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Sustainable
PROGRESS
In Rwanda
Connecting People’s Capacities
Annual Report 2011

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SNV is dedicated to a society where all people enjoy the
freedom to pursue their own sustainable development.
Our advisors contribute to this by strengthening the capacity of
local organisations

SNV Rwanda 2011
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Snapshot 2011
3 Sectors :
- Agriculture
- WASH
- Renewable Energy
Client organizations: 82
Assignments: 91
Implementing partners: 28
Staff: 14 advisors and 9
support staff
Budget: EUR 2,091,065
About SNV, Netherlands Development Organization
Created in the Netherlands in 1965,
today SNV works in 36 countries
across Africa, Asia, Latin America
and the Balkans. SNV believes that inclusive
growth and development is essential
for enduring success — that is, sustained
poverty reduction requires poor men and
women to both contribute to and
benefit from growth while having
access to quality basic services.
SNV works together with local
partners to provide tech-
.
nical expertise in agriculture;
renewable energy; and water,
sanitation and hygiene; thereby
contributing to find local solutions
to global challenges and sowing the
seeds of lasting change.
Good governance principles like accountability,
transparency and participation
are at the heart of our work and we
believe that sustainable development is
based on gender equity and the inclusion
of poor and marginalized people.
SNV Rwanda was established in 1980 and
currently employs 23 advisory and administrative
staff. We are committed to supporting
the Government and the people of
Rwanda to reach their development
goals.
We build capacities
of local organizations
for lasting improvement
in the livelihoods of the
Rwandan people
Our work focuses on the
following sectors:
• Water, sanitation
and hygiene
• Renewable energy
(biogas production and improved
cook stoves).
• Agriculture (coffee, honey and dairy
sub-sectors).

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Message from the Country Director
It gives me great pleasure to present to
you SNV Rwanda’s Annual Report 2011.
2011 marked SNV’s 30th year of operation
in Rwanda. We celebrated the occasion
with our many partners and clients and
took time to reflect on the impact of our
programmes over the last three decades.
Recognition of our achievements
and appreciative comments from all
in attendance, particularly from the
Dutch ambassador and the Permanent
Secretary of MINALOC, were warmly
received and are encouraging as we
undergo some strategic and internal
changes and prepare for 2012.
One such change was the SNV corporate
decision to focus our interventions
on three sectors, namely agriculture;
renewable energy; and water, sanitation,
and hygiene.
SNV Rwanda successfully completed
its withdrawal from the education and
tourism sectors, as planned. Partners
and clients were informed in advance of
our decision to discontinue interventions,
outstanding commitments were
concluded, coordination of the Rwanda
Education NGO Platform was handed over,
and a capitalisation document detailing
SNV’s experiences in the tourism sector
was widely distributed and well-received.
Another change has been in our
management. After five years as SNV
Rwanda Country Director, Jean de Matha
Ouedraogo left in October 2011 to take up
his new position as Country Director of
SNV Zambia. SNV Rwanda accomplished
a great deal under Jean de Matha’s
leadership and we wish him continued
success in Zambia. A new director will be
appointed in the first half of 2012.
In 2011, we continued to support the coffee
and beekeeping sectors, while engaging
for the first time in the dairy sector.
In WASH, we expanded our geographic
focus to four districts in the north, and
in renewable energy, we continued to
support the National Domestic Biogas
Programme. Building on the achievements
of previous years, all sectors realised
good results and deepened partnerships
with international and local organisations.

SNV Rwanda 2011
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Message from the Country Director cont’d
In collaboration with the Embassy of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands, our work
on domestic accountability continued
through the Joint Action
Development Forum project.
Our localisation strategy
continued to be
implemented successfully.
The number of local
capacity builders engaged
and supported increased,
and a high level of quality
service delivery was maintained.
As we look ahead to 2012, we will continue
our on-going interventions in the agriculture,
renewable energy and WASH sectors, as
well as in JADF, while firmly engaging in the
improved cook stoves sector. While we will
continue to provide advisory services and
knowledge development and brokering in
We are looking forward to
up scale efforts in WASH,
Biogas and Agriculture
through our partnership with
the Government and other
development organizations
all sectors, we will give particular attention to
business development services in both the
agriculture and renewable energy sectors.
We also look forward to
up scaling our efforts in
WASH through a renew
partnership with EWSA
and UNICEF.
In all sectors, we
will continue to bring
partners together to
collaborate in order to
enhance economies of scale
and up scale efforts. To support this,
we will further expand our localisation
programme.
Erik van Waveren
Acting Country Director
SNV Rwanda

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Rwanda
In 2011, Rwanda’s GDP grew by an
impressive 8%, while inflation stayed
below double digits. Growth was largely
driven by the service and agricultural
sectors, which contributed 43% and 42%
of GDP, respectively. The industrial sector
also showed robust growth (particularly
mining), contributing 14% of GDP.
The government continues its efforts to
diversify and transform the economy into
a knowledge-based one focused on high
value transformation and services, jobs
and incomes. Rwanda also promotes
productive sectors like agriculture,
mining, and tourism, to further reduce
donor dependency and improve its trade
balance.
The Government is continuously improving
Rwanda’s infrastructure.

