These 11 PCCs agreed with PSDAG to dig pit for disposal of water waste. No value addition operations have so far taken place.

No potato washing so far undertaken by supported PCCs.Farmers supplying the PCCs apply Dithane M 45/ Mancozeb and Rhidomil to control diseases. However, the number of spraying is extremely high. Spraying is done weekly and even two times during a week. Farmers spray thiodan to control aphids.Farmers have basic knowledge on use of pesticides but little on disposal of empty pesticides containers except the metallic ones that are collected for recycling. Level of use of personal protective equipment remains low (average 40%). Farmers in Burera District reported using a residual pesticide which is currently banned in Rwanda but outsourced from unknown sources.



Farm Fresh

Processed precooked beans for the middle-class consumer

[REDACTED]

Negative determination(s) with conditions* (After environmental review, activities determined to have no significant adverse impacts, given specified mitigation and monitoring*).

The packaging material used by Farm Fresh are made of flexible laminates (PET/AL/CPP) which are 100% biodegradable.

Farm Fresh contracted a professional rubbish collection company with experience to partner specifically with companies and do collect the processing waste from Farm Fresh facilities on weekly basis

PEBEC

Farming and export of chili pepper, Variety “Birds eye Chili”.

[REDACTED]


Fumigation to be undertaken by a pesticide spraying service with well trained technicians

Two fumigations were conducted by Agrotech, a local company specialized in import and distribution of agrochemicals. The company has well trained staff in charge of fumigation services. The fumigated commodity is dried eye bird chili for export stored in cocoons at PEBEC site in Nyarugunga sub locality of Kicukiro District. Changed service provider from Agrotech to Afrochem for fumigation services. During April-June, 4 containers of 6 t each were fumigated using phosphine.Fumigant is provided by the spraying service provider.Exports of dried eye bird chili is extended to the Netherlands.

Shekina

Strengthening Cassava Leaves Value Chain in Rulindo District


The supplier of fire wood cuts trees upon permit for harvest issued by the District

Shekina has started operating the equipment purchased with PSDAG support. They outsource cassava leaves from 5 women's cooperatives. Cassava leaves are produced organically with no pesticides. Currently, an average annual cost of RWF 20 million for fire wood consumption is incurred by Shekina while re-using waste from cassava leaves is potentially higher source of renewable energy. Shekina is considering investing in greening their processing plant by investing in



sustainable energy. The company has drafted a proposal for briquettes production from cassava steam waste and is in process of mobilizing funds to support this greening initiative. Shekina has acquired special permission from REMA to use plastic lining into regular packaging material for new products 'Domiano instant beef cassava leaves’, developed with PSDAG support.

INES

Increasing the quantity and quality in potato seeds value chain in Northern & Southern Provinces of Rwanda

Categorical exclusion

No mitigation measures are recommended. However, once production in screen houses takes place, workers should wear PPE especially when handling pesticides to control diseases

INES has constructed the screen house and production of mini tubers has started. Seed production related activities will all take place within protected and controlled environment (laboratory and greenhouses) and have no direct connection with outside environment. There exists a disposal system for waste generated from laboratory consumables.

Tuzamurane Cooperative

Dried Organic pineapples

Categorical exclusion

No mitigation measures are recommended

Tuzamurane is certified organic and required not to use pesticides in its production processes. The certificate was renewed in January 2017 for one year by international certifying body 'Control Union".

Agroplast Manufacturing of net bags for potatoes

[REDACTED]


Agroplast was issued by RDB an Environmental Impact Assessment certificate on March 16, 2016 for the construction and operation of plastic factory recycling with the objective to produce plastic items such as the net bags, tubing, sheeting, trash bags & fencing nets. It reads

The company was recommended to relocate its current activity site to Gahanga economic zone also in Kicukiro sector. The company got construction permit for the plot in Gahanga Economic Zone Recycling is still taking place at the initial site as the company is still working on utilities to be developed by the City of Kigali such as water, electricity and road access. Agroplast has organized plastic collection centres around the city and



"the Environmental Assessment Statement (EIS) has been submitted in accordance with the laws and regulations related to the requirements and procedures for environmental assessment in Rwanda and has been reviewed and found to have sufficient and relevant mitigation measures to the identified likely impacts of the project on the environment".

have engaged business partnerships with four collectors. The net sacks produced through plastic recycling will be used to pack potatoes and vegetables such as onions. The company will mainly use harvested rain water to wash collected plastic prior to its processing. They plan to construct a processing water recycling system for reuse cutting down factory operation costs.

E & Foods

Empowering smallholder Vegetables Farmers through access to Market and new technologies

[REDACTED] Categorical exclusion / Very low risk

Water for use in irrigation site from Rwanda Water and Sanitation Corporation water supply pipe and stored in water tank with the volume of 5m3.

The company has started irrigation and green house production activities including with outgrower farmers.

Norlega

Improving the supply and the quality of macadamia nuts


Suppliers of fire wood to harvest trees upon permission by local authorities

Norlega used 50 t of fire wood as biofuel and also produced 50 kg of briquettes. NORELGA plans to substitute briquettes to the use of fire wood. The company has identified talented stoves makers in Uganda and Kenya and negotiations are underway to enable Norlega produce stoves for briquettes use at the factory and at household level targeting neighbouring communities.This innovative initiative is a good element in promotion of greening agro-processing enterprises in Rwanda. By substituting briquettes for firewood, Norlega will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases and reduce the pressure on forests.



Masaka Creamery

Development of Innovative Dairy Processor


The proposed activity site is in Gasabo District. The applicant got a construction permit issued by the District for the laboratories and factory extension. Rain water to be harvested and stored in a tank but they do also use piped water from WASAC. They have a domestic sewage system where waste water is disposed. Once they start processing cheese, waste products will use as feed for pigs.

Milk processing wastes are channelled in existing sewage system.

Ndiyo Chips Ndiyo Chips upgrading project


Packaging material that will be used should be 100% biodegradable, unless the company has received a waiver from REMA. Used cooking oil will be used as fuel for the new generator that is being purchased by the company. There is a nearby swamp and there is a risk of waste water/ sewage slippage into that swamp.

An Environmental Clearance Letter No RDB/EC/110/02/17 of February 27, 2017 was issued by RDB to NDIYO Chips Group. The company is looking into relocating the plant in the economic zone to benefit from GOR incentives with the new tariffs on utilities such as electricity. The company purchased a soap making machine that will be used to process used oil into soap.

Green Harvest

Automate and Conformity Certification of SABANA for International market

Categorical exclusion / Very low risk

The grantee will acquire required renovation/construction permits. The water is available at the project site and it is being supplied from WASAC. No huge waste anticipated to be generated from this

Instead of renovating the current premises, Green Harvest shifted to construction of new premise in Marembe/ Rulindo District Following another environmental screening conducted on Marembe site, the company was asked to regularize compliance for construction permit with Rulindo District and have RDB/REMA



activity. However, the grantee has concluded arrangements with company specialized in garbage collection and disposal on weekly basis from processing plant.

conduct an environmental impact assessment for investment clearance.

Agasaro Organic Ltd

Extension of pineapple processing factory


The processing wastes made exclusively of organic matters are to be disposed into a pit for composting.

The company is planning to make expansion of the factory. An Environmental Impact Assessment certificate was issued by RDB on July 22, 2016 (No RDB/3/EC/089/07/2016) for the proposed expansion and operation of a pineapple processing factory to be established on plot 2312 in Nyanza cell, Bushekeri sector, Nyamasheke District.

Green Systems Africa

More Maize Per Drop (MMPD


Following consultations with RDB/EIA, Green Systems Ltd made the decision to only use Gashora WASAC water for their demo plot not exceeding 1 ha.If required, future EIA applications will be made by the land owners (cooperatives or individual farmers).In the case of the project's demo plot, Green Systems is using it to support its services (marketing and capacity building) to farmers.For the duration of the grant activity, the demo plot is made available to Green Systems Ltd by

At early stage of project implementation



Bugesera Agri Business Company Ltd.

