This document summarizes a project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation to strengthen the Rwanda Agriculture Research Institute's (ISAR) capacity to develop climate change adaptation interventions and policy recommendations. The key objectives are to mainstream climate change adaptation concepts in Rwanda, deliver agro-meteorological data and policy recommendations to promote food security, and develop interventions to increase adoption of adaptation technologies. Key activities include establishing a steering committee, building agro-meteorology skills, collecting and sharing data, and contracting experts. Expected outcomes include forming the steering committee, increasing awareness of adaptation issues, participating in an online community, training researchers, strengthening data collection partnerships, and contracting advisors to review policies and climate change research.

1. An abstract of the Rockefeller Foundation supported Project under the Climate Smart for Rural Development
Initiative (MAX 1 page)
Project Title: Strengthening ISAR’s Capacity to Develop Climate Change Adaptation
Interventions and Policy Recommendations that ensure their Adoption
Grant number: 2010 CLI 301
Name of the Organization: Rwanda Agriculture Research Institute (ISAR)
Country: Rwanda
Name of the Contact Person: Ngoga Tenge Gislain
Email: ngogahome@yahoo.com
Telephone: +250788401707
Key Objectives
 Mainstream awareness and understanding of climate change adaptation concepts throughout
Rwanda in order to prepare ISAR staff to be a champion for climate change adaptation;
 Deliver agro-meteorological data analyses to customers and develop policy recommendations
that address climate change adaptation at the organizational, local, national and regional levels in
order to facilitate the passage of policies that promote food security and well being for the
region’s population ;
 Capture demand of farmers and other stakeholders and translate their needs into the
development of relevant interventions in order to increase uptake of effective climate change
adaptation technologies
Key Activities
o Establish a National Steering Committee on Climate Change Adaptation at ISAR that serves as
a focal point both for researchers/practitioners internally and for external partners in the network
for climate change adaptation.
o Build capacity for agro-meteorology, climate science and modeling skills—using train the trainer
approach
o Collect, analyze and share agro-meteorological data among partners.
o Digitize historical and new agro-meteorological data to facilitate accessibility and use by all
stakeholders
o Contract an expert in policy to undertake policy analyses and recommendations on climate
change adaptation in Rwanda.
Key Deliverables
o Create a National Steering Committee on climate change adaptation at ISAR;
o Complete a strategy and framework for developing a community of climate change adaptation
champions;
o Participate in an online community of practice for climate change resilience research in African
agriculture;
o Execute workshops and an internal communications campaign to raise awareness of CCA
issues;
o Complete agro meteorology training;
o Enhance the availability of weather data for CCA research in Agriculture;
o Equip weather stations;
o Formalize partnerships with universities and other partners;
o Contract a technical advisor on climate change, as well as a climate change Policy expert;
o Prioritize Policy Interventions through empirical analysis;
o Develop relevant climate change adaptation specific agriculture policy recommendations;

2. o Operationalize a competitive grant scheme that funds field testing for demand driven prioritized
CCA technologies; and
o Assess the success of technologies through field surveys and focus groups
Expected Outcomes
Objective 1:
 National Steering Committee on Climate Change Adaptation that reports to the Secretariat of
ISAR formed. (Year 1)
 Awareness of climate change adaptation issues increased and integrated into research and
development interventions. (Ongoing beginning (Year 1)
 Participate in proposed regional network’s online networking site on climate change adaptation
and expertise/knowledge shared with domestic and regional community of practice. (Ongoing
beginning Year 1)
Objective 2:
 Short-term training for researchers and field workers leading to certificates/diplomas and post-
graduate training leading to MSc degrees, in agro-meteorology at a recognized university (e.g.
meteorological training school at Wageningen University) realized. (Year 1 and 2)
 Partnership formalized and strengthened with external universities, research and meteorological
institutions for agro-climatic data collection, analyses, documentation, and exchange (Year 1)
 New weather observing stations established and equipped at ISAR research stations in the
major agro-ecologies of Rwanda and historical and new agro-meteorological data digitized (Year
1 and 2)
 Technical advisor in climate change policy contracted to review existing and new policies to
incorporate climate change adaptation issues and formulate recommendations for a
comprehensive climate change adaptation strategy for Rwandan agriculture (Year 2)
Objective 3:
 Technical advisor in climate change research that builds institutional capacity and is a change
agent within ISAR contracted (Year 1)
 Competitive grant fund instituted for climate change adaptation field research including modeling
(crops, livestock disease patterns) and technology development (Ongoing beginning Year 1)
 Existing (best bet) climate change adaptation technologies identified and disseminated