Climate change constitutes a significant constraint to agricultural development and fruition through perturbation of rainfall. Areas located in the eastern part of Rwanda are more vulnerable than other regions of the country, owing to their topography, geology and climatology. Comprehensive hydro-geospatial information will unveil its potential i...

Rwanda is greatly susceptible to the impacts of climate change through its high dependence on rainfed agriculture. Despite the country’s overall growth and development over the past three decades, climate change has resulted in seasonal droughts that are expected to become more prolonged, causing additional challenges. Adding to the climate-related difficulties facing rural households, food prices in Rwanda have been exceptionally high.

Urgent action was needed to improve food security for households expected to face the impacts of combined shocks – drought plus high food and input prices. The Anticipatory Action window of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO’s) Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA) was activated, thanks to the Government of Belgium’s contribution.

It supported the resilience of smallholder farmers to help them better cope with the predicted impacts of drought, protect their assets and maintain their food security. It also promoted the adoption of climate-smart agriculture for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all.