Rwandan Government Research Articles

Socioeconomic disparities in Rwanda’s under-5 population’s growth tracking and nutrition promotion: findings from the 2019–2020 demographic and health survey

BackgroundRegular growth monitoring can be used to evaluate young children’s nutritional and physical health. While adequate evaluation of the scope and quality of nutrition interventions is necessary to increase their effectiveness, there is little research on growth monitoring coverage measurement. The purpose of this study was to investigate socioeconomic disparities in under-5 Rwandan children who participate in growth monitoring and nutrition promotion.MethodsWe used data from the 2019–2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS), which included 8092under-5 children. Percentage was employed in univariate analysis. To examine the socioeconomic inequalities, concentration indices and Lorenz curves were used in growth monitoring and nutrition promotion among under-5 children.ResultsA weighted prevalence of 33.0% (95%CI: 30.6-35.6%) under-5 children growth monitoring and nutrition promotion was estimated. Growth monitoring and nutrition promotion among under-5 children had higher uptake in the most disadvantaged cohort, as the line of equality sags below the diagonal line in Lorenz curve. Overall, there was pro-poor growth monitoring and nutrition promotion among under-5 in Rwanda (Conc. Index = 0.0994; SE = 0.0111). Across the levels of child and mother’s characteristics, the results show higher coverage of under-5 growth monitoring and nutrition promotion in the most socioeconomic disadvantaged cohort.ConclusionThe study found a pro-poor disparity in growth monitoring and nutrition promotion among under-5 children in Rwanda. By implication, the most disadvantaged children had a higher uptake of growth monitoring and nutrition promotion. The Rwanda government should develop policies and programmes to achieve the universal health coverage for the well-off and underserved population.

EFFECTS OF NON-TARIFF BARRIERS ON RWANDA’S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of non-tariff barriers on Rwanda’s international relations in the East African Community. The study was guided by comparative advantage theory. Descriptive research design was used to achieve the study objectives. The target population for this study constituted 184 officials of Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from whom a sample of 126 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling method. Data was collected using a questionnaire and was analyzed using descriptive, inferential and thematic content analysis techniques. Analyzed statistical data was presented using tables and charts while qualitative data was documented using narratives. This study concluded that Non-tariff barriers have a positive and significant effect on Rwanda’s International Relations in East African Community. From the findings, this study recommended that the government of Rwanda should continue supporting and advocating for trade liberalization within the EAC. This can be achieved through negotiations within the EAC's Common External Tariff (CET) framework.

Leadership Approaches on Employees Performance in Microfinance Banks in Rwanda: A Case of Copedu Plc Microfinance

Leadership effectiveness depends on effective management, as organizational success depends on employee performance and leader/supervisor. The study was directed to assess the influence of leadership approaches on employees’ performance in microfinance banks in Rwanda. Research on leadership theories, including Douglas McGregor's X-Y, Fiedler's Contingency Theory, Trait Theories, Behavioral theories, and Charismatic Leadership, will benefit researchers, Copedu Plc, MKU University, Rwanda government, and public in general. The research design was descriptive. While the target population was 48 employees of Copedu Plc the sample, size was the same since the population was too small. The data was collected and analyzed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23, to show mean, standard deviation and percentages. The researcher used correlation coefficient to determine the relationship between variables while the regression analysis was to determine the influence of leadership approaches on employees’ performance in microfinance banks in Rwanda. The findings showed that majority of the respondents agreed that change leadership styles can adapt employees working environment leading to decision-making as team and minority disagree and implied that change leadership styles can adapt employees working environment. Majority of the respondents agreed that involve employees in decision making improves morale and employees flexibility decision making in microfinance and minority of respondents disagree with statement. This implied that involving employees in decision-making improves morale. Regression analysis on transformational leadership, p-value was .699 which was greater than the 0.05 set as standard significance levels. This means that null hypothesis stated that there is no significant influence of transformational leadership on employees’ performance of Copedu Plc, was accepted and goes by the null hypothesis, which states that the independent variable has doesn’t have influence employees’ performance in terms punctuality and good time management, creativity and innovation and ability to perform efficiently. Researcher recommends management delegating empowers to employees for trust, professional development, and situational leadership. Keywords: Leadership Approaches, Employees Performance, Microfinance Banks, Copedu Plc Microfinance, Rwanda.

