Government of [Rwanda] UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative

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2. Government of [Rwanda] UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative Background PEI Rwanda Key Achievements related to the Economic Valuation of ENR Objectives and Methodology Key Findings/Recommendations Policy Impact Challenges and Response Lessons Learned Next Steps

3. Government of [Rwanda] UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative Aims to enhance the contribution of sound environmental management to poverty reduction, sustainable economic growth and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals Phase II is the integration of environment into national policy and district planning, policy and budget processes to implement the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) Improved capacity within key ministries and institutions Improved capacity at district level Increased awareness and more effective participation of stakeholders Improved national funding levels for investing in environmental sustainability Improved capacity for monitoring poverty and environment linkages

4. Government of [Rwanda] UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative PEI, Rwanda is implemented by a cross-ministerial stakeholder partnership that includes: Ministry of Environment and Lands (MINELA); Ministry of Forestry and Mines (MINIFOM); Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN); Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC); Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI); Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) and Ministry of Industry and Trade (MINICOM). Local level implementation is executed through the decentralization policy processThe project is coordinated and implemented by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

5. Government of [Rwanda] UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative The results from the Rugezi wetland have generated interest from policy makers at national and international levels Feature film at the Copenhagen conference in 2009 Feature film at World Environment Day, Kigali in 2010 Renewed focus on rehabilitation efforts have led to the recovery of water levels and other income generating alternatives such as Ecotourism. Resettlement of former wetland inhabitants Construction of watch towers Ministry of Infrastructure is constructing a 2.1 MW hydro station. Gishwati – a 50 Million USD project by Minagri geared to enhance ecosystem rehabilitation with emphasis on soil and water conservation Improved management to diversify livelihood options for the inhabitants.

6. Government of [Rwanda] UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative

7. Government of RwandaUNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative Objectives: Environment and Natural resources have significant and measurable contribution to economic growth and poverty reduction in Rwanda Methodology: EA I: Case Studies: Gishwati and Rugezi EA II: Detailed study on Rugezi wetland Environment and Natural Resources contribute to sustainable national development Establish Evidence base to make a case for environmental sustainability Effective policy advocacy Environment Mainstreaming in Rwanda The underlying factors: Economy and Livelihoods issues Degradation of the ecosystems has posed significant impacts on livelihoods at the house hold levels and national economy Deforestation of Gishwati: Natural disasters such as Floods, decline in agricultural productivity Degradation of Rugezi led to decline in hydro power production and the purchase of generators to supply deficit power requirements

8. Government of RwandaUNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative Direct use value: Questionnaires and Focus group discussions Questions/ key issues: Household information, Land issues, Products harvested in the two ecosystems, Agricultural productivity, Soil and water conservation, Nature and the magnitude of the impact - who is affected and in what way. Soil and water analysis for Rugezi wetland

9. Government of [Rwanda]UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative People living in and around forests and wetlands depend directly on them for food, medicines and other basic needs; Deforestation and wetland degradation: flooding, siltation, loss of plants and animals - genetic material that have great potential uses; All these have socio-economic implications and overall integration of livelihoods with improved environmental management;

10. Government of [Rwanda]UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative

11. Government of [Rwanda]UNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative Through advocacy, there has been increased focus on environmental management particularly at the local levels where the findings have led to increase in env’t projects. A range of activities geared toward ecosystem restoration underway in both the Gishwati and Rugezi ecosystem. This work has triggered interest and is informing large scale ecosystem rehabilitation efforts underway at the policy making levels of government. The studies have informed the initiation of an Integrated Development Programme that is spearheaded by Ministry of Local government.

12. Government of RwandaUNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative The findings/recommendations have influenced the energy policy through application of Strategic Environmental Assessment, Local government policies through IDP and Agriculture policy by advocating for soil and land management as well as water conservation as part of the integrated planning for sustainability. The increased understanding of sustainability by the Ministry of Finance which is the coordination Ministry positions the Ministry to provide much needed guidance for integration of environment into other key sectors such as Agriculture and Energy for enhanced sustainability. The findings will continue to inform the large scale ecosystem rehabilitation that is being initiated at the multi-sectoral levels.

13. Government of RwandaUNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative

14. Government of RwandaUNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative Application of economic tools and methodologies in general facilitate information that is critical to decision making and policy advocacy; There is need for additional support particularly in training technical people in natural resources management in order to avail necessary competencies to carry out these studies/assessments; There is need for further support at the country level to build capacity for systematic approach to extended cost benefit analysis of ecosystem goods and services to inform green accounting methodologies. This will be critical if concepts such as Payment of Ecosystem Services (PES) are going to serve as key entry point for sustainable financing for environment. This approach is critical if PEI must meet its overall PEI objectives at the country/regional level. PEI partnership with specific in-country actors and external actors has been helpful particularly in areas where regional experts have been easily sourced to support country initiatives such as EFR, PEER. ODI has helped in improving the quality of technical outputs.

15. Government of RwandaUNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative The next key steps for PEI economic work in the country: Developing implementation modalities for the potential and existing EIs Training of key sector stakeholders in extended cost benefit analysis Building capacity for Green accounting and payment for Ecosystem Services PEI’s economic work in Rugezi: Led to resettlement of populations and creation of alternative forms of employment with improvements in livelihoods, Recovery of water levels has led to construction of 2.1 MW hydro power and jobs for rural residents with multiplier effects of other socio-economic activities PEI, Rwanda is supporting an internship programme through which interns linked with REMA are providing additional support to mainstreaming environment in other key sectors. There is potential for integrating PEI’s economic work with other emerging poverty and environment issues through sustainable Land management and more broadly PES.

16. Government of RwandaUNDP-UNEP Poverty- Environment Initiative Thank you for listening (Murakoze) http://www.rema.rw