Fortified Wholegrains: A catalyst for change in Rwanda

“My favourite meals are Ugali (a type of porridge made from maize flour), fruits and dried fish mixed with vegetables,” says Silvia, a student at Kibirizi school in Nyamagabe district in southern Rwanda. 

Maize is a staple food for most families in Rwanda and can be eaten as a porridge or served as an accompaniment to meat, vegetables, and beans. However, much of the maize flour consumed in Rwanda is refined, unfortified and lacks vitamins. Yet, fortifying wholegrain maize flour can cost the same – or less –as refined versions and needs less processing. 

The World Food Programme (WFP), together with the Ministry of Education and The Rockefeller Foundation are playing a key role in changing nutritional attitudes and behaviour by replacing fortified refined maize meal with its wholegrain counterpart for school children in Rwanda. What started as a pilot initiative supporting 14,000 children in 18 schools in 2021 now reaches 30,000 school children in 32 schools in Burera, Gasabo and Kayonza districts in 2024. The Ugali is a favourite among students. 

“I really enjoy having lunch with my friends here at school, especially on the days when we eat Ugali,” says Apollinaire, A P6 Student at EP Kibirizi.

In line with the Government of Rwanda’s National School Feeding Programme, and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, WFP provides daily nutritious school meals through its homegrown school feeding programme to 30,000 children in 32 schools in 3 of Rwanda’s most food insecure districts. Healthy and well-nourished school children are able to concentrate better and therefore learn better in school.

Access to nutritious foods is a key component of the Government of Rwanda’s priority to reduce malnutrition rates in the country from 33 per cent to 20 per cent by 2030. Wholegrains provide more protein, fibre and micronutrients than refined maize meal, while the fortification process adds other important vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and B as well as zinc and iron. These are crucial for children’s physical and cognitive growth and development. The nutritional benefit of the fortified wholegrain maize brings peace of mind to parents like Charlotte, whose son Ishimwe, goes to Giheta school.

“The children eat healthy food which helps them stay at school and get a better education,” she says.

There are gains for the economy too. The fortified meal is purchased from local millers who buy the maize from smallholder farmers throughout Rwanda. 

“We shop from the nearest markets, at fair prices which helps the people in the neighbourhood to get some income,” says Emmanuel Bizimana, the President of the school feeding committee at Kibirizi school.

WFP works directly with smallholder farmers to improve local food production through improved access to finance and resources. WFP is additionally focusing directly on the linkages between cooperatives and schools as a market, supporting over 150 cooperatives to sell to schools in 7 districts. This enables schools to save costs by purchasing locally, as well as supports local farmers – who are often parents of the students – for direct economic benefits to the community. 

This initiative contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2018-2024) by promoting better access to nutrition and quality education for Rwanda's most vulnerable communities. This is crucial for improving food security and eradicating malnutrition. Additionally, it supported inclusive and sustainable economic growth, enhancing livelihoods, while also aligning with Rwanda's national goal of making agriculture more market-oriented and sustainable.