N-Frnds

N-Frnds Mobile Agriculture ICT Platform and Young Entrepreneurs


N/A N/A


ANNEX XIV: MAP OF PSDAG PROJECT INTERVENTIONS [REDACTED]


ANNEX XV: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding - KCB

[REDACTED]

PRIVILEDGED AND CONFIDENTIAL


ANNEX XVI: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding - BRD

• [REDACTED]


ANNEX XVII: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding - PSF

[REDACTED]


ANNEX XVIII: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding – KUMWE Logistics

[REDACTED]



ANNEX XIX: PSDAG Memorandum and Understanding – RDB

[REDACTED]


ANNEX I: Activities for FY2017/FY2018

Planned activities include the following: 1. Improve Investment Promotion Activities and Marketing Materials and

2. The Development of Agriculture Investment Handbook

3. The Development of Agriculture Investment Databank

4. Land Profiling for Commercial Farming

Detailed scopes of work and project descriptions are included in subsequent annexes

RDB staff may also be asked to participate and provide feedback during other activities, such as:

1. The National Agribusiness Strategy, Implementation and Capacity Building 2. Agriculture Land Information System – Phase 1 and Phase 2 3. Agriculture Land Use and Management Guidelines 4. Evidence-Based Policy Analysis 5. Piloting of National and District-Level PPD Processes

6. Supporting the Rwanda Public Private Dialogue Secretariat

7. Investment Opportunity Analysis

8. Capacity Building Assessment

9. Implementation of Capacity Building Plans


Annex II: Scope of Work – Investment Promotion Specialist for 1. Improve Investment Promotion Activities and Marketing Materials Title: Investment Promotion Specialist Estimated LOE: 120 days; July 2017, up to September 2018 Location of Service: Kigali, Rwanda with travel to the field as needed General Background: Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSDAG) is a five-year Feed the Future project funded by USAID and implemented by International Resources Group, a subsidiary to Research Triangle Institute. The project was created in line with Government of Rwanda (GOR) targets and aims to develop a strategic partnership between the Rwandan public and private sectors to improve the conditions for investment mobilization and to create more economic opportunity for smallholder farmers through increased value chain market integration.The project’s principle objectives include: • Objective 1: Assisting the Government of Rwandan (GOR) to Attract and Increase

Private Sector Investment

• Objective 2: Facilitating Increased Private Sector Investment by Upgrading Agricultural Value Chains

Under Objective 1, PSDAG supports the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the country’s primary Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) to improve strategy and implementation of attracting more private sector investment in the agriculture sector. In late 2016, PSDAG began negotiation with RDB on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The proposed MOU requested the assistance with the following:

1. Improve Investment Promotion Activities and Marketing Materials and Activities 2. The Development of Agriculture Investment Handbook 3. The Development of Agriculture Investment Databank 4. Land Profiling for Commercial Farming

This scope of work deals specifically with #1, with some consultation on #2 and #3. Rationale: In 2012, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) embarked on an exercise of creating investment opportunity profiles in each sector. In addition, a roadmap for agribusiness investment facilitation and process was developed. The roadmap details the agriculture investment process from the perspective of RDB, mapping processes, information gathering, evaluation, decision to invest, implementation and aftercare. During the process over 19 investment opportunities were identified and eight turnaround programs developed. In addition to these profiles, four specific business plan (cases) were also developed. However, the information related to these opportunities which is provided on promotion materials such as pagers and others is outdated and unrealistic while some opportunities could have been taken by investors and as such these are not valuable for investment attraction. The following 19 investment opportunities were profiled in 2012 and are still displayed on RDB website: Investment Opportunities

1. High value Horticulture processing


2. Kigali Whole Sale Market(KWSM)

3. Investment Opportunities in Essential oils, Potato processing, Avocado export, Beans processing, Fertilizer distribution, Coffee, Tea, High value Horticulture processing

4. Soya bean production

5. Maize production and processing

6. Meat processing

7. Wheat production and processing

8. Rice production and processing

9. Seed production

10. Irrigation and Mechanization projects

11. Coffee: production, washing, roasting and packaging

12. Green fields for tea production and processing focusing on speciality tea

13. Sugar cane production and processing

14. Fishery, aquaculture and animal feed production

15. Floriculture

16. Dairy processing

17. Silk development

18. Stevia production and processing

19. Honey production and processing

The eight turnaround programs that were developed included the following:

1. Ikirezi Investment Brief, 2. New Rucep Investment Brief, 3. RABI Investment Brief, 4. Rubilizi Investment Brief, 5. Sonafruits Investment Brief, 6. Sopar Investment Brief, 7. Sotiru Investment Brief, and 8. Utexrwa Investment Brief.

The four business cases developed included the following:

1. Bean Processing for Export, 2. Power Tiller Assembly Plant, 3. Rwanda Fertilizer Import and Distribution and 4. Rwanda Avocado Packaging and Export.

Since 2012 there has been no update made to these investment profiles even though some opportunities could have been taken or new ones emerged. Additionally, for the last five years, feedback from potential investors about the existing profiles was that the market


and investment opportunity presented was too general for a specific commodity or subsector. As such the profiles were not useful as they lacked some key data and information on the sub-sector or the commodity industry and the available data was outdated. It is now well known that Rwanda offers a conducive business environment and has consistently ranked high on The World Bank’s ‘Doing Business’ reports. In the last few years, RDB has therefore been mostly reactive to increasing requests by interested investors. RDB is therefore interested in improving both its investment promotion targeting strategy and the information provided that is more useful for attracting investors. Updated information will then be included in a Rwanda Agriculture Investment Handbook (a separate project supported by PSDAG.) RDB proposes to engage PSDAG and GOR institutional partners, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs (MINEACOM) in a collaborative effort to gather the necessary information and prepare new materials. It is intended that support from PSDAG would provide mentorship and guidance in this process. PSDAG would design at least one promotional material that would then be used as a model. RDB staff would develop any remaining materials.

Objective: The purpose of this consultancy is to provide support to the PSDAG project to assist RDB and other relevant GOR ministries and agencies in enhancing and formalizing a proactive, targeted investment promotion strategy framework, with specific investment promotion activities for a final short-list of attractive investment opportunities, including the identification of each investment opportunity’s unique value proposition for potential investors (i.e., level of attraction).The consultancy will assist RDB with the development of one set of promotion materials for one identified and improved investment opportunity, and provide mentorship to RDB in the development of any remaining opportunities through September 2018.

Specific Tasks: The Investment Promotion Specialist will be responsible for leading and implementing the following activities in support of PSDAG:

1. Finalize joint project Action Plan with RDB for the implementation of the agreed upon activities in the MOU.

2. (Optional) Conduct short working sessions meant to develop collaboration in proactive investment promotion methodology and practical activities for representatives of the RDB, MINAGRI, NAEB, (MINEACOM optional), and other relevant stakeholders. This should build upon previous training and capacity building already implemented by other developing partners.

3. Facilitate the development of a joint action plan between GOR stakeholders to contribute to the investment promotion strategy development processes, identifying clear roles and responsibilities for each relevant stakeholder.

4. Facilitate the compilation of all available macroeconomic, legal, market, and trade statistics and data covering the current lists of agricultural investment opportunities, turnaround programs, and business cases currently being promoted by RDB (Note: if the statistics and data are not available, the Consultant should collaborate with


GOR representatives to collect the data through brief surveys or interviews with relevant public and/or private stakeholders or use proxy data).

5. Conduct a working group with GOR stakeholders to assess and sort the compiled data to identify gaps, outstanding needs, and create a working dataset for analysing and benchmarking the attractiveness of specific investment opportunities.

6. Based on current market data and trends, advise and support GOR stakeholders in creating a short-list of agricultural investment opportunities or attractive agricultural sectors and sub-sectors, which will subsequently be benchmarked and assessed to determine their unique value propositions

7. Facilitate and support GOR stakeholders in conducting benchmarking analyses of key cost and revenue drivers related to the short-listed investment opportunities through comparisons with the same drivers in comparator and competitor countries to identify and gauge the opportunities’ level of attraction to different investors and to inform the development of unique value proposition.

8. Advise and support GOR stakeholders on the formulation of a final list of investment opportunities to promote proactively within a customized, targeted investment promotion strategy.

9. Facilitate and support GOR stakeholders on developing specific action plans and promotional strategies for each of the final investment opportunities.

