According to the Bank’s website, the objective of this project is to restore priority ecosystems and promote sustainable landscape management in the target areas within Nyungwe-Ruhango Corridor.

Components:

1. Ecosystem restoration and improved land management
2. Livelihood development and private sector opportunities
3. Policy alignment and effective planning to enable restoration
4. Effective and inclusive governance, knowledge exchange and capacity building

The project will invest in ecosystem restoration and improved land management by terracing ( Bench terraces and complete agroforestry); Gully restoration/rehabilitation; Tree planting for afforestation, reforestation and habitat restoration in riverine and marshland buffer zones by emphasis of native trees species; Road-side stabilization and protection; Hedgerow planting; and Works to rehabilitate wetland/ marshland. The investments are therefore expected to largely have a positive impact of the environment and livelihoods by stabilizing cultivated hillsides against erosion and landslides and reducing flooding in valley bottoms, improving soil and water quality, providing habitats for wildlife, restore biodiversity, increase food security, and contribute to climate change mitigation. Fruit tree planting at household level and the integration of high value perennial cover crops, such as tea a cover crop in the upper catchments will demonstrate the commercial potential of nature positive land husbandry practices and provide an opportunity to leverage further funding to sustain and scale them. However, poorly designed terracing can be counterproductive by interfering with water circulation and long-term mechanical failure. These activities are typically not complex or large, do not involve activities with a high potential for harming people or the environment. The risks and impacts or not significant and can be managed effectively with standard mitigation measures. Though moderate due to the activities are small scale, OHS risks associated with activities include physical hazards related to working on steep and unstable terrain.

The social risk of the project is moderate. The risks are mainly related to PAPs using the riparian buffer zones for their livelihood, social exclusion and elite capture; vulnerable groups including elderly, disabled, and poor members of the community not benefited fairly from benefit stream; and female household heads and married women may not equally benefit like their male counterparts. The project will not finance activities that require land acquisition and resettlement. However, the reinstatement of riparian buffer zones for riverbank protection may affect people who rely on the area for their livelihoods but may not possess land titles. The project will also have risks related to social exclusion and elite capture, though the risk is low community health and safety risks is also another risk that mainly comes form manual or light machinery assisted civil works.

Trust Funds - Global Environment Facility (GEF): US$ 9.11 million

World Bank

Tuuli Johanna Bernardini
Senior Environmental Specialist

Yacob Wondimkun Endaylalu
Senior Environmental Engineer

Hisham Mohammed Salih Osman Mohammed
Senior Environmental Engineer

Borrower/Client/Recipient

Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning
Gerald Mugabo
Director General for External Financing
gerald.mugabe@minecofin.gov.rw

Implementing Agencies

Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)
Juliet Kabera
Director General
info@rema.gov.rw

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint