Strengthening women’s economic empowerment through collective poultry schemes in Kirehe district

Narrative description of Project:

In October 2018, SAFE-RWANDA has benefited a grant from RGB with a UNDP funding to implement the project named “Strengthening women’s economic empowerment through collective poultry schemes in Kirehe district.” The purpose of this project was to sustainably improve the livelihoods of 300 women headed households through collective chicken production. The project supported Women to increase income and secure their livelihoods, by strengthening rural women groups development, enhancing their income opportunities along the poultry business, supporting women-led entrepreneurship and promoting their linkages to high value markets.

During the implementation of the project, from October 2018 to November 2019, SAFE has strengthened the poultry businesses for 11 women enterprises: 11 women enterprises have received 1,225 laying chickens within well rehabilitated poultry houses, 30,000 Kg of poultry feeds and a series of trainings and proximity coaching on group dynamics and feed mill management, best chicken rearing practices, chicken health care protocols, book keeping and financial management practices, solidarity saving groups and mobilization of professional para-vets (chicken FFS) around the women enterprises to ensure successful and sustainable business. Beyond this support, SAFE has closely monitored and followed up the progress of chicken business for all women enterprises and supported them wherever possible, especially on linkage with the sector veterinaries and other projects in the district.

Each provided chicken has laid in average 177 eggs, with a totality of 190,790 eggs sold to market. At the end of the project, 248 women and 62 men have been able to increase their income to 47,132 Frw for each participating person.

Description of actual services provided by your staff within the assignment:

The services provided are:

1. Expansion and viabilisation of women’s asset base: SAFE has supported the enterprises to build adequate poultry sheds for new enterprises and rehabilitate the old ones for those which had them and later on provided 1,225 chickens to all 11 enterprises.

2. Capacity building in modern poultry production practices: 248 women and 62 men have received training and coaching on modern poultry husbandry practices.

3. Numeracy and Financial literacy skills: 78 women and 14 men belonging to 11 groups have received training on financial management and record keeping.

4. Assisting women groups to upgrade to formal business groups or cooperatives: 248 women and 62 men have been trained in chicken farming as a business and all groups received a short assistance on poultry management coaching at the farm location. As groups have merged to form 11 businesses, they processed to in registration as chicken enterprises, and are still compiling their bylaws and other necessary logistics to be legally recognized at country level.

5. Mentoring support in professional poultry business

6. Management support for the Chicken Feed Mill Operation and Business: SAFE has supported women enterprises to run an existing poultry feed unit and it is co-managed by the women with a technician ensuring its daily activities. The involvement of women has helped to ensure a successful achievement of feed mill goal. The unit sources raw ingredients and process them into a mix of final nutrients ready to be fed to chickens.

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