Economic Analysis of the Coffee Market in Rwanda

Coffee contributes significantly to the economy of Rwanda as a major export product and the livelihood of thousands of Rwandans. As such, the government of Rwanda has taken great strides to develop the coffee production sector particularly in developing infrastructure impacted by the genocide and implementing policies to ensure sustainable growth. This study aimed to give an economic analysis of the coffee market in Rwanda. It examined the factors affecting the coffee market and identified the major in the market globally and regionally and used them as a benchmark for comparison. The study showed various measures being taken to increase the quantity of coffee produced including increasing the area of harvested coffee following a drop in area from a high of 55 000 hectares in 2014 to 21 700 hectares in 2019. Rwanda’s National Agricultural Export Board implemented measures to improve yields and production quality through providing fertilizers, improving management of wash stations and engaging private stakeholders and NGOs to train farmers in smart agriculture techniques. Consequentially the quantity of coffee produced and exported improved between 2014 and 2019.

Diaspora Memory Conflicts: Struggles over Genocide Commemoration, Recognition and Denial

This contribution analyses conflicts around genocide memory in the diaspora. It shows how Assyrian/Syriac initiatives to create memorials to the 1915 genocide has triggered reactions by Turkish diaspora groups and the Turkish government. The Rwandan government, in contrast, has mobilized its diaspora to fight denial of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, while other diaspora activists draw attention to—and create commemorative practices around—other, silenced, mass-atrocities. The text discusses the opportunities for victimhood recognition and memorialization offered in the diaspora, and how genocide memory conflicts intertwine with foreign policy matters and national and local politics in the country of settlement.

Basic Education under Surveillance: Engaging the Rwandan Government on Deploying English Language as a Medium of Instruction

Basic Education under Surveillance: Engaging the Rwandan Government on Deploying English Language as a Medium of Instruction

French-Rwandan Foreign Relations: Depth and Rebirth of Diplomatic Relations

Abstract This research examines France and Rwanda’s historical, current and future relations. The consequences of France’s past support for Rwanda’s pre-genocide regimes indirectly resulted in nearly one million deaths during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. France’s role during the Rwandan Civil War (1990–1994) against the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) significantly influenced how the post-genocide Rwandan government engaged with France. Since 1994, French-Rwandan relations experienced significant lows, with Rwanda forming closer ties with the United States, European Union and the United Kingdom. However, there have been improved relations under Nicolas Sarkozy and President Emmanuel Macron. Bilateral relations increased under Macron through his personal interests in restoring Rwandan-French relations. This research relies on interpretivist and triangulation methods from interview data collected during multiple fieldwork period to understand through a Neorealist theoretical framework how Rwandan government elites, responsible for the state’s foreign policy, perceptions and desired diplomatic relations with France since 1994.

Exploiting International Development Ideals. The Rwandan Government’s Approach to Local Participation in Light of its Exercise of National Ownership

While the Rwandan government is acknowledged for assuming national ownership and eloquently commits to local participation, its participation practices are severely criticised and its governance deemed authoritarian. This points to a tension between two long-lasting ideals in international development cooperation and this article argues that – despite their shared aim of increased recipient agency, initiative, and influence – the interrelation between national ownership and local participation needs to be investigated. Rwanda, also known to prudently navigate opportunities and requirements of the aid sector, provides a critical case for such an investigation and the article asks how the Rwandan government’s approach to local participation relates to its exercise of national ownership. Based on previous own and others’ research along with extensive government and donor documentation, the analyses point to interlinkages in the government’s employment of the two ideals, and to the interrelation between national ownership and local participation inevitably depending on the recipient state and its population.

