Who We Are

About RWARRI

Rwanda Rural Rehabilitation Initiative (RWARRI) is a national non-governmental organization whose idea was conceived in 1994 in Kenya, but its operations started in 1995 in Rwanda. It is dedicated to promoting and improving the social and economic welfare of rural communities in Rwanda. The Organization was started by a group of professionals and self-motivated Rwandese wishing to contribute towards the reconstruction of the country that had just emerged from the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

RWARRI is a National Non-Governmental Organization with Legal Personality No. 023/11, granted on 9 May 2013. The organization revised its statutes to align its operations with Law No. 058/2024 of 20 June 2024 governing Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and related regulations.

RWARRI has fulfilled the requirements of the applicable legal and regulatory framework, and its Compliance Certificate was issued in Kigali on 22 August 2026.

Our Mission

The mission of RWARRI is to be one of the most valued and respected NGOs in Rwanda and beyond, working towards achieving sustainable livelihoods among the rural poor and contributing towards shaping and implementing national and global policies that lead to the citizens' positive economic, social, and technological transformation.

Our Vision

The vision of RWARRI is the ultimate realization of a rural and vulnerable community that is economically sustainable, socially transformed, and food security. Fundamental to our vision is the belief that the above vision will be realized when community members take ownership and responsibility for the entire development process.

Our Values

RWARRI promotes the following values:

1. Transparency
2. Accountability
3. Respect for human dignity
4. Effectiveness and Equity

Major Achievements (Since 1995)

Climate Resilience

With IUCN and partners, RWARRI restored over 17,000 hectares through afforestation and agroforestry. Activities included planting 2.9 million seedlings, establishing terraces (2,818 ha of trenches, 1,841 ha of radical terraces, 1,137 ha of progressive terraces), protecting 67 km of riverbanks, planting 1,900 roadside trees, and over 100,000 fruit trees.

Farmer Empowerment

In partnership with WFP and others, RWARRI trained 71,195 cooperative members in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), on climate-smart agriculture and Post-Harvest Handling and Storage (PHHS). As a result, 71,363 smallholder farmers were linked to buyers, earning over Rwf 3.35 billion from sales on an annual basis.

Green Technologies

RWARRI promoted solar-powered irrigation on 40 hectares, enabling three crop seasons per year and building resilience to climate change.

Youth Skills Development

Through Amizero Institute, RWARRI has trained, since its creation in 2003, more than 8000 youth in TVET programs such as culinary arts, hairdressing, tailoring, plumbing, and welding, empowering them with practical skills for sustainable livelihoods.