Rwanda’s climate-resilient villages create jobs for young women, expand rural opportunities

Young women in Rwanda’s Gakenke District are using jobs linked to climate-resilient rural settlements to buy livestock and meet their personal needs, as a government-backed initiative seeks to expand economic opportunities and bring essential services closer to rural communities.

The initiative is part of the Ecosystem/Landscape Approach to Climate Proof the Rural Settlement Programme of Rwanda, known as LDCF3, implemented by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in partnership with the Rwanda Housing Authority and the districts of Gakenke and Kirehe, with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

According to REMA, more than 600 people, including women and young people, are involved in activities associated with establishing the rural settlements and their facilities in Gakenke District.

For some young women, the jobs have provided an income they can use to acquire productive assets and become more financially independent.

Bayisenge Josiane, 20, who has worked on the settlement activities, said the opportunity had enabled her to buy small livestock, including pigs and sheep.

“Being given a job by this project has been beneficial to me. I have been able to buy small livestock, including pigs and sheep, and now I can solve my own problems without waiting for anyone’s support,” she said.

Iradukunda Sandrine, 18, who has worked on the project for one and a half years, said receiving a regular salary had helped her meet her personal needs while investing in livestock.

“Young girls usually have many needs. We often need clothes, lotions and pocket money to meet our personal needs. I receive my salary regularly, which has enabled me to buy livestock that is helping me get out of poverty,” Iradukunda said.

Uwineza Yvonne, 19, said earning her own income had also strengthened her ability to make independent decisions and reduced her vulnerability to men who might exploit financial difficulties to pressure young women into sexual relationships.

“No man can deceive me and ruin my life because I can buy everything I need thanks to the job I got from the project. No man can drag me into sexual abuse; I can solve my financial problems myself,” Uwineza said.

The experiences of the young women show how employment linked to rural development can provide benefits beyond wages, particularly when workers are able to invest their earnings in assets that may support their livelihoods over time.

Services closer to rural households

The imidugudu initiative aims to make rural settlements more than places to live by integrating facilities and activities that support household incomes, childcare, agricultural production and access to services.

In Muzo settlement in Gakenke District, an agakiriro, a centre for small-scale production and crafts, is under construction. The facility is expected to provide residents, particularly young people, with opportunities to develop businesses, produce goods and generate income.

In Kirehe District, the project includes the Imigongo Hub, where community members will be able to sell products featuring imigongo, a traditional Rwandan art form. Designated selling points are also intended to support local economic activities.

Iragena Jean Felix, a resident of Muzo settlement, said completing the agakiriro would create opportunities for residents to improve their livelihoods, particularly young people.

“Once agakiriro is completed, we will have thousands of opportunities to improve our lives, especially for young people,” he said.

The settlements also incorporate Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities intended to support young children’s development while allowing parents and caregivers to pursue income-generating activities.

Jeannette Ufitinema, a resident of Muzo, said the completed ECD facility had made it easier for parents to balance childcare with other activities.

“We are no longer worried about leaving our children at home. Since the ECD was completed, every parent brings their children to the ECD and has time to do other income-generating activities without any problems,” she said.

Other interventions include livestock breeding, greenhouse agriculture and rainwater harvesting systems. These are intended to diversify household income sources, support food production and improve water management.

Climate adaptation linked to livelihoods

The project also addresses climate-related challenges facing rural communities, including changing rainfall patterns and drought, which can affect agricultural production and household incomes.

Rainwater harvesting systems are intended to help communities collect and store water for domestic and productive uses, while greenhouse agriculture offers opportunities to manage growing conditions and diversify crop production.

The effectiveness of these interventions will depend on factors including water availability, maintenance, agricultural knowledge and access to markets.

The long-term impact of the initiative will depend on whether residents can continue benefiting from employment opportunities, use the facilities effectively and sustain their income-generating activities beyond the project’s support.

By combining employment, childcare, local business facilities and climate adaptation measures, Rwanda’s imidugudu initiative seeks to improve rural livelihoods while strengthening communities’ ability to respond to environmental and economic challenges.

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