Climate compatible development in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’: Lessons from Rwanda

The document examines Rwanda's approach to integrating climate resilience and green growth into national planning and finance. It highlights the role of strong inter-ministerial alliances, the establishment of the Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA), and the use of budget mainstreaming tools. While noting successes in legislative backing and demonstration projects, it identifies persistent challenges in subnational capacity and the need for costed implementation plans for national strategies.

• Rwanda has integrated climate resilience and green growth into its national planning through strong alliances between the Ministry of Natural Resources (via the Rwanda Environment Management Authority) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
• The Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA), established in 2012, serves as a demand-based vehicle for channeling climate finance. In its first two years, it mobilised approximately US$44 million in capitalisation commitments, received over 1,000 eligible proposals, and partnered with the Rwanda Development Bank to offer a credit line to the private sector.
• Legislative frameworks have been essential for enabling climate action. The 2005 Environment Law and 2005 Land Law allowed the government to control activities around water bodies and designate lakes and swamps as state land, which helped resolve a 2004 energy crisis caused by the degradation of the Rugezi-Burera-Ruhondo watershed.
• Rwanda uses the Budget Call Circular to mainstream climate priorities. Since the 2012–2013 fiscal year, all budget agencies must submit an annex reflecting environment and climate change priorities, turning strategic objectives into programmed activities with dedicated budgets.
• The Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (2011) informs the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy 2013‘18 (EDPRS II), but faces implementation challenges because it lacks a clear, costed implementation plan and involves diverse sectors with competing interests.
• Demonstration projects, such as the 'green and climate-resilient village' in Rubaya, have been effective in building awareness and encouraging district mayors and planners to prioritise climate activities in local budgets.

APA

Caldwell, D., Dyszynski, J., & Roland, R. (2015). Climate compatible development in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’: Lessons from Rwanda. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN_Rwanda_Working_Paper_final_web.pdf

Chicago

Caldwell, Debbie, Jillian Dyszynski, and Rachel Roland. Climate compatible development in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’: Lessons from Rwanda. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2015. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN_Rwanda_Working_Paper_final_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Caldwell |first1=Debbie |last2=Dyszynski |first2=Jillian |last3=Roland |first3=Rachel |title=Climate compatible development in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’: Lessons from Rwanda |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=July 2015 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN_Rwanda_Working_Paper_final_web.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{caldwell2015climate, author = {Caldwell, Debbie and Dyszynski, Jillian and Roland, Rachel}, title = {{Climate compatible development in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’: Lessons from Rwanda}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2015}, month = jul, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN_Rwanda_Working_Paper_final_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }