The leadership of Kirehe District reveals that, through collaboration with its development partners, efforts are underway to support about seven thousand residents to lift themselves out of poverty within the next two years.
This comes as the Fifth Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV5, 2016–2017) showed that poverty in Rwanda had decreased only slightly—from 39.1% in 2013–2014 to 38.2% in 2016–2017, a decline of just 0.9%. Extreme poverty dropped marginally from 16.3% to 16.1%, a decrease of only 0.2%.
At that time, the extreme poverty line in Rwanda was defined as a person being unable to meet minimum annual consumption needs worth at least 105,000 Rwandan francs, while the general poverty line was defined as being unable to meet minimum needs worth at least 159,375 francs per year, based on 2014 prices. This measurement is calculated per adult in a household.
In the Government’s Seven-Year Program (NST1, 2017–2018), the national target was to reduce extreme poverty to below 1% and reduce general poverty to at least 17% by the year 2024.
The latest Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV7, 2023–2024) shows that poverty in Rwanda currently stands at 27.4%, compared to 39.8% recorded in EICV5 (2016–2017), reflecting a 12.4% decline. Extreme poverty currently stands at 5.5%, down from 11.3% in EICV5—representing a drop of 5.9%.
As of now, the extreme poverty line is defined as failing to meet annual basic needs worth at least 356,432 francs, while the general poverty line is set at 560,127 francs per year, based on 2024 prices.
In November 2022, the Government of Rwanda approved a program to sustainably support citizens to lift themselves out of poverty, with the goal of accelerating poverty reduction.
However, some households are not targeted under self-reliance programs. These include people with severe disabilities, the elderly, child-headed households, and individuals with chronic illnesses who are unable to work and have no alternative sources of livelihood; these groups continue to receive social support from the Government and development partners.
In Kirehe District, assessments show that about 24,000 residents need support to escape poverty. From 2023 to July 2025, the district has already helped 5,866 people—representing 73% of its target—while 2,768 people still need assistance. Currently, 7,000 residents are being supported to lift themselves out of poverty over a two-year period (2025–2027).
According to Modeste Nzirabatinya, the Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development in Kirehe District, effectively helping a person out of poverty requires linking them to local opportunities and first addressing the root causes that pushed them into poverty—such as household conflicts or health challenges.
Nzirabatinya said:
“Some people simply need food; you cannot give them a goat immediately. First, address their hunger before pushing them toward economic empowerment, because if you buy them a goat without meeting their basic needs, they will not benefit from it. We also identify what specifically caused their poverty. For some, it may be family conflicts; for others, chronic illness in the household, and those must first receive medical assistance. Others are linked to local opportunities—if the community keeps pigs, we support them to join pig farming; if the area is known for business, we help them start income-generating activities.”
Findings from the seventh national household survey (EICV7) show that Kirehe District ranks fifth among districts that have significantly reduced poverty, achieving a 14.2% decline.
