Kinyinya Green City Pilot will serve as a blueprint for Rwanda’s green urbanization

The Kinyinya Green City Pilot will serve as a blueprint for Rwanda’s green urbanisation and introduce technologies and innovations that can be replicated across the country as Rwanda works to achieve its socio-economic transformation and environmental sustainability goals, TOPAFRICANEWS has learnt.

Community members, partners, local and international experts and government stakeholders have gathered in Kigali for a week long Urban Planning and Design Lab to develop Rwanda’s first Green City Pilot.

The Urban Lab was hosted by the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) and supported by German Development Cooperation through the KfW Development Bank.

 KfW is supporting Rwanda to undertake a feasibility study for the Green City Pilot which will be constructed in Kinyinya Sector specifically at the Former land which hosted DW Radio Infrastructures for years.

However TOPAFRICANEWS has learnt that additional nearby land will also be used for the Green City which is expected to change lives of citizens in Kinyinya.

FONERWA said the objective of the project is the development of a model community in Kinyinya Hill to showcase sustainable urban development.

The project is expected (i) to serve as a model for sustainable urban development linking affordable housing with climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and (ii) to set standards for sustainable urban development in Rwanda and in the wider region.

The project target or expected outcomes are (i) adequate housing and urban development principles appropriated by the stakeholders in the Kinyinya Hill Project and (ii) capacity of government institutions and other stakeholders in Rwanda strengthened in appropriate housing and urban development principles.

Fatina Mukarubibi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment said “The pilot aims to demonstrate the viability of green cities in Rwanda and elements that could be replicated in the development of Secondary Cities. Our goal is to build cities which are pillars of green and climate resilient urbanisation. Doing so requires us to build effective green urban centres with green, low carbon and climate resilient housing, infrastructure, public amenities, workplaces and industry – all underpinned by robust land use planning,” PS Mukarubibi said.

Markus Bär, Rwanda Country Director of the KFW Development Bank, also spoke: “Rwanda has a long-standing track record of engaging communities in important decision-making processes and are very pleased to see this approach being so thoroughly applied on the Green City Pilot. KfW on behalf of the German government appreciates the partnership with FONERWA, which began in 2013, and the guidance of the Ministry of the Environment. Our commitment has been constantly growing and our partnership is about to further be strengthened,” he said.