The Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded $6 million project “Building the capacity of Rwanda’s government to advance the National Adaptation Planning process (NAP)” was officially launched this Saturday, 28 November 2020, in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province.

Organized by the Ministry of Environment and REMA, in collaboration with the local authorities, a special community works event (umuganda) was conducted alongside the River Umuvumba, at the border with the neighboring Uganda. About 2000 bamboo trees were planted to stabilize 3.5 km long river banks and protect adjacent farm lands in the Sector of Kagitumba

Global changes in climate are affecting Rwanda in many complex ways. These include climate related hazards such as floods, landslides and droughts as well as windstorms and severe rainstorms that have struck Rwanda in recent years with devastating effects on the population. These hazards have affected all districts and individual households across the nation – affecting the livelihoods and food security of rural and urban populations as well as the agricultural, energy, health, water, natural resource and institutional systems on which the populations depends.

The latest Assessment of Climate Change Vulnerability in Rwanda report (2019) had pointed out that Nyagatare District has the lowest adaptive capacity among the 7 districts of Eastern Province due to the lack of measures to mitigate climate change such as tree planting or construction of the drainage ditches, and in some extent the low proportion of households accessing their own land.

This four year project will increase capacity of governmental authorities and local communities in Rwanda to plan, fund, implement and monitor climate change adaptation solutions in the medium to long-term through the:

1. Strengthening of technical and institutional capacity for NAP using up-to-date climate information.
2. Establishment of a funding strategy for NAP in Rwanda, including pilots to inform medium- to long-term adaptation investments.
3. Increase of capacity for monitoring, reviewing and knowledge sharing to learn from the NAP process in Rwanda.

In addition to Nyagatare, the project will also undertake other ecosystem based adaptation activities in the districts of Kirehe (protection of Ibanda-Makera forest), Rusizi (increasing climate resilience of Shagasha tea plantations) and Gasabo (protection and wise use of urban wetland).

This project will be implemented by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and the authorities of the districts of Kirehe, Rusizi, Gasabo and Nyagatare. The GEF will fund the project through the UN Environment Program (UNEP), as an implementing partner.  

[Image: The Minister of Environment, Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawariya, addressing local communities after Umuganda]