United Nations Development Programme

Transcription

1 United Nations Development Programme Country: Rwanda PROJECT DOCUMENT 1 Project Title: Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change by Establishing Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support for Integrated Watershed Management in Flood Prone Areas. UNDAF Outcome(s): UNDAF Result 4: Management of environment, natural resources and land is improved in a sustainable way. UNDP Strategic Plan Environment and Sustainable Development Primary Outcome: see Annex 2 Key Results Area: Promote climate change adaptation. Provisional Corporate Outcome 1. Strengthened capacity of developing countries to mainstream climate change adaptation policies into national development plans. UNDP Strategic Plan Secondary Outcome: see Annex 2 Key Results Area: Expanding access to environmental and energy services for the poor. Provisional Corporate Outcome 2. Strengthened capacity of local institutions to manage the environment and expand environment and energy services, especially to the poor. Expected CP Outcome(s): Outcome 1. An enabling policy framework to support an effective system for environment management and ecosystem conservation established. Outcome 2. Capacity at national, district and community levels to restore and protect ecosystems of national and global importance against potential degradation strengthened. Outcome 3. Economic productivity enhanced using natural resources in an environmentally friendly way. Expected UNDAF Output (s) Output 1.1: Policies, regulations, guidelines and standards for environment protection developed and implemented at central and decentralized levels; Output 1.2: Information management system for natural resources developed and operational; Output 1.3: Capacity for coordination of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources for environment management and ecosystem conservation strengthened; Output 1.4: Institutional Capacity of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Ministry of Natural Resources and local Governments to monitor the quality of natural environment strengthened; Output 1.5: strategies and action plans for rehabilitation of critical ecosystem developed, operationalized and made available to local Governments; Output 1.6: Capacity of communities and local Governments for ecosystem and land conservation and rehabilitation strengthened; Output 1.7: Innovative practices for environmental friendly income generation activities adapted to the local context and available to local Governments; 1 For UNDP supported GEF funded projects as this includes GEF-specific requirements PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 1

2 Output 1.8: National forestry, water resources and land use master plans for effective agriculture and industrial growth developed and implemented. All of these outputs are jointly supported by UNEP and UNDP, amongst other agencies, and this project would become another flagship case of achieving synergy effects by One UN. Executing Entity/Implementing Partner: Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) Implementing Entity/Responsible Partners: UNEP and UNDP Brief Description The project aims to reduce the vulnerability of the Gishwati ecosystems and its associated Nile-Congo crest watersheds, and the people that derive their livelihoods from it, to increased floods and droughts due to climate change. The proposed project intervention area includes regions within the crest area of Nile-Congo basins, also categorized as the Gishwati ecosystem, identified through the NAPA process as being among the most vulnerable to climate change. These regions are already being adversely affected by the increased frequency in floods and landslides. Whilst the need for early warning and disaster preparedness systems among other adaptation measures have been strongly called for since heavy flooding occurred in 2007, which took the lives of dozens of people in Nyabihu District in western Rwanda, capacity to induce and strengthen disaster preparedness and adaptation at the decentralised government level is limited. Local people have limited knowledge of climate change risks, adaptation needs and options throughout Rwanda. Additionally, individual, institutional and systemic capacities to act on such risks remain low. Although local coping mechanisms already exist, systematic risk and adaptive planning is not currently taking place and local communities are not yet fully engaged in desperately needed risk aversion and adaptation action. Further, critical research and information support from national institutions, needed for effective adaptation action to take place in the district, is currently lacking. The proposed adaptation project promotes an adaptation alternative scenario which aims to strengthen national and district capacities to deliver a functional early warning and disaster preparedness system that would allow for early warning of vulnerable populations in the Gishwati ecosystem, particularly but not only in terms of flooding. Such a system will allow the development of agricultural planning at the household level (outcome 1). The project further aims to build capacities for risk responsive planning at district and local levels and support the implementation of such plans (outcome 2). The project will promote and engage in ecosystem rehabilitation as a critical part of the management of disaster risk, as well as the development of risk maps, land use and settlement plans, and the application of adaptive measures, which will achieve increased ecosystem resilience to climatic shocks (outcome 3). Lastly, the project will strengthen the national information base on climate change and adaptation through dedicated communication, awareness and training activities and the documentation and sharing of lessons learned (outcome 4). The project is funded through the Least Development Countries Fund, with UNEP leading the implementation of the components 1,2 and 4 and UNDP leading the component 3. The initiative will be led by the Rwandan Environmental Management Authority (REMA) as per the NEX arrangements. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 2

