French Embassy in Rwanda Spotlights Innovation and Partnership with Launch of RwanNovIA Project in Dairy Sector
Rwanda – The French Embassy in Rwanda continues to deepen bilateral ties through targeted initiatives in agriculture, economic development, and cultural exchange, with the recent launch of the RwanNovIA Project marking a standout example of practical innovation aimed at transforming Rwanda’s vital dairy industry.
On May 26, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) hosted a high-level ceremony at its Isonga Station to officially unveil the RwanNovIA Project.
The event drew prominent figures including Hon. Solange Uwituze, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI); Aurélie Royet-Gounin, Ambassador of France to Rwanda; and Giovanni Davite, Honorary Consul of Italy in Rwanda, alongside other dignitaries.
Funded by the French Treasury through the FASEP (Private Sector Study and Aid Fund) program—which supports feasibility studies and demonstrator projects for innovative technologies by French companies—the RwanNovIA Project represents a pilot initiative to modernize livestock reproduction management.
Certificates were formally issued at the close of the program.
It will deploy 21 veterinary ultrasound devices across seven districts: Gatsibo, Gicumbi, Huye, Kayonza, Nyabihu, Nyagatare, and Rwamagana.
These portable tools will enable real-time, non-invasive monitoring of cattle pregnancies, early detection of reproductive issues, and improved breeding decisions, ultimately boosting milk productivity, reducing animal mortality rates, and enhancing farmer incomes in a sector that forms a cornerstone of Rwanda’s agriculture-driven economy.
Prior to the formal launch and certification ceremony for the first cohort of trained Bovine Ultrasound Technicians, participants toured a local cattle farm in Rusatira to witness the technology in action and visited the Bovine Semen Production Center at Isonga Station.
The hands-on demonstrations underscored the project’s emphasis on immediate, scalable impact for smallholder farmers.
Ambassador Royet-Gounin captured the moment’s significance in her remarks, stating that the event “is more than a ceremony; but a celebration of ambition, innovation, and confidence in the future of Rwanda’s dairy sector.”
Hon. Uwituze echoed this optimism, urging the newly certified technicians to apply their skills nationwide to elevate dairy productivity and support rural livelihoods.
This agricultural breakthrough aligns seamlessly with the French Embassy’s broader recent engagements in Rwanda, reflecting a renewed focus on economic collaboration and sustainable development.
Just weeks earlier, from May 12–15, the Embassy facilitated a visit by a MEDEF International delegation to Kigali. The group held strategic meetings with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy Afrika and prepared groundwork for the Africa CEO Forum, identifying concrete partnership opportunities in key sectors.
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On May 12, the Embassy also participated in the opening of the EU-backed Global Gateway Investment Roadshow in Kigali, part of the “Team Europe” initiative to mobilize investments in infrastructure, green growth, and digital transformation.
These events highlight France’s commitment to positioning Rwanda as a hub for European-African business synergies.Cultural and diplomatic programming has remained equally active.
On Africa Day (May 25), the Embassy reflected on outcomes from the France-Kenya co-organized “Africa Forward” Summit, reaffirming support for African-led initiatives.
Earlier in May, French Ambassador and World Nuclear Exhibition President Sylvie Bermann delivered a keynote at the French Cultural Center in Kigali on energy geopolitics, multilateralism, and international diplomacy, followed by an appearance on RBA Rwanda ahead of NEISA 2026.
Memory and reconciliation efforts also featured prominently. In late April, the Embassy unveiled a commemorative plaque honoring two French gendarmes killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and held a ceremony recognizing French personnel who were victims or survivors.
Ongoing consular services—such as visa processing through VFS Global, preparations for consular elections on May 30–31, and support for the French community—continue alongside cultural initiatives tied to Francophonie Month, including language promotion and educational certifications like LabelFrancÉducation.
The RwanNovIA Project exemplifies how France and Rwanda are moving beyond historical complexities toward forward-looking cooperation.
By leveraging French expertise in innovative technologies via FASEP, the initiative not only addresses practical challenges in Rwanda’s dairy value chain—where cattle farming supports food security and exports—but also signals deeper trust in joint innovation.
As Ambassador Royet-Gounin and her team advance these partnerships, the Embassy’s multifaceted agenda underscores a shared vision: sustainable growth, technological empowerment, and enduring friendship between the two nations.
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