SNV Rwanda 2011
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Despite the progress made to date, an
estimated 56% of Rwandans still live
below the poverty line. The economy
is very dependent on subsistence
agriculture, which contributes about
34% of GDP, 80% of employment and
50% of exports. Some segments of the
rural poor still experience water and
food uncertainty, with food insecurity
affecting 21% of Rwandans.
Rwanda has a high population density
(384 inhabitants/km2) and a low
urbanisation rate. Measures have been
put in place to stimulate agricultural
intensification and to address
environmental challenges related to the
high pressure on resources such as land
and water. High levels of investment
are still required in order to achieve the
agricultural transformation.
Key labour market skills are also
lacking—almost 75% of Rwanda’s labour
force is unskilled, and less than 10% of its
working population is educated beyond
primary level.
Expensive energy
and high transport
costs, relative to
its neighbours,
raise the
costs of doing
business in
Rwanda.
Despite
t h i s ,
Rwanda
continues to climb up the ‘doing
business’ list and is now ranked 50 (was
58 in 2010).
The country scores particularly high
with respect to starting a business,
fiscal procedures, property registration,
access to credit, and
international commerce.
The third phase of
the decentralisation
process is
underway,
and seeks to
strengthen district
level service
delivery and
local economic
development. Local actors
are encouraged to participate actively
in identifying and removing barriers to
development.

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2011 Highlights
In agriculture:
• 69,000 SNV supported coffee
farmers increased their incomes
from an average of USD 150 to
USD 201.
• Eight SNV supported coffee
cooperatives won the 2011 Rwanda
Cup of Excellence.
• Production of fully washed coffee by
SNV supported cooperatives increased
by 40% between 2010 and 2011.
• SNV services reached 2,618
beekeepers.
• Production of bee products (honey,
wax) increased from 25 to 47 kg per
household.
• Incomes from bee products increased
from USD 84 to USD 120 per household.
In renewable energy:
• 785 biogas digesters were built and
benefitted 3,330 people.
• A cheaper biodigester model was
developed and made available on the
market.
In WASH:
• SNV contributed to new access to
clean water for an estimated 105,000
people.
• SNV contributed to improved sanitation
for 223,000 people.
• Local water sanitation and hygiene
organisations in the districts of Rubavu,
Nyabihu, Musanze and Burera were
sensitised and trained on hygiene,
cost of water, and public private
partnerships.
• SNV successfully supported the
AfricaSan conference.
In Joint Action Development Forum
(JADF):
• A training programme for improved
JADF facilitation and effectiveness was
rolled-out country-wide and 15 districts
received tailor made JADF coaching.
• JADF became a central mechanism
for implementing national plans.
Moreover:
• SNV withdrew smoothly from the
education and tourism sectors.
• SNV produced and disseminated an
ebook on SNV’s tourism experiences.
• 683 people were trained in specific
vocational skills.
• 2,636 people were sensitised on child
labour laws and policies and the
impact on children’s education.

SNV Rwanda 2011
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Agriculture
JADF
WASH
Biogas

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Our Approach
SNV Rwanda seeks to empower
local communities, businesses, and
organisations to break the cycle
of poverty and guide their own
development by helping them to obtain
the tools, knowledge, and connections
they need to increase their incomes and
gain access to basic services.
We build this capacity by offering
advisory services that focus on creating
effective solutions with local impact.
The knowledge that we generate from
our advisory work is shared with other
local organisations and capacity builders
through knowledge networking, with the
goal of expanding access to, application
and regeneration of knowledge.
Lastly, evidence-based advocacy work
allows us to influence institutional
structures, policies, and practices in
ways that have been proven to benefit
the poor.
Value chain development
SNV uses a value chain approach to propoor
development. A value chain is the
system of people, organisations, and
activities needed to create, process and
deliver a product or service from supplier
to customer. We use the value chain
approach to effect change throughout
the whole system, thereby maximising
the possibilities for economic, social and
environmental sustainability.
SNV facilitates value chain development by
building technical, managerial, networking
and governance capacities, thereby
developing profitable and sustainable
practices in the value chain, resulting in
increased incomes and employment for
the poor, especially women.
Localisation
The aim of our localisation strategy
is to equip Rwandan institutions and
individuals with the ability to provide high
quality capacity development services

SNV Rwanda 2011
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aimed at poverty reduction and promoting
good governance.
Local capacity builders (LCBs) are in-country
agents that play a major role in building the
capacity of our clients. Like SNV itself, LCBs
provide a range of advisory, knowledge
brokering, and advocacy services. In turn,
SNV strengthens LCBs internal capacity
through on the job coaching, special courses
and training, and sharing information.
To complement our localisation activities,
SNV, at the request of Rwanda’s Ministry
of Trade and Industry, is developing a
proposal for a Business Development
Services Facility (BDSF) — a demandled
and market-based mechanism
to connect small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) and other productive
organisations to local service providers.
The Facility would also support SMEs by
co-funding the business and professional
services that they need. The BDSF initiative
would be linked to Rwanda’s broader
Micro Small and Medium Enterprise
(MSME) development project.
Multi actor processes
SNV reinforces and coaches multi
stakeholder processes in order to connect
and link different actors for constructive
cooperation, improved accountability
and feedback, access to information and
participation.
The JADF is an example of an
Multi Stakeholder Platform
supported by SNV. It is a
space for consultation
and dialogue
around common
development
issues at the district
level and below. In
Agriculture, coffee task
forces are strengthened
to improve the enabling
environment of the value chain.
We build this capacity
through advisory
services that focus
on creating effective
solutions with local
impact
In the WASH sector, WASH commissions
are supported to enhance coordination
and collaboration between stakeholders
that include government, WASH district
officers, academic and research
institutions, Civil Society and private sector.

