Rwanda fortified whole grains enhance nutrition security in schools

Context: Malnutrition is pervasive worldwide. Efforts to improve food and nutrition security, particularly for the most vulnerable, are a critical part of food systems transformation.

Partners: The Rockefeller Foundation, Vanguard Economics, Minimex, World Food Programme Rwanda, Gardens for Health International

Duration: Since 2021 and ongoing

Location: Rwanda

Impact Achieved:

• Delivered 30 metric tons of fortified whole grain maize flour to 18 schools, benefiting 13,765 students.
• Production of high quality and long shelf life FWG maize flour is feasible at the same cost as refined flour.
• Increased preference for whole grains through targeted education and awareness campaigns.

Description:

The Rwanda Fortified Whole Grain Program, launched in 2021 and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, focuses on incorporating fortified whole grain (FWG) maize flour into school feeding programmes to enhance students’ nutritional intake. In collaboration with the Rwanda Ministry of Education and the World Food Programme (WFP), the project partners with local millers to establish a sustainable supply chain that supports local economies. Additionally, it includes community engagement and education to promote awareness of whole grains’ nutritional benefits. By further boosting the micronutrient content of whole grain maize flour through fortification, this initiative aims to improve health outcomes, support academic performance, and foster long-term resilience within Rwandan communities. At the pilot phase, the project delivered 30 metric tons of FWG maize flour to 18 schools, benefiting 13,765 students, and demonstrated that production of high quality and long shelf life FWG maize flour is feasible at the same cost as refined flour. The Government of Rwanda has committed to support scale up towards achieving universal coverage of school children in primary and secondary schools with FWG foods. Rwanda will be the first country to achieve universal coverage.

The initiative is scaling up and has active efforts underway in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi, with approximately 850,000 children today consuming FWG foods in East Africa. Expansion plans include at least three West African nations (Ghana, Nigeria, and Benin), concentrated on introducing fortified whole wheat flour in school meals. This scale-up across the African continent is promoting increased preference for whole grains through targeted education and awareness campaigns, with the launch of the first social and behaviour change communication campaign expected in Rwanda in 2025. The Fortified Whole Grain Alliance aims to reach over 10 million people by 2025 and has set a target of at least 50 percent of grain foods in institutional markets and 25 percent in consumer markets within low- and middle-income countries to be FWG by 2032.

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The Food Systems Call to Action is a global initiative that urges non-state actors and governments to take immediate steps to transform food systems by 2030. It highlights the urgent need for resilient, sustainable, and equitable approaches that support food security, protect nature, and address climate change. Through targeted actions and principles, the Call to Action emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity—ensuring that farmers, frontline workers, Indigenous communities, and other key players are at the forefront of decision-making and implementation.