Solar panels east of Kigali, Ruanda

    Core area “Climate and energy, just transition” Adaptation to climate change and environmentally friendly urban development

    Cooperation in the core area “Climate and energy, just transition” was agreed in 2020. The political dialogue between Germany and Rwanda in this area is being expanded further under the Climate and Development Partnership which Germany and Rwanda signed in 2022.

    Rwanda is already feeling the effects of climate change. Average temperatures are rising, heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides are becoming more frequent. The country is actively involved in international climate initiatives and the NDC Partnership. In 2012, the government created a national fund dedicated to climate finance, the Fund for Environment and Climate Change in Rwanda (FONERWA).

    KfW Development Bank is financing climate change adaptation projects at the district level via this Fund. Support is also being provided for environmentally-friendly urban development in the capital Kigali and for measures to make the towns and cities on Lake Kivu more climate resilient.


    Climate and Development Partnership

    In March 2022, Germany and Rwanda signed an agreement for a Climate and Development Partnership. The aim of the Partnership is to support the Rwandan government in its efforts to implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and help Rwanda’s population become more climate resilient.

    Three components were agreed:

    1. Enhanced climate policy dialogue
    2. Support for climate mitigation and adaptation and for sustainable climate-smart urbanisation
    3. Partnerships with academia, the private sector and civil society

    Green City Kigali

    Affordable housing is scarce in densely populated Rwanda, especially in the country’s capital Kigali. A new residential area with a forward-looking design is now to be developed in the capital with Germany’s support – incorporating high quality, climate-smart infrastructure, environmentally sound housing and access to community transport services.

    Initially, as part of a pilot project on 16 hectares, some 1,700 affordable apartments for up to 8,000 people are to be built. Ultimately, a total of up to 30,000 housing units will be developed within an area of roughly 600 hectares.

    The Green City Kigali is to serve as a model for sustainable and climate-friendly urban development for other cities.

    As at: 05/06/2024