Skip to main content

Rwanda

Remotely monitored country
Rwanda
Rwanda flag Rwanda flag
Heading
Remotely monitored country
Description

As of November 2023, FEWS NET is no longer preparing regular food security reports on Rwanda. Currently, analysts monitor the food security situation in Rwanda and will draft special reports as needed to provide early warning or in-depth analysis of food insecurity drivers. Reporting on Rwanda staple production, marketing and trade, and exportable surpluses will be done through the Regional East Africa Cross Border Trade Report and the Global Price Watch report, and, as appropriate, neighboring countries’ markets and trade-focused analyses.

Latest analysis
Remote Monitoring Report October 2023 Season B stocks and interseason crops driving Minimal (IPC Phase 1) Download the report
  • Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes are anticipated throughout the country, driven by the availability of household food stocks from seasonal and interseason crops, stable income access from livestock sales, higher agricultural labor wage rates, and expanded employment and trade prospects in urban areas. In addition, improved cross-border trade and labor migration are further increasing income access and the availability of both food and non-food goods in markets. However, Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes are expected to persist among refugees, with humanitarian assistance preventing worse food insecurity outcomes. 

  • In rural areas, Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes are sustained due to adequate stocks from the previous harvest, interseason crops, and enhanced income-earning opportunities. Additionally, humanitarian assistance from the government and partners is helping to maintain Minimal! (IPC Phase 1!) outcomes in Western Province, where a severe flash flood in May 2023 led to below-average Season B harvests. However, high and rising food prices continue limiting food access among rural poor households. Based on the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), September's rural food inflation rate rose by 6.7 percent compared to August 2023 and 34.5 percent annually due to depletion of food stocks and depreciation of the local currency against the USD. Food availability is expected to improve significantly by the end of the year, with the expected bumper Season A harvest supported by the anticipated above-average rainfall.

  • Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes will likely be sustained in Kigali City throughout the projection period, driven by stable food access as household purchasing power increased income opportunities from enhanced industrial activities linked to the progressive growth of the economy. Furthermore, improved cross-border trade with Uganda and Tanzania is stabilizing market supply, which, together with the removal of VAT on selected food items, continues to moderate food prices to some extent, enhancing access to food. Nevertheless, high and increasing food prices remain a key barrier to food access in urban areas for poor and very poor households. According to the September 2023 NISR report, monthly and annual food inflation rates in urban areas rose by about 10 and 30 percent, respectively, driven by reduced rural-urban food supplies, increased transportation costs due to a 10 percent fuel price rise, and a weak exchange rate against the USD that increased prices of imported items. 

  • Stressed! (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes are expected to be sustained among the estimated 136,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Rwanda, with humanitarian assistance mitigating worse food security outcomes. Since November 2022, an influx of over 12,000 new asylum seekers have fled to Rwanda to escape conflict in eastern DRC, with over 1,000 asylees arriving in September 2023, putting further pressure on limited humanitarian assistance resources. Most refugees rely on humanitarian assistance for their monthly food needs. However, the UNHCR/WFP funding cuts starting in November 2023 are likely to contribute to the deterioration of food security outcomes among refugees, increasing the number of refugees facing food consumption gaps.

Read the full analysis
More analysis View all Rwanda analysis Food security
Key Message Update Rwanda September 2023
Remote Monitoring Report Rwanda August 2023
Key Message Update Rwanda July 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & trade
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa January 2024
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa October 2023
Price Watch Global February 28, 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
Alert East Africa June 4, 2014
Special Report Global August 30, 2012
Special Report Global November 18, 2008
Food security
Key Message Update Rwanda September 2023
Remote Monitoring Report Rwanda August 2023
Key Message Update Rwanda July 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & trade
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa January 2024
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa October 2023
Price Watch Global February 28, 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
Alert East Africa June 4, 2014
Special Report Global August 30, 2012
Special Report Global November 18, 2008
Food Security Classification data View all Rwanda Food Security Classification data
Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification (December 2021 - May 2022)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (December 2021 - January 2022) and medium term (February 2022 - May 2022) periods.

Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile December 2021 (.zip) (ZIP) Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification December 2021 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: December 2021 - January 2022 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2022 - May 2022 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: December 2021 - January 2022 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2022 - May 2022 (.kml) (KML)
Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification (January 2021 - May 2021)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (January 2021) and medium term (February 2021 - May 2021) periods.

Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile January 2021 (.zip) (ZIP) Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification January 2021 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: January 2021 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2021 - May 2021 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: January 2021 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2021 - May 2021 (.kml) (KML)
Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification (October 2022 - May 2023)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (October 2022 - January 2023) and medium term (February 2023 - May 2023) periods.

Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile October 2022 (.zip) (ZIP) Rwanda Acute Food Insecurity Classification October 2022 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: October 2022 - January 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2023 - May 2023 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: October 2022 - January 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2023 - May 2023 (.kml) (KML)
Seasonal Calendar
Description

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.

Seasonal Calendar image showing harvest and rainy periods for Rwanda
Satellite-derived products map
Description

USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

View all satellite-derived products
Livelihood Zone resources Rwanda Livelihood Zone Descriptions, June 2012 Rwanda Livelihood Zone Descriptions, August 2011 Rwanda Livelihood Zone Map
Rwanda 2012 Livelihood Zones Map (.PNG)
Get the latest food security updates in your inbox Sign up for emails

The information provided on this Website is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.

Jump back to top