3 Programme Period: 4 years Atlas Award ID: Project ID: PIMS # 4109 Start date: Feb 2010 End Date Jan 2014 Management Arrangements NEX PAC Meeting Date Total resources required US$ 3,486,000 Total allocated resources: Regular Other: o GEF US$ 3,486,000 o UNDP Track US$ 600,000 o GoR US$ 480,000 In-kind contributions US$ 8,500,000 Agreed by (Government): Date/Month/Year Agreed by (MINIRENA): Agreed by (UNDP): Date/Month/Year Date/Month/Year PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 3

4 Table of Contents List of Acronyms Situation analysis Climate change - induced problem Root causes Long-term solution and barriers to achieving the solution Stakeholder baseline analysis Strategy Project rationale and policy conformity Country ownership: country eligibility and country drivenness Design principles and strategic considerations Project Objective, Outcomes and Outputs/activities Key indicators, risks and assumptions Cost-effectiveness Sustainability Replicability Stakeholder involvement plan Project Results Framework Total budget and workplan Management Arrangements Monitoring Framework and Evaluation Legal Context Annexes Annex 1: Risk Analysis Annex 2: Agreements Annex 3: References Annex 4: Key assessment reports Annex 5: Terms of Reference Annex 6: Capacity Assessment Annex 7: Gishwati Land Suitability Study and Associated Project Approach Concepts Annex 8: Climate change projections PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 4

5 List of Acronyms AAP AIDS ALM APR AWP CBOs CC CCA CCP CDF CHAMP CO COODAF CPAP CTA DCDP DDPs DEMP DMU DRC DUHAMIC-ADRI EDPRS ENSO ERC EDRPS EWS FSP GCM GEF GIS GoR HACT HIV ICAP IGCP INC ISAR ITCZ LCA LDC LDCF LEG M&E Africa Adaptation Programme Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Adaptation Learning Mechanism Annual Project Review Annual Work Plan Community Based Organizations Climate Change Climate Change Adaptation Climate Change Projects Community Development Funds Community Hiv/Aids Mobilization Program Country Office (UNDP) Cooperative for agriculture, livestock and forestry development Country Programme Action Plan Chief Technical Adviser Decentralization and Community Development Programme District Development Plans Decentralisation and Environmental Management Project Disaster Management Unit Democratic Republic of Congo Action for Integrated Rural Development Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy El Nino/Southern Oscillations Evaluation Resource Center Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy Early Warning System Full-Size Project Global Circulation Model Global Environment Facility Geographic Information System Government of Rwanda Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer Human Immune Virus International Centre for AIDS care and treatment Programme International Gorilla Conservation Program Initial National Communication Rwanda Agricultural Research Institute (ISAR) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone Local level coordination agreements Least Developed Country Least Developed Country Fund Least Developed Countries Groups of Experts Monitoring and Evaluation MGDs MGVP MINAGRI MINALOC MININFRA MINIRENA MINISANTE MSH NAPA NCCC NEX NGOs NLC NMS NPC NSC PIAAE PIR PPG PPR PSI QBS RADA RARDA RCU REMA RENGOF RMS RSSP RTA SLM SNC SNV TA ToRs TTT UN UNDAF UNDP UNEP UNFCCC UNICEF WFP Millenium Development Goals Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources Ministry of Local Administration Ministry of Infrastructure Ministry of Natural Resources Ministry of Health Management Sciences for Health National Adaptation Programme of Action National Climate Change Committee National Execution Non Governmental organizations National Land Centre National Meteorological Services National Project Coordinator National Project Steering Committee Partners in Agriculture and Environment Project Implementation Review Project Preparation Grant Project Progress Reports Population Services International Questionnaire Base Survey Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority Rwanda Animal Resources Development Agency Regional Coordination Unit Rwanda Environment Management Authority Rwandan Environmental NGO Forum Rwanda Meteorological Services Rural Sector Support Project Regional Technical Advisor Sustainable Land Management Second National Communication Netherlands Development Organization Thematic Areas Term of Reference Technical Task Team United Nations UN Development Assistance Framework United Nation Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations Fund for Children World Food Program PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 5