10. Facilitate and support GOR stakeholders in creating clear profiles of potential investors and creating targeted lists of firms, business associations, and individuals for outreach purposed for each of the final investment opportunities.

11. Support and provide direct leadership in developing at least one set of promotional materials, with continued support and advice to GOR stakeholders in completing promotional materials for all remaining investment opportunities.

12. Following the initial program development stage, provide ongoing support and advise to GOR stakeholders in the implementation of the investment promotion strategies, making recommendations on any revisions, updates, and/or modifications to the investment promotion strategies and/or promotional materials.

13. Provide mentorship and ongoing consultation to PSDAG and GOR representatives in implementing the investment promotion strategies and development of additional promotional materials.

14. Advise PSDAG and other consultants on content and implementation of the Rwanda Agriculture Investment Handbook and Databank.

15. Other tasks as assigned by the PSDAG Chief of Party. Illustrative Deliverables and Timeline:

Deliverable Description Timeline 1. Presentation materials

for GOR stakeholders’ investment promotion methodology.

PowerPoint slides and brief report on agreed upon methodology to be.

2-3 weeks after the assignment begins

2. Brief report on the GOR’s joint action plan to promote agricultural investments.

Word document outlining the agreed upon roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.

1-2 months after the assignment begins

3. Report on results of the benchmarking analysis.

Word document outlining the results of the benchmarking analysis with

2-3 months after the


competitor and comparator countries.

assignment begins

4. Report on individual promotional strategies for specific investment opportunities.

Word document outlining the promotional strategies to be implemented by the GOR.

3-4 months after the assignment begins

5. At least one promotional material for a specific investment opportunity.

PDF document(s) of the promotion material developed for one investment opportunity

4 months after the assignment begins

6. Trip reports Word document outlining the support, advice, and/or training provided to PSDAG or GOR representatives during each trip conducted within this assignment.

1 week following each trip to Kigali

Note that as the consultant gathers information and feedback to carry out this assignment, specific tasks may change, subject to approval by the PSDAG Chief of Party. Minimum Qualifications

• Post Graduate (Masters or PhD) qualification in business and investment, economic development, economics, agribusiness, or other related fields;

• Not less than 10 years’ international experience, especially in investment promotion and facilitation in the agriculture sector in developing countries;

• Significant experience in business coaching and mentorship;

• Excellent understanding of value chain issues, abilities to seize business opportunities from the identified weaknesses in the value chain especially in the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors.

• Knowledge of agricultural sector in Rwanda, a plus;

• Previous experience working with development partners such as the World Bank, the USAID, and other similar international reputable organizations, a plus.

• Fluency in English required; knowledge of French and Kinyarwanda will be an advantage

Supervision The Investment Promotion Specialist will work under the supervision of the PSDAG COP or her designee.

Annex III: Scope of Work – 2. Firm for The Development of Agriculture Investment Handbook

General Background: Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) Project is a five year “Feed the Future” project funded by USAID and implemented by ENGILITY Corporation/IRG.


The project was created in line with the Government of Rwanda (GoR) with the aim of developing a strategic partnership between the Rwandan public and private sectors to improve conditions for investment mobilization and to create more economic opportunities for smallholder farmers through increased value chain market integration.The project’s principal objectives include:

Objective 1: Assisting the GoR to attract and increase private sector investment; and Objective 2: Facilitating the increase of private sector investment by upgrading agricultural value chains.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) of Rwanda, with the support from PSDAG, are actively seeking to improve agricultural investment processes, for both small and large scale agricultural investments. One of the key issues, however, is to clearly indicate to a potential investor the processes and institutions involved in the agriculture investment process. These processes include, but are not limited to registering for an investment certificate, accessing land on which to operate, and applying for environmental impact assessments.

PSDAG is therefore supporting MINAGRI to develop an Agriculture Investment Handbook, which will facilitate agricultural investment by. It will also show the various public entities that have a role to play in facilitating these investments. Such roles will be clearly defined, as well as the timelines within which the services should be rendered to the prospective investor.

Objective

PSDAG is requesting proposals from qualified, professional service providers for the provision of services to develop Rwanda’s Agriculture Investment Handbook. The Handbook is expected to show all key players in investment promotion, their roles in facilitating investment, as well as detailing all the processes that a prospective investor needs to go through before the actual investment takes root in Rwanda. It will also show all levies and fees (where necessary), how, why and where they are paid. In other words, the handbook will provide all relevant information that potential investors in the agriculture sector will need to make informed investment decisions and to assist them with solving issues that require government of Rwanda services.

Specific Tasks

The selected vendor will perform the following tasks in preparing the Agriculture Investment Handbook:

• Review the following documents, among other relevant ones:

• The Agribusiness Investment Facilitation Roadmap (2013), RDB

• The Agriculture Investment Handbook “Outline” prepared by MINAGRI’s Investment Support Unit (ISU)

• Simplification of Roadmap for Agribusiness Investment Facilitation (2015), PSDAG

• The Investment Promotion Information Package, RDB

• The Investors’ Guide, MINAGRI website

• The 2015 Investment Code


• The Business Registration Processes, RDB

• The draft Public Private Partnership law and processes and Privatization law and processes

• Other relevant documents and website information from MINAGRI, RDB, Ministry of Trade and East African Community Affairs (MINEACOM) and MINALOC

2. Prepare a draft Agriculture Investment Handbook, including content, layout, graphics and tables. 3. Share the draft document with PSDAG and other stakeholders for input. 4. Revise the draft document, incorporating stakeholder input. 5. Make recommendations, including best medium for publishing to the public (print, web, radio, etc.), how the information should be updated and by which institution and how agriculture investment promotion material can be harmonized across the major institutions involved. 6. Create guidelines and best practices for updating the information, which will be used by institutional staff. 7. Submit final draft and recommendations to PSDAG and other stakeholders for endorsement. 8. Build capacity of institutional staff identified to update information based on recommendations and guidelines developed.

Deliverables and Expected Timeline

Deliverable:

1. Agriculture Investment Handbook in editable Word format. Graphic and table files in their respective software formats.

2. Final report outlining successes and challenges, recommendations, and guidelines and best practices.

Timeline:

It is expected that the project will not exceed 6 weeks from inception. Offerors must submit a detailed project activity timeline.

Requirements:

IRG anticipates issuing a subcontract to an international or local company or organization that has the ability to fulfil minimum requirements and submit a complete proposal. While IRG will provide the Subcontractor with a letter of invitation, it will be the responsibility of the Subcontractor to obtain all related travel documentation such as visas, vaccinations, etc. To be considered eligible for consideration in response to this solicitation, the following criteria are considered essential.

a) Firms operating as commercial companies or other organizations or enterprises (including nonprofit organizations) in which foreign governments or their agents or agencies have a controlling interest are not eligible as suppliers of commodities and services.


b) Must be a corporation registered in one of the following countries:

1) USA 2) Rwanda 3) One of the developing countries listed at

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1876/310maa.pdf

In addition to the above mandatory criteria, IRG also expects the Offeror to have the following profile:

a) Members of proposed project team responsible for the content of the handbook must have prior experience in business and investment promotion activities in Rwanda. Prior experience in agribusiness investment preferred;

b) Prior experience working with government of Rwanda institutions such as MINAGRI, RDB, MINICOM, MININFRA, and MINIRENA preferred.

c) Members of proposed project team responsible for graphic design must have prior experience in preparing similar documents such as professional project reports, books, journals or other related publications. This will be demonstrated by examples of the work done and references from clients.

d) Members of proposed project team must have relevant academic qualifications (e.g. Business Administration, Economics, Graphic Design, Journalism, Media Studies, Mass Communication or other related courses.

e) Members of proposed project team must speak, read, and write English fluently. French and Kinyarwanda a plus.