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Our Partners
SNV believes that development is best
achieved through the concerted actions of
civil society, the private sector, governments
and NGOs. SNV Rwanda is fortunate to have
collaborated with a range of international and
national partners from all of these sectors.
Government of Rwanda:
SNV Rwanda continues to collaborate
with various government ministries
and institutions, such as the Ministry of
Local Administration (MINALOC), Ministry
of Agriculture (MINAGRI), Ministry of
Commerce and Industry (MINICOM),
Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA),
Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and
Rwanda Bureau of Standard (RBS) as well as
Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), Energy,
Water and Sanitation Agency (EWSA),
Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB), (National
Agriculture and Export Board (NAEB).
The Embassy of the Kingdom of
Netherlands:
The EKN is a longstanding partner of
SNV Rwanda. SNV and EKN work closely
together in the implementation of the JADF
strengthening project. The relationship
also entails a regular exchange of
information on interventions in agriculture
and renewable energy as to optimize
complementarity in these sectors.
Winrock International:
Works with SNV through the Rwanda
Education Alternatives for Children
programme (REACH), which aims to
eliminate exploitive child labour through
provision of educational services and
capacity building in Rwanda.
UNICEF:
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
has been one of our partners since 2009
when we first worked together to build
capacity for water, sanitation and hygiene
promotion in the volcanic region. That
programme was successfully completed
and UNICEF and SNV are exploring
opportunities for a follow-up phase.
GIZ:
Our partnership with the German
Development Agency (GIZ) is part of
a tripartite agreement between GIZ,
MININFRA and SNV to implement Rwanda’s
National Domestic Biogas Programme.
The partnership ended in December 2011.
Price Waterhouse Coopers:
A leading partner in the Congo Basin Forest
Fund financed by the African Development
Bank, SNV Rwanda is preparing to
collaborate with PWC through our agriculture
and renewable energy sector activities.
Banque Populaire du Rwanda:
BPR has collaborated with SNV to provide
credit, channel subsidies, and promote
renewable energy at community and
household levels.
AgriProFocus:
Under the AgriProFocus umbrella, SNV
Rwanda takes part in the coalition for rural
entrepreneurship development and is the
focal point for beekeeping, leading the activities

SNV Rwanda 2011
of the coalition in this area. AgriProFocus also
provides support for capacity building and
monitoring of local capacity builders.
TNO:
A partnership between SNV and the
Netherlands Organisation for Applied
Scientific Research (TNO) was formalised
this year to develop and pilot a marketable
device to generate electricity from biogas.
TERRAFINA:
Collaboration with Terrafina on
microfinancing has continued. In late
2011, discussions began on how to
further strengthen the partnership.
ICCO:
Collaboration with ICCO to stimulate rural
entrepreneurship continued in 2011.
IFAD:
SNV maintained informal contacts with
the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) to coordinate
interventions in agriculture.
FLO:
The Fair-trade Labelling Organisations
International (FLO) focuses on increasing
certification and market access for coffee
producers. Through this partnership, 14
cooperatives were introduced to the FLO
certification system.
UNWTO:
The Sustainable Tourism-Eradicating
Poverty project (STEP), a partnership
between RDB-T&C, UNWTO and SNV,
resulted in the Congo Nile trail. The trail
was officially opened in November.
Collaboration ceased with the exit of SNV
Rwanda from the tourism sector.
PUM:
The partnership with Netherlands Senior
Experts (PUM) aims to improve the
productivity of beekeepers.
IPRC Kigali:
Is an implementing partner in the
Biogas+ socket pilot project, which
seeks to develop a marketable device to
generate electricity from biogas.
ABEM:
Is an implementing partner in the
Biogas+ socket pilot project, which
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seeks to develop a marketable device to
generate electricity from biogas.
Gasabo 3D:
Is an implementing partner in the
Biogas+ socket pilot project, which
seeks to develop a marketable device to
generate electricity from biogas.
Aquavirunga:
SNV partnered with Aquavirunga to
improve sanitation and payment for water.
FAWE:
SNV collaborates with the Forum for
African Women Educationalists in the
Rwanda Education Alternatives for
Children programme (REACH), which
aims to eliminate exploitive child labour
through provision of educational services
and capacity building in Rwanda.
RALGA:
Is a key partner and co-implementer in the
JADF strengthening programme.
AUSAID:
Was a major funding partner for the
AfricaSan conference.

