Watchdog calls for transparency in climate change resilience projects

There is need for proper planning and monitoring of projects meant to adapt and mitigate climate change effects in the country in order to ensure intended results. Officials said this during the launch of findings on citizen report card on climate change finance projects on Friday in Kigali. The survey, carried out by Transparency International Rwanda (TI Rwanda), covered four districts from each province and at least 400 households using renewable energy related projects in the districts of Musanze, Nyanza, Karongi and Rwamagana were interviewed. The survey aimed at contributing to the promotion of transparency, accountability and good governance in climate change finance. It evaluated awareness of citizens on different aspects of climate change, status of renewable energy projects from a beneficiaries’ perspective, level of transparency, accountability and participation in the management of climate change funds. The survey looked at cases of beneficiaries who use renewable energy projects such as biogas, bio-energy, solar energy, improved cooking stoves among others. At least 63.4 per cent of beneficiaries of the renewable energy were consulted to take part in the decision of acquiring such equipment, according the report. The report also revealed there is low involvement of beneficiaries, civil society organisations and local leaders in monitoring the management of funds allocated to renewable energy projects. According to the survey, 40 per cent of the local leaders who were interviewed were never involved in the management of funds allocated to renewable energy projects, while 55.5 per cent of beneficiaries were also not involved. The report said that while there was no corruption per se there was lack of transparency in approving 19 per cent of the selected projects and 12 per cent of decision making authorities misuse funds allocated to the projects aimed at mitigating climate change. Speaking at the event, Marie Immaculée Ingabire, the chairperson of Transparency International Rwanda, said despite more funds invested in projects to adapt and mitigate climate change effect, there is still lack of accountability and transparency. She said beneficiaries are not fully involved in projects which affect their management and sustainability. Ingabire also stressed the need for a new national policy on climate change in Rwanda as the existing policy and law are of 2003 and 2005 respectively. The role of beneficiaries should be clear so that they own them, there is also need to equip them with skills on how they can manage them,” she said. According to the Minister for Environment, Dr Vincent Biruta, there is need to have an external eye to validate actions and try to highlight wrongs for correction. Among the key instruments prioritised to address climate change is the climate finance instruments tailor-made to ensure Rwanda pursues a climate resilient and low carbon economy by 2050, he said. “This calls for more transparency, accountability and integrity from all stakeholders and society at large to ensure that resources allocated to dealing with climate change issues are utilised appropriately for the desired results,” he said. “We take and accept the criticisms positively as they may help us to improve where our efforts are not yielding the expected results.” Biruta said the Government is committed to deal with the issue of climate change through both adaptation and mitigation policy actions, adding that the legal and institutional frameworks have been established to mobilise climate finance and other resources to pursue. The law on environment is under review and will be published soon to guide all actions geared towards protecting environment and building climate resilience, according to the minister. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Watchdog calls for transparency in climate change resilience projects