The new academy will serve as a regional center for education, research, and collaboration on conservation practices. Its location at the southern gate of Akagera National Park will give students and professionals direct access to real-world ecosystems, allowing practical training alongside theoretical studies.
'The academy will be established at the southern gate of the park, positioning Rwanda as a regional conservation hub,' Eugene Mutangana, Head of the Conservation Department at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) told The New Times.
The facility is expected to offer advanced training programs for conservation practitioners across Africa while creating opportunities for Rwandan park managers, rangers, and community leaders to develop specialized expertise to manage Rwanda's protected areas.
The academy will be developed through a partnership with the African Parks Network, a non-profit conservation organization that co-manages several of Rwanda's national parks.
A Cabinet meeting on September 15, 2025, approved the agreement, with the official signing scheduled for September 30, 2025.
Under the partnership, Rwanda will own 49 percent of the academy, while African Parks will hold the remaining stake.
Rwanda will contribute land and access to Akagera National Park for hands-on training.
'Our contribution includes the 8 hectares of land and granting students full-time access to Akagera National Park for their practical work,' Mutangana explained.
Following the signing, construction of the academy's infrastructure and development of its academic systems are expected to take about one year.
The first cohort of students is projected to begin training in 2027.
IGIHE