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Local capacity builders
Local capacity builders (LCBs) are
in-country agents that play a major role
in building the capacity of our clients.
Like SNV itself, LCBs provide a range of
advisory, knowledge brokering, and
advocacy services.
In turn, SNV strengthens
LCBs internal capacity
through on the job coaching,
special courses and
training, sharing information
and joint evaluations.
Beekeeping
• ARDI Association Rwandese pour la
promotion du Developpement Integre.
• ADEPE Action pour la developpement
du peuple.
• SERUKA Association pour la
contribution de la femme au Rwanda.
• REDO Rural Environmental and
Development Organization
Coffee
• INADES Formation
• CSC Ugama Centre des services au
cooperatives
• RWASHOSCCO Rwanda Smallholders
Speciality Coffee Company
Local capacity builders
(LCBs) are in-country
agents that play a major
role in building the
capacity of our clients
Financial services
• INDIGO
WASH
• COFORWA
Compagnons de
fontainiers de Rwanda
• CADEA Capacity
Development Advisors
(including JADF)
Dairy
• GAKO Organic Farming Training Centre

SNV Rwanda 2011
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Impact on access to water and
sanitation
• In 2011, SNV efforts contributed
to 61,700 people (32,000
female; 29,700 male) gaining
access to water, while an
additional 223,000 people
(115,500 female; 107,500
male) gained access to sanitation.
• In 2011, at least 57% of the
population in the project
area had access to improved
latrines, which exceeded the
target of 51%.
Our Work
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Clean drinking water is essential to
human life and precedes personal and
economic development. Lack of access
to adequate sanitation and safe drinking
water creates numerous health problems
– most of which are entirely preventable.
The 2010/11 joint sector review indicates
that 81% of Rwandans have access
to water. However, sector specialists
estimate the actual number to be much
lower once functionality is taken into
account. Furthermore, less than 25% of
the water supply is considered as safe.
In a similar fashion, determining sanitation
coverage depends on how hygiene and
privacy standards are defined. For example,
the same 2010/2011 joint sector review
states that 51% of the population has access
to improved sanitation, yet sector specialists
estimate that less than 10% meet the strictest
hygienic and privacy standards.
Whichever numbers you choose to
accept, investment in rural water and
sanitation is still needed. SNV’s works in
water, sanitation and hygiene focuses
on actual use and sustainability of
WASH facilities.
Multi actor collaboration
Rwanda is highly committed to extending
access to water and sanitation and to
improving hygiene. In 2011, SNV Rwanda
contributed to these goals in various
ways. At national level, we participated
in sector working group meetings with
key national and international partners.
Our successful participation in the Third
Africa Conference on Hygiene and
Sanitation (AfricaSan) 2011 deepened our
relationship with MININFRA/EWSA and the
World Bank, and gave SNV more visibility
in the sector. However, most of our direct
activities targeted Districts and local
authorities, WASH sub-commissions, and
other locally based organisations. Support
focused on improving access to rural
water supply and improved sanitation.

SNV Rwanda 2011
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In 2011, our WASH interventions in
Musanze, Burera, Rubavu, and Nyabihu
in collaboration with UNICEF and
Aquavirunga strengthened the capacity of:
• JADF/WASH Commissions to improve
coordination, collaboration, and
learning between various WASH
stakeholders, including District officers
and local authorities, hygiene clubs,
WASH community management
committees, public service providers
(schools, health centres), youth and
women’s associations, civil society
organisations and private operators.
• District authorities and technicians to
plan, manage, monitor and evaluate
WASH projects.
• Local WASH organisations, including
building community capacity in
operation and management for local
water practitioners and cooperatives,
and effectively promoting hygiene
practices in schools and health
centres.WASH commissions are now
functional in four districts, Nyabihu,
Musanze, Burera and Rubavu, each
holding 2-3 meetings per year.
Participation in the commissions is high,
with 90% of all relevant WASH actors
attending. UNICEF, our funding partner in
the region, reports improvement of district
plans and reports, project coordination is
more efficient, and capacity to manage
public-private contracts has increased.
In the field, SNV provided part of its
services through two local capacity
builders, namely COFORWA and CADEA.
Women, children and WASH
SNV actively promotes the needs of
women and girls with respect to water
and sanitation and seeks to integrate
more women in the operation and
management of WASH cooperatives.
For instance, many school WASH issues
are addressed at WASH commission
meetings; at one such meeting, schools
decided to designate staff to ensure that
latrines and hygiene facilities for girls are
available and clean.
Children, especially girls, are affected
by household WASH conditions and are
disproportionately at risk of water-related
diseases like cholera and diarrhoea,
causing high levels of absenteeism and
slow progress at school. Through the REACH
programme, SNV has introduced the issue
of child labour and the need for education as
it relates to WASH at various JADF meetings.
Looking ahead to 2012.
In 2012, we will invest more in the social,
entrepreneurial, and environmental
sustainability of WASH service delivery.
We will focus more on sanitation and
strengthening the role of Water Users
Associations and School Wash.
We expect to renew our collaboration with
UNICEF and Aquavirunga to increased
use of clean water by 144,000 people
(74,500 women and 69,500 men), and
increased use of improved sanitation by
142,000 school children (71,000 girls and
71,000 boys).

