The funding will support ecosystem restoration and community resilience building in six districts of Rwanda's Southern Province, namely Kamonyi, Muhanga, Nyanza, Ruhango, Huye, and Gisagara.
The newly endorsed project, to be implemented through a programmatic approach, builds on the success of the ongoing Green Amayaga Project. It aims to strengthen nature-based solutions, promote integrated natural resource management, and enhance livelihoods through ecosystem-based adaptation.
This latest endorsement comes just days after the GEF approved another $9 million grant to support restoration of Nyungweâ€"Ruhango Corridor, bringing total recent GEF support to Rwanda to $27 million (over Frw 38 billion).
The Government of Rwanda has mobilised these resources to extend the impact of the Green Amayaga Project across all districts of the Southern Province. To date, the project has been operating in selected areas of Kamonyi, Nyanza, Ruhango, and Gisagara, where it has made impressive strides in restoring degraded ecosystems and enhancing community resilience to climate change.
Commenting on the development, Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) reiterated Rwanda's commitment to restoring its environment and strengthening the resilience of its people through inclusive, science-based, and locally driven solutions.
'Thanks to the unwavering support from the GEF, we can now scale up Green Amayaga across the entire Southern Province. This marks a critical step forward in our national efforts to build a climate-resilient, green economy. We are also deeply grateful to UNDP for their technical guidance and partnership in the development of this new project,' Kabera added.
The Green Amayaga initiative has achieved significant results in its current areas of implementation. One of its major accomplishments is the restoration of landscapes, with over 929 hectares of woodlots planted and the buffer zone of the Kibiriziâ€"Muyira natural forest successfully rehabilitated.
In the area of agroforestry and erosion control, the initiative has planted more than 243,000 fruit trees. It has also implemented erosion control measures across 13,886 hectares, using a combination of agroforestry trees, terracing techniques, and reeds to stabilize soil and reduce degradation.
Riverbank and roadside protection has also been a key focus. A total of 93 kilometers of riverbanks have been safeguarded, and 763 hectares of roadside areas have been planted with trees.
To promote environmental sustainability at the household level, the initiative has distributed improved cookstoves to 21,000 families. These cleaner cooking solutions play an important role in reducing deforestation and minimizing indoor air pollution, thereby improving both environmental and public health outcomes.
Lastly, the initiative has contributed to livelihood improvement by providing livestockâ€"including cows, goats, and pigsâ€"to 2,534 vulnerable households. This support has strengthened food security and created new opportunities for income generation.
These achievements demonstrate the power of integrated environmental restoration and livelihood development. Scaling up these efforts will ensure that more communities benefit from improved ecosystems, increased climate resilience, and green economic opportunities.
The project is aligned with Rwanda's National Strategy for Transformation, Vision 2050, and the country's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), contributing directly to its climate action and sustainable development goals.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-secures-18-mln-to-scale-up-climate-resilience-efforts
