National Policy Dialogue: Making healthy diets affordable in Rwanda: from evidence to joint action

On 22 October, IFPRI and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), in collaboration with GAIN, brought together government, researchers, development partners, civil society and the private sector in Kigali. The workshop reviewed new evidence on diet affordability and took stock of Rwanda’s progress toward the CAADP target that 60% of the population can afford a healthy diet.

What the evidence showed

In 2024, 75% of Rwandans could not afford a healthy diet, and food and beverages took 61% of household spending (GAIN).

Using MINAGRI’s eSoko price data, IFPRI costed the cheapest recommended diet in each of Rwanda’s 30 districts every month from April 2019 to December 2024. Its cost rose about 67% over the period, and an estimated 70% of wage earners could not afford it.

When prices rise, households appear to cut back on beef, dark green leafy vegetables and fruits, trading nutrition for calories.

Costs are higher in urban areas and along the DR Congo border, and peak in November, during the lean season.

Where the discussion landed

GAIN’s tools on measurement, financing, coordination and policy alignment show who finances, decides and coordinates. IFPRI’s price monitoring shows where and when households struggle. Participants discussed a shared agenda:

• one shared evidence package to feed the CAADP Biennial Review and national strategy monitoring
• a resourced joint action and monitoring plan across sectors, with a clear convening authority
• tracking financing against diet, nutrition and price outcomes
• targeted affordability measures, such as reducing post-harvest losses, investing in cold chains and using shock-responsive safety nets

As Dr James Warner noted in closing, Rwanda has a wealth of data that institutions can use for planning. The challenge now is to work together toward a common goal: affordable healthy diets for all.