In the last decade, Rwanda has emerged as a leader in Africa for its efforts to integrate climate resilience and green growth into development planning and finance. This working paper charts some of the steps the Government of Rwanda has taken to become a leader in this area, namely:
- Strong alliances between the Ministry of Natural Resources – through the Rwanda Environment Management Authority – and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning have enabled many achievements in climate compatible development to date.
- Rwanda has a number of innovative solutions to share with the region, including establishing a demand-based Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA) and introducing tools for mainstreaming environment and climate change issues into budgeting and planning systems at both national and subnational levels.
- After two years of operation, FONERWA has made considerable progress, including mobilising approximately US$44 million in capitalisation commitments, receiving over 1,000 eligible proposals, holding seven public calls for proposals and partnering with the Rwanda Development Bank to provide a credit line to qualifying private sector applicants.
Rwanda’s national learning study involved a literature review and semi-structured interview and questionnaire process with more than 30 stakeholders. A stakeholder workshop was held in Kigali, Rwanda, in February 2014 to validate the key lessons and results. Discussions explored key drivers, challenges, opportunities and lessons that could be shared within Rwanda and with other interested countries. The working paper highlights some of the conclusions on how governance, institutional arrangements, laws and policies, planning, financing and knowledge sharing can all support more climate-compatible development.