Rwanda secures over Rwf95 billion in international climate finance, REMA report shows

By The Inspirer.

Rwanda received more than Rwf95 billion (US$65.05 million) in international climate finance between 2018 and 2024 to support environmental protection and climate resilience projects, according to the Rwanda First Biennial Report released by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

The report, which assesses Rwanda’s greenhouse gas emissions and progress in implementing its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, shows that the funding has supported projects in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, and institutional capacity building.

Rwanda had initially estimated that it would require US$11 billion between 2020 and 2030 to implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Of this amount, the government committed to mobilising US$4.4 billion domestically, with the remainder expected to come from development partners and international climate finance.

By 2024, Rwanda had mobilised 43.1 percent of the total financing required for the decade, leaving a funding gap of 56.9 percent, the report states.

However, the report indicates stronger progress during the first phase of NDC implementation between 2020 and 2025, with Rwanda having secured 93.3 percent of the required financing, leaving a gap of just 6.7 percent.

According to REMA, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) together provided US$65.05 million during the six-year period.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) contributed US$21.8 million to projects focusing on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, environmental governance, and the development of early warning systems for climate-related disasters.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided more than US$15.7 million to support climate-resilient rural settlements, afforestation initiatives in the Mayaga region, and projects aimed at improving hazardous waste and chemical management.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) contributed US$380,000 to support Rwanda’s implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) committed US$8.83 million to strengthen climate resilience through rural infrastructure projects, while the World Bank provided US$9.53 million for the Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LAFREC) project, which supports ecosystem restoration and helps communities around Gishwati-Mukura National Park adapt to climate change.

Despite the progress made in mobilising climate finance, the report notes that Rwanda still faces a significant funding gap and will require increased investment and stronger collaboration with development partners to achieve its long-term climate objectives.

Rwanda has since revised its climate action plan, extending the implementation period from 2030 to 2035 and increasing the estimated financing requirement to US$12 billion. Under the updated commitment, the country aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 53 percent by 2035, equivalent to cutting approximately 14.86 million tonnes of emissions.