Sida's work in Rwanda
Sida’s development cooperation in Rwanda focuses on economic growth, strengthening institutions and the rule of law. The aid is intended to promote respect for human rights and contribute to increased employment for women, young people and people in rural areas.
Sida’s support in Rwanda 2025
Why do Sida work in Rwanda?
Widespread poverty
Large sections of the population live in poverty. Unemployment is high and economic vulnerability is particularly acute for women, young people and those living in rural areas. Despite progress in education and health, many people lack access to essential public services.
Restricted freedom of expression
Restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of association make it difficult for civil society organisations, journalists and citizens to hold those in power to account.
An unequal society
Rwanda has the world’s highest proportion of women in parliament, and many hold senior political posts. Despite this, gender equality remains a challenge in society. Traditional gender roles and social norms hinder women and their economic empowerment. Gender-based violence is widespread.
Environment and climate
Rwanda is vulnerable to climate change and faces increasing and recurring problems with drought and heavy rainfall. This destroys crops, land and infrastructure, which negatively affects people’s livelihoods. Environmental problems are hampering the country’s economic development.
Examples of what Sida contributes to
Strengthening the free media and freedom of expression
Sida supports around 30 media organisations, which has improved news journalism and helped to raise the status of female journalists within the media sector. Journalism courses at universities have received support to enable them to develop and better meet the needs of the media industry.
Greater economic empowerment for women and young people
Sida is strengthening women’s economic empowerment by increasing their access to financial services. The support is aimed at all groups in society who lack access to credit: women, young people, refugees and small businesses. It gives them the opportunity to invest and save money.
The Sida development cooperation in Rwanda
Sida’s work aims to reduce poverty through increased employment and the green transition. It also aims to strengthen civil society, freedom of expression and a free press, promote gender equality, and foster peace and reconciliation.
Sida supports projects that promote respect for human rights, contribute to peace and reconciliation, enhance women’s rights and opportunities, and strengthen women’s role in society.
Here are some examples of projects supported by Sida:
Sida supports Kvinna till Kvinna and several Rwandan partner organisations to strengthen the position of women in society. The aim is to prevent gender-based violence while strengthening women’s political and economic position.
About Kvinna till Kvinnas work in Rwanda on the organisation’s website
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is a controversial topic in the country. Social norms and religious and cultural forces stand in the way of issues such as contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted infections. Through its support for the Health Development Initiative (HDI), Sida is helping to strengthen work on SRHR.
Many people are living with the trauma of the genocide, which risks being passed on to the next generation. Progress is being made in efforts to help people reconcile and come to terms with the genocide. Sida is collaborating with Never Again Rwanda. To prevent future tensions between people, peace and values education is being provided in schools, along with inter-group dialogue and trauma therapy to heal psychological wounds.
In cooperation with the Swedish Media Institute Fojo and Swedish Radio, Sida supports the development of the media sector in Rwanda. The project strengthens and develops the media, among other things through professionalisation in line with international journalistic core values. The project targets several different media houses, journalists and journalism education at four universities.
About the project in Rwanda on the Fojo Media Centre website
Sida helps to support the country’s green transition and to ensure that people living in poverty have greater land rights. Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
The Swedish Lantmäteriet supports its Rwandan counterpart with training, counselling and works for a more equitable management of land through the Rwanda Land Use Management Authorities. It strengthens land registry management and land use planning. Citizens can also take training courses to learn about land-related rules and rights, including women’s right to own land.
To facilitate the country’s green transition, Sida has supported Rwanda’s environmental and climate change fund, Rwanda Green Fund. Projects include climate-smart vegetable production, cleaner cooking methods and the introduction of electric motorbike taxis in the capital of Kigali.
The Rwanda Green Fund and the Rwandan Development Bank (BRD) are working together through Ireme Invest to increase green private investment in the country. Through Sida’s guarantee cooperation, lending to small and medium-sized enterprises can be increased.
Sida supports Practical Action, which increases access to renewable energy solutions for households and businesses. They also enable the sale of clean cooking methods in all Rwandan camps for displaced people.
About Practical Action’s work on the organisation’s website
The COMBIO project is reducing the impact of climate change and strengthening biodiversity in the eastern part of the country. Led by the Rwanda Forestry Authority, the project aims to increase knowledge on how to restore forest plantations and agricultural land.
About COMBIO on the Openaid website
Sida supports projects that help to create jobs and income opportunities for women, young people and those living in rural areas. Sida strengthens opportunities for business and entrepreneurship. Sida also supports the national social security system to ensure that more people, particularly those living in poverty, have access to it.
Here are some examples of projects and programmes supported by Sida:
The organisation Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) stimulates the development of the financial sector. AFR contributes to increasing access to financial services for people and businesses, including women, young people and rural households. More than 2.5 million people have gained access to financial services, including women, young people, displaced people and businesses – who often lack the ability to take out loans, invest and save.
Norrsken East Africa is a place where education, innovation and entrepreneurship come together to create sustainable development. The collaboration with Norrsken Foundation targets female entrepreneurs in Rwanda. In 2022, 30 female technology entrepreneurs were supported to improve their business skills, develop their products and services, and connect with potential investors.
ReGenerate Rwanda creates employment and livelihood opportunities for women, youth and people living in poverty in western and southern Rwanda, where poverty is most severe. The project works to increase access to jobs and income through entrepreneurship, market development and trade. The project aims to empower women and young people economically, in part by addressing discriminatory social norms.
Through Exiting Poverty in Rwanda, Sida contributes to strengthening the country’s national social security system. The programme contributes to increased access to social benefits for people in poverty and extreme poverty. The programme targets people with disabilities, pregnant women and children under the age of two to reduce the risk of malnutrition and stunting. The co-operation also includes capacity building to strengthen the national system and contribute to sustainable results.
Research and higher education are priorities in Rwanda’s development strategy. Sida has long been working with Rwanda to strengthen research, higher education and domestic capacity building. This cooperation has enabled hundreds of academics and researchers to obtain master’s degrees and PhDs at Swedish universities. Today, many of them hold senior positions in the public and private sectors in Rwanda.
The research focuses on areas linked to poverty reduction and sustainable development, including food security, water resources, energy, rural development and nutritional deficiencies among children and pregnant women. Sida also helps to strengthen research environments and capacity within higher education in Rwanda.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects supported by Sida:
Sida’s research cooperation with Rwanda involves collaboration with 14 Swedish higher education institutions and six regional universities in Africa. The cooperation covers research across all disciplines, with a particular focus on natural sciences and medical research. Sida’s research support also includes institutional development.
In collaboration with the state-run University of Rwanda, Sida is helping to enhance the university’s capacity to conduct high-quality research independently and to train students locally at master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral levels across all fields of research.
Updated: August 12, 2026