6 1. SITUATION ANALYSIS Context 1. In line with guidance and eligibility criteria for the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF/C.28/18, 12 May 2006), this proposal seeks LDCF funding for a Full-Size Project (FSP) in Rwanda to implement adaptation priorities identified in the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), completed in December In particular, the project implements priorities 1 and 2 as identified in Rwanda s NAPA: Integrated Water Resource Management and Information systems for early warning and rapid intervention, respectively. The project is consistent with findings in the Initial National Communication (INC), completed in September 2005 and fits well within other national strategies. In addressing the challenges of economic development and poverty reduction, Rwanda has developed its national development vision (Vision 2020), Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy and various sectoral policies and strategies (including inter alia: land, environment, water, forestry and agriculture strategies) that have environment components well mainstreamed, and are all subject to climate change risks. The project addresses priorities under UNDAF Result 4 Management of environment, natural resources and land is improved in a sustainable way and specific outputs under this UNDAF Results and Country Programme outputs. All of these outputs are jointly supported by UNEP and UNDP, with UNEP leading the implementation of the Components 1, 2 and 4, and UNDP leading the component 3. This project is another flagship case of achieving synergy effects by One UN. 2. Rwanda is characterized by mountainous landscapes, which are recognized as ecosystems which are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Running along the country in a north-south axis there is a mountain chain that forms part of the divide between the Nile and Congo watersheds, two of Africa s largest. The Congo basin is made up of short waterways leading to Lake Kivu. The Nile basin covers almost all of the country. Most of the rivers start from the slopes of the Nile-Congo watershed crest, from within the Gishwati ecosystem. The ecology of this ecosystem is very dynamic and complex and the lakes and rivers constantly change their size and shape according to rainfall and river flow.. Rains can be heavy measuring up to 66 mm per day 3 and sometimes causing violent floods. The proposed area for the project are the vulnerable regions within the crest area of Nile-Congo basins, also categorized as the Gishwati ecosystem. This ecosystem has been identified through the NAPA as one of the most vulnerable to climate change. An observed climate risk characterised by increasing pluviometric excesses was identified for this area (NAPA 2006). The area is heavily overpopulated and the area is sensitive to negative effects caused by heavy rains, particularly through destructive erosion, soil degradation, land slides and landslips. 3. The need to establish early warning and disaster preparedness systems, reduce the climate change risk though rebuilding ecosystem resilience, and other adaptation measures, such as building flood resilient infrastructure (housing, roads, water pipelines) are a top priority of the Government of Rwanda, especially since heavy flooding in 2007 (Figure 1), which caused the death of more than 20 people in Nyabihu District in western Rwanda, and the displacement of more than 562 families from the villages of Mukamira and Bigogwe alone. It is realised that the capacities to induce and strengthen adaptation at the decentralised government level are limited currently. The district administration and the local population in the area have limited systematic knowledge of climate change risks, adaptation needs and options, and individual, institutional and systemic capacities to act on such risks remain low. Although some endogenous coping mechanisms are observed, mainly as a response to the 2007 disaster, more systematic adaptive planning is not currently taking place and local communities are not yet fully engaged in desperately needed adaptation action. 4. The LDCF project promotes an adaptation alternative scenario, which aims to strengthen national and district capacities to deliver a functional early warning and disaster preparedness system that would allow for early warning of vulnerable populations in the Gishwati ecosystem. It further aims to build 2 However, it has been posted in May 2007 only on the UNFCCC website. The NAPA is accessible at 3 Figure issued by ISAE meteorological station near Nyabihu District in PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 6

7 capacities of local communities to adapt to climate change and disaster risk. Ecosystem rehabilitation is a critical part of the management of disaster risk, as are the development of risk maps, land use and settlement plans, and the application of adaptive measures. Figure 1: Flooding in Nyabihu District during Picture credit: Mario Prior, WFP 5. The selected project intervention area is situated in the Nyabihu District, located in north-western Rwanda. The district is composed of 12 sectors, namely Bigogwe, Jenda, Jomba, Kabatwa, Karago, Kintobo, Mukamira, Muringa, Rambura, Rugera, Rurembo and Shyira. Based on consultations during the PPG phase (see paragraph 37 ff), three sectors (Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura) will be the focus of the LDCF project interventions. Selection criteria (see paragraph 48) for these three sectors included that they were situated in an area classified as highly vulnerable in the NAPA, and they were particularly affected by the 2007 disaster flood in the area. An urgent and immediate climate change risk is posed to the area and at least 1,100 households would directly benefit from the intervention in the Bigogwe sector, and overall over 10,000 households in the Nyabihu sector would be positively affected. Studies undertaken by the Government of Rwanda after the flood of 2007 that occurred in the area, identified key areas in which ecosystem rehabilitation would need to take place to reduce future climate change risks (see Annex 7). Over 300 households have been temporarily resettled from the proposed pilot area, to ensure that households would not be at risk of future flooding as well as to allow to reduce human pressures on the damaged ecosystem. The Government of Rwanda has made it a priority to address the serious climate related development challenges in this area as a matter of priority, a priority echoed widely during the PPG consultations, at national, district and local level. 6. The Nyabihu district 4 covers 512,5 km 2 of land with a population of 280,210 inhabitants and a population density of 541 people per km 2. The region receives 1400 mm of rainfall per annum. The altitude of the region varies from 1,460 m to 4,507 m with the highest points at Karisimbi Volcano and Mount Muhe. The area is highly productive due to the fertile volcanic soils prevailing in the area, however increasing human population pressure has led to degradation of the ecosystems (e.g. extremely high levels of deforestation) and land productivity is reported to be decreasing. Main crops grown in the district 4 PPG-2 report Capacity Assessment PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 7

