Kigali’s skyline hides deep inequalities affecting children’s health.
Behind Kigali’s reputation as a fast-growing modern African capital lies a hidden challenge — child malnutrition that silently affects the health and future of its youngest residents, especially among low-income families.
Urban poverty continues to expose young children to malnutrition
Rwanda has made impressive progress in reducing stunting — from 44% in 2010 to 33% in 2019–20 (RDHS 2019–20).
Rwanda has made progress, but malnutrition remains a major challenge in Kigali.
But in Kigali City, child malnutrition remains a serious and complex issue. National progress often hides local differences, where some neighborhoods still struggle with poor nutrition and food insecurity.
What the Data Tells Us
Recent research shows that while Kigali’s average stunting rate (≈21%) is lower than in rural areas, some sectors still face high malnutrition levels (Ndagijimana et al., 2023, Frontiers in Public Health).
A 2023 analysis by BMJ Nutrition confirmed these differences—called “spatial heterogeneity”—meaning that malnutrition is not evenly spread across the city. Some urban communities are doing well, while others—especially informal settlements—are struggling more than ever.
The Invisible Crisis in Urban Communities
At the community level, Rwanda’s Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a vital role. They regularly measure children’s growth, check nutrition status using MUAC tapes, and enter the data into DHIS2 health systems.
CHWs play a crucial role in tracking children’s nutrition at community level.
But here’s the problem: this information is fragmented, incomplete, and rarely mapped geographically. That means it’s hard to know where malnutrition is worst, or which neighborhoods need urgent help.
According to UNICEF Rwanda, more than 800,000 children under five in Rwanda are still stunted — and many of them live in Kigali’s poorest areas.
A Double Burden
Kigali faces a “double burden” of undernutrition and rising overweight in the same communities.
Kigali is also facing a new nutritional paradox: while some children suffer from undernutrition, others are beginning to experience overweight and obesity.
This “double burden” is linked to rapid urbanization, climate shocks, rising food prices, and changing diets. Families are often caught between not having enough food and relying on cheap, less nutritious options.
Why Mapping Matters
Without clear, local data, leaders and organizations risk creating “one-size-fits-all” programs that miss the areas most in need.
By mapping child malnutrition in Kigali—sector by sector—using CHW, health facility, and survey data, we can:
✅ Identify hotspots of undernutrition
✅ Design targeted interventions
✅ Support fair and cost-effective nutrition and WASH programs
What Do You Think?
How can technology and community data improve child nutrition in cities like Kigali?
Do you think mapping could make nutrition programs more effective and fair?
👉 Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below — your voice matters!
Looking Ahead
To support this important work, Cohort 3 trainees from the GreenStars Research Capacity Building Program are planning a detailed study on Mapping Child Malnutrition in Kigali City.
Their research will explore how existing health and community data can be used to locate malnutrition hotspots and guide smarter, faster interventions. Stay tuned — the findings of this project could transform how we fight child malnutrition in urban Rwanda.
References
Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2019–20. DHS Report.
Ndagijimana et al., 2023. Prediction of Stunting in Rwanda. Frontiers in Public Health. 🔗 Read article
