Rwanda Green Fund, signed grant agreements with selected beneficiaries under the "Rwanda Subnational Adaptation Fund EDA Project” on October 31.
The beneficiaries include six Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and projects linked Gatsibo, Nyanza and Ngororero districts.
The Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Environment, secured over $5 million in funding to launch this project, aimed at supporting practical programmes that help communities reduce the negative effects of climate change.
This funding was drawn from the Adaptation Fund’s Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) programme.
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Florian Mugabo, the Projects M&E Analyst at Rwanda Green Fund, explained that the projects under the EDA initiative are designed to focus on four key priority areas; smart agriculture, sustainable landscape management, integrated water management, and small-scale irrigation.
"These projects will mainly focus on building capacity for local communities at the grassroots level, where we want change to be visible. Our goal is to empower people to handle climate challenges effectively,” he said.
Mugabo noted that the EDA project is a four-year programme, meaning any project funded through it must not exceed this timeframe, though projects can be completed earlier.
He added: "Civil Society Organizations competed for over Rwf300 million, while local government entities competed for over Rwf1 billion. The competition also allowed both CSOs and local government entities to collaborate,” he added.
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Ngororero District, one of the selected beneficiaries, is focusing on climate change adaptation, said Mayor Christophe Nkusi.
"Our project is based on climate change adaptation, with activities to combat soil erosion, such as building terraces and planting trees. These are some of the actions we will undertake under this project,” he said.
The project will be implemented in three sectors within Ngororero District: Muhanda, Kavumu, and Kageyo, areas that are especially vulnerable to natural disasters during the rainy season.
"We chose these sectors because of their high risk for natural disasters during heavy rains,” Nkusi said.
"We expect positive changes from this project, whether by protecting the environment or strengthening our capacity to manage natural disasters caused by heavy rain. We are ready to tackle these challenges using the funds we have received,” he added.
The Minister of Environment, Valentine Uwamariya, underscored Rwanda’s efforts to collaborate with development partners on national programmes, emphasising the significance of local solutions for development challenges.
She said: "The primary objective of the EDA project is to support practical projects and programmes that mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on our communities.”
Uwamariya explained that project proposals must align with the adaptation measures outlined in Rwanda’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
She added: "This is a partnership that underscores our shared commitment to fostering environmental stewardship and promoting sustainable practices in our communities. These agreements represent not just funding but a vision for a greener future, a future where our communities can thrive while preserving the environment and natural resources that sustain us.”