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Impact on the biogas sector
• Number of people with
access to renew able energy
increased by approximately
3,400 in 2011 from 4,200 to
7,600 (4,000 female; 3,600
male).
• 186 technicians and masons
(including 8 women) actively
engaged in construction of
biogas digesters.
• 90% of installed biodigesters
are operational.
Renewable Energy
Developing and expanding access to
renewable energy sources is vital to
development and provides a number of
benefits. In the short term, benefits include
improved health, greater productivity, and
more employment opportunities. In the
medium to long term, renewable energy
sources have a lower environmental
impact than conventional technologies
and ensure energy availability in the future.
Today, about 90% of all energy used
in rural households in Rwanda comes
from firewood.
SNV Rwanda supports biogas sector
development in Rwanda – that is,
using animal waste to produce energy
by providing technical support to the
National Domestic Biogas
Programme
( N D B P ) ,
to District
authorities, and
to private biogas
companies.
The first phase of the NDBP support
programme ended this year. A proposal
for a follow up phase has been developed
by SNV and NDBP. In the meantime, the
government of Rwanda remains highly
committed to promoting the biogas sector
and seeking alternative funding sources.
In the area of biogas, SNV contributed
to increased outreach (see box) and
some 785 high quality biodigesters were
constructed. However, fewer biodigesters
than expected were installed as some
households found them to be too
expensive. In order to address this, a
smaller and cheaper biogas digester was
made available on the market.
Also improvements in credit facilities are
being been explored.
During the year, special attention was
paid to developing the entrepreneurial
skills of biogas companies.
We also focused on ensuring the accountability
of service providers to their
customers and educating district field

SNV Rwanda 2011
technicians on child labour issues, as
part of the REACH programme.
SNV provided business development
support services to biogas companies in
part through INDIGO, a specialised local
capacity builder.
Exploring New Frontiers
To date, our work in renewable energy
has focused on developing a biogas
sector in Rwanda, one that satisfies
cooking needs (gas stoves), and to a
lesser extent, lighting (gas lamps). We
continued work on this front in 2011, but,
following an initiative led by TNO in the
Netherlands, we also began to explore
the possibilities for converting biogas into
electricity for domestic household use.
Such a development would allow for
productive task lighting, mobile phone
charging, radio use and powering
children’s laptops, thereby increasing
people’s access to communication,
information and education.
In partnership with TNO and other local
partners, we are developing and piloting
a biogas socket that can directly transform
the heat of a biogas flame into electricity.
SNV Rwanda also started to think about
engaging in other forms of renewable
energy. To this end, SNV conducted
an analysis of the charcoal and
improved cooking stove (ICS)
value chains and discussed
possible entry points with key
stakeholders and potential
partners.
Building on SNV’s
experiences in value chain
development (VCD) and multistakeholder
processes (MSP), an
initial concept note was prepared on
improving sustainable production and
efficient use of biomass. A separate
concept note on improving distribution
channels for solar products was also
developed.
Looking ahead to 2012
SNV will continue its work towards
developing the biogas market. Our
interventions will focus on further
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strengthening biogas companies,
reducing the cost of biodigesters,
increasing access to financial services,
and helping NDBP secure funding for the
following phase.
SNV Rwanda
supports biogas sector
development in Rwanda
– that is, using animal
waste to produce
energy
The
partnership
SNV-TNO
will
continue developing
a cheap and
locally appropriate
appliance to
generate electricity
from biogas.
In 2012, SNV will also
engage in the charcoal
and improved cooking stoves
(ICS) programmes, based on the value
chain and sector studies conducted in
2011. Baselines and partnerships will be
developed, and interventions will focus
on piloting MSP and VCD approaches to
improve distribution channels of these
technologies in the rural areas of four
districts.

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Agriculture
In Rwanda, agriculture is the
dominant economic activity and
provides employment to more than
80% of the population. As such, it is a
key entry point for increasing growth
and reducing poverty in the country.
The agricultural sector, however,
faces some serious constraints to
development. The great pressure
on land due to high rural population
density, the resulting smallholdings and
associated environmental challenges,
the hilly terrain, and insufficient access
to modern technology, all affect the
shift from subsistence level agriculture
to market-oriented farming. A systemic
approach is therefore required to
address both market development
and increased productivity.
Coffee
Coffee contributes to around 25%
of national export revenues and is
the main source of income for over
400,000 Rwandan households. In
collaboration with the newly formed
National Agriculture Export Board, the
government agency responsible for
the subsector, SNV aimed to improve
entrepreneurship and create value
added at producer level in 2011.
Our clients included 16 cooperative
unions, covering a total of 84
cooperatives, 30 of which had their own
coffee washing stations.
SNV work in the coffee sector focused on
business development, productivity and
quality; certification; access to finance;
and increasing localisation by engaging
and strengthening local capacity builders.
The big picture
Despite 2011 being a low production
cycle year, we saw a number of gains
and improvements.

