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National Child Development Agency

Nutrition and Hygiene Department

The Nutrition and Hygiene Department is responsible for leading and coordinating Rwanda’s efforts to promote optimal nutrition, healthy family well-being, and improved hygiene practices for all citizens. Guided by the National Family and Nutrition Policy, the Department works to ensure that every family member from infancy through adulthood and old age has the opportunity to attain optimal nutritional status and enjoy a healthy, productive life.

The Nutrition and Hygiene Department provides strategic leadership for the design, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of multisectoral nutrition and hygiene interventions that address the immediate, underlying and structural determinants of malnutrition. Working closely with government institutions, local authorities, development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector, and communities. The Department promotes integrated actions across food systems, health, water and sanitation, education, social protection, and family development.

Recognizing nutrition as a cornerstone of human capital development, the Department supports interventions that improve dietary quality, food security, healthy eating behaviors, maternal and child nutrition, adolescent nutrition, nutrition for women and men of reproductive age, and the nutritional wellbeing of older persons. Particular emphasis is placed on protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring that families have the knowledge, resources, and enabling environment necessary to make healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices.

The Department also leads national efforts to promote water, sanitation, and hygiene practices that prevent disease and contribute to improved nutrition outcomes. Through community mobilization, behavior change initiatives, capacity strengthening, and strategic partnerships, it fosters healthy households and resilient communities.

By strengthening nutrition governance, promoting evidence-based interventions, and advancing coordinated action across sectors, the Department contributes to Rwanda’s vision of healthy families, empowered communities, and sustainable socio-economic transformation. It’s work is anchored in the belief that good nutrition and hygiene are fundamental rights and essential investments for the well-being, productivity, and prosperity of present and future generations.

Strategic functions

  • Lead and coordinate the implementation of the National Family and Nutrition Policy and related national nutrition and hygiene strategies.

  • Promote optimal nutrition and healthy diets for all family members across the life course.

  • Coordinate multisectoral actions to prevent and reduce all forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases.

  • Strengthen maternal, child, adolescent, adult, and elderly nutrition through evidence-based interventions.

  • Promote household food security, dietary diversity, and healthy food environments.

  • Advance water, sanitation, and hygiene practices that support improved health and nutrition outcomes.

  • Lead social and behavior change initiatives that encourage healthy nutrition and hygiene practices.

  • Strengthen nutrition governance, monitoring, accountability, and partnerships at all levels.

  • Support community-based approaches that empower families and communities to improve their nutrition and well-being.