The country’s government has just raised financing of more than 9.4 million euros (10 billion Rwandan francs). These funds are part of the package worth more than 20.8 million euros (22 billion Rwandan francs) granted to Rwanda by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to finance the project called ” Landscape Restoration and Integrated Water Resources Management in Sebeya and other Catchments” in Rwanda.
A project to prevent disasters
The Sebeya River originates in the mountains of the Rutsiro district, along the Nile watershed in Congo, western Rwanda. For several years, it has been responsible for the destruction of public and private infrastructure and casualties in and around the Rubavu district. “The problem of this watershed is linked to erosion caused by human activities (bad agricultural practices, deforestation, unsustainable mining methods…) and when it rains, it triggers soil erosion and floods,” says Rwandan Ngabonziza, the Director General of Rwanda Water Resources Board.
The project “Landscape Restoration and Integrated Water Resources Management in Sebeya and other Catchments“ therefore aims to improve livelihoods and natural resource management in Sebeya and other watersheds. “The activities implemented will help the community to stop soil erosion. They will also provide employment opportunities for Rwandans,” says Vincent Biruta, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The project will be implemented by the Rwanda Water Resources Board, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV).
The implementation of the project will take at least 3 years
“Landscape Restoration and Integrated Water Resources Management in Sebeya and other Catchments” includes the construction of dams, trenching and soil reforestation around the Sebeya River. It will also focus on the development of innovative financing mechanisms and value chains to improve livelihoods through ecological and economic benefits. Finally, the Sebeya River Basin Conservation Project will deploy knowledge management systems for landscape restoration and integrated water resources management.
Inès Magoum