Annex IV: Scope of Work – 3. Firm for the Development of Agriculture Investment Databank

General Background: Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) Project is a five year “Feed the Future” project funded by USAID and implemented by International Resources Group, a subsidiary of Research Triangle Institute. The project was created in line with the Government of Rwanda (GOR) with the aim of developing a strategic partnership between the Rwandan public and private sectors to improve conditions for investment mobilization and to create more economic opportunities for smallholder farmers through increased value chain market integration.The project’s principal objectives include:

Objective 1: Assisting the GoR to attract and increase private sector investment; and Objective 2: Facilitating the increase of private sector investment by upgrading agricultural value chains. The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) of Rwanda, with the support from PSDAG, are actively seeking to improve agricultural investment processes, for both small and large scale agricultural investments. Lack of accurate and easy to access data, such as local production and trade estimates, continues to be a constraint for potential investors in making informed investment decisions. Data collection for agriculture is conducted by several GOR institutions and some private and development organizations. Some institutions focus on macro data while others target micro data related to specific value chains. Sometimes these data contradict each other and it is increasingly becoming difficult to collect, analyse and consolidate data into meaningful figures to inform investors or decision makers. Therefore, creation of a central data bank which will house data from different institutions engaged in data collection will enable MINAGRI, RDB and other institutions that use agriculture data for different purposes to accomplish their duties. This will reduce the time it normally takes to collect data from different organizations thus increasing service delivery particularly investment promotion in RDB. PSDAG will support MINAGRI and RDB to create a central databank to facilitate agriculture investment activities.

Objective

PSDAG is requesting proposals from qualified, professional service providers for the provision of services to develop Rwanda’s Agriculture Databank that both archives and links to the most up to date agriculture data frequently sought by investors. Information accessible through the databank may include links to agriculture statistics, trade data, current policies and strategies, publicly available feasibility and value chain studies, and pipeline of current investment opportunities.The databank is intended to be available to the public through the relevant GOR websites, though institutions may reserve portions of the databank for internal use only at their discretion. It is intended that the lead GOR institution housing the databank will maintain it. The selected vendor or consultants will need to develop the sustainability and capacity building plan as part of their deliverables.

Specific Tasks

The selected vendor will perform the following tasks in preparing the Agriculture Investment Databank:


1. Consult GOR, developing partners, and institutions, such as the Private Sector Federation, and private sector businesses to gather a list of all data and documents that should be housed in a centralized databank that would be useful for agriculture investment purposes. An illustrative and minimum list of entities to consult is as follows:

• Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI);

• The National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB);

• The Rwandan Development Board (NAEB);

• The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR);

• The Ministry of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs (MINEACOM);

• The Private Sector Federation (PSF);

2. Through consultation process, make recommendations for the core institution(s) that

will ‘own and manage’ the databank and ensure official buy-in of Sr. Management of the institution(s).

3. Prepare a draft design of the architecture and maintenance of the databank. Databank should be online and dynamic, integrating information from various sources that should be updated over time, and should utilize existing systems and human capital resources. Firms should propose technology options based on existing systems. A final design should consider the following, at a minimum:

• System development – include personnel and roles and responsibilities, system engineering life cycle activities, technology, support services and training.

• System maintenance - include personnel and roles and responsibilities, system engineering life cycle activities, technology, support services and training.

• Interoperability - the ability of two or more systems (or components of a system) to communicate and send/receive data via a common set of industrial standards supported by the interoperating systems without changes.

• Integration - the effort of putting together two or more systems (or components of a system) to work together as a unit to provide a specified function or service.

• Site/logistics information. • Capability - the ability of the procured items to perform or provide the specified

business operation functions to enable attainment of the specified business goals. It also considers underlying infrastructure dependencies.

• Cost effectiveness, including a bill of quantities • IT Security.

4. Validate draft design with USAID, PSDAG and other stakeholders. Revise the draft

design, incorporating stakeholder input. 5. Implement design plan, including development of databank and training of associated

personnel in development and maintenance. 6. Test beta versions of the databank with stakeholders. Based on feedback, implement

upgrades before official publishing. 7. Prepare interim reports at each stage. 8. Submit final report to PSDAG and other stakeholders for endorsement.


Deliverables and Expected Timeline

Deliverable:

1. Agriculture Investment Databank design in editable Word format. Graphic and table files in their respective software formats.

2. Agriculture Investment Databank, tested and published online.

3. Final report outlining successes and challenges, recommendations, and guidelines and best practices.

Timeline:

It is expected that the project will not exceed three months from inception. Offerors must submit a detailed project activity timeline.

Requirements:

IRG anticipates issuing a subcontract to an international or local company or organization that has the ability to fulfill minimum requirements and submit a complete proposal. While IRG will provide the Subcontractor with a letter of invitation, it will be the responsibility of the Subcontractor to obtain all related travel documentation such as visas, vaccinations, etc.

To be considered eligible for consideration in response to this solicitation, the following criteria are considered essential.

1. Firms operating as commercial companies or other organizations or enterprises (including nonprofit organizations) in which foreign governments or their agents or agencies have a controlling interest are not eligible as suppliers of commodities and services.

2. Must be a corporation registered in one of the following countries:

a) USA b) Rwanda c) One of the developing countries listed at

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1876/310maa.pdf

In addition to the above mandatory criteria, IRG also expects the Offeror to have the following profile:

1. Members of proposed project team must have prior experience in developing management information or similar online databank systems;

2. Members of proposed project team must have relevant academic qualifications (e.g. software development, computer science, management information systems, programming);

3. Developer firm must have developed similar systems. This will be demonstrated by examples of the work done and references from clients.

4. Prior experience working with government of Rwanda institutions such as MINAGRI, RDB, MINEACOM,PSR preferred.

5. Members of proposed project team must speak, read, and write English fluently. French and Kinyarwanda a plus.

Annex V: Project Description - Land Profiling for Commercial Farming General Background:


Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) Project is a five year “Feed the Future” project funded by USAID and implemented by International Resources Group, a subsidiary of Research Triangle Institute. The project was created in line with the Government of Rwanda (GOR) with the aim of developing a strategic partnership between the Rwandan public and private sectors to improve conditions for investment mobilization and to create more economic opportunities for smallholder farmers through increased value chain market integration.The project’s principal objectives include:

Objective 1: Assisting the GoR to attract and increase private sector investment; and Objective 2: Facilitating the increase of private sector investment by upgrading agricultural value chains.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) of Rwanda, with the support from PSDAG, are actively seeking to improve agricultural investment processes, for both small and large scale agricultural investments.

1) Background

Rwanda is a small, landlocked country with a population of 11 million, projected to be 13 million by 2020. Agriculture is a key element of the economy of Rwanda, accounting for 33.3% of GDP in 2013. Land is a finite constraint, and the mountainous topography of the country means that there are only 1.5 million ha of available arable land. Agricultural land plots are very small (80% are less than 1 ha), and over 70% of agricultural land is either on hills or on the side of hills. Because about 80% of the population of Rwanda lives in rural areas and is engaged in agriculture to some extent, finding ways to increase agricultural productivity is seen as the key to reducing poverty. The government of Rwanda (GoR) has therefore made agricultural development a priority and allocated significant resources to improving productivity, expanding the livestock sector, promoting sustainable land management, and developing supply chains and value-added activities.

While the overall aim of Vision 2020 is to diversify economic activities, agriculture is still recognized as the backbone of Rwanda’s economy. Therefore, it follows that PSTA-3 goals are to transform Rwandan agriculture from a subsistence sector to a market-orientated, value-creating sector; and to grow as rapidly as possible in terms of both production and commercialization to increase rural income and reduce poverty.

The Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) considers private investment in agriculture as one of the methods to achieve increased agricultural productivity, food security, and increased agricultural export production. Access to land for private investment is a primary barrier. MINAGRI is the custodian of all public marshlands set aside for agriculture. The ministry is also mandated to manage and monitor optimal use of all private land demarcated for agriculture. Over the past few years, agribusiness investors have found the process for finding both public and private land available for investment lengthy and therefore costly. At the same time MINAGRI has found it challenging to efficiently plan and monitor the progress of nation-wide public agricultural investments such as the Crop Intensification. Much geospatial information exists regarding publicly funded projects, but data resides in scattered sources and is not necessarily consolidated in a manner that makes planning efficient. In addition, gathering information to inform GoR monitoring of and emergency responses to the effects of climate change often involves costly and time-consuming physical verification trips to the field.


2) Objective As a sector, agriculture is ideally suited for the application of GIS. Agriculture is an inherently geographical activity, based on spatial distribution, and the ability to visualise information makes it easier to interpret data that might otherwise be difficult to manage. Planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating activities in the sector is dependent on accurate and up-to-date data and the application of GIS is ideally suited to these applications. It also facilitates effective communication of results and can enable the delivery of services to other government agencies, businesses and the general public.

