Rwanda’s Green Fund
Rwanda has ambitious sustainable development goals but is vulnerable to climate change impacts, which are estimated to cost 1% of Rwanda’s annual gross domestic product. To address this challenge, Rwanda developed a Green Growth and Climate Resilient Strategy, a key component of which is the Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA). FONERWA aims to mobilize and manage resources to protect the environment and natural resources while helping the country adapt to climate change. Launched in 2013 with funds from the UK Aid Department for International Development, FONERWA has provided financing for 23 climate change interventions—such as watershed protection, biogas feasibility assessment, and farmland terracing—that meet Rwanda’s sustainable development objectives and facilitate additional financial support from other donors. Notable findings and good practices from this case study are highlighted below.
- Successful methods of capacity building for green fund applicants included workshops, coaching, and mentoring small groups.
- Strong country-level institutional support and early engagement of donors contributed to faster green fund implementation and built confidence among national and international stakeholders.
- A hybrid model—in which a core group of in-country management staff can access international technical expertise—supported green fund success.
Centre for International Development (CIDT), UK Aid Department for International Development (DFID), Government of Rwanda