SNV Rwanda 2011
Impact on production and income
(SNV supported cooperatives)
• Total production of fully washed green
coffee increased from 606 tonnes
(2010) to 892 tonnes. 1
• Average income per household from
fully washed coffee increased from
USD 140 to USD 257. 2
• Average income per household from
ordinary and fully washed green coffee
increased from USD 150 to USD 207. 2
1 (export stats, NAEB 2012)
2 (based on production data and
average price)
There was a substantial increase in the
number of small producers receiving
support from our client cooperatives
from 48,000 to 69,000 (about 20,000
were women). SNV supported 30
cooperative coffee washing stations.
The number of cooperative coffee
washing stations with positive financial
balances increased from 25 to 28.
FLO certification among our client
cooperatives also increased from 12
to 14 over the last year. The number of
cooperative coffee washing stations with
access to loans decreased slightly from
29 to 28. Coffee prices on the international
market went up in 2011, leading to more
working capital and greater turnover at
coffee washing stations.
Improving productivity and quality
SNV is proud of our clients in the coffee
sector that, once again, performed well
in the annual Coffee Cup of Excellence,
the most esteemed award given out
to the very best coffee produced in a
country in a particular year. The criteria
are high and strictly applied so that
few coffees are honoured in this way.
SNV clients represented eight of the 32
winners. Their quality coffee was sold
during auctions that attracted buyers
from USA, South Korea, Taiwan, South
Africa, Japan and the UK.
Many advances were made in the area of
business development. Over the last year,
33 cooperatives developed approved
business plans and 16 cooperative
unions produced a comprehensive
strategy. The number of cooperatives
using the Information Management
21
System (IMS) tool, a computerised
management tool designed specifically
for coffee washing stations, increased
from one to nine. The IMS makes it easy
to collect and compare coffee production
information for each farmer, track cherry
purchases, and produce orderly reports
and financial statements. Having
this information available and sound
business plans in place helps increase a
cooperative’s access to loans and other
financial services, expand their trade
networks, and improve product quality.
In 2011, SNV Rwanda engaged four local
capacity builders: Indigo, Rwashoscco,
Inades Formation and CSC Ugama.
Looking ahead to 2012
In 2012, SNV support will continue
to focus on supporting cooperative
coffee washing stations, giving special
attention to access to financial services,
certification, and business development.
This will benefit some 25 thousand
coffee growers and is expected to
increase fully washed coffee production
and incomes for SNV supported
cooperatives.

22
Beekeeping
With low start-up costs and minimal land and
labour requirements, beekeeping, with its long
history in Rwanda provides an important source
of income for the poor.
In 2011, advisory services were directed at improving
management and entrepreneurship at producer level, as
well as increasing overall production and quality. Our clients
included 47 cooperatives and one processing company.
SNV support focused on: business development
(mainly improving financial management, productivity
and quality); certification; access to finance; increased
production through the use of modern beehives and
beekeeping techniques; and localisation through
engaging and strengthening local capacity builders.
A deliberate effort was made to encourage cooperatives
to clean up their membership lists and focus on active
beekeepers only. This resulted in a 60% overall reduction
in membership, effectively reducing SNV’s scope of
outreach from 6,573 to 2,618 households.
To compensate, however, the production of the
remaining members increased far beyond our

SNV Rwanda 2011
Impact on production and
income:
• Total production of honey per
household increased from 24
to 45 kg.
• Total production of wax per
household increased from
2.3 to 3.4 kg.
• Average income per
household from honey
increased from USD 62 to
USD 114.
• Average income per
household from honey and
bees wax increased to USD
120.
expectations (see box) despite adverse
weather conditions. This illustrates that
cooperatives have become more robust
and production oriented.
The number of cooperatives generating
income from beeswax and propolis
production (a resin like substance with
numerous medicinal and commercial
uses) increased from zero to 27.
Another focal area was improving
business development skills. 23
cooperatives were trained in business
planning. The number of cooperatives
with established business plans
increased from 11 to 16.
23
Looking ahead to 2012
SNV will continue to support national
institutions and producer organisations
to further establish the honey and bees
wax value chains in four zones covering
15 Districts in Rwanda.
In partnership with PUM, we will focus
on improving incomes by increasing
productivity through the introduction of
improved beekeeping practices and
equipment, and through improving
the business skills of producer and
processing cooperatives.
Some 3,000 beekeepers in 47
cooperatives will receive support.
Access to finance is still a key issue for
most beekeepers and there is a need to
develop sector specific financial products.
SNV provided its services in collaboration
with four local capacity builders: ARDI,
SERUKA, ADEPE, and REDO.

24
Dairy
The dairy sector has been identified as
one target of the government’s poverty
eradication strategy. It is estimated that
smallholder farmers supply more than 80 per
cent of Rwanda’s total annual milk production
of 270 million litres. However, dairy production
and post-production processes face critical
challenges, which affect milk quality and the
financial viability of dairy farmer co-operatives.
Following a dairy sector value chain analysis to
map out the challenges in the sector, possible
areas of intervention, and subsequent
positioning of SNV, in consultation with
relevant stakeholders, interventions
began on a pilot basis in the last
quarter of the year.
Two clients in the Gishwati milk
basin, both cooperative milk collection
centres, received support to improve
their management skills and to improve the
quality of milk supplied. A local capacity builder,
GAKO, was contracted to assist in this process.
At national level, SNV has explored opportunities
to support the Rwanda National Dairy Board.
Discussions are on going. SNV also participated
in the dairy sector working group, in meetings
Smallholder farmers
supply more than 80
per cent of the total
annual milk production
of 270 million litres
on sector strategies and
pricing.
Looking ahead to 2012
SNV aims to establish
itself in the dairy sector
through interventions that
capitalise on SNVs added
value while addressing key
weaknesses in the dairy
value chain as identified by
the value chain analysis.
We will support
two milk collection
centres
owned by cooperatives
in
the North-western
milk basin
(Musanze, Nyabihu,
Nogorero, Gakenke
districts) to improve their
management skills and
the quality of milk supplied,
and explore opportunities
for up scaling best
practices.

