Rwanda’s Anti-Poverty Program Boosts Phones but Poverty Persists



News

27, Aug-2025     Mugisha John


Most households in Rwanda’s Vision Umurenge Program (VUP) now own mobile phones, but many continue to face poor housing, limited clean water, and reliance on traditional cooking methods, a government survey shows.


The 2023/2024 Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV7), released Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), found that 72% of VUP households own a phone, compared with 85% nationwide.

About 62% of VUP households keep livestock, slightly below the national average of nearly 70%. Yet poverty remains widespread: 41% of program households are poor, including 9% in extreme poverty. Poverty is highest among participants in classic public works, affecting nearly half of households.

Health coverage is strong, with 87% enrolled in community-based insurance, though rates are lower in classic public works. Twelve percent still rely on unsafe water, and only a small fraction live in cemented homes, while 83% remain in mud structures.

Most households continue to use firewood for cooking, with 44% relying on traditional three-stone stoves. Radio ownership is common, but smartphone access is limited.

Launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Local Government, VUP is one of Rwanda’s largest social protection programs, designed to lift citizens out of extreme poverty.


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