The RUMBUKA project will run from July 2026 to June 2029 and is expected to reach 12,000 beneficiaries in Gasange and Murambi sectors in Gatsibo District and Kibungo and Rukira sectors in Ngoma District.

It was officially launched in Kibungo on October 20 and in Gasange on October 21, with district officials, community members, project beneficiaries and development partners attending the events.

Through RUMBUKA, Ripple Effect Rwanda will work with smallholder farming communities to strengthen climate resilience through regenerative agriculture, improved water security, ecosystem restoration and better access to markets.

The project will focus on horticulture, maize and pig farming, with the aim of helping farmers improve productivity, diversify their income sources and build more sustainable, market-oriented livelihoods.

Ripple Effect Rwanda Country Director Angelique Barongo said the partnership with HEINEKEN Africa Foundation and BRALIRWA would help farming households improve their livelihoods and become more resilient to economic and climate-related challenges.

"The RUMBUKA Project would not be possible without the partnership and support of the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation and BRALIRWA. Through this collaboration, we aim to help farming households become more resilient, productive and economically secure,” she said.

Barongo said the project would also help farmers move beyond subsistence production and generate additional income by selling surplus produce.

“Our ambition is to support farmers to move beyond producing just enough to meet their household needs towards generating a surplus, increasing their incomes and building stronger futures for their families,” she added.

General Manager of the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation Edwin Moerkerk said the initiative reflects the foundation's commitment to sustainable development through regenerative agriculture and partnerships with local communities.

"We are committed to working together with our partners to support farmers to thrive and build their resilience. We believe that investing in African agriculture is investing in the future of the world” he said.

Over the past decade, HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, through BRALIRWA, has supported projects in the fields of maternity care as well as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in partnerships worth over €1 million.

BRALIRWA Plc Managing Director Ethel Emma-Uche said the company would continue supporting initiatives that promote community well-being, economic development and environmental sustainability.

"As a proud HEINEKEN company, our core value of "Care for People and Planet” inspires us to contribute to the wellbeing of the communities where we serve, and we are confident that RUMBUKA Project will strengthen livelihoods while creating greater opportunities for women and young adults to benefit from economic growth” she said.

The Vice Mayors in charge of Economic Development in Ngoma and Gatsibo districts, Mapambano Nyiridandi Cyriaque and Sekanyange Jean Leonard, respectively, welcomed the project, citing Ripple Effect Rwanda's experience implementing similar initiatives in the districts.

These include the Inka Nziza Zikamwa project in Ngoma and the Ongera Amata project in Gatsibo, which have contributed to improving residents' livelihoods.

Beyond improving agricultural production, RUMBUKA will encourage communities to work together to address challenges in crop farming and livestock production, participate in decision-making and implement sustainable development initiatives.

Women and young people will receive particular attention through training, improved access to agricultural equipment and inputs, financial services and support to start businesses. They will also be encouraged to participate in decision-making within their households and communities.

Ripple Effect is an international non-profit organisation working to tackle hunger and poverty and help communities adapt to climate change. Since 1988, it has reached more than four million people and currently operates in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi and Zambia.

HEINEKEN Africa Foundation is a non-profit organisation that supports smallholder farmers in improving soil health, increasing productivity and adapting to climate change.

Since 2007, the foundation has invested more than €20 million in over 150 projects across sub-Saharan Africa. Its work also extends to countries including Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Namibia and Mozambique.