SNV Rwanda 2011
25

26
Joint Action Development Forum (JADF)
The Joint Action Development Forum (JADF)
is a consultative platform for information
sharing, cooperation and partnership
among actors involved in the development
process at local levels. It is a fundamental
part of Rwanda’s current decentralisation
and governance architecture. The
JADF plays a central role in improving
governance at district and sector levels: it is
the space where development actors can
come together and discuss development
issues, where civil society organisations
can raise their voices, and where service
providers can be held accountable.
The Ministry of Local Government is the
government agency responsible for
decentralisation, and the main implementer
of the JADF Strengthening Programme,
along with SNV and RALGA. The Embassy
for the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a
major funder of the initiative.
SNV supports the JADF process in 15 Districts.
This includes coaching JADF permanent
secretaries, as well as facilitating JADF
general assembly and commission
meetings. In 2011, in collaboration with
MDF, SNV also organised trainings on
JADF multi-stakeholder platform facilitation
and management, and on voice and
accountability.
Looking ahead to 2012
Experiences with the platform to date have
been largely positive. However more can
be done to increase the effectiveness of
JADF. In future, support will increasingly
target the thematic commissions and
sector level JADF to inform the general
assembly of important issues on the
ground.
SNV Rwanda will continue
to contribute to the
decentralisation process
through its support to
the JADF in 15 districts, in
partnership with the Rwanda
Governance Board, RALGA
and EKN.
Information exchange and holding
each other accountable in the
JADF leads to better development
results

SNV Rwanda 2011
Vocational Skill Development (VOSD)
The 1994 genocide resulted in the
massive loss of an educated and skilled
workforce. Eighteen years later, key
labour market skills are still lacking in
Rwanda—almost 75% of the country’s
labour force is unskilled and less than
10% of its working population is educated
beyond primary level.
Rwanda suffers from serious deficiencies
in terms of trained human capital,
especially for technical professions.
SNV Rwanda’s VOSD programme is fully
integrated in our sector implementation
strategies.
Highlights are summarised below:
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene:
• 52 operators (52% women) of
public stand pipes and public toilets
were trained in hygiene education,
maintenance, and accounting.
• Members of 6 WASH cooperatives
were trained in administrative and
financial management through
Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
Renewable Energy
• 103 active masons were coached
and received on the job support.
Beekeeping:
• 392 beekeepers acquired new skills
to diversify bee products beyond
honey.
• 20 artisans were trained in sewing
beekeeping protective clothing.
Coffee:
• 58 cooperative staff received on the
job training in use and maintenance
of coffee processing equipment.
• 58 cooperative staff and members
received on the job training in coffee
quality control, cupping/tasting, and
coffee export handling.
• 14 cooperatives received training in
FLO certification processes.
• Prepared training modules on
cooperative management for
publication and dissemination.
• Identified internships and
apprenticeships for youth with
agricultural and leadership skills (via
the REACH project framework).
Rwanda still need a leap
in trained human capital
especially in technical
professions
27

28
Financial Services
As part of our value chain development approach
and overall agricultural and economic
development strategy, SNV Rwanda recognises
the importance of improving access to financial services;
that is, of helping local entrepreneurs and SMEs to access
working capital and impact investment opportunities.
Impact Investment Advisory Services (IIAS):
SNV East and Southern Africa has been implementing
the Impact Investment Advisory Services initiative for the
last two years.
In Rwanda, IIAS activities in 2011 included:
• Assessing IIAS potential in the country.
• Analysing IIAS and business management needs for
two honey-processing companies (MIG and ABDC)
and one coffee cooperative (Dutezimberekawa).
• Deciding to facilitate strategic planning for two
companies.
Agri-business Finance Fair (AgriProFocus):
AgriProFocus (APF) is a network of organisations and
companies that promotes agriculture as a business
activity. It helps farmers practice agriculture as a
business, access innovative business development
services and maximise profits.

SNV Rwanda 2011
29
SNV is one of the leading organisations
helping to prepare an Agri-business
Finance Fair under the umbrella of APF.
The objective of the Fair is to “support
the development of smallholder agribusinesses
by supporting access to
financial services and credit”.
Banks offer farmers with financial products
that support business development and
growth. The Fair will be held in early
2012. Planners visited a similar
event in Kenya to learn from
the experiences there.
Financial services are
essential to transform
good ideas and
increased capacities
into actions
Partnership Terrafina:
Terrafina is a member of the
AgriProFocus coalition and supports the
use of microfinance institutions.
Together, SNV Rwanda and Terrafina seek
to improve access to finance for actors in
the beekeeping, coffee and biogas value
chains, thereby promoting the emergence of
sustainable income generating enterprises
with market linkages in rural areas.

