KIGALI, 29 November 2018 – UN-Habitat and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) have signed a global Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation on sustainable, climate-resilient and green urban development at the Africa Green Growth Forum.
On the 3rd to 6th of September, 2013, the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States, the European Commission, and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) hosted the 2nd International Tripartite Conference on Sustainable Urbanisation for Urban Poverty Eradication, with a special focus on Slum Upgrading and Community Empowerment.
Rwanda, 12 January 2016 - UN-Habitat supported a Somali delegation on a learning tour to the Kimisagara One-Stop Youth Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, as part of its work with the Federal Government of Somalia and the UN Joint Programme on Youth Employment. UN-Habitat’s Youth Unit developed the One-Stop Youth Centre model to engage and empower urban youth through training and development.
Nairobi 25 August 2015—Starting 1 September, Rwanda introduced a new urban water supply tariff which was designed with the help of UN-Habitat. The new tariff has been designed to move the utility towards full cost recovery. In line with the pro-poor policy of the UN-Habitat and the water policy of Rwanda, the tariff is structured to protect the urban poor from paying unaffordable prices.
Kigali, 31 August 2015 – UN-Habitat and its partners recently held a workshop on Increasing the Energy and Resource Efficiency of Rwanda Association of Manufacturing Companies in the Rwandan capital.
Kigali, 21 August 2015 – UN-Habitat has held an international summer school in the Rwandan capital under the motto “Interacting Infrastructures”.
Kigali-Rubavu-Goma, 21 August 2015-- .
UN-Habitat Rwanda works with the Government, local authorities, communities and civil society through different programmes and projects to promote the inclusion of the new urbanization agenda in the development of Rwanda; improve the sustainability, preparedness and resilience of all its cities and all human settlements.
The MoU signed in October 2017 between UN-Habitat and the Government of Rwanda established the key area of collaboration namely, Urban Legislation, Land and Governance; Urban Planning and Design, Urban Economy; Urban Basic Services; Housing and Slum Upgrading; Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation; and Research and Capacity Development.
In order to create activities and projects that are meaningful and have a full impact in the country, it is notable the role of successful partnerships, especially with national government and local authorities. UN-Habitat Rwanda works with several local and international partners, which provide the inclusion of the New Urban Agenda principles in the development of the country. In addition, through the inclusion of the civil society and communities in the processes, it is possible to guarantee the support to social inclusion and the eradication of poverty in cities.
Rwanda has the highest population density in Africa, in which approximately 16.52% of the population lives in urban areas, almost half of it is concentrated in Kigali, the capital city, with about 1.1 million inhabitants. Fast economic and demographic growth puts pressure on the limited land resources, ultimately rendering citizens to live in urban areas. Bearing in mind the topographic nature of the country coupled with the significant demographic shifts towards urban areas, Rwanda needs to develop its own, unique urban model while balancing both rural and urban development.
In order to create activities and projects that are meaningful and have a full impact in the country, it is notable the role of successful partnerships, especially with national government and local authorities. Un-Habitat Rwanda works with several local and international partners, which provide the inclusion of the New Urban Agenda principles in the development of the country. In addition, through the inclusion of the civil society and communities in the processes, it is possible to guarantee the support to social inclusion and the eradication of poverty in cities.
UN-Habitat projects in Rwanda
This project seeks to improve the existing master plans for the urban area in Rubavu District and proposes a Planned City Extension based on UN-Habitat’s principles for Sustainable Urban Development. A Planned City Extension concept plan has been prepared and approved for Rubavu, and also for Nyagatare. A guideline to support secondary city authorities in city planning has also been developed.
Implementing partners: Ministry of Housing and Construction, Rubavu Local Government
Objective of the project
Methodology
The project is developed around the following methodologies:
Service sectors covered by the project include:Water, Sanitation, Solid Waste management, and Environment.
Project Location:Kigali,Rwanda .
Objective of the Project
To involve the youth in the green economy that is contributing to climate change mitigation.Modules covered include:
Service sectors covered by the project include: energy access, buildings, academia, policy and legislation, housing finance.
Objective of the project
The project seeks to mainstream energy efficiency into the existing legislation; and, to build on ongoing initiatives and develop an energy efficiency regulatory system for new and existing buildings. The project will also focus on green architecture, with the emphasis on effective policies, regulations and standards that integrate energy efficiency into building design.
Service sectors covered by the project include: energy access, buildings, academia, policy and legislation, housing finance.
The methodology:The project is developed around the following methodologies: Establishment of a benchmarking on energy use in building, capacity building of practitioners and professionals of the building industry; review of the building regulations and standards; development of tools and establishment of financial mechanism for promotion sustainable building design. Working with the national and local governments as well as training institutions and the private sector.
(Global Environment Facilities (GEF) USD 2,793,000; UN-Habitat (in kind) USD 400,000; Governments (in kind) USD 12,083,288)
This project is located in Kigali. Its objective is to develop a rapid trans-sectoral urban-regional planning methodology with a focus on urban basic services, specifically targeting supply and disposal infrastructure. The service sectors covered by the project include energy, water, waste water, solid waste and urban agriculture. The methodology will help to address the city’s challenges in the following areas: phasing urban development; preparing a 30 year plan for the city; promoting city density; addressing inadequate housing; and financing large amounts of low-cost housing. For more information click here.
Water and Sanitation Trust Fund Implementation of Training and Capacity Building Activities Under the Lake Victoria Water Supply and Sanitation Programme Phase II (East African Regional Project)
This programme is being implemented with a focus on the development and adoption of inclusive policies and strategies for slum upgrading . The Programme also aims to strengthen community, city and national key stakeholders’ capacities in participatory slum upgrading in Rwanda, particularly in the City of Kigali, Musanze District and Muhanga District. More sepcifically, the Country Team particularly aims to contribute to the ongoing elaboration of the National Urban Policy, the implementation of the National Urbanization Sector Strategy as prescribed in the Rwanda’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS 2) and specific local urban/city development plans.
Kigali, 5 March 2015 – A delegation from the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to UN-Habitat joined by the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat recently visited Rwanda to learn about the work UN-Habitat has been doing since 1994.
UN-Habitat commenced its activities in Rwanda after the 1994 tragic events, during which urban infrastructure was destroyed and loss of lives of qualified personnel heavily affected institutional capacity.