The organization, affiliated with Swiss-based charitable foundation Sight and Life (SAL), has introduced multi-layered evidence-based interventions to improve child, adolescent, women health as well as training and assisting farmers towards self-sustenance.
SAL Rwanda's achievements were highlighted during a policy dialogue jointly organized by the Embassy of France and SAL Rwanda. The timing of the discussions was particularly relevant, as findings from Rwanda's Sixth Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) show that 33% of children are stunted, while 25% of pregnant women are affected by anemia.
The forum aimed to assess the current state of nutrition in Rwanda, with a particular focus on pregnant women and young children, and to review progress. Results from recent national initiatives, including the government's decision to replace iron and folic acid supplements with a more comprehensive Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) for pregnant women, showed tangible progress.
The limited nutrient composition constrained the impact of iron and folic acid constrained its impact. The newly adopted MMS formulation contains 15 essential vitamins and minerals, offering broader nutritional support during pregnancy and contributing to improved maternal health and birth outcomes.
Elvis Gakuba, the Sight and Life Regional Director for Africa, stressed that improving nutrition for pregnant women and children is not just a health issue but also a vital investment in Rwanda's long-term economic growth.
"Promoting adequate nutrition for pregnant women and children is not just about healthcare; it is an essential investment in the future of Rwanda. By prioritizing nutrition and well-being of both mothers and children, we are contributing directly to the nation's development," he explained.
Gakuba further shared that through a study conducted in partnership with UNICEF and RBC, SAL Rwanda has distributed MMS across all Rwandan districts. 'We have reached close to 90% of pregnant women,' he said.
Stéphane Le Brech, the First Counselor at the French Embassy in Rwanda, responsible for cultural cooperation, noted that the discussions were organized in line with commitments made during the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, held in Paris in March 2025.
The Rwandan government remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women. The National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), set to run from 2024 to 2029, aims to combat malnutrition and reduce the current stunting rate of 33% to 15% by 2029.
Sight and Life works across Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, and Nigeria, integrating nutrition with livelihoods and food system strengthening.
In Rwanda, for instance, the organization's project to reduce post-harvest losses, including efforts to combat aflatoxins in maize, have supported 2,400 farmers, reducing crop losses by up to 40%. Around 6,500 tons of crops have been saved from aflatoxin contamination.
The organization also runs a Food Fortification Project aimed at enriching widely consumed foods with essential vitamins and minerals to improve nutrition and combat nutrient deficiencies.
With a $3.5 million grant from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Sight and Life is implementing the 'Nutrition in City Ecosystems - NICE' project, which works to improve nutrition in urban areas of developing countries through community-led initiatives.
The project fosters collaboration between the agriculture, food, and health sectors, and supports public-private partnerships, with a focus on women and youth entrepreneurship.
NICE enhances urban governance and promotes the development of sustainable food systems, increasing the availability of healthy, locally grown food produced through agroecological practices, while also raising awareness about environmentally responsible diets.
Over the past seven years, Sight and Life has provided training in agroecology and sustainable farming practices to farmers, supported 14 cooperatives in fishing and livestock, and provided agricultural inputs and project management skills to 25 early childhood development (ECD) institutions - reinforcing the link between nutrition, resilient livelihoods, and long-term national progress.
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