Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth (PSDAG) Project Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Quarterly Progress Report: January 1, 2015 – March 31, 2015

The project's primary objective is to assist the Government of Rwanda (GoR) in establishing an investment framework that facilitates private sector investment in agriculture. Under Objective 1, the project has initiated discussions with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources (MINAGRI), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), and the Private Sector Federation (PSF), to create consensus on the need and approach for implementing project activities related to establishing an agriculture investment framework structure. An important achievement in the quarter was supporting MINAGRI to establish an Investment Support Unit, where PSDAG's Embedded Investment Advisor continues to provide technical assistance. Under Objective 2, the project exceeded its targets for the number of farmers trained and the number of members of producer organizations receiving USG assistance. The project also issued the first set of grants to 23 cooperatives out of 49 applications reviewed for training in post-harvest handling (PHH) practices. A total of 21,143 farmers, including 9,237 women and 11,820 men, received training in PHH techniques to reduce losses in Season A maize. Additionally, 16 cooperative grantees received 10,867 tarpaulins and 23 shellers, and applied improved post-harvest technologies as a result. The project has also made significant progress toward establishing an investment framework structure. Consultations with stakeholders identified priority action points to support the refinement of an Investment Framework structure, including the need for a Terms of Reference (TOR) for an embedded advisor at RDB, identification of a PSDAG focal person at RDB, and preparation of a concept note for stakeholder dialogue meetings on the investment framework. These action points are being addressed, and progress is being made toward establishing a shared understanding of the Investment Framework. The project has also met with private sector potential partners to discuss areas for collaboration, and has provided business development services to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to leverage private sector investment. The project's Embedded Investment Advisor at the Investment Support Unit (ISU) at MINAGRI has played a key role in establishing the ISU, which will facilitate private sector investment in agriculture and provide private sector feedback to the government. Overall, the PSDAG Project has made significant progress in the quarter, with achievements in establishing an Investment Support Unit, exceeding targets for farmer training and producer organization assistance, and making progress toward establishing an investment framework structure.