With this in mind, MINAGRI developed a tool, the Agriculture Land Information System (ALIS), to access information regarding public and private land available for agricultural public planning and private investment opportunities. Specifically, the purpose for the development of the tool are to:

• Increase the amount of private sector investment in agriculture; • Optimize land use by private sector; • Consolidate existing data, improve data quality and accessibility; • Improve MINAGRI monitoring, planning, and response time.

3) The Innovation

The ALIS system consolidates existing geo-spatial and static data gathered by GoR regarding parcels demarcated for agriculture use into on back-end database. The system dynamically integrates other online databases currently held by other institutions such as the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority (RNRA), and the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA). Select information is then published to an online, globally accessible platform called the Investor Application (see http://www.minagri.gov.rw/investorapp/). Through this application, investors can query the database to find parcels that meet minimum size, location, elevation, and/or land category parameters. A list of matching parcels is returned and a geospatial map from which layers of information regarding the parcel such as general soil type, land suitability, current land use, proximity to roads, water sources, warehouses and other infrastructure, and general agro-climatic conditions can then be displayed. Investors can narrow down their search to parcels that are appropriate to their proposed investment opportunity and send a request to the MINAGRI Investment Support Unit to inquire about the availability and process for leasing the land.

Beyond the applicability to potential investors’ needs, MINAGRI is able to use the database to visually display the locations of public investment projects (e.g. locations of warehouses, markets, roads, and irrigation and terracing projects) in relation to each other. The database is dynamic and should be updated and expanded as more relevant data becomes available. For example, in the next six months, data related to 6 million private agriculture parcels and historical climate data will be added to the back-end database. Additional applications, such as a MINAGRI Planning and Management Application, will be created that suit the data needs of specific users.

4) Results Achieved to Date

The Investor Application of ALIS was launched to the public in October 2016. So far, investors have found that time to locate information regarding appropriate public land available for lease has been greatly reduced. Because investors are able to access information quickly and narrow down search results, it also reduces transaction costs of


physically visiting potential sites. MINAGRI management has also seen the potential of the system to drastically improve their ability plan their own public investments.

That being said, there are upgrades to be made to improve the ease of use as well as the quality of information in the system. In the short to medium term, PSDAG will support MINAGRI to conduct the following:

i) Add information regarding private sector parcels demarcated for agriculture; ii) Link to improved weather information for agriculture; iii) Providing technical assistance to dynamically profile public agriculture land

available for lease or sublease; iv) Establish public and transparent Land Use and Management Guidelines - a

process for communicating public and private investment opportunities concerning agriculture land, something that currently does not formally exist.

ALIS and the related Investor Application will be used as a tool for MINAGRI to collaborate with the Rwandan Development Board (RDB) to locate blocks of commercially viable land for private sector investment. RDB, with the help of PSDAG, will work closely with MINAGRI, NAEB, and MINEACOM RDB under Activity #1, Improve Investment Promotion Activities and Marketing Materials, to generate new and improved investment opportunities to sell to a target market. Based on the nature of those investment opportunities (i.e. specific value chains or ancillary businesses), MINAGRI will use data from ALIS and the Investor Application to help RDB locate the blocks of commercially viable land that are suitable for those opportunities. Investment promotion and facilitation staff from RDB and MINAGRI’s Investment Support Unit will both be trained on how to use the information to support the investment promotion process.


ANNEX VI: Scope of Work for RDB Embedded Investment Advisor

Title: Embedded Investment Advisor in Rwanda Development Board Estimated LOE: Long-term34 Location of Service: Kigali, Rwanda with travel to the field General Background: Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSD-AG) is a five-year Feed the Future project funded by USAID and implemented by ENGILITY Corporation/IRG. The project was created in line with Government of Rwanda (GoR) targets and aims to develop a strategic partnership between the Rwandan public and private sectors to improve the conditions for investment mobilization and to create more economic opportunity for smallholder farmers through increased value chain market integration. The project’s principle objectives include:

• Objective 1: Assisting the Government of Rwandan (GoR) to Attract and Increase Private Sector Investment

• Objective 2: Facilitating Increased Private Sector Investment by Upgrading Agricultural Value Chains

Objective 1 will include the development and implementation of a clear roadmap for attracting and supporting private investment, including clear definition of roles and responsibilities within the GoR to improve the enabling environment and work with potential investors from their expression of investment interest to the implementation of the investment. Objective Under the supervision of the Senior Policy and Institutional Development Specialist the Embedded Investment Advisor (EIA)/Rwanda Development Board (RDB) will work collegially with the EAI/Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the Policy Support/Public Private Dialogue (PS/PPD) Advisor and other PSDAG team members in contributing to achievement of PSDAG Development Objective 1: To assist the Government of Rwanda to increase private sector investment. Achieving Development Objective 1 will require development of a GoR agriculture and agribusiness investment framework. The framework will define GoR agency roles and responsibilities with a priority focus on the MINAGRI, RDB and Ministry of Commerce (MINICOM). Additional support will be provided to other national and provincial government agencies when appropriate. The framework’s overall intent is to structure and develop GoR capacity to attract and support successful private investment in agriculture and agribusiness. The investment framework will also contribute to an improved business enabling environment that reflects frequent and informed public and private sector dialogue. Specific Tasks Specific Embedded Investment Advisor/Rwanda Development Board tasks include:


• Support RDB particularly Investment Promotion and Facilitation (IPF) Department to develop investor targeting strategies and proactive promotional plans in agriculture sector;

• Assist in strengthening the IPF’s capacity to generate, develop, manage and analyse agricultural data and make them available to investors.

• Assist in strengthening the IPF’s capacityin contacting investors and making individual and group presentations on investment opportunities in agriculture targeted value chains;

• Assist in strengthening the IPF’s capacity to follow-up with prospective investors and facilitate their investments.

• Identify regulations/policies governing investments and provide advice to potential investors in order to facilitate and guide their decision.

• Contribute to other tasks as assigned by Head of Department related to improving investment promotion activities at RDB.

• Act as lead and primary liaison for implementation of all PSDAG activities in partnership with RDB as defined by PSDAG’s published workplans and agreed upon each year. Ensure that the activities implemented reflect RDB investment promotion and private sector development mandates, priorities, policies, and personnel capacities.

• Contribute to the development of short term technical assistance terms of reference (TOR) for individuals and firms. Assist PSDAG to ensure that TORs, proposals, and identified candidates/firms are vetted with and are approved by apropriate RDB staff throughout the implementation process. Contribute to feedback for finalizaton of all project deliverables.

• Provide input to PSDAG Objective 1 team development of annual work plans; monthly, quarterly and annual reports; discreet analytical documents; performance monitoring; presentations; success stories; and other strategic and operational reporting.

• Under the Senior Policy and Institutional Development Specialist’s supervision work collegially and productively with the MINAGRI EIA and PS/PPD Advisor to achieve PSDAG objectives. Proactively identify and take advantage of team capacity building and knowledge management opportunities to enhance PSDAG and Rwandan agriculture and agribusiness investment promotion performance.

• Successfully represent PSDAG to RDB officials, RDB stakeholders and USAID/Rwanda when appropriate.

• Ensure that all project activities meet minimum PSDAG social inclusion and environmental compliance requirements.

• Participate in PSDAG annual staff performance reviews that identify performance strengths and weaknesses and recommend professional development activities.

• Other tasks as assigned PSDAG Chief of Party or her designee.

Supervision The embedded Investment Advisor/Rwanda Development Board will work under the overall supervision of the Senior Policy and Institutional Development Specialist. For his day to day activities at the RDB, the Embedded Investment Advisor will be supervised by Head of Investment Promotion and Facilitation Department.


ANNEX VII: Monitoring and Reporting Requirements PSDAG Embedded Investment Advisor will monitor and report on outputs, outcomes and impact of activities under this MOU.As required by USAID, PSDAG will collect information and report on the following indicators:

1. Value of new private sector capital investment in the agriculture sector or food chain leveraged by PSDAG implementation (US$),

2. Number of agricultural enabling environment policies analysed, consulted on, drafted or revised, approved, and implemented with PSDAG technical assistance,

3. Number of public entities assessed for capacity in executing their roles and responsibilities, and

4. Number of private and civil-sector stakeholders (organizations and individuals) responding to calls for input on relevant reforms conducted by RDB with PSDAG support/facilitation.

