{{The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) for the U.S. Embassy, Jessye Lapenn, formally closed and handed over the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Ibyiringiro project to the Government of Rwanda. }}
The handover ceremony was held today at Serena Hotel in Kigali.
Ibyiringiro, which means “that which gives hope,” began in 2008 and worked in 24 of Rwanda’s 30 districts. The goal of the project was to help improve the quality of life for people living with HIV and orphaned and vulnerable populations.
The project was implemented by a consortium of organizations and led by Catholic Relief Services. The project integrated a range of activities from agricultural training and community-based nutrition education, to economic strengthening.
Throughout the five years of implementation, Ibyiringiro reached more than 26,000 people and showed remarkable success.
During the event, DCM Lapenn said, “It is clear today and through the closing events held in districts throughout the country over the past few weeks, that the project has lived up to its name and given hope to many.”
The Ibyiringiro project trained and worked with community groups, associations and cooperatives, several hundred community health volunteers, and staff from 44 health centers.
Some of the key project accomplishments include:
• Over 11,600 households adopted at least three of the learned bio-intensive agriculture techniques in their home gardens
• 99% of participating households have a productive home garden during all seasons of the year
• Nutritional status of nearly 11,000 people living with HIV successfully monitored
• 93% of beneficiaries show no signs of malnutrition
• More than12,300 individuals received health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation counseling and education
• 109 (out of 132) associations acquired registration as official cooperatives at the national level
• 50% of beneficiary households paid their health insurance with funds from their income-generating activities
• Good nutrition and agriculture practices have expanded throughout participating communities
• Positive change in community perceptions of people living with HIV
The knowledge and skills transferred to the volunteers and the beneficiaries have taken root in the communities where the project operates.
Beneficiaries have adopted the Ibyiringiro techniques and practices and have given testimonies about the positive changes that have occurred in their lives.
Tremendous improvements have been reported regarding their nutrition status, hygiene and sanitation, savings, income generation, and health in general.
The handover of the project to district officials means that activities like nutrition, agriculture, and financial management training will be sustained, and the expansion of successful techniques can continue beyond project beneficiaries into the future.
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