“This partnership stands as a model of how joint efforts can deliver tangible and lasting impacts to communities,” said Kim during the signing. “KOICA remains committed to working hand in hand with the Government of Rwanda and WFP. Together, we strive to build resilient livelihoods, foster green growth, and promote inclusive prosperity.”
The five-year program, officially titled Supporting Agricultural Climate Resilience and Creating Green Jobs for Youth in Rural Communities (CRCSP), is coordinated by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. It seeks to rehabilitate 500 hectares of marshland, strengthen rural infrastructure, and expand climate-resilient agricultural practices.
WFP’s role focuses on human capital: empowering 340 vulnerable youth and women through vocational training, entrepreneurship coaching, and market access. The project will also establish 60 youth-led Farmer Service Centers, enabling around 400 additional people to benefit from capacity development and employment opportunities.
“This collaboration with KOICA allows WFP to contribute to Rwanda’s efforts in building climate resilience and creating economic opportunities for young people,” said Ura. “Through targeted investment in skills and inclusive agribusiness, we are equipping communities, especially youth and women, to become more self-reliant and better prepared for future challenges.”
The need for such interventions is acute. According to the Rwanda Labour Force Survey 2024, the national unemployment rate stood at 14.9%, with youth facing significantly higher rates. A separate analysis by EDC identified more than 1.2 million young people not in education, employment, or training—over 40% of the youth population. This demographic pressure collides with climate challenges that threaten Rwanda’s agricultural backbone, including erratic rainfall, soil erosion, and periodic flooding.
By linking training with infrastructure and financial access, the CRCSP project seeks to transform these risks into opportunities. Evidence from programs such as UNCDF’s agricultural finance pilot shows that when credit is combined with entrepreneurial support, youth- and women-led agribusinesses can scale quickly, generating jobs and stabilizing incomes. Rwanda’s Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy also emphasizes the same integrated approach, making the KOICA–WFP partnership a key complement to national policy.
The collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship. Since 2012, KOICA has contributed more than $21 million through WFP to foster inclusive economic growth and sustainable rural development in Rwanda. In 2025, KOICA and the Government of Rwanda signed records of discussion for three new projects worth a combined $43.1 million, covering climate-resilient agriculture, green mobility, and vocational training, with the CRCSP project as a flagship component.
For KOICA, WFP, and Rwanda’s agricultural institutions, the project represents more than just an injection of funding. It is a test case for how rural climate resilience can be built through simultaneous investment in land, infrastructure, and people. If successful, it could serve as a replicable model for other climate-vulnerable countries grappling with the intertwined challenges of food security, unemployment, and sustainable development.