In addition, PSDAG will work with partners to develop press releases and success stories for shared activities.


ANNEX XX: PSDAG INDICATOR RESULTS METRICS - FY2017

Code Indicator Description Data Collection

FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

4.5

-Z07

1-Value of gross farm

incomes of assisted

farmers (US$)

Source: USAID/Rwanda

Custom

Indicator Type:

Outcome

Method and Source:

Records and reports

from grantees

Frequency: Annual

Disaggregated by:

Value chain, Season,

Sex

6,412,932

5,484,770

Value of crops purchased from

smallholder farmers by PSDAG

private sector partners. Target not

met because MOU partnerships with

60 cooperatives under Cooperative

Professionalization Program were

signed in Q4. Selection of

cooperatives and subsequent MOU

negotiations took longer than

anticipated. Results from the 60

cooperatives will be reported in

FY2018.

Value by crop (US$) 6,412,932 5,484,770

Beans

611,600 282,522

Potatoes 2,336,176 2,219,676

Maize 2,030,313 2,617,009

Horticulture 1,280,844 163,099

Other crops - 151,147

Dairy 154,000

51,318

Value by season (US$) 6,412,932 5,484,770

Season A 3,243,003 2,511,982

Season B 2,056,495 1,751,863

Season C 1,113,434 1,220,925



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Value by sex of farmers

(US$) 6,412,932 5,484,770

Male 3,661,941 3,124,889

Female 2,750,991 2,359,881

EG

.3.2

-22*

2-Value of new private

sector capital investment

in the agriculture sector or

food chain leveraged by

FTF implementation

(US$)

Source: FTF

Indicator Type:

Outcome

Method and Source:

PSDAG records,

grantee progress

reports

Frequency: Quarterly

Disaggregated by:

None

1,195,287 309,937 246,274 540,687 231,637 1,328,535

Value of new capital investments to

upgrade agricultural value chains by

PSDAG private sector partners.

Value 1,195,287 309,937 246,274 540,687 231,637 1,328,535

Beans 45,900 13,166 3,614 18,072 30,673 65,525

Potatoes 324,599 266,903 121,917 41,394 19,586 449,799

Maize 30,791 - - 22,486 38,089 60,575

Horticulture 552,071 29,868 72,068 21,747 65,016 188,699

Cross cutting 53,438 - - - 63,095 63,095

Other crops 119,488 - 38,554 3,253 - 41,807

Dairy 69,000 - 10,120 433,735 15,179 459,034



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

EG

.3.1

-12*

3-Number of agricultural

and nutritional enabling

environment policies

analyzed, consulted on,

drafted or revised,

approved, and

implemented with USG

assistance

Source: FTF

Indictor Type:

Outcome

Method and Source:

Embedded Investment

Advisors records,

PSDAG records, STTA

reports

Frequency: Annual

Disaggregated By:

Process/step, Policy

area, Total policies

12 11

Policies, laws and administrative

structures under analysis,

development, review or

implementation with PSDAG

support including Export

Commodity Aggregation Services

Model, National Agribusiness

Investment Promotion Strategy,

Poultry Competitiveness Day Old

Chick Study (Addendum to Poultry

Competitiveness Study), National

Input Subsidy Distribution Program,

Agricultural Land Information

System, Fourth Strategic Plan for

the Transformation of Agriculture

(PSTA-IV), Pilot National Agri-

PPD Framework, GOR Guidelines

on marketing Irish potatoes through

PCCs, Agriculture Land Information

System, Smart Agriculture and

Information System, and Contract

Farming

Policy area 12 11

Institutional architecture

for improved policy

formulation

- 2

Agriculture Land Information

System, and Smart Agriculture and

Information System.



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Enabling environment for

private sector investment 8 8

Export Commodity Aggregation

Services Model, National

Agribusiness Investment Promotion

Strategy, Poultry Competitiveness

Day Old Chick Study (Addendum to

Poultry Competitiveness Study),





PPD Framework, GOR Guidelines

on marketing Irish potatoes through

PCCs, and

Contract Farming

Agricultural trade policy

-

-

-

Agricultural input policy

(e.g. seed, fertilizer)

1

1

National Input Subsidy Distribution

Program

Land and natural

resources tenure, rights,

and policy

2

-

Resilience and

Agricultural risk

management policy

-

-

Nutrition (e.g.,

fortification, food safety)

-

-

Other 1 -

Total policies passing

through the following

Processes/Steps:

12 11



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Analysis

-

9

Poultry Competitiveness Day Old

Chick Study (Addendum to Poultry

Competitiveness Study), Export

Commodity Aggregation Services

Model,

National Agribusiness Investment

Promotion Strategy, Poultry

Competitiveness Day Old Chick

Study (Addendum to Poultry

Competitiveness Study),





PPD Framework, and Contract

Farming

Stakeholder

consultation/public debate

-

6




Strategy, Poultry Competitiveness

Day Old Chick Study (Addendum to

Poultry Competitiveness Study),


System



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Drafting or revision

5

5




Strategy, Agricultural Land

Information System,

Fourth Strategic Plan for the

Transformation of Agriculture

(PSTA-IV),

Pilot National Agri-PPD

Framework,

Approval (legislative or

regulatory)

-

3

Smart Agriculture and Information

System, National Agribusiness and

Investment Promotion Strategy,


System,

Full and effective

implementation

7

3


System, National Input Subsidy

Distribution Program, GOR

Guidelines on marketing Irish

potatoes through PCCs.

4.5

.1-Z

03

4-Number of public

entities assessed for

capacity in executing their

roles and responsibilities


Custom

Indicator Type:

OutputMethod and

Source: Embedded

Investment Advisors

records, STTA reports

Frequency:

QuarterlyDisaggregate

d by: Government level

(national, province,

district), Type of entity,

New/Continuing

8 5 - 5

PSDAG finalized assessment of

GOR institutions (MINAGRI,

NAEB, RDB, MINALOC, and

RPPD Secretariat) involved in

investment promotion in agriculture

sector. In addition, PSDAG assessed

PSF/RCAL to determine areas for

technical assistance under a grant

agreement partnership.

Type of public entity: 8 5

National level 8 5 5



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Provincial level - -

District level - -

Parastatal 4 3 3

Ministry 3 1 1

Decentralized agencies 1 1 1

New/Continuing: 8 5 5

New 7 0 - 5

Continuing 1 - -

PS

DA

G in

ternal in

dicato

r

5-Number of private and

civil-sector stakeholders

(organizations and

individuals) responding to

calls for input on relevant

reforms

Source: PSDAG Internal

indicator

Indicator Type: Output

Method and Source:

PSDAG records, STTA

reports


Disaggregated by:

Type of stakeholder

(civil or private-sector),

industry level, sex of

respondents

360 - 18 157 62 237

Type of stakeholder:

360 -

18 157

62

237

Private sector 240 - 11 131 30 172

Civil society 120 - - 1 - 1

Individuals - - 2 4 7 13

Organizations - - 5 21 25 51

Sex

360 -

18 157

62

237

Males 194 - 10 110 54 174

Females 166 - 8 47 8 63



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

2.4

.1-Z

09

6-Percentage of

stakeholders agreeing that

consultative process was

effective in soliciting their

input (%)


Custom

Indicator Type:

Outcome

Method and Source:

PSDAG records


Disaggregated by:

Type of stakeholder,

individual/organization

, and sex of

respondents.

80% 100% 100% 100%

Survey results from participants of

Nyagatare District PPD meeting and

Contract Farming Stakeholders'

workshop organized in collaboration

with MINAGRI and AgriProfocus.

Type of stakeholder: 80% 100% 100% 100%

Private sector 50% 10% 10% 10%

Civil society 30% 0% 8% 4%

Individual 0% 45% 32% 38%

Farmers organization 0% 45% 50% 48%

Sex 80% 100% 100% 100%

Males 43% 70% 87% 78%

Females 37% 30% 13% 22%

EG

.3.2

-23*

7-Value of targeted

agricultural commodities

exported with USG

assistance (US$)

Source: FTF

Indicator Type:

OutcomeMethod and

Source: Progress

reports from

granteesFrequency:

Annual

Disaggregated by:

Value chain,

destination

8,424,498

5,845,500

Value of exports made by PSDAG

private sector partners. PSDAG had

targeted $3.2m in value of exports

under Cooperative

Professionalization Program.

