Advocacy for food security, WASH and Agricultural budget accountability

AAR advocates for policy change to reduce hunger and food insecurity through increased public support for climate change adaptation initiatives include agroecology. On 25th September 2022, ActionAid Rwanda joined the National Child Development Agency and participated in a Radio Talk show on Radio Rwanda program to advocate for to advocate for sustainable food security and WASH issues in the communities.

ActionAid Rwanda informed that food insecurity conditions persist in Rwanda currently standing at 33% nationally and are driven, among other things, by climate change, mainly drought, which limits the growing in all agricultural seasons and create conditions of low crop yields which result in food shortages, rise of food prices and potentially leading to malnutrition.

He also indicated that Climate change imposes inaccessibility to clean water, poor sanitation, and hygiene. Food insecurity also results from unpaid care work since it constrains women to participate in productive activ ties that might help to meet their food security needs.

Mrs. Irène Uwonkunda from National Child Development Agency reiterated that Rwanda has experienced impressive economic growth, resulting in considerable improvements in living standards but despite these gains, progress on reducing the level of stunting mainly in smallholder rural families, continues to be a concern that should be given a lot of attention.

The talk show also emphasized the issue of mindset change especially about food security and malnutrition. There are instances where people who are affected by malnutrition despite having sufficient food due to their food habits and lack of knowledge on food nutrition. Nutritious food like fruits, vegetables, chicken, and eggs do not constitute their regular food recipes.

The speakers advocated for increased support mainly for rural communities to access water harvesting technologies including rainwater harvesting, irrigation, watering, water reuse, etc.

In conclusion, ActionAid edged a continued interventions to advocate for policies that may lead to sustainable food security and WASH interventions Relatedly, on 2nd October 2022, ActionAid Rwanda in partnership with Vi Agroforestry engaged the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in a TV and radio live talk show to discuss on agricultural budget accountability through the increase of farmers’ participation in the agricultural planning and budgeting processes. The representative of farmers asked questions and community members were also facilitated to remotely ask questions on their level of satisfaction with regards to national agricultural budget and ministry services in response to their demands.

The taIkshow informed the publish all the processes of agricultural planning and budgeting and the Minis- try urged local government entities to sufficiently allow farmers participate in the local-level planning and budgeting sessions to ensure ministry level plans respond to farmers’ demands. The Ministry’s Director General of Planning has responded farmers’ questions mostly related to limited services of agricultural subsidy program particularly irrigation facilities and improved seeds. The audience has increased understanding on their role to participate in budgeting processes on processes to influence more budgetary allocation to sustainable agriculture and climate change adaptation.