How Nkunzwenabake Rose From Ten Chickens to a Five-Million-Franc Livelihood in Gakenke

When Jean Claude Nkunzwenabake received ten chickens under the PRISM project, he did not see them as food or quick cash. Instead, the farmer from Karambo Sector, Gakenke District, saw a starting point, one that would eventually transform his household, strengthen his marriage, and turn him into a role model within his community.

Today, Nkunzwenabake estimates that his assets are worth about five million Rwandan francs, a milestone he traces back to the poultry support he received through the Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Small Livestock Markets (PRISM) project.

“I would never have imagined reaching this far,” he said. “Those ten chickens opened doors I could not have opened on my own.”

Small beginnings that shaped a strategy

Under the project, Nkunzwenabake was provided with chickens and materials to construct a poultry shelter. With guidance from local leaders and project implementers, he focused on reinvesting rather than seeking immediate returns.

After his first chickens matured, he sold part of the stock and combined the earnings with savings and a loan from a local group. That step allowed him to expand his poultry business significantly. As production increased, so did his confidence and planning.

“The chickens started laying eggs, and I kept saving,” he recalled. “Even when others were enjoying quick benefits, I stayed focused on my goal.”

Over time, his poultry numbers grew into the hundreds, enabling him to diversify into cattle, pigs, and other livestock. This diversification ensured steady income and food security for his family throughout the year.

Improved nutrition at household level

Beyond income, the most visible change has been improved nutrition.
“Malnutrition is no longer a problem in our home,” Nkunzwenabake said. “We eat eggs regularly, and meat is available without difficulty.”

His experience mirrors a wider shift in Gakenke District, where improved access to livestock has helped families incorporate animal protein into daily diets, particularly for children.

Development as a family effort

Nkunzwenabake emphasized that the progress was achieved jointly with his wife.
“We made decisions together,” he said. “Saving together strengthened our relationship because no one undermined the other, even when we were still poor.”

The financial stability also boosted his confidence in public life. Previously afraid to speak in meetings, he now actively shares his experience and encourages neighbors to invest in poultry farming.

“People now come to learn from me,” he said. “Many households keep chickens today, and thousands of birds in the area originated from my farm.”

District authorities note wider gains

Gakenke District Mayor Vestine Mukandayisenga said PRISM has played a visible role in improving livelihoods across the district, particularly in rural areas where agriculture is the main source of income.

She noted that the project has supported households to reduce malnutrition and poverty through livestock farming, while also encouraging cooperative approaches to address remaining challenges such as access to animal feed and infrastructure.

The mayor added that although PRISM operates in only part of the district, its impact is evident and expansion to other sectors would be welcome.

Implemented by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, PRISM operates in 15 districts nationwide. The programme supports poultry, pig, goat, and sheep value chains while promoting savings groups and cooperatives, with a budget of USD 45 million.

Through these structures, beneficiaries have accessed livestock, training, loans, and materials for shelters, laying the foundation for long term resilience rather than short term support.