However, MOU partnerships with

60 cooperatives were signed in Q4.

Selection of cooperatives and

subsequent MOU negotiations took

longer than anticipated. Results

from the 60 cooperatives will be

reported in FY2018.



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Value of regional exports

EA region, Including

South Sudan + Congo

DRC + Congo Brazzaville

(US$)

3,303,336

3,564,486

Beans 357,500 4,715

Potatoes 784,680 140,458

Maize 1,825,689 3,261,161

Horticulture 80,667 150,049

Other crops - 8,104

Dairy 254,800 -

Value of regional exports

going outside EA

region(US$)

5,121,163

2,281,013

Beans - 235,119

Potatoes - -

Maize - 496,493

Horticulture

5,121,163

762,810

Includes data provided by NAEB of

$1.2m in value of exports under new

airfreight rates introduced by

Rwandair in FY2017. Following an

Airfreight Competitiveness Study

conducted by PSDAG in FY2016,

NAEB negotiated with Rwandair to

reduced airfreight rates by

[REDACTED]%.

Other crops - 786,591

Dairy

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

4.5

-Z06

8-Value of domestic sales

of value-added

agricultural products

attributed to program

implementation ($)


Custom

Indicator Type:

Outcome

Method and Source:

Progress reports of

grantees

Frequency: Semi-

annual

Disaggregated by:

Value chain

7,339,929

4,151,730

6,924,270

11,076,001

Value of domestic sales made by


Target exceeded because during

Season 2017-A, prices for maize and

Irish potatoes (Kinigi variety)

increased from RWF200/kg to RWF

230/kg and RWF 215/kg to

RWF290/kg, respectively.

Value of domestic sales

($)

7,339,929

4,151,730

6,924,270

11,076,001

Beans 24,750 1,304,711 6,583 1,311,294

Potatoes 1,791,792 1,004,776 1,173,937 2,178,713

Maize grain 2,973,292 96,988 2,031,152 2,128,140

Maize products (flour,

grits) 1,220,588 1,599,891 3,378,520 4,978,411

Horticulture 786,258 70,538 128,182 198,720

Other crops - 8,406 38,458 46,864

Dairy 543,250 66,421 167,437 233,858



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

EG

.3.2

-19*

9-Value of small-holder

incremental sales

generated with USG

assistance (US$)

Source: FTF

Indicator Type:

Outcome

Method and Source:

Grantee progress

reports


Disaggregated by:

Value chain, number of

beneficiaries

3,955,709 447,835 759,347 571,001 905,761 2,683,944

Increased value of sales by

smallholder farmers with formal

business relationships with PSDAG

private sector partners. PSDAG had

targeted $560k and $890k in value

of incremental sales under

Cooperative Professionalization

Program and Green Systems

partnership. However, partner

selection and partnership


anticipated. As a result, these project

activities were delayed as

cooperatives under the

professionalization program and

Greens Systems were signed late in

FY2017. Results from

implementation of these activities

will be reported in FY2018.

Value of sales by farmers

($) 3,955,709 447,835 759,347 571,001 905,761 2,683,944

Beans 380,325 - 1,205 602 155,489 157,297

Potatoes 689,603 439,986 107,424 163,335 256,864 967,608

Maize 1,540,844 - 619,388 399,787 352,777 1,371,952

Horticulture 1,190,938 7,849 31,330 7,277 18,215 64,671

Other crops - - - - 103,573 103,573

Dairy 154,000 - - - 18,843 18,843



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

4.4

-Z01

10-Number of

beneficiaries with new

market linkages as a result

of USG assistance


Custom

Indicator Type:

Outcome

Method and Source:

Grantee progress

reports

Frequency: Semi-

annual

Disaggregated By:

Value chain, type of

beneficiary (farmer,

cooperatives,

agribusinesses)

31,394

2,026

27,121

29,147

New farmers selling crop produce to


Target not met because MOU

partnerships with 60 cooperatives

under Cooperative

Professionalization Program were

signed in Q4. Selection of

cooperatives and subsequent MOU


anticipated. Results from the 60

cooperatives will be reported in

FY2018.

Commodity 31,394 2,026 27,121 29,147

Beans 110 - - -

Potatoes 5,204 789 944 1,733

Maize grain 4,327

- 18,165 18,165

Horticulture 21,541 397 7,232 7,629

Other crops - 6 529 535

Dairy - 834 251 1,085

Type of beneficiary 31,394 2,026 27,121 29,147

Farmers 31,394 2,020 27,121 29,141

Producers (cooperatives) - 6 - 6

Firms - - - -



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

EG

.3.2

-20*

11-Number of for-profit

private enterprises,

producers organizations,

water users associations,

women’s groups, trade

and business associations

and community-based

organizations (CBOs) that

applied improved

organization-level

technologies or

management practices

with USG assistance

Source: FTF

Type: Outcome

Method and Source:

Progress reports from

grantees

Frequency: Annual

Disaggregated By:

Type of organization

542

246

PSDAG private sector partners who

adopted improved technologies and

practices to be competitive and meet

market requirements. PSDAG had

targeted 411 agrodealers supported

by DFAs to use mFarms ICT

platform to record and report on

input distribution under the national

input subsidy distribution program.

However, the GOR changed the

distribution system and removed use

of mFarms to track distribution of

inputs.

Type of organization 542 246

Private enterprises (for

profit) 432 31

Producers organizations 110 211

Water user associations - 2

Women's groups - -

Trade and business

associations - 2

Community-based

organizations (CBOs) - -

New/Continuing 542 246

New 37 226

Continuing 505 20



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

EG

.3.2

-17*

12-Number of farmers and

others who have applied

improved technologies or


with USG assistance

Source: FTF

Type: Outcome

Method and Source:


grantees

Frequency: Annual

Disaggregated By: sex,

type of technology

47,275

47,354

Number of farmers who improved

production and post-harvest

technologies to meet quality and

volume requirements of PSDAG


Beans - 2,558

Technology type - 2,558

Crop genetics,

-

-

Cultural practices,

-

-

Livestock management,

-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-

Aquaculture management,

-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-

Soil-related fertility and

conservation,

-

-

Irrigation, - 808

Water management-non-

irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-

Post-harvest–handling &

storage, - 1,750

Value-added processing,

-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex - 2,558

Male - 1,209

Female - 1,349

Joint

-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Potatoes 9,224 9,896

Technology type 9,224 9,896

Crop genetics, 375 932

Cultural practices,

-

-


-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Irrigation,

-

-


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation 1,100 2,050

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution, 7,251 6,805


storage, 498 109


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex 9,066 9,896

Male 6,128 6,017

Female 2,938 3,879

Joint - -

Disaggregates not

available - -

Maize 16,040 25,806


Crop genetics,

-

-

Cultural practices,

-

-


-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation, 4,327 -


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-


storage,

11,713

25,806


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex 16,040 25,806

Male 8,662 14,065

Female 7,378 11,741

Joint - -

Disaggregates not

available

-

-



Crop genetics, 110 2,211

Cultural practices, 604 4,824


-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

212

Irrigation,

500

76


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

54


storage,

20,570

885


-

14

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex 21,784 8,276

Male 11,704 4,535

Female 10,080 3,741

Joint - -

Disaggregates not

available - -

Other crops - 464



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Technology type - 464

Crop genetics,

-

-

Cultural practices,

-

-


-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation,

-

-


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

- 94


storage,

-

-


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

370



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Sex - 464

Male

-

395

Female

-

69

Joint

-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Dairy 227 354

Technology type

227

354

Crop genetics,

-

-

Cultural practices,

-

-

Livestock management, 227 354

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation,

-

-


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-


storage,

-

-


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex 227 354

Male 122 215

Female 104 139

Joint - -

Disaggregates not

available - -

E.G

.3.2

-18*

13-Number of hectares

under improved

technologies and


with USG assistance

Source: FTF

Indicator type:

