Capacity Building and Matchmaking Workshop on Renewable Energy Solutions for Agri-Food Value Chains

Across Southern, Western, Eastern, and Northern Provinces, Rwanda

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in collaboration with Energy Private Developers (EPD), will host a series of Capacity Building and Matchmaking Workshops on Renewable Energy Solutions for Agri-Food Value Chains from 26 May to 2 June 2025 across four provinces in Rwanda: Southern, Western, Eastern, and Northern.

This initiative addresses persistent energy challenges in Rwanda’s agricultural sector, which supports over 70% of the population. Farmers and agribusinesses often rely on costly and unsustainable energy sources, limiting productivity and increasing post-harvest losses. By introducing decentralised renewable energy (DRE) technologies such as solar, biogas, micro-hydro, and wind, the workshops aim to unlock new opportunities for value chain efficiency, rural enterprise development, and climate resilience.

The workshops will focus on building technical capacity, promoting investment partnerships, and fostering knowledge exchange among smallholder farmers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, renewable energy entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and policymakers.

Workshop Themes

  • Renewable energy technologies for agri-food systems
  • Business models and financing solutions
  • Clean cooking innovations for rural households
  • Access to finance and investor matchmaking

Each session will include expert presentations, stakeholder discussions, technology exhibitions, and dedicated matchmaking segments to connect farmers with solution providers and financiers. This series is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the role of renewable energy in enhancing Rwanda’s agri-food value chains and rural development outcomes.