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The document examines the tension between Rwanda's national development goals—such as becoming a middle-income country by 2020—and the resulting pressure on natural resources at the district level. Focusing on Rutsiro, Bugesera, and Kirehe, it identifies widespread scarcity of woody biomass and clean water, driven by urban demand for charcoal and traditional farming practices. It argues that while national strategies like the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy exist, there is a gap in translating these into local action, necessitating tailored district-level solutions and national policy incentives to shift urban energy demand away from charcoal.

The article introduces a framework for comparative urban research in the developing world, asserting that urban transformations—including land use, construction patterns, and environmental regulation—reveal the underlying national political settlements and clientelism. The author illustrates this approach through narrative sketches of Kampala, Kigali, and Addis Ababa.

The assessment finds that Rwanda possesses a strong legal and regulatory framework for mining, particularly in permitting and the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). However, it identifies significant gaps in the implementation of these policies, specifically regarding environmental monitoring, socioeconomic impact assessments, and mine closure planning. While the government shows a strong willingness to improve the sector, the report highlights a lack of technical capacity and a need for better integration between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MINIRENA).

The World Resources Institute highlights the agreement by 197 parties to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda, to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The amendment aims to reduce global HFC levels by 80 to 85 percent by 2047, potentially avoiding up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2100.

The document outlines a multi-level governance approach to urban climate action, emphasizing that while cities are primary sites of emissions and vulnerability, they require supportive national policy frameworks and international financing to achieve transformative change. It details local jurisdictional powers, national enabling environments, and specific access modalities for the Green Climate Fund.

The report examines the 2015 crisis in Burundi, arguing that while President Pierre Nkurunziza's attempt to secure an unconstitutional third term was the immediate trigger, the situation was underpinned by a long history of government intransigence, systemic repression of the opposition, and corruption. It details the CNDD-FDD's strategy of consolidating power through the 'nyakurisation' method of dividing opposition parties and the use of legislative tools to restrict civil liberties. The document also analyzes the internal fractures within the ruling party, the failure of the Arusha Agreement's power-sharing framework, and the subsequent violent crackdown on protestors, the media, and civil society following a failed coup attempt in May 2015.

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.

The paper argues that artisanal mining in Kalima is more beneficial to the local population than industrial mining was, providing higher employment, better income, and more democratic working conditions. While it notes a decline in local farming and a collapse of social services previously provided by industrial companies, it suggests artisanal mining is more environmentally benign than industrial methods, despite the high carbon footprint of flying ore out of the region. The author also analyzes the DRC's punitive export tax regime, which encourages smuggling into Rwanda, and argues that the lack of conflict in Maniema's mining sector contrasts with the resource-fueled violence in the Kivu regions.

The paper examines the limitations of short-term economic rescue measures in East Africa following Covid-19, advocating for a shift toward 'fiscal democracy' and 'civil protection' to address systemic vulnerabilities. It highlights how high public debt, illicit financial flows (IFFs), and a lack of public participation in fiscal policy undermine economic sustainability. The author calls for human rights-based approaches to tax justice and a return to civic education to empower citizens to hold governments accountable for service delivery and resource management.

The Africa Pensions Supervisors’ Network Programme (October 2021 – September 2025) addresses the fact that Africa’s pension assets are less than 1% of global assets and coverage is only 9.6%. The programme aims to encourage long-term retirement savings and create a regulatory environment that supports the investment of pension assets into the real sector to promote economic development and poverty reduction. Key activities include convening pension sector actors and supporting the annual Africa Pensions Supervisors Forum (APSF), including a 2022 event in Kigali and a subsequent Memorandum of Understanding between FSD Africa and APSF.

The document examines the requirements for building onshore financial centres in Africa capable of competing with established conduits like Mauritius. It identifies Mauritius and Johannesburg as the most compelling current jurisdictions, while noting the ambitions of Rwanda and Kenya. It also highlights the potential role of donors in providing technical assistance to ensure international best practice in regulatory structures.