Stakeholder perspectives on promoting health enhancing sport through the Rwanda Sports Policy

ABSTRACT Sport is an adaptable channel for change. It has been widely used to enhance health and wellbeing, foster social cohesion, and engender peace and development in different societies. The government of Rwanda developed a Sports Development Policy (SDP) to advance sports within the spectrum of its development agendas. However, the extent to which health constructs are integrated and implemented within the tenets of this policy remain unexplored, despite their pivotal role in population wellbeing and in contributing to the country’s overarching development goals. This study sought to understand if and how the Rwanda SDP promotes sports for health from the stakeholders’ perspectives. In-depth semi structured interviews were used for thirteen purposively sampled stakeholders of the SDP. Thematic and narrative analysis were used to examine and report the findings. Themes highlighted a progressive awareness of the Sports Policy pertaining to health outcomes, less involvement of stakeholders in sport policy formulation which affected its implementation, disproportionate efforts between sports policies for health, competitive, and mass sports activities. Stakeholders further underscored cultural beliefs, attitudes, and contextual environmental factors as the key constraints to bridge the policy theory and practice of sports. Finally, findings emphasise the integral role stakeholders play in the life course of a policy. Further, the SDP does not primarily promote sports for health, but rather elite sports, on the premise that health benefits are automatically achieved through participation in sports activities. Thus, reinforcements are still needed to clearly define the national physical activity plan either through the SDP or other national physical activity guidelines.

Prediction of the Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors in Rwanda Using Gibbs Sampling Method.

In Rwanda, the prevalence of hypertension was 15.3% in 2015. At present, there are no accurate predictions of the prevalence of hypertension and its trend over time in Rwanda to assist decision makers in making plans for prevention and more effective interventions. This study used the Gibbs sampling method in combination with the Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach to predict the prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors in Rwanda over a period of ten years. The data were from World Health Organization (WHO) reports. The findings showed that the prevalence of hypertension is estimated to reach 17.82% in 2025, with tobacco use, being overweight or obese, and other risk factors having a respective prevalence of 26.26%, 17.13%, 4.80%, and 33.99%, which shows the increase and, therefore, measures for prevention to be taken. Therefore, to prevent and reduce the prevalence of this disease, the government of Rwanda should take appropriate measures to promote a balanced diet and physical exercise.

Determinants of Project Management Effectiveness and Performance on Public Projects in Rwanda: A Case of Three Stones International Rwanda

The purpose of this research is to examine is to investigate the determinants of project management effectiveness and performance on public projects in Rwanda a case of Three Stones International Rwanda. More specifically, the study is motivated by the following particular objectives: To determine the effects of project finance on performance of Three Stones International Rwanda's projects, To explore the effects of beneficiary involvement on the performance of Three Stones International Rwanda, the effects of monitoring and evaluation on the performance of Three Stones International Rwanda and to assess the influence of Project leadership on project performance of Three Stones International Rwanda. This research will help the Rwandan government, to better comprehend the significance of efficient project management on the success of public projects in Rwanda, in particular planners and decision-makers involved in capacity building. Because it inspires them to conduct research on related subjects, this study will be beneficial to other researchers. The researcher employed a descriptive research design, with a sample size of 213 and a target population of 459, in order to achieve on research objectives, the primary data was obtained using questionnaires and an examination of the supporting documentation was utilized to gather the secondary data. The acquired data was analyzed using regression, correlation, and mean calculations in SPSS version 21. Tables was utilized to illustrate the findings, and a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the validity and dependability of the instruments used to gather the data. After collecting and analyzing data the following responses were obtained. The Pearson coefficient correlation showed that there is strongly positive correlation of 852 (r=0.852) between beneficiary involvement and public project performance. The study concluded that project managers emphasize on the availability of project finance, beneficiary’ involvement, monitoring and evaluation and project leadership to boost public project performance. The study recommended that the project managers should focus highly on the effective utilization of allocated resources to avoid any misuse of financial resources. Keywords: Project Management, project management effectiveness, Performance of public project

Rwanda’s Foreign Relations Post-Genocide

Since the end of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis, the UK and Rwanda have developed close political, economic and security relations. However, the relationship could be tested with the recent renewal of diplomatic relations between Rwanda and France. Jonathan Beloff examines why the Rwandan government, and particularly its armed services, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), will favour continuing security relations with the UK rather than France. He argues how historical experiences influence current perceptions of security dynamics within Rwanda’s foreign affairs.

