Rwanda is working with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to review how public funds are spent across the agriculture sector in a move aimed at ensuring every franc invested delivers greater value as the country pursues resilient growth amid mounting global uncertainties. The initiative was highlighted this week during the 12th Annual Economic Research Conference organised by the Economic Policy Research Network (EPRN), which brought together policymakers, researchers and development partners to discuss how evidence-based policies can strengthen Rwanda’s economy. ALSO READ: How FAO Rwanda supports increased production, decent jobs for youth in agribusiness Through FAO’s Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme, experts have been working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) since November 2025 to assess how public resources are allocated across key agricultural programmes and where spending can be made more effective. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the conference, Marco V. Sanchez, Deputy Director of FAO’s Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, said the exercise is intended to help Rwanda maximise the impact of public investment at a time when governments are facing increasing pressure from climate change, conflicts and constrained public finances. ALSO READ: What do farmers expect as agric budget rises by 45% “We want to increase the value for money from the public sector. We need to improve the way we spend. We need smarter spending,” he noted. According to Sanchez, the review is not focused on increasing government expenditure but on ensuring that existing investments generate the greatest possible impact. The analysis examines spending on fertiliser subsidies, seed subsidies, irrigation, agricultural extension services and livestock support programmes to determine which interventions provide the best returns and where efficiencies can be achieved. ALSO READ: Rwanda allocates over 8% of its budget to fighting climate change He cited irrigation as an example of the trade-offs policymakers face. “We are learning that irrigation is potentially a very effective policy to increase agricultural productivity. However, irrigation also has a very high unit cost,” he said. “The question is whether we should invest less in irrigation and shift resources elsewhere, or whether we should improve the efficiency of irrigation itself. The answer is probably both.” At the same time, he said, interventions such as fertiliser subsidies, seed subsidies and extension services have comparatively lower implementation costs but could produce stronger results if their effectiveness is improved. Rather than prescribing solutions immediately, Sanchez said FAO is modelling different budget scenarios to help policymakers understand how changes in spending priorities could affect agricultural productivity, social outcomes and environmental sustainability. ALSO READ: Fertiliser subsidy hits Rwf64bn as Middle-East turmoil spikes prices The findings are still being validated with government institutions and other stakeholders before formal recommendations are presented. “In a few months, we will come back with the evidence to validate it with stakeholders so that the minister has confidence in a roadmap that is supported by all key actors,” he said. EPRN Chairperson Jean Baptiste Segahutu said this year’s gathering comes at a time when Rwanda is navigating growing external pressures, including climate change, rising energy prices, supply chain disruptions and fiscal constraints, despite maintaining strong economic growth. The Permanent Secretary at MINAGRI Telesphore Ndabamenye echoed the need for research that directly informs policy, urging researchers to move beyond identifying challenges and instead propose practical solutions. He challenged researchers at the conference to produce “prescriptive, actionable solutions” that government institutions can incorporate into planning and budgeting processes.
