This afternoon at Urugwiro Village, President Paul Kagame held discussions with Garreth Wood, Chairman of The Wood Foundation, and David Knoop, CEO of The Wood Foundation Africa.
The meeting reaffirmed a long-standing partnership between Rwanda and the Foundation, focusing on agricultural development and global health cooperation.
A central point of the discussions was the Wood Foundation’s continued investment in Rwanda’s tea industry, one of the country’s most important export sectors and a major source of rural employment.
Through its agricultural programs, the Foundation has supported efforts to improve productivity, strengthen value chains, and enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
These initiatives align closely with Rwanda’s broader agenda to modernize agriculture, boost export earnings, and reduce rural poverty.
The tea sector has also been highlighted as a strong example of public-private collaboration, with ongoing efforts to improve quality, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
The talks also touched on the work of Kids Operating Room, a global health charity co-founded by Garreth Wood and Nicola Wood.
The organization focuses on expanding access to safe pediatric surgery in low-resource settings.
In Rwanda, this partnership supports national efforts to strengthen healthcare systems, particularly in specialized and pediatric surgical care.
Key interventions include improving medical infrastructure, supporting training for healthcare professionals, and expanding access to essential surgical equipment, all aimed at reducing preventable child illness and death.
The engagement reflects Rwanda’s broader strategy of building partnerships that combine investment with social impact.
Continued collaboration in the tea sector contributes to rural development, job creation, and stronger export performance, while health-focused initiatives help close critical gaps in surgical care and improve outcomes for children.
Together, these efforts align with Rwanda’s long-term development priorities of economic transformation and improved quality of life for citizens.
The meeting underscored a sustained partnership model in which international foundations work alongside Rwanda’s institutions to advance both economic growth and social development goals.
