In November 2021, Caritas Rwanda entered into a sub agreement with Catholic Relief Services to implement USAID-funded Gikuriro Kuri Bose, an Inclusive Nutrition and Early Childhood Development Program in Nyabihu, Rulindo and Burera Districts.
Implemented through a consortium led by CRS and other consortium members (Humanity and Inclusion, UMUHUZA, University of Global Health Equity and three stones International), Gikuriro Kuri Bose promotes nurturing and responsive care practices, especially in the areas of health functioning, nutrition and early childhood development (ECD) for caregivers and children.
Gikuriro Kuri Bose aims at improving health and nutrition outcomes among women of reproductive age and adolescents and improving infant and young child feeding practices. The Program also aims at addressing child development gaps, significant unmet physical rehabilitation, assistive technology (rehab/AT), and social inclusion needs for infants and children.
The program also focuses on community-level service delivery, community-health facility linkages, and district-level capacity development. Gikuriro Kuri Bose also addresses issues of inclusion and participation, including access to programs and services for children and adults with disabilities, in line with Government of Rwanda priorities.
Mr. Yves Ntimugura, the Gikuriro Kuri Bose Program Coordinator at Caritas Rwanda believes that the Program will contribute towards reducing childhood stunting,ameliorate nutritional outcomes, increasing access to Rehab and AT services and improving child developmental outcomes in Nyabihu, Burera and Rulindo districts.
Gikuriro Kuri Bose was launched after the completion of the 5 years’ USAID-funded Gikuriro Program in 2020. Through support from USAID; CRS in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, SNV and 6 local NGO partners implemented the Gikuriro Program in 8 districts of Rwanda. The Program aimed at improving the nutritional status of women of reproductive age and children under five years of age through an integrated nutrition and WASH programming approach. Caritas Rwanda implemented Gikuriro program In Nyabihu and Ruhango districts.
In a monitoring field visit of the Caritas-implemented activities of the Gikuriro Kuri Bose Program in Nyabihu, Burera and Rulindo in June 2022, Father Jean Marie Vianney Twagirayezu, Caritas Rwanda Secretary General appreciated the work being done to improve health and inclusive nurturing care practices for children in Caritas Rwanda’s coverage areas. He appreciated the good collaboration and commitment of the local government and health facilities staff to achieve the goal of the Gikuriro Kuri Bose program.