Cross-cutting Issues in the EDPRS

1. Cross-cutting Issues in the EDPRS Mainstreaming of Environment Issues

2. Why does Environment matter in the EDPRS • Rwanda’s economy is overwhelmingly dependent on environmental resources, soil, water and forestry etc. • Over 90% of Rwanda’s population depends directly on environmental resources. • To ensure that poverty reduction is not undermining the use of resources.

3. Poor environmental conditions increase ill-health Diarrhea, ameobiasis, malaria are spread through water-borne vectors and are 3 of the main causes of ill health in the country Industrial and agricultural chemicals leaching into drinking water cause serious chronic illnesses Who is affected the most? Poor people who depend on untreated water sources and lack proper sanitation facilities

4. Degradation of the environment affects economic activities and education • Women and children spend time collecting water and fuel wood from long distances • poor soil fertility reduces crop productivity • Who is affected the most? • The poor, who depend on fuel wood, and farm on steep slopes with low technology

5. Poor environmental conditions increase vulnerability to natural disasters • Increased soil erosion and deforestation leads to land slides, flash floods and droughts • Who is affected? • Poor people who live in fragile settlements, in lowlands, or steep slopes; droughts affect those who till on marginal lands, with no access to irrigation

6. Environment does matter in the EDPRS • Economic Development and Poverty Reduction cannot be achieved if 60% of the country’s population which is below the poverty line does not have access to good health, education and livelihood opportunities, due to poor environmental conditions

7. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 1 - Biennial publishing of the State of the Environment Report Relevance for Rwanda: the data collection and analysis that are undertaken for the State of the Environment reporting provide a solid base for decision making, planning and interventions Education Sector Importance: The State of the Environment is an important information source that can be used for educational and research purposes Possible activities: Integrate key areas of concern identified by the SOER in curriculum for all educational levels; promote the SOER for use by researchers, educational institutions and others

8. Economic Planning and Development Sector Importance: SOER will assist in the identification of critical environmental areas that can be subjected to an economic valuation Possible activities: Use of sustainable net national product (index to measure sustainability of natural resource exploitation and investment)

9. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 2 - Good land management and tenure systems and rational use of national land resources for the benefit of all citizens Relevance for Rwanda: establish a land tenure system that guarantees tenure security for all Rwandans and give guidance to good management and rational use of national land resources Agricultural sector Importance: promotion of land use for agriculture in an efficient and sustainable manner; rational and sustainable exploitation of marshlands Possible activities: promotion of cooperatives to reduce fragmentation; undertaking Environmental Impact Assessment prior to implementation of new agricultural development projects

10. Local Governance Sector (cross cutting Social Inclusion) Importance: Increase awareness on the law and strengthen social justice by empowering vulnerable groups. By doing this land conflict can be reduced and livelihoods can be improved. Possible activities: provide land title guarantee and land tenure security to vulnerable groups; facilitate land reforms in the rural areas

11. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 3 - Practice sustainable management of land and critical ecosystems including wetlands, rangelands, forests, lakes, and national parks Relevance for Rwanda: reduced land degradation, rational use of natural resources and protection and preservation of critical ecosystems and biodiversity Trade and Industry Sector Importance: sustainable development and responsible investment in the sector Activities: undertaking EIAs for all new development projects and conduction Environmental Audits

12. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 4 - Reduce fuel wood dependency and increase access to renewable alternative sources of energy Relevance for Rwanda: halt the depletion of the forest resources of the country and the degradation of ecosystems and introduce sustainable solutions for energy supply Energy Sector Importance: the current energy supply is no longer sustainable, the demand is increasing while the resources and being depleted. Finding sustainable solutions is paramount Activities: promotion of solar heating systems, energy saving technologies, private sector investment

13. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 5 - Enhance Rwanda’s ability to comply with international quality standards for the benefit of domestic and export markets Relevance for Rwanda: introduction and application of standards will create opportunities for better economic and industrial performance and competitiveness, benefiting the country’s economy Local Governance Sector Importance: Institutionalise quality standards for waste management which will improve the management of waste and by doing so protect the environment Activities: develop standards for waste management, design and construct safe waste management sites

14. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 6 - Mitigate the effects of the high population growth rate on the natural resources of the country Relevance for Rwanda: current population growth rate is not sustainable in relation to the natural resource base and economic productivity Health Sector Importance: control the occurrence of dietary deficiency among the population, increase productivity and increase life expectancy Activities: promote family planning and reproductive health programmes

15. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 7 - Improve the well being of the population by reducing incidences of water borne and respiratory diseases Relevance for Rwanda: by preventing incidences of water borne and respiratory diseases Rwanda’s society can be more productive and people can live healthier lives and reduce costs for the health sector Water and Sanitation Sector Importance: improved infrastructure that meets international standards and serves the needs of the Rwandans Activities: promotion of safe sanitation facilities; development of water standards, strengthen integrated water management

16. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 8 - Review existing policies and develop an environmental regulatory framework for development of infrastructure Relevance for Rwanda: the infrastructure sector is key to economic growth, ensuring that infrastructure development doesn’t create harmful negative impacts to the environment which is essential for a nation wide sustainable development Infrastructure and Energy Sector Importance: Ensuring that infrastructure development projects are consistant with the national development priorities and improve planning for e.g. water and sanitation in house contruction. Activities: review the infrastructural policies and programmes, undertake EIAs for each infrastructure development project

17. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 9 - Support Government of Rwanda to increase non-agricultural jobs through the creation of environmentally sustainable income generating activities Relevance for Rwanda: reduce dependancy on the natural resources by creating more job opportunities outside the agricultural sector Trade and Industry Importance: Diversification of the national economy with the objective to reduce dependancy on one sector and create more economic stability Activities: strengten infrastructural developments in the tourism industry; skills development through vocational training and ICT programs

18. PRIORITY COMMITMENT 10 - Formulate policies and programmes to facilitate the execution of existing environmental related laws and assign responsibility for enforcement and execution within the national, provincial and local government bodies Relevance for Rwanda: national priorities identified in legislation need to be well reflected in policies and programmes, which need to be translated into concrete action with impacts at the local level Local Governance Importance: improved intervention and management at all local government level to achieve required objectives at the community levels Activities: integration of environmental issues in the DDPs; facilitate establishment of District Environmental Committees and promote community participation