8 include beans, Irish potatoes and maize, as well as various vegetable such as cabbage and carrots. Soil erosion, associated with poor soil and water conservation and land use practices, is a major factor contributing to land degradation and declining agricultural productivity in the district, a process taking place over decades, but worsening over the past 15 years. It is estimated that the food production dropped by 25 % between 1998 and Figure 2: Map from the NAPA (2006), which indicated areas in Rwanda predicted to be risk of floods and landslides. The pilot project will be situated in Nyabihu District (red circle), which was not initially identified as high risk area, but where torrential rainfall in 2007 caused severe flash floods and flooding. It is possible that the interactive and cumulative effects of the prevailing land degradation in that area make it more flood prone than initially anticipated. 7. In many areas, farmers cultivate hillsides with little or no conservation measures. Where conservation measures are in place, they are made of earth bunds that often break, especially under conditions of steep slopes and high rainfall. In 1996, refugees returning from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after the 1994 Genocide settled in the Gishwati 6 area and cut down forest for 5 REMA, undated. Economic Analysis of Natural Resources Management in Rwanda; (accessed 13 October 2009) 6 Gishwati is an Albertine Rift Afro-mountain forest and for decades constituted an important area of biodiversity. It used to cover large areas of the highland range of the Congo-Nile Divide in the North-west of Rwanda. It had a population of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and golden (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) as well as blue monkeys (Cercopithecus doggeti). Gishwati Forest reserves had been heavily affected by human activities even prior to the Rwandan Civil war. In the 1970s, Gishwati had an area of 280 square kilometres. The forest was already degraded by many years of cattle herding in the forest. The World Bank supported an integrated forestry and livestock project PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 8

9 agriculture, firewood and construction materials needs. As a result, the surface area of Gishwati natural forest has reduced by more than 95% from 5,000 ha in the 1980 s to only 700 ha remaining today with few trees 7. Almost all hills were cultivated without any mechanism of soil conservation and so were exposed to devastating effects of high rainfall, namely soil erosion and floods. Although today some soil and water conservation measures are in place, these are not applied throughout the area, and replication of effective measures needs to be promoted Climate change - induced problem General climate 8. Rwanda s climate is generally equatorial, but strongly influenced by the mountainous and hilly relief of the country. It is mainly determined by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and additionally by subtropical anticyclones, tropical cyclones, monsoons, and other influences such as El Nino/Southern Oscillations (ENSO). Overall, the climate is moderate, characterized by two rainy seasons from mid-september to mid-december and from mid- February to May and two dry seasons from mid- December to mid-february and from June to mid- September). Observed climate change trends 9. An analysis of climate data undertaken during the NAPA preparation (based on the INC) shows that the period between 1991 and 2000 has been the driest since 1961 and has shown a marked rainfall deficit in 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999 and At the same time, rainfall excesses were highlighted in 1998 and 2001 resulting in cyclic droughts and floods (see Figure 3). The analysis of rainy seasons shows a progressive tendency for shorter rainy seasons which have led to decreases in agricultural production. Variations of standardized absolute maximum temperatures in Kigali are alarming and have steadily increased from 32.7 to 35.4 C between 1983 and 2005 (see Figure 4). These observations and trends have been verified by a regional study 8 on climate trends, which identified a trend of declining rainfall over the past decade, interspersed with years of excessive rainfall being more intense and frequent compared to earlier decades for Rwanda. 10. Over the past decade, the rainy seasons have become shorter, and have at times commenced later than usual. Dry spells and prolonged droughts are recorded in some years and are often geographically specific with Rwanda s north-east (former Umutara province), