The Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), has officially launched the Veterinary Sanitary Mandate (VSM) policy alongside the Veterinary Registration and Licensing Module under the Agriculture Management Information System (AMIS). 

This significant event took place on 12^th December 2025 in Nyamasheke district, Western Province.

The VSM is a flagship national reform aimed at strengthening veterinary service delivery, professionalizing private sector participation, and improving institutional coordination across the animal health sector. The initiative responds to long-standing service delivery gaps identified in national assessments and aligns with key government priorities under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the fifth Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA5). 

Currently, 34 companies accredited by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) are authorized to bid for veterinary service tenders within their respective districts.

Speaking at the launch event, Dr. Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary at MINAGRI, underscored the critical role of livestock in Rwanda’s economy. He called on veterinarians to deliver high-quality, farmer-centered services, noting that strengthening livestock production directly contributes to national prosperity.

Dr. Kamana highlighted that as the livestock sector continues to expand, demand for veterinary and livestock services is increasing. Findings from a 2022–2023 study revealed that it is not feasible for a single livestock officer at the Sector or District level to effectively deliver the full range of livestock production and animal health services. 

He further noted that over 55% of Sector-level staff are trained in livestock production but lack formal training in veterinary medicine, resulting in gaps in the delivery of animal health services.

He further emphasized Rwanda’s ambition to increase milk production in order to boost output and adequately supply milk processing industries. Achieving the goal, he stressed, requires a strong presence of qualified veterinary professionals working closely with livestock farmers and equipped with the necessary technical expertise.

A key pillar of this reform is the digitalization of veterinary registration and licensing through AMIS. The Veterinary Registration and Licensing Module was jointly developed to ensure alignment with professional standards and sector-specific needs. The digital system simplifies procedures, enhances data management, and delivers more efficient and responsive services to veterinary professionals nationwide.

Recent figures show that Rwanda has 6,220 professional veterinarians, comprising 660 veterinary doctors, 320 livestock production specialists, and 5,240 veterinary technicians. Of these professionals, 88 percent operate in the private sector, while 12 percent are employed by government institutions and government-affiliated projects.

The AMIS Veterinary Registration and Licensing Module replaces the previously manual and fragmented regulatory framework with a unified national digital platform. The system supports efficient registration and licensing of veterinary professionals, accreditation of veterinary clinics and pharmacies, and strengthened compliance monitoring, thereby enhancing professionalism, transparency, and accountability within the sector.

Under the VSM framework, private veterinary practitioners are required to operate through registered companies that obtain the Veterinary Sanitary Mandate via a restricted tendering process before entering into contractual agreements. These companies are required to submit monthly activity reports to both the district authorities and RAB, and they receive funds previously allocated to districts to implement mandated veterinary services.

The Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD) will provide continuous professional capacity building and enforce disciplinary measures in cases of professional misconduct. At the decentralized level, District and Sector Animal Resources Officers will be responsible for supervision, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure effective and accountable service delivery.

The launch of the VSM and the veterinary registry and licensure module brought together government officials from the ministry, district authorities, public and private veterinary practitioners, insurance companies, farmer organizations, development partners, and community representatives among other key participants.

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