Outcome

Method and Source:


grantees

Frequency: Annual

Disaggregated by:

Technology type, sex,

value chain

8,318

8,265

Size of land cultivated by

smallholder farmers with formal

business relationship with PSDAG


Beans 880 200

Technology type 880 200

Crop genetics,

-

-

Cultural practices,

880

-


-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation,

-

-


irrigation based,

-

200

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-


storage,

-

-


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex 880 200

Male 475 82

Female 405 118

Joint - -

Association-applied - -

Potatoes 2,393 1,453




FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Crop genetics, 94 46

Cultural practices, 649 1,016


-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation,

-

-


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

1,650

391

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-


storage,

-

-


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex 2,393 1,453

Male 1,387 892

Female 1,006 562



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Joint - -


Maize 3,299 3,189


Crop genetics, - -

Cultural practices, 2,129 3,189


-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation, 1,170 -


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-


storage,

-

-


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Sex 3,299 3,189

Male 1,781 1,661

Female 1,517 1,528

Joint - -




Crop genetics,

335

3,237

Cultural practices,

1,161

59


-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation,

250

5


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments


storage,

-

-


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex 1,746 3,301

Male 864 2,095

Female 882 1,201

Joint - 5


Other crops - 122

Technology type - 122

Crop genetics,

-

21

Cultural practices,

-

101


-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation,

-

-


irrigation based,

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-


storage,

-

-


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex - 122

Male - 103

Female - 19

Joint

-

-

Association-applied

-

-

Dairy

-

-

Technology type

-

-

Crop genetics,

-

-

Cultural practices,

-

-


-

-

Wild fishing

technique/gear,

-

-


-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Pest management,

-

-

Disease management,

-

-


conservation,

-

-

Irrigation,

-

-


irrigation based,

-

-

Climate mitigation

-

-

Climate adaptation,

-

-

Marketing and

distribution,

-

-


storage,

-

-


-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex

-

-

Male

-

-

Female

-

-

Joint

-

-

Association-applied

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

EG

.3.2

-1*

14-Number of individuals

who have received USG

supported short-term

agricultural sector

productivity or food

security training

Source: FTF

Type: Output

Method and Source:

PSDAG training

reports,

progress reports from

grantees


Disaggregated by: Sex,

type of individual

6,157 1,649 3,790 654 1,058 7,151

Farmers and other value chain

stakeholders trained by PSDAG

private sector partners. Target

exceeded because MINIMEX

conducted a refresher training on

post-harvest handling technologies

for 3,291 farmers (1,522 females).

This training was not anticipated in

setting indicator targets for FY2018.

Type of individual 6,157 1,649 3,790 654 1,058 7,151

Producers (farmers,

fishers, pastoralists,

ranchers, etc.)

6,157 1,649 3,790 654 1,058 7,151

Sex 6,157 1649 3,790 654 1,058 7,151

Male 3,345 1,031 2,014 394 673 4,112

Female 2,813 618 1,776 260 385 3,039

Disaggregates not

available

- -

- - -

-

People in government (e.g.

policy makers, extension

workers)

- - - - - -



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Custo

m P

SD

AG

15-Number of members of

producer organizations

and community based

organizations with USG

assistance

Source: Custom PSDAG


Method and Source:


grantees

Frequency: Annual

Disaggregated By:

Type of organization,

sex

51,606

71,175

Farmers who are members of

cooperatives that have formal

business relationships with PSDAG

private sector partners. Target

exceeded because of PSDAG's

partners (Green Systems) is working

with [REDACTED] cooperatives

with a membership of

[REDACTED] farmers. At time of

setting FY2018 targets, the partner

was anticipated to work with

[REDACTED] cooperatives with a

membership of [REDACTED]

farmers.

Type of organization 51,606 71,175

Producer organization, 51,606 71,175

Non-producer-

organization CBO

-

-

Disaggregates not

available

-

-

Sex 51,606 71,175

Male 28,339 39,697

Female 23,267 31,478

Disaggregates not

available

-

-



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

EG

.3.2

-4 *

16-Number of for-profit

private enterprises,

producers organizations,

water users associations,

women's groups, trade and

business associations, and

community-based

organizations (CBOs)

receiving USG food

security related

organizational

development assistance

Source: FTF


Method and Source:

PSDAG records

Frequency: Annual

Disaggregated By:

Type of organization,

new/continuing

529

179

Private sector actors with

partnerships with PSDAG under

grant agreement mechanism.

PSDAG had targeted 392

agrodealers to be supported by

DFAs to use mFarms ICT platform

to record and report on input

distribution under the national input

subsidy distribution program.

However, the GOR changed the

distribution system and removed use

of mFarms to track distribution of

inputs.

Type of organization 529 179

Private enterprises (for

profit) 452 41

Producers organizations 75

137

Water users associations

-

-

Women's groups

-

-

Trade and business

associations 2 1

Community-based

organizations (CBOs) - -

New/Continuing 533 179

New 28 115

Continuing 505 64



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

EG

.3.2

-3*

17-Number of micro,

small, and medium

enterprises (MSMEs),

including farmers,

receiving agricultural

related credit as a result of

USG assistance

Source: FTF


Method and Source:


grantees

Frequency: Semi-

annual

Disaggregated by: Size

of MSME, Sex of

owner

10,674

2,326

14,752

17,078

Direct and indirect PSDAG private

sector partners provided with access

to finance support. Target exceeded

because [REDACTED] disbursed

$.92 million to 14,700 farmers. This

was not factored in setting FY2017

indicator targets.

Size 10,674 2,326 14,752 17,078

Micro 10,482 2,326 14,745 17,071

Small 192 - 5 5

Medium - - 2 2

Sex of owner/producer 10,674 2,326 14,752 17,078

Male 5,764 1,503 8,849 10,352

Female 4,893 823 5,897 6,720

Joint 17 - 6 6

n/a - - - -

EG

.3.2

-6*

18-Value of Agricultural

and Rural Loans as a

result of USG assistance

(US$)

Source: FTF


Method and Source:


grantees


Disaggregated by:

Type of recipient, Sex,

type of beneficiary

2,679,135 43,750 137,964 156,627 2,585,405 2,923,745

Value of loans: 1) accessed by

PSDAG private partners to leverage

USAID grants, 2) facilitated by

private partners to cooperatives with

formal business relationship, and 3)

disbursed to agricultural value chain

actors by financial institutions

(BRD, KCB) supported by PSDAG.

Type of loan recipient

(US$) 2,679,135 43,750 137,964 156,627 2,585,405 2,923,745

Producers 2,679,135 - 54,048 - 1,061,655 1,115,703

Local traders/assemblers,

- 43,750 73,795 - 37,202 154,748



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

wholesalers/processors, - - 10,120 156,627 1,486,548 1,653,295

Others. - - - - - -

Sex of recipient (US$) 2,679,135 43,750 137,964 156,627 2,585,405 2,923,745

Male, 1,446,733 43,750 118,159 156,627 698,596 1,017,130

Female 1,232,402 - 18,299 - 390,619 408,918

Joint - - 1,506 - 1,496,191 1,497,697

n/a - - - - - -

4.5

.2-Z

04

19-Number of MSMEs

receiving business

development services

from USG assisted sources


Custom


Method and Source:

PSDAG records,

Grantee reports

Frequency: Annual

Disaggregated by: Size

of MSME, MSME

Type, sex of owner

53

68

Direct and indirect PSDAG private

sector partners provided with

business development services

support. PSDAG had targeted 15

cooperatives to be provided BDS

support under Cooperative

Professionalization Program.

However, as at end of FY2017, 24

cooperatives had already received

BDS technical support.

Size 53 68

Micro 15 45

Small 37 22

Medium 1 1

MSME Type

53

68

Agricultural producer 25 39

Input supplier - -

Trader 21 20

Output processors 6 8

Non-agriculture - -

Other 1 1

Sex of owner/producer 53 68



FY17

Targets Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

FY 2017

Results Comments

Male, 8 12

Female 1 -

Joint 33 56

n/a 11 -


U.S. Agency for International Development

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20523

Tel: (202) 712-0000

Fax: (202) 216-3524

www.usaid.gov

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