Girinka Programme and Socio-economic Development of Rwanda

The country of Rwanda is one of sub-Saharan African countries that are struggling for a rapid economic development. Given the 1994 genocide of Tutsi, the economic development strategy should pass through resettling social ties among the population. The Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS-1), which included Girinka Programme (one cow per poor family programme), was launched with the aim of empowering the poor rural families in the struggle for soil fertility replenishment. Poorest families are selected by the community members themselves to receive a cow. The first heifer born from that cow is given to another selected poor family and so on. Majority of respondents were satisfied with the outcome of the programme. They get enough milk for family consumption and extra milk for the market, and manure for farm land. The money gained from selling milk help the families to fulfill other family life demands. Some of the beneficiaries have been able to start small and medium enterprises. They no longer live on governmental and other institutional assistance. Community development managers who would learn how to start from small projects to improve the people's life.