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.

    Pioneer on climate action

    Rwanda is already feeling the effects of climate change. Average temperatures are rising, heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides are becoming more frequent. Among the least developed countries, Rwanda has been playing a leading role in climate action from an early stage. The country is actively involved in international climate initiatives and the NDC partnership. In 2012, the government created a national fund dedicated specifically to climate finance, the Fund for Environment and Climate Change in Rwanda (FONERWA). It is the largest of its kind in Africa and is seen as serving as a model for others on the continent to follow.

    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 measures to make the cities on Lake Kivu more climate resilient.

    Climate and Development Partnership

    German Development Minister Svenja Schulze and Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, Rwandan Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, after signing the Rwandan-German Climate and Development Partnership in Kigali on 1 March 2022.

    Press release 1 March 2022 Germany and Rwanda sign 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 ambitious 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

    The Climate and Development Partnership also involves efforts to assist Rwanda in gaining better access to international climate finance.

    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. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024.

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

    As at: 05/01/2023