Kigali, Rwanda — November 18, 2025 — Rwanda has launched construction of its National Veterinary Reference Laboratory (NVL), a major milestone that will significantly strengthen the country’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to diseases threats before they spread, especially those diseases that can spread between animals and humans and pose serious risks to both public health and the national economy and tourism.
Group photo of participants at the groundbreaking ceremony for Rwanda’s National Veterinary Reference Laboratory (NVRL).@FAORwanda
The One Health concept recognizes that the health of humans and animals are linked because they share the same environment. It is increasingly clear that resolution of complex global health problems, including Pandemics, requires interdisciplinary, intersectoral expertise and cooperation from governmental, nongovernmental and educational agencies. ‘One Health’.The Government of Rwanda has embraced the One Health approach and continues to demonstrate strong political will to institutionalize it across relevant sectors.
The state-of-the-art facility will address a critical gap in the country’s health security architecture by providing rapid, accurate diagnosis of zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases — the types of pathogens with the highest potential to trigger future outbreaks. With modern molecular testing capacity and advanced biosafety systems, the(NVRLL will enable quicker confirmation of diseases such as Mpox, Marburg, avian influenza, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease, improving national readiness and response.
The laboratory will also help safeguard Rwanda’s economy by reducing livestock losses, improving disease surveillance, and supporting safe animal movement and trade. Faster diagnostics will strengthen veterinary services, protect household livelihoods, and advance the country’s compliance with regional and international animal health standards.
Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, highlighted the importance of the new facility.
“Pandemics often begin in animals before spilling over to humans. This laboratory gives Rwanda the scientific capability to detect threats early — protecting our people, our livestock, and our economy.”
“The Pandemic Fund is honored to support Rwanda in establishing the National Veterinary Reference Laboratory. Through projects like this, the Fund helps countries put the One Health approach into action, strengthening collective health across the human, animal, and environmental sectors. By enhancing disease detection and response, Rwanda is setting a new benchmark for health security in the region. We are proud to stand with Rwanda in building resilient systems that protect communities and livelihoods,” said Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund.
The NVRLL is a flagship activity under the Strengthening Pandemic Prevention and Response Through One Health Approach in Rwanda (SPPROHRW) project, supported by the Pandemic Fund and implemented by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal resources through the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), RAB, and several development partners. Construction is expected to be completed within 24 months.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About SPPROHRW
Since July 2024, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal resources, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre and national and international development partners have been implementing the three-year Strengthening Pandemic Prevention and Response Through One Health Approach in Rwanda (SPPROHRW) project. The initiative is set to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity and capability to prevent, detect, and respond to pandemics by integrating human, animal, and environmental health systems.
Key focus areas include:
- Strengthening surveillance and early warning across human and animal health
- Enhancing laboratory systems and biosafety capacity
- Developing a skilled One Health–oriented workforce
About the Pandemic Fund
The Pandemic Fund is a first-of-its-kind multilateral financing mechanism dedicated exclusively to strengthening critical pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) capacities of low- and middle-income countries through investments at the national, regional, and global levels. The Fund provides a dedicated stream of additional, long-term financing for investments in areas such as infectious diseases surveillance, laboratories and diagnostics, and health workforce strengthening. The Pandemic Fund’s portfolio stands at nearly US$7 billion spanning 75 countries across six geographic regions. This includes US$885 million in grants awarded through its first two funding rounds, which has catalyzed over US$6 billion in additional domestic and international resources for countries and regions. Since the Fund was established in 2022, it has awarded funding to a total of 47 projects.
For more information, contact:
- Jean Bosco Ntirenganya, Rwanda Health Communication Centre | RBC jeanbosco.ntirenganya@rbc.gov.rw
- Claire Muneza, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- Jing Guo, Senior External Affairs Officer, The Pandemic Fund,