Comparison of the Western and Traditional African Methods of Conflict Resolution on the Example of International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR) and Gacaca Method in the Context of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide

Local traditions of conflict resolution have been overlooked since the dominant methods of dealing with these issues are often centered on Western approaches to conflict resolution. This highlights the urgent need to prioritize engagement with indigenous knowledge and processes, particularly in conflict resolution and broadening our perspectives. While conflicts continue to rise in Africa(post-independence), we need to revisit the conflict resolution approaches that incorporate local traditions embedded in various African communities. The article highlights African approaches towards conflict resolution in Sub-Saharan Africa, e.g., such methods as Gacaca, in comparison with the Western concepts of conflict resolution. The author’s extensive experience and fascination with African traditions also makes it possible to introduce readers to various issues of peace studies of African origins. The qualitative methods with a reliance on various reports from Western and African peace and security experts as well as subject literature discourses on African indigenous conflict resolution methods have been used for the purposes of the article. The author’s analysis is also based on the interviews. Interviews were conducted to evaluate Gacaca courts and the procedures which included confessions, punishment or forgiveness then followed by reconciliation and integration into the society. The interviews included the victims of the genocide, a retired journalist, a former member of the Rwandan government, and a former employee of a non-governmental organization.

Community Policing Involvement in the Fight Against Narcotics Use Among Youth in Rwanda

This study aimed to ascertain the implication of community policing in the fight against narcotics use among youth in Rwanda. It was guided by three specific objectives: to assess community policing involvement in decision-making against narcotics use among youth, to evaluate community policing inclusivity in the fight against narcotics use among youth, and to examine community policing capacity to fight against narcotic use among youth. The study employed a descriptive research design. The mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative was used to collect quantitative data using a questionnaire to 124 respondents and qualitative data by use of focus group. A sample size of 292 respondents was calculated using the Slovin’s Formula. The sample size was selected using purposeful sampling method among Police members, Kicukiro District officials, Community Policing Members, narcotics users in the rehabilitation process or rehabilitated, and partners. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics by the help of SPSS 21.0 version and descriptive data visualization tools employed in forms frequency tables and cross tabulations. The descriptive results of the objectives indicated a big number of respondents agreed that community policing is involved in decision-making against narcotics use among youth and they agreed that community policing is inclusive in the Kicukiro District. However, the respondents disagreed that community policing has enough capacity to fight against narcotics use among youth. The correlation analysis results supported the descriptive results by revealing that community policing involvement in decision-making, the inclusivity of community policing and its capacity play a positive and significant role in the fight against narcotics use among youth. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended to government of Rwanda and partners to improve the effectiveness of community policing involvement in the fight against narcotics use among youth by arising its capacity in terms of financial resources, equipment, skilled human resources, and sustainable technology. Keywords: Community Policing Involvement, Narcotics Use, Youth, Rwanda

Gender Equality and Performance of Private Businesses in Nyarugenge District, Rwanda

