Brazil and Rwanda Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Bilateral Cooperation in Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development

Strategic Insights -

The Brazilian government, led by the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, has signed a significant agreement with Rwanda in the field of food security and sustainable rural development. The memorandum of understanding, signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 28, aims to promote resilient agriculture, strengthen public policies, and expand access to inputs, technologies, and water for agricultural production in both countries.

Key Takeaways:

  • The memorandum of understanding was signed between Wellington Dias, Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, and Mark Bagabe, Rwanda's Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources.
  • The agreement is a strategic opportunity to advance the goals of eradicating hunger and poverty, as stated by Wellington Dias, and will motivate Brazilian technical teams to implement activities to achieve concrete results.
  • The partnership includes joint initiatives aimed at promoting resilient agriculture, strengthening public policies, and expanding access to inputs, technologies, and water for agricultural production in both countries.
  • Brazil's experience in policies to combat hunger and Rwanda's institutional structure focused on integrating agriculture, social protection, and productive inclusion are highlighted in the agreement.
  • The Rwandan Fast-Track Implementation Plan for the Vision Umurenge Programme (VUP), a nationwide social protection programme, includes components such as social protection networks, economic and productive inclusion, and personalized monitoring.
  • Cooperation with Brazil could contribute to technical training for community agents and local managers, support for the design of conditional and productive cash transfer programs, and sharing Brazilian experiences in social registration, school meals, and rural technical assistance.

Statistics:

  • 927,000 vulnerable households in Rwanda are expected to be reached with integrated support packages by 2030 through the VUP.
  • The VUP's decentralized and digitalized management system is being strengthened to consolidate intersectoral public policies.
  • Brazil's commitment to South-South cooperation aims to generate concrete results for both countries through the partnership.

Sources:

  • Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (Brazil) news release
  • Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty press release (exact translation not provided)