Fit to national policy
The launch of RIU Rwanda in February 2008 coincided with the launch of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme in the country. The two initiatives are closely linked. The RIU launch generated great interest amongst the 100 or so high-level participants who attended from a wide variety of public, private and civil organisations in Rwanda.
The RIU Rwanda programme is fully integration into the national development frameworks and under the overall umbrella of Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI).
It has also linked with the Ministry of Education, Technology and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Commerce and Cooperatives to fully integrate its work into the national development frameworks.
The RIU programme is operating in Rwanda in a favourable but challenging policy environment characterised by:
The National Seed Policy recognises that the informal seed system continues to play an important role since the majority of farmers save their own seed and/or exchange them with their neighbours.
Policy development
The foundations have been laid for working with others to strengthen policy. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between RIU and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources to ensure the RIU innovation approach and principles can be embedded in the ministry. Partnerships between RIU and other initiatives/projects were established and involvement of various national agencies and local authorities in the innovation process was facilitated and strengthened.
The revised Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation in Rwanda - Phase II (PSTA?II) and resulting implementation strategies, spell out clearly the need for scientific research knowledge-based innovations through networks instead of the traditional linear approach of technology transfer and research and development.
Local authorities and other local development partners in districts where innovation platforms are active are increasingly supporting the RIU approach. This has encouraged innovation platforms to become active members of the District Joint Action Forums.
The launch of RIU Rwanda in February 2008 coincided with the launch of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme in the country. The two initiatives are closely linked. The RIU launch generated great interest amongst the 100 or so high-level participants who attended from a wide variety of public, private and civil organisations in Rwanda.
The RIU Rwanda programme is fully integration into the national development frameworks and under the overall umbrella of Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI).
It has also linked with the Ministry of Education, Technology and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Commerce and Cooperatives to fully integrate its work into the national development frameworks.
The RIU programme is operating in Rwanda in a favourable but challenging policy environment characterised by:
- strong emphasis of the Rwanda Government on the transformation of the agriculture sector into a modern, professionally-managed and market-oriented economic undertaking and its contribution to food security and overall national development. The national Crop Intensification Programme (CIP), ]was launched with unprecedented internal government financial support and additional development partners' contributions. It aims to increase production around priority value chain such as maize, wheat, potato, rice and cassava.
- maize has particularly been targeted in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province, whereas round potato was set as a local priority in Gicumbi District/ Northern Province. The Maize Innovation Platform and Potato Innovation Platforms have the potential to contribute significantly to national/local development agendas, but they are still constrained by institutional and organisational weaknesses as well as many other challenges that are currently limiting their capacity to deliver.
- a continuous reform process that particularly targets innovations in institutional development, both at the national and decentralised level
- a priority on the private sector and its increased role in agriculture financing and rural entrepreneurship development.
The National Seed Policy recognises that the informal seed system continues to play an important role since the majority of farmers save their own seed and/or exchange them with their neighbours.
Policy development
The foundations have been laid for working with others to strengthen policy. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between RIU and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources to ensure the RIU innovation approach and principles can be embedded in the ministry. Partnerships between RIU and other initiatives/projects were established and involvement of various national agencies and local authorities in the innovation process was facilitated and strengthened.
The revised Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation in Rwanda - Phase II (PSTA?II) and resulting implementation strategies, spell out clearly the need for scientific research knowledge-based innovations through networks instead of the traditional linear approach of technology transfer and research and development.
Local authorities and other local development partners in districts where innovation platforms are active are increasingly supporting the RIU approach. This has encouraged innovation platforms to become active members of the District Joint Action Forums.
| RIUtv meets... Jeroen Dijkman, RIU's Central Research Team Coordinator, to share lessons from the Africa Country Programmes. June 2010 (06:20) |  |
External resources
- The Big Idea: How to Start an Entrepreneurial Revolution
Daniel J. Isenberg June 2010 Harvard Business Review The face of entrepreneurship is changing all around the world-and best practices are emerging from surprising places (including Rwanda).