Gender importance in socio-economic welfare has contributed to several interested persons’ appreciation and assistance for constructive opinions to females and males’ entrepreneurial improvement. In Rwanda, there is no gender discrimination in doing business, this is to give equal entrepreneurial opportunity to all entrepreneurs irrespective of their gender. However, even though the Government of Rwanda supports businessmen and businesswomen to perform in private businesses, gender equality in private businesses remains an issue of concern because the percentage of women’s representation in private businesses is still low, which is a problem to be addressed. The purpose of this study was to assess how gender equality affects private business performance in Nyarugenge District, Rwanda. The study used a quantitative research design and collected primary data from 100 private business owners using a questionnaire with close-ended questions. The sample size was calculated using Slovin's method, and stratified sampling techniques were used to obtain respondents from the district's 10 sectors. The collected data were analyzed using quantitative data analysis approaches, generating descriptive statistics outputs using Stata version 17 and SPSS version 24 tools. Pearson Chi-square tests were used to test the impact of gender equality on business performance. The means and standard deviations of the respondent scores were computed for the Likert statements to assess the key factors that critically affect the performance of businesses owned by males and females. The findings revealed that there are gender differences in business characteristics, most females among business owners use a lower capital of less than 500,000 Rwanda Francs (32% for females, while for males is 17%), and have a lower business income. Females-owned businesses employ fewer employees (about 40% of all employees) than males-owned businesses (about 60 % of all employees). The statistics test has provided enough evidence that the relationship between gender equality effect and performance of private businesses is statistically significant because their p-values equal 0.000 or less than 0.005 (sign=0.0000<0.05). The findings also indicated that the topmost prevailing severe problems that severely affect the performance of businesses owned by males and females were COVID-19 (x̄ =4.45, SD=0.928 for males and x̄ =4.30, SD =1.030 for females), high taxes(x̄=4.47, SD =0.545 for males and x̄ =4.53, SD =0.723 for females), instability of market price (x̄ =4.40, SD =0.613 for males and x̄=4.34,SD =0.918 for females), high rent of premises (x̄ =4.32, SD =0.593 for males and x̄ =4.21, SD =0.840 for females), and insufficient employed capital (x̄ =4.21, SD =0.550 for males and x̄ =4.01, SD =0.866 for females). This study has identified that female and male owned businesses are facing the same business challenges. These problems need to be addressed; however, it will take time and joint efforts of business owners themselves, government, stakeholders, and researchers to attain solutions and remove these severe factors that prevent the performance of private businesses. The study recommends that business owners, especially women with lower startup capital, should approach financial institutions for support in promoting their businesses. The study also recommends that female-owned businesses should join and create cooperatives with their counterparts to share business challenges, experiences, and incentives of working together. Additionally, the study recommends that financial institutions should facilitate and encourage businesswomen to obtain bank loans to grow their businesses. The study also recommends that the government should consider these recommendations and provide support in eradicating the identified business challenges. Keywords: Gender Equality, Business Performance, Severe Factors, Nyarugenge District, Rwanda

Consumers' willingness to pay for safe and quality milk: Evidence from experimental auctions in Rwanda

AbstractA major concern of the Rwandan government and other dairy stakeholders is the safety and quality of milk that goes through informal delivery systems until it gets to the consumers. Although the government introduced the dairy best practices scheme that stipulates standards and practices for proper handling of raw milk, consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for such milk has not yet been assessed. It is also unclear whether consumers are aware of and/or value the safety‐ and quality‐related information on types of milk sold in different marketing channels. In this study, we use the second price auction mechanism to elicit consumers' WTP for pasteurized but unpackaged milk in Rwanda and we estimate the effect of providing safety‐ and quality‐related information on WTP using the random‐effect Tobit model. Our results show that consumers are willing to pay a price premium for safe and quality milk, implying that there is an opportunity for market transformation in the dairy sector. Furthermore, we find a positive and significant effect of providing information to consumers on WTP for safe and quality milk. Based on our results, we recommend policies that promote private sector investments in upscaling of milk zones and the establishment of milk‐dispensing machines selling this type of milk. There is also a need for information campaigns that increase consumers' knowledge and awareness of the quality of milk consumed. [EconLit Citations: C34, C91, D12, D44, M31].

Debating the identity and indigeneity of the Batwa in post-genocide Rwanda: a review of the challenges and prospects from a human rights perspective

This study is a systematic review of the United Nations and African Union reports on the controversial identity of the Batwa and their recognition as an Indigenous people in post-genocide Rwanda. Using the criteria of inclusion and exclusion, 25 United Nations and African Union periodic reports dating from 2000 onwards were systematically selected and reviewed. The findings of the study indicate that both the United Nations and African Union agree and disagree on the position of the Government of Rwanda on the identity recognition and the strategies used to empower the Batwa. Therefore, lack of a unified position on the status of the Batwa grossly undermines the United Nations human rights–based approach leading to the violation of their rights. This study proposes a new thinking that rectifies the status of the Batwa as a historically marginalized people. The study also subscribes to the tenets of national unity advanced by the Government of Rwanda.

Rwanda's Determining Factors for Equality in Women Leadership

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the determinant of equality practices on women leadership in Rwanda.
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low-cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
 Results: The results revealed that there exist conceptual and contextual gaps relating to the study on equality practices on women leadership in Rwanda Government. Preliminary empirical review reveals that there was a historical conviction that, women are accountable to take care of kids and do household chores than involving themselves in outside home activities like career advancement or furthering in higher education.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Liberalism theory, alternate approach theory and patriarchy theory may be used to categorize the key work design factors which may relate to equality practices on women leadership in Rwanda. The results of this research will form the basis for further research to investigate into the areas of gender equality strategies in women leadership and evaluation

Engaging fathers to support child nutrition increases frequency of children's animal source food consumption in Rwanda.

