Communities in Rwanda's Southern Province will benefit from restored ecosystems and improved agricultural productivity through a $9 million grant from the Global Environment Facility. The grant supports integrated landscape restoration and climate-smart land management in the Nyungwe–Ruhango Corridor.
The Ecosystem-Based Restoration Approach for Nyungwe-Ruhango Corridor Project is part of the GEF-8 Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program (ERIP), which includes 20 projects worldwide. ERIP aims to transform degraded lands into thriving ecosystems while encouraging private sector engagement and South-South exchange among beneficiary countries. Conservation International leads ERIP.
"This project reflects the strong partnership between the World Bank and the Government of Rwanda in building climate resilience and driving inclusive green growth," said Sahr Kpundeh, World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda. "It aligns with our Country Partnership Framework and global priorities on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and empowering local communities to lead sustainable change."
The Rwanda GEF-8 will rehabilitate 2,162 hectares of forests and wetlands, promote sustainable land management across 8,931 hectares of farmland, and help develop income-generating activities that reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems. More than 289,000 people in Ruhango, Nyanza, and Nyamagabe Districts will benefit directly.
The project aligns with the World Bank Group’s objective of creating jobs to reduce poverty and unlock economic opportunities. Early estimates suggest it could generate over 2,200 jobs through sustainable livelihoods interventions such as non-timber forest product value chains development, fruit tree planting, and support for small businesses in the green economy. The private sector will be engaged to explore investment opportunities promoting climate-smart land use and sustainable forest management.
"This is a timely intervention that combines ecological restoration with community resilience," said Tuuli Bernardini, Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank. "By centering the role of women, youth, and local enterprises in landscape management, the project supports inclusive development and paves the way for scalable nature-based solutions."
Implemented by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), this project addresses environmental degradation issues like food insecurity and climate risks such as floods or landslides disrupting infrastructure or destroying crops—challenges deepening poverty within Southern Province communities. At its core are efforts aimed at restoring critical services provided by these ecosystems including erosion control/flood regulation/habitats supporting biodiversity: afforestation/reforestation initiatives alongside riverbank/wetland rehabilitation/agroforestry promotion form key components underpinning this strategy.
Rwanda GEF-8 complements other World Bank-supported investments along Congo-Nile divide spanning Northern/Western/Southern Provinces: Volcanoes Community Resilience Project & Commercialization De-Risking Agricultural Transformation Project build upon past successes like Landscape Approach Forest Restoration Conservation (LAFREC) while aligning National Strategy Transformation (NST2). Significant outcomes anticipated include enhanced biodiversity conservation/resilience-building/improved community livelihoods via these initiatives' collective impact.