Kickoff ceremony for “Provision of Health, Nutrition, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services to vulnerable communities affected by floods, landslides, and mpox in six border districts of Rwanda.

17 March 2025 | Japan and UNICEF Rwanda held a kickoff ceremony for “Provision of Health, Nutrition, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services to vulnerable communities affected by floods, landslides, and mpox in six border districts of Rwanda”.

The project is supported by Japanese Supplementary Budget for 2024 (JSB 2024) – amounting to USD 1.35 million (approximately 2 billion Rwandan Francs) for a duration of 12 months. The purpose of this project is to mitigate the impact of disease outbreaks and climate-related hazards on children and their families through rehabilitation of health and WASH infrastructures, strengthening health services, and risk communication and community engagement in high-risk districts of Rwanda. It will benefit more than 300,000 people in six border districts in the Western Province of Rwanda, which are most affected by floods, landslides, and mpox outbreaks.

The Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, H. E. Isao Fukushima touched upon “Human Security” in his remark. “Human Security” is the Japanese guiding principal for development cooperation that places the highest priority on protection of individuals, and ensure that all people can live with dignity, free from fear and lack”, he explained.

He mentioned,”It is my wish that with UNICEF’s profound expertise and experience, people who are suffering will be protected further and be able to live with dignity.”

Ms. Lieke van de Wiel, UNICEF Rwanda Representative, stated, “UNICEF Rwanda is deeply grateful to the Government and people of Japan for their generous and timely support, which will help in restoring essential health, nutrition, and WASH services affected by floods, landslides, and the health emergency - mpox. This support will impact the most vulnerable communities in Rwanda by directly reaching 100,000 people and indirectly benefitting 300,000 people across the affected districts. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to protecting children’s rights and building community resilience in times of crisis.”.

Japanese Supplemental Budget is the support in response to urgent humanitarian needs arising from natural disasters or changes in social conditions. Japan has collaborated with UNICEF Rwanda over ten years and supported 7 projects through the JSB. The Government of Japan, together with UNICEF and the Government of Rwanda, commit to ensuring basic needs of people in Rwanda.

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For further inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Kaori Uchiyama

Embassy of Japan in Rwanda

[email protected]