The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), today launched a $9 million grant project to reduce flood risks and enhance climate resilience for vulnerable communities in Western Rwanda.
Financed by the African Development Fund, the project “Nature-Based Flood Adaptation to Increase Community Resilience in the Western Part of Rwanda’ will deploy ecosystem-based solutions to address recurrent flooding, soil erosion, and land degradation in high-risk watersheds.
The initiative will restore degraded catchments, stabilize riverbanks, rehabilitate steep slopes, and promote reforestation and sustainable land management. By strengthening natural buffers against extreme weather events, the project is expected to protect lives, infrastructure, and farmland, while directly benefiting thousands of households across flood-prone districts in the Western Province.
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Aissa Toure Sarr, AfDB Country Manager for Rwanda, said:
“Climate-related disasters continue to pose serious risks to communities in Western Rwanda. Through this investment, AfDB is supporting sustainable, nature-based solutions that not only reduce flood risks but also strengthen livelihoods, enhance environmental protection, and create local employment opportunities.”
Western Rwanda has experienced increasingly frequent floods and landslides in recent years, causing loss of life, damage to homes and public infrastructure, and disruption to economic activity. The project responds to these challenges by prioritizing preventive and cost-effective adaptation measures that restore ecosystems while reinforcing community resilience.
In addition to physical restoration works, the project integrates cross-cutting priorities including gender equality, youth employment, and climate adaptation. Implementation activities such as watershed rehabilitation, tree planting, and environmental monitoring are expected to generate green jobs and build local technical capacity.
The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), the Executing Agency, will lead implementation in close collaboration with district authorities and beneficiary communities.
Eng. Richard Nyirishema, Executive Chairperson of RWB, said:
“This project represents a significant milestone in our national commitment to safeguarding vulnerable communities from the escalating impacts of climate change. By prioritizing nature-based solutions, we are strengthening resilience across high-risk catchment areas while protecting critical infrastructure, agricultural livelihoods, and the long-term sustainability of our water resources”. This integrated approach ensures that environmental protection and socio-economic development advance hand in hand.”
The launch workshop, taking place from 18–20 February 2026, is designed to align implementation arrangements with AfDB requirements on procurement, financial management, environmental and social safeguards, and monitoring and evaluation, thereby ensuring efficient, transparent, and results-oriented delivery.
The project directly contributes to Rwanda’s national priorities on climate resilience and sustainable landscape management, while reinforcing the strategic objectives of the African Development Bank Climate Change and Green Growth Strategy.