Although social support from fathers is associated with improved child feeding practices, evidence on feasible, acceptable, and effective ways to involve fathers in supporting child nutrition, including animal source food (ASF) consumption, is limited. This study was a follow-on to a trial that tested the effects of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) targeted mainly at mothers to promote ASF consumption by children in households that received an exotic or crossbred cow through the government of Rwanda's Girinka "One Cow Per Poor Family" program (NCT0345567). A delayed SBCC intervention was provided to mothers in the non-intervention arms prior to the present pre/post study, which targeted fathers in households across the trial study arms. Baseline and endline surveys with a cohort of 149 fathers with a child <5 years were used to evaluate the effects of a SBCC intervention for fathers on their children's ASF consumption and on fathers' knowledge, awareness, and support for children's ASF consumption. Qualitative data collected from fathers, mothers, and program implementers were used to assess feasibility and acceptability of the intervention for fathers. The SBCC intervention comprised group meetings led by model fathers, text messages, print materials, and megaphone blasts. The odds of children consuming any type of ASF ≥2 times in the last week increased from baseline to endline (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.9, 12.3), as did the odds consuming milk, eggs, and beef, but not fish. Fathers' mean ASF knowledge and awareness scores increased from baseline to endline (knowledge: 2.3 to 3.5 out of 4 items, P<0.001; awareness: 2.5 to 3.0 out of 3 items, P<0.001), with the largest changes observed in knowledge of timing of introduction of milk and other ASFs. The percentage of fathers who offered two or more supportive actions for their children's milk and other ASF consumption increased from baseline to endline (milk: 19.5% to 31.5%, P = 0.017; other ASFs: 18.8% to 37.6%, P<0.001). Fathers appreciated gaining knowledge on child nutrition in a setting specifically for men and liked the print materials that offered clear actions they could take to support their children's ASF consumption. This study shows that an SBCC intervention for fathers can improve children's ASF consumption and increase fathers' knowledge, awareness, and support for children's nutrition.

A one health framework to advance food safety and security: An on-farm case study in the Rwandan dairy sector

In Rwanda, cattle and milk hold a cultural and historical significance, providing an opportunity for pro-dairy governmental policies aimed to alleviate food insecurity, malnutrition, and improve livelihoods. The government of Rwanda has identified strategies to grow the dairy sector through strategic investment to achieve these goals. It is estimated two-thirds of lactating cows in Rwanda have clinical or subclinical mastitis, which reduces milk production and increases the risk of milk as a source for zoonotic disease if the milk is consumed undercooked or unpasteurized. This case study outlines the implementation of a One Health framework that integrates education, research, and outreach in Rwanda to improve food safety and food security, for the social, economic, and health benefit of Rwandans and their livestock. Twenty-five Rwandan Extension Specialists participated in the Dairy Dynamic Management education, research, and outreach program. Once trained, the extension specialists supported 30 small holder dairy farmers in performing proper husbandry and animal health practices for mastitis control and reduction of bacterial counts in the udder. Over the 16-week program, 30 small holder dairy farmers and 100 dairy cows were surveyed weekly for animal husbandry, animal health, and mastitis indicators. Outcomes were evaluated by monitoring animal health, foodborne pathogens in milk, and compliance to animal husbandry protocols. Quarter milk samples were collected weekly and evaluated for the presence of bacteria that are common causes of mastitis. We found a statistically significant reduction of mean total bacterial counts and prevalence of bacterial species in quarters over the 16-week training (P ≤ .01). Smallholders were monitored through observing farmers performing hygienic milking protocols. Farmers conducted the protocol correctly greater than 90% of the time by the end of the 16-week program for 5 of 7 steps for proper hygienic milking procedures, indicating farmers were eager to learn and adopt the procedures. However, follow-up and retraining with Extension Specialists is vital to continued success. We demonstrate that an integrative One Health education, research, and outreach program can be successful in improving animal health, food safety, and food security and this framework can be applied to other agricultural sectors and geographic regions.