USAID began its assistance to Rwanda in the mid-1960s. During that period support averaged about $400,000 annually, with programs focusing on Health & Sanitation, Public Safety and Public Service Training.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Rwanda received assistance through the special Self-Help Fund, as well as some regional funding. The Self-Help Fund was used in Africa during that period "to stimulate and assist small self-help endeavors in communities where the people have a need and a desire for a specific facility or service and are prepared to devote their local resources to meet this need" (FY1971 Congressional Presentation). Self-Help funding during that period averaged around $50,000.
During the late1970s, USAID programs in Food & Nutrition, Agriculture and Rural Development averaged $1.5 million per year. In 1976, Rwanda began receiving PL480 Title II assistance (regular and emergency Food for Peace funds) which it continues to receive today. Among the projects carried out were Farm Hand Tools, Food Storage and Marketing, and Reduction of Food Waste.
During the 1980s, the focus of USAID/Rwanda's development program shifted to agricultural education and research, economic policy analysis, and natural resources management. In addition, activities such as Maternal Child Health, Family Planning, Cooperative Training, and Private Enterprise Development were introduced. USAID support averaged more than $7 million annually, and originated from development assistance (Agriculture & Population Planning), PL480 II, and Economic Support Fund sources. Development Fund for Africa support began in 1988.
During the early 1990s, USAID support averaged $22.5 million in Development Assistance, Development Fund for Africa, Economic Support Funds, and PL480 II funding. Programs in the agriculture, economic growth, and health sectors continued and the mission initiated activities in democracy/governance and humanitarian assistance. The assistance was interrupted by the genocide in April 1994 and was re-established several months later to provide emergency and humanitarian aid, including food aid for refugees and internally displaced people, as well as programs in health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and seeds and tools. In response to the stabilizing political and social situation in the country, in 1998, USAID began the “transitional phase” of its assistance to Rwanda, which focused on expanding the HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness program, and integrating food security, agricultural development and technology. USAID assistance from 1994 to 1999 averaged approximately $61 million.
During the early 2000s, USAID assistance focused on capacity building and laying the foundations for sustainable development. Specifically, the program focused on rebuilding the justice system, the health system, the agricultural research and extension system, and rebuilding physical infrastructure. Additional support in information and communications technology (ICT) and higher education brought computer and internet services and advanced training courses in public health, conflict management, law, and agriculture to the National University of Rwanda and other tertiary training institutions. USAID also continued food security initiatives under the PL480 program. USAID assistance from 2000 to 2003 averaged $34.7 million.
From 2004 to present, the focus of USAID assistance has been on supporting the objectives of the Government of Rwanda as outlined in its Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy. USAID funding has steadily increased from about $48 million in 2004 to over $150 million in 2009. The bulk of the increase was due to the launch of the new U.S. President’s Initiatives for HIV/AIDS (2004) and Malaria (2007), as well as the launch of Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Program for Rwanda (2008). Health programs (e.g., programs in health system strengthening, HIV/AIDS, malaria, family planning and maternal and child health) constitute the majority of USAID’s current assistance to Rwanda. In addition, USAID supports programs that promote good governance, economic growth, and education. Food assistance, while continued throughout this period, is set to phase out at the end of 2009.
→ Top of the Page
