Climate Change: Rwanda Advances Climate Resilience with Rwf 5.4 Billion Grant Agreements

In a significant move towards enhancing climate adaptation, the Rwanda Green Fund has joined forces with the Ministry of Environment to sign nine grant agreements totaling Rwf 5.4 billion. This partnership aims to bolster Rwanda’s capacity to respond to climate change and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.

The grants, amounting to Rwf 5,423,012,850, were formalized during a ceremony attended by officials from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Local Government, the Rwanda Green Fund, beneficiary organizations, and key stakeholders.

These nine investments were recently approved by the Rwanda Green Fund’s Board of Directors and will be backed by funding from the Rwanda Subnational Adaptation Fund Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) Project, which is financed by the Adaptation Fund. This initiative seeks to empower civil society organizations and local government entities by focusing on community-driven solutions for climate adaptation.

The nine selected projects emerged from a competitive call for proposals that attracted over 130 submissions, highlighting the pressing need for funding dedicated to responses targeting climate change adaptation.

Teddy Mugabo, CEO of the Rwanda Green Fund, emphasized the ceremony’s significance: “Today’s signing is a testament to our commitment to building a climate-resilient Rwanda. With these new investments, we are not only supporting transformative initiatives, but also empowering communities to lead the charge in sustainable development. We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes these projects will bring in the near future.”

The awarded grants will support various initiatives in the realms of climate-smart agriculture, small-scale irrigation, and sustainable land use management. The projects are in partnership with several districts and organizations, which include:

– Gatsibo District, collaborating with Association pour le Développement Agro-Pastoral (ADAP)

– Ngororero District, in partnership with World Vision

– Nyanza District, working with Action pour la Protection de l’Environnement et la Promotion des Filières Agricoles (APEFA)

– APEFA in Bugesera District

– Rural Environment and Development Organization (REDO) in Bugesera District

– Friends Effort to Support Youth (FESY) in Kayonza District

– Association for Promotion of Vulnerable (APV) in Bugesera District

– Association Rwandaise pour le Développement Endogène (ARDE-KUBAHO) in Kamonyi District

– Caritas Kibuye in Karongi District

The Rwanda Subnational Adaptation Fund Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) Project serves as a crucial mechanism to support local initiatives targeting climate resilience. By empowering local actors, it aims to foster innovative solutions that address the pressing challenges posed by climate change.

With this strategic financing, Rwanda is taking decisive action to strengthen its resilience against climate change while engaging communities in sustainable development practices.