Green Gicumbi Project Reaches 98% Completion: A Closer Look at Its Implementation Progress

Green Gicumbi Project Reaches 98% Completion: A Closer Look at Its Implementation Progress

By Justin Kayiranga

Green Gicumbi Project is nearing full implementation, significantly enhancing environmental sustainability and community well-being in Gicumbi District.

Launched in 2019, after the Government of Rwanda secured a funding of USD32 Million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to implement the project entitled “Strengthening climate resilience of rural communities in Northern Rwanda’’, Green Gicumbi project is now only steps away from full completion, with 98% of its plan already implemented.

Speaking to TOPAFRICANEWS, Kagenza Jean Marie Vianney, the project coordinator, confirmed that 98% of the allocated GCF funds, equivalent to Rwf 30 billion, have been spent for various interventions.

“This project is among the first in the World to effectively utilize the GCF grant budget.” Kagenza said. “Based on the amount we have already received; we are now at 98% equivalent to Rwf 30 billion and this year we will spend more than four billion that will cover the rest of project activities till May 2026.

Thought the project is now a few steps away from its completion, Kagenza guarantees that what has been achieved will be sustainably maintained thanks to the engagement of local government, development partners and community.

“Among project’s activities included educating residents sustainable ways to cope with climate change, through training provided to people in different categories. So, we are confident that after the project completion next year, the achievements will continue to be preserved and put to good use.” He stated.

With its near completion, the project is currently focusing on community capacity building activities as one of the ways to ensure the sustainability of the project’s achievements. Nicolas Gumisiriza, a farmer from Rushaki sector, affirms that this project has contributed to lifting them out of poverty, to the point where they are now beginning to find solutions that will accompany them on their journey to tackle climate related issues.

He said “To prevent post-harvest losses, we are currently setting up a facility where our farmers’ cooperative will collect and store agricultural produce. This facility will also include a designated area for crop drying.”

Operating across nine sectors of Gicumbi district namely Rubaya, Cyumba, Kaniga, Mukarange, Rushaki, Shangasha, Manyagiro, Byumba, and Bwisige, Green Gicumbi Project, to date, has contributed to the restoration of forests and landscapes in Gicumbi district through its components like Watershed protection and climate resilient agriculture, Sustainable Forest management and sustainable energy, Climate resilient settlement, and Knowledge transfer and mainstreaming.

Among this project’s key achievement include:

Creation of green jobs: Over 38,000 people employed, with women making up 52% of the workforce.

Climate resilient agriculture: 9,790 hectares planted with agroforestry, 1,450 hectares developed with progressive and radical terraces, 40 hectares dedicated to high-elevation coffee plantations generating over Rwf 300 million per season, and 50 hectares used for tea plantations.

Forest management: 3.5 million high-quality seedlings grown and planted, 1,240 hectares of degraded forest rehabilitated, while 28,000 improved cookstoves distributed and 10 domestic biogas units constructed as pilot.

Climate resilient settlement: 100 Climate resilient dwelling units constructed and occupied by vulnerable families relocated from high-risk areas in the sectors of Kaniga and Rubaya.

Additional to these, Rwf 1.3 billion disbursed to 25 cooperatives through Community Adaptation Fund and 245 Milk Cows distributed to vulnerable families.

To date, Green Gicumbi Project has directly benefited over 140,000 people, with more than 400,000 indirectly impacted.