Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Quarterly Progress Report: April 1, 2015 – June 30, 2015

The program is implemented by International Resources Group and focuses on establishing an investment framework in the agriculture sector. PSDAG has made significant progress in facilitating the Government of Rwanda (GOR) to establish an investment framework. The program's Embedded Investment Advisor (EIA) for the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) has been supporting the Investment Support Unit (ISU) in implementing MINAGRI flagship projects and programs. The EIA has also been mapping public marshland under MINAGRI custody that can be leased to investors in agriculture, and updating and maintaining the investor issues tracker and database. The program has also reviewed the 2013 Agribusiness Investment Roadmap, which identified several issues that need to be addressed. These issues include the need for a clearer presentation of business registration, land acquisition, electricity and energy acquisition, and other processes. The roadmap also needs to break out discreet processes by commodity or production/processing, and highlight the disaggregation of GOR responsibilities for production or processing. To address these issues, PSDAG has proposed a new structure for an information system that presents specialized information needed by major agriculture categories. This structure would break down information into four general investment processes: Expression of Interest, Business Planning, Implementation, and Operationalization. The new structure would internalize the fact that specific investments have different labor, technical, and financial requirements. The program has also been working with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Agribusiness Specialist to review the Agribusiness Investment Roadmap. The RDB has pioneered the development of "Agriculture Investor Info Packs," which could be made available as part of an initial meeting or online communication between a potential investor and RDB. In terms of social inclusion, PSDAG has been working to ensure that people with disabilities (PWDs) are included in the program's activities. The program has also been working to strengthen the capacity of relevant public entities, including MINAGRI and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM). The program has also been monitoring and evaluating its progress, with a focus on tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities. The program has also been working to strengthen its partnerships and linkages with other projects and stakeholders. In terms of planned activities for the next quarter, PSDAG plans to continue working on establishing an investment framework, strengthening the capacity of relevant public entities, and promoting social inclusion. The program also plans to continue monitoring and evaluating its progress, and strengthening its partnerships and linkages with other projects and stakeholders. Overall, PSDAG has made significant progress in promoting agricultural growth and development in Rwanda. The program's focus on establishing an investment framework, strengthening the capacity of relevant public entities, and promoting social inclusion has been instrumental in achieving its objectives.