The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), through the Volcano Community Resilience Project (VCRP), has provided cows to 26 families in Musanze District as part of ongoing efforts to enhance community livelihoods and strengthen soil conservation in the Volcanoes Region.

The distribution of cows in Musanze benefited vulnerable households from Gacaca Sector (8), Cyuve Sector (8) and Kinigi Sector (10).

For many beneficiaries, the support marks a turning point. Musanuwera Edisa, a mother of four, expressed her gratitude, highlighting the positive impact the cow will have on her family’s welfare and agricultural productivity:

“We used to struggle to get manure, but now we will have it. A cow will help me in many ways. I will cultivate better and harvest more so that my children have food. They will drink milk, move out of poor nutrition, and our family will develop. We will even afford health insurance. This cow is going to change things I could not manage before.” She said 

Another beneficiary, Hakizimana Theoneste, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the high cost of organic manure in the area.

“If there is something very expensive in our area, it is organic manure. I want to thank the project because now I will be able to improve my livelihood by having access to manure. I had no means before. I am so happy; I don’t even know how to express it.” He said

This distribution marks the first phase for Musanze District, with projections to reach 80 cows by the end of the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Across all eight project districts, the VCRP plans to distribute 10,000 cows as a long-term strategy to enhance soil fertility, promote climate resilience, and support sustainable livelihoods.

Since 2024, RWB has been implementing the Volcano Community Resilience Project to strengthen climate resilience, mitigate flood risks, improve watershed and catchment management, restore degraded landscapes, and uplift communities across the Volcanoes Region and the Vunga Corridor.