30
Rwanda Education Alternatives for
Children (REACH)
The Rwanda Education Alternatives for Children
project (REACH) was launched in 2009, with
the aim of reducing exploitive child labour in
Rwanda’s agricultural sector. SNV partners with
Winrock and FAWE in this project.
In 2011, SNV continued to raise awareness in
the various sectors and subsectors in which it
works. Child labour issues were discussed in JADF
meetings, in meetings with district field technicians,
in trainings with beekeepers, and in coffee task
force meetings. In the coffee sector, internships
and apprenticeships were identified for youth
with agricultural and leadership skills.
In 2012, SNV Rwanda will continue its
efforts to combat child labour through the
REACH project. The focus will continue
to be on raising awareness within the
sectors and subsectors in which SNV
Rwanda intervenes, and on sensitising
SNV Rwanda clients and partners.
REACH activities are therefore
integrated in the sector implementation
strategies.

SNV Rwanda 2011
31

32
Knowledge Development
SNV Rwanda has a long history and extensive experience
implementing solutions to development challenges. In
2011, we widely disseminated this knowledge through
the creation of various knowledge products, in hopes
that others will not only learn from our activities, but also
be encouraged to become potential partners.
1
1
1
30 years in Rwanda
30 years in Rwanda
(1980-2010)
(1980-2010)
30 years in Rwanda
(1980-2010)
Case studies, practice briefs and position papers:
Case studies continue to be promoted as a good way
to contribute to knowledge management. Four cases
were developed in 2011. In addition, practice briefs
were prepared for JADF and Agriculture. These briefs
are intended for an external audience and aim to share
practical experiences with specific interventions. They are
published in electronic format. Position papers, guidelines
and various small booklets were also produced
Film, television and radio:
To mark SNV’s 30-year anniversary in Rwanda, nine short
documentaries covering SNV Rwanda’s interventions and
approach were produced and are available via YouTube
(SnvinRwanda). Another documentary, “SNV Rwanda in
the coffee sector 2005-2011” was also produced. SNV
advisors also appeared on Rwandan national television,
participating in a debate about Joint Action Development
Platforms.

SNV Rwanda 2011
33
Radio interviews were given on topics of
renewable energy (biogas) and coffee
certification.
Most of SNV’s publications can be found
online via our website at http://www.
snvworld.org/en/countries/rwanda/
publications. SNV also publishes an
e-newsletter, “The LINK from Rwanda”,
twice a year.
The newsletter shares the latest
information about SNV Rwanda activities,
positions, and events. SNV advisors
occasionally publish on other websites.
For example, JADF has contibuted to the
African Community of Practice: Managing
for Development Results website.
Case studies:
• SNV practices: Developing Capacities
in Rwanda Case studies 2008-2009
• Learning to Dialogue’ (JADF).
• I love Biogas. It’s a profitable business
(Renewable energy).
• Multi-stakeholder platforms for
sustainable WASH services: Lessons
from Rwanda (WASH).
EBooks:
• Pro poor Perspectives of the Tourism
in Rwanda” Experiences of SNV
2005-2011.
SNV Rwanda Practice Briefs:
• Joint Action Development Forum:
Accountable Service Provision and
Local Economic Development in
Rwanda.
• Certification opportunities in the
Coffee Sector.
Documentaries (available on YouTube
under SNVinRwanda)
• SNV Rwanda in the coffee sector
2005 – 2011.
• SNV 30 years in Rwanda: Solidarity
and capacity.
• SNV in Rwanda: Bee keeping.
• SNV in Rwanda: Biogas.
• SNV in Rwanda: Coffee.
• SNV in Rwanda: Education.
• SNV in Rwanda: Multi actor
collaboration for development.
• SNV in Rwanda: Pro-poor Tourism.
• SNV Rwanda: Water Sanitation and
Hygiene.
Online newsletter:”The Link from Rwanda”
Visit our website at http://snvworld.org/
en/countries/rwanda/publications

34
Financial Report
In 2011, the programme was implemented with a total budget of EUR 2,091,065, including EUR 540,348 of external funding.
Our main funder is the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2011, we also received funds from AgriProFocus, Winrock, UNICEF,
the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aquavirunga, Commonwealth Australia, GIZ and TNO.
Funding resources
26%
74%
SNV
EXTERNAL

SNV Rwanda 2011
35
Advisory days
(from total of 4,594 Days in 2011)
22%
3%
11%
EDUCATION
3%
18%
WASH
RE
AGRICULTURE
43%
TOURISM
JADF
The results were achieved with a total of 4,594 advisory days. Local capacity builders accounted for 33% of realised PPDs,
which exceeded our target of 28%.
Advisory Days
33%
SNV Advisors
67%
Local Capacity Builders

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SNV Rwanda
Country Office
Boulevard de l’Umuganda 1
PO Box: 1049 Kigali - Rwanda
Tel: +250 252599500
Email: rwanda@snvworld.org
www.snvworld.org