When refugees first settled in Gatsibo Sector, Gatsibo District, following the establishment of Nyabiheke Refugee Camp, some residents feared the newcomers would disrupt their daily lives. They worried about insecurity and assumed the refugees, seen as foreigners unfamiliar with Rwandan values, might increase crime. But soon enough, the refugees and host community members began building partnerships that now drive agricultural production, income generation and social cohesion. In 2022, refugees and nearby residents formed a joint cooperative to strengthen livelihoods through modern farming. With support from the government and UNHCR, the cooperative called CODEGA received 23 hectares in the Nyabicwamba wetland and underwent training on improved agricultural practices. They now grow maize and soya beans. “Today we are 446 members, of whom 222 are refugees,” said Samuel Nsanzabahizi, president of the cooperative. “We grow soya and maize and harvest 5.1 tonnes per hectare for maize. Our total harvest is between 120 and 140 tonnes every season.” These yields have enabled the cooperative members to shift from the narrative from aid dependency to self-reliance. Felicite Nyiraneza, a resident living near Nyabiheke Camp, said joint farming has strengthened both trust and incomes. “We have good relations with the refugees because each member has five acres to cultivate,” she says. “We also have saving and credit groups and we provide support to anyone facing a problem.” The cooperative operates savings mechanisms that allow members to deposit earnings after harvest and share profits, enabling households to diversify their livelihoods. “I harvested 300 kilograms of maize last season, although the dry season affected production,” Nyiraneza explains. “The money I earned helped me buy equipment for my tailoring business, which supports my family.” Farmers have also received small livestock to improve soil fertility. The animals provide organic manure, and members have been trained to produce compost themselves to sustain productivity. The notable increase in yields arising from the inclusion approach between refugees and the host community in Nyabicwamba, Gatsibo district, has attracted support from Jya Mbere Project to establish a maize processing plant which farmers say will even drive further their profitability. Samuel Nsanzabahizi, the cooperative chairman said that to address persistent market challenges, the cooperative is yet to inaugurate a newly constructed maize processing plant located about three kilometres from the farm. Nsanzabahizi said construction is 90 percent complete, with operations expected to begin once electricity is connected. “This factory is much needed because we often faced market problems due to high production,” he said. “ But now we will process our own produce and access other markets because the factory has the capacity to process five tonnes per hour.” The factory will produce maize flour, allowing members to add value to their harvest, stabilise prices and increase both cooperative revenue and individual incomes. As refugees, many of us carry different forms of trauma, Innocent Mukiza told The New Times. Discussing our past experiences and imagining a path toward self-development once felt impossible. But when we were guided on how to integrate with the host community, we began building relationships. Today, we collaborate effectively and support one another.” Beyond crop farming, inclusion extends to other ventures. In Nyabiheke, a beekeeping cooperative brings together 21 members — refugees and citizens — who jointly manage beehives and share proceeds from honey production. Government officials say such joint models are deliberate and should be the way to go for greater inclusion of refugees on national development. Gonzague Karagire, the Refugee Program Manager at the Ministry of Emergency Management, says the inclusion policy ensures refugees enjoy rights and access to economic opportunities just as every Rwandan resident. “Refugees have rights and opportunities provided by the country,” he says. “Being a refugee does not prevent someone from developing themselves through agriculture. Beyond food security, these projects strengthen social cohesion and prevent isolation.” He adds that joint initiatives reflect a practical reality: refugees and residents already share the same villages and sectors as well as schools. “We prepare projects like these so they can carry out activities together. This empowers both refugees and residents in their development.” Nyabiheke refugee camp in Gatsibo District hosts about 12,000 refugees and asylum-seekers.
