Rural Women at the Heart of Rwanda’s Food Systems Transformation (JP RWEE)

In Rwanda, the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE) is driving transformative change in the lives of rural women, positioning them as leaders in their households, communities, and society at large. Currently implemented across five districts and bringing together four UN agencies alongside the Government of Rwanda, the programme’s  interventions are rooted in four key goals: improving food security and nutrition, increasing income and economic autonomy, strengthening women’s voice and leadership, and promoting gender-responsive and transformative policies. Together, these efforts not only empower rural women as active agents of development, but are accelerating progress towards more inclusive, resilient, and gender equal agri-food systems. As we mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026, JP RWEE stands as a powerful testament to the impact possible when women farmers are supported and valued, not only as contributors, but as key drivers shaping a more just, food-secure, and equitable society.