Govt earmarks Rwf16bn for 10 public green projects under Intego facility

The Government has allocated Rwf16.3 billion to finance ten public green projects under the Intego Facility for the 2025/26 fiscal year, according to the Rwanda Green Fund. The selected projects, sourced from six districts and four public institutions, span various priority areas: six in landscape restoration and forestry, one in climate-resilient infrastructure, one in wetland rehabilitation and biodiversity conservation, and two in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Intego is a Kinyarwanda word for ambition. This is a climate-focused funding facility designed specifically for the public sector in the country. Intego serves as a powerful tool to achieve Rwanda’s ambitious goals outlined in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) plan by becoming a resilient nation and reducing emissions. Intego is different from Ireme Invest which is a groundbreaking investment facility that provides financing to Rwanda’s private sector to support green business growth and boost the country’s response to climate change. ALSO READ: Ireme Invest unleashes green potential of Rwanda’s private sector with Rwf 2.7 billion investment in startups, SMEs According to the United Nations NDCs are national climate action plans by each country under the Paris Agreement –a legally binding international treaty on climate change, which was adopted in 2015. A country's NDC outlines how it plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help meet the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5ºC and adapt to the impacts of climate change. As per Rwanda Green Fund, Intego Facility supports the public sector implement Rwanda’s NDC Climate Action Plan by investing in climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives, adding that it is driving Rwanda towards a future of resilience and reduced carbon emissions. Public institutions across Rwanda, at both national and local levels, can leverage Intego to secure funding for impactful projects across various climate NDC priority areas, it pointed out. ALSO READ: Rwanda eyes ‘green jobs model’ in $11bn climate plan overhaul In 2024, Rwanda Green Fund announced the approval of its first investments under Intego, which it said was set to play a pivotal role in implementing Rwanda's Climate Action Plan, also known as NDCs under the Paris Agreement, further propelling the nation's sustainable development goals. In February 2023, the Rwanda Green Fund launched Intego along with its first call for proposals, inviting public institutions to submit proposals for initiatives that will contribute to achieving the country’s ambitious climate action goals. After an extensive evaluation process, it indicated that its Board of Directors approved ten transformative investments, committing Rwf43.6 billion from the KfW seed funding. The investments selected are intended to bolster Rwanda's climate resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and include interventions across all provinces of the country, it observed, pointing out that the approved investments align with Rwanda's NDC adaptation and mitigation priority areas. Here is a look at the 10 projects: In the landscape restoration and forestry category 1. The Resilient Nyamagabe Climate-Smart Initiative: The project was submitted by Nyamagabe District, an erosion-prone district in the Southern Province, according to the Rwanda Green Fund. This initiative will boost community climate resilience through erosion control, increased tree and agroforestry cover, cleaner cooking solutions, and enhanced livelihood opportunities. The value of this investment is more than Rwf4.3 billion. 2. Akanyaru Sub-Catchment Rehabilitation: This project seeks to restore forests and landscapes across the River Akanyaru sub-catchment in Nyaruguru District. It is expected to rehabilitate the catchment through effective erosion control, increased tree and agroforestry cover, riverbank protection, cleaner cooking solutions, and enhanced livelihood opportunities. The value of this investment is over Rwf4.6 billion. 3. Empowering Nyamasheke's Vulnerable Communities: It is planned the project will enhance the adaptive capacity of communities vulnerable to climate risks in Nyamasheke District. With an investment value of more than Rwf3.9 billion, it is planned to rehabilitate the Karundura sub-catchment in the area through increased tree and agroforestry cover, riverbank protection, erosion control, cleaner cooking solutions, and enhanced livelihood opportunities. 4. Nyabahanga Sub-Catchment Rehabilitation: This is designed to enhance livelihoods by protecting the catchment of River Nyabahanga in Karongi District against erosion, increased tree and agroforestry cover, riverbank protection, promoting fish farming in Lake Kivu, and enhanced livelihood opportunities in Karongi District. The value of this investment is over Rwf4.3 billion. 5. Base Catchment: Rehabilitating Landscapes and Building Resilience: Expected to restore landscapes and increase the climate resilience of communities in the River Base catchment in Rulindo District through erosion control, increased tree and agroforestry cover, riverbank protection and cleaner cooking solutions, the project investment is valued at Rwf4.4 billion. 6. Muvumba Resilience: Community-Led Adaptation Initiative: It is meant to build community resilience and adaptation through participatory and ecosystem-based catchment restoration. This investment will also contribute to the protection of the Muvumba Multipurpose Dam in Nyagatare District. This proposal was submitted by the Rwanda Water Resources Board and Nyagatare District. The project investment is valued at more than Rwf4.5 billion. Climate resilient infrastructure 7. Climate Resilient Schools: Will enhance climate resilience in schools across the country by building retaining walls in schools, providing access to clean water and increasing tree and agroforestry cover. This proposal was submitted by the Ministry of Education and the value of this investment is Rwf 4,925,034,934. Wetland Rehabilitation & Biodiversity Conservation 8. Nyabugogo Wetland Restoration Initiative: This project was submitted by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and intended to enhance the wetland’s carbon capture and storage capacity, thereby contributing to climate resilience and adaptation efforts. The value of this investment is Rwf5 billion. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 9. Greening TVET Schools: The project is anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve water access in public technical schools across the Eastern Province by equipping them with solar-assisted multi-fuel cooking stoves and installing rainwater harvesting systems. It was submitted by Rwanda Polytechnic and the Rwanda TVET Board, with a funding of more than Rwf3.2 billion. 10. Greening RNP: Accelerating Low-Carbon Transformation This initiative is geared towards transforming Rwanda National Police (RNP) into a green and low-carbon energy consumption. The investment will replace biomass energy with solar and LPG in cooking, resulting in a substantial reduction of CO2 emissions annually, and will enable the RNP to restore degraded land in and around police stations. The value of this investment is slightly over Rwf4 billion. The Rwanda Green Fund concluded that these diverse and innovative investments will have a groundbreaking impact across several fronts and support Rwanda achieve its ambitious climate action goals. Established in 2022, Intego has mobilised $72.8 million (approx. Rwf103 billion) to date, with funding efforts ongoing as there is no set end date for the initiative, according to the Rwanda Green Fund. Its current funding priorities include landscape restoration and forestry, biodiversity conservation, integrated, water resources management, sustainable transport and climate-smart agriculture. The facility was capitalised with seed funding of €46 million (approx. Rwf74 billion at current exchange rates) from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW – a German state-owned investment and development bank, according to the Rwanda Green Fund. According to the Ministry of Environment, Rwanda aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 38 per cent compared to business as usual by 203 – equivalent to an estimated mitigation of up to 4.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). Achieving this target will come through improvements in energy production and use, industrial processes and product use, waste management, transport, and agriculture as well as new nature-based conservation initiatives, the ministry indicated.

News

Govt earmarks Rwf16bn for 10 public green projects under Intego facility