The document details Rwanda's 2004 electricity crisis, which was caused by declining water levels in Lake Bulera due to watershed degradation, poor maintenance, and reduced rainfall. In response, the government implemented the Environment Policy (2003), Environment Law (2005), and Land Law (2005) to protect the Rugezi Wetlands, banning agricultural and pastoral activities within 50 meters of lake shores. These measures, combined with reforestation and erosion control, restored the Ntaruka station to full operational capacity by October 2007. The crisis also prompted Rwanda to diversify its energy portfolio into methane gas, geothermal, and peat resources to reduce vulnerability to hydrological changes and climate change.

The research examines the long-term effects of the 1994 Rwandan genocide on primary school dropout rates, specifically analyzing whether living near genocide-targeted areas increases dropout risk and if development aid mitigates this effect. Using a sample of 63,892 respondents and spatial data, the study finds that while proximity to genocide events alone does not significantly increase dropout probability, the presence of aid projects in those areas reduces the likelihood of dropout by 20%. This effect is most pronounced in low-income households, where the probability of dropout decreases by 10.6%. The study also identifies that child-headed households and rural residence are associated with higher dropout rates, while female students and those with educated household heads are less likely to drop out.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Fourth Review of the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) for Rwanda on July 1, 2021, and approved a one-year extension of the program through June 27, 2023. The report assesses Rwanda's economic recovery following a 3.4 percent GDP contraction in 2020, focusing on balancing COVID-19 response measures with long-term fiscal sustainability and debt management.

The study found that EPCs significantly displaced charcoal use, particularly for breakfast, and reduced mean charcoal consumption per capita per event by 30%. While the overall daily cost of cooking remained stable at approximately RWF 388 (USD 0.34), users experienced a median meal preparation time saving of 14 minutes. Most participants preferred monthly payment plans and reported high satisfaction, though the limitation of having only one cooking pot was a primary challenge.

The report assesses the energy status of Rwanda's 2,139 healthcare facilities, identifying a significant reliance on diesel generators for backup and primary power. It proposes a phased roadmap (2023-2027) to implement solar PV and battery storage through public, not-for-profit, and private delivery models, with an estimated investment of $1.5 million for off-grid healthcare posts and $8.5 million for grid-connected backup systems.

The project focuses on the Akagera Basin in Rwanda, addressing the increasing competition for water, energy, and food resources driven by population growth and economic transformation. By utilizing the Stockholm Environment Institute's WEAP and LEAP modelling tools, the initiative aims to identify sustainable development pathways and avoid sector-based plan incompatibilities. Key goals include producing 25 technical reports and policy briefs, engaging over 2,000 stakeholders, and supporting over 15 Nature Based Community Enterprises (NBCEs) to enhance climate resilience in the districts of Bugesera, Kirehe, Ngororero, and Rutsiro.

The report finds that Rwanda faces significant economic costs from existing climate variability and future climate change, particularly in health, agriculture, and water sectors. It estimates that future climate change could cost Rwanda nearly 1% of its GDP annually by 2030, excluding extreme events. Adaptation costs are projected to range from $50 million to $600 million per year by 2030, depending on whether development-related needs are included. The study also identifies a low-carbon growth pathway as being in Rwanda's self-interest to avoid 'lock-in' to high-emission infrastructure and to access carbon financing.

The African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA Fund) aims to leverage $5 billion by 2032 to implement urban water resilience projects in 100 African cities. The fund employs a blended finance model—combining grants, concessional loans, equity, and debt—to support the full project lifecycle, from risk-based city water plans to the creation of standardized toolkits for scalable solutions. It focuses on an 'investment menu' of low-cost, replicable solutions such as nature-based solutions for flood and wastewater management, rainwater harvesting, and on-site sanitation.

The ACWA Platform is a pan-African coalition led by WRI and various partners to address projected tripling of water demand and extreme climate risks in African cities by 2050. It operates alongside the ACWA Fund, a blended finance instrument providing grants and investments to transform strategic plans into investment-ready projects. The platform focuses on nine strategic priorities, including prioritizing vulnerable communities and leveraging emerging technology, with a goal to increase water resilience in 100 city-regions by 2032.