UNICEF: Rwanda’s progress in child survival must now focus on helping children thrive

From left Deputy UNICEF Rwanda Representative Dominic Muntanga and Liake Van de Weil Representative at right side

Rwanda has made major progress in reducing deaths among children under five, with UNICEF saying the next priority should be to ensure that children not only survive but also grow, learn and reach their full potential. UNICEF’s Deputy Representative Dominic Muntanga said deaths among children under five fell from 175.6 per 1,000 live births in 1992 to 36 per 1,000 today, a reduction of about 80 percent.

The official attributed this progress to strong cooperation between UNICEF and the Government of Rwanda, particularly in areas such as vaccination, maternal and child health and health services. He said the reduction in child mortality is one of UNICEF’s important contributions over the past 40 years, while stressing that the goal should be to reduce preventable child deaths even further. “If your children don't survive, then there's no future in the country,” he said.

UNICEF also highlighted progress in education. The net attendance rate in primary education increased from about 45–47 percent in 1992 to around 93 percent today. The organisation is also supporting programmes to protect children online, including research on the effects of technology and AI, while working with the Government to strengthen policies for child protection and promote positive parenting through cooperation with the National Child Development Agency (NCDA).

Another area of focus is children who leave school because of pregnancy or other circumstances. UNICEF is supporting an equivalency programme expected to give more than 1.1 million young people a second chance to continue their education. The programme is intended to help those who dropped out return to learning and eventually access secondary education and other opportunities.

UNICEF says early childhood development (ECD) is another major investment in Rwanda’s future. Over the past two decades, it has invested more than US$60 million, which it says helped catalyse more than US$150 million in additional investment. The programme has supported the development of policies and guidelines and the expansion of ECD centres, giving children a safe place to learn and receive care while also allowing parents, particularly mothers, more time for work or education.

The organisation also stressed the importance of nutrition and early stimulation in helping children develop strong foundations. UNICEF representative Liake Van de Weil said research shows that early investment produces significant long-term benefits, noting that every US$1 invested in ECD can generate about US$15 in returns. “The greatest investment you can make in Rwanda's future is in investing in children,” Liake said.

Despite progress in child survival, stunting remains a major challenge. UNICEF says poor nutrition can affect a child’s ability to survive, grow and later contribute to society. It is also an intergenerational problem, as poor nutrition among young mothers can increase the risk of low birth weight and poor growth among their children.

Rwanda has taken steps to address this challenge. UNICEF highlighted the Government’s decision to provide multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) to pregnant women nationwide, making Rwanda the first country in Africa to adopt the approach at national level. UNICEF says locally generated evidence supports the benefits of MMS for maternal health and stronger beginnings for babies.

The organisation is also working with the Government to explore local production of MMS, which could reduce costs while creating jobs and supporting the private sector. UNICEF says the fight against stunting requires a broad approach involving nutrition, maternal health, parenting, sanitation, care and access to nutritious foods, including animal-source foods such as eggs.

Looking ahead, UNICEF says Rwanda’s achievements over the past 40 years provide a strong foundation, but the focus must now move beyond survival. The organisation wants greater investment in early childhood development, education, nutrition, protection and family support so that children who survive can also thrive and become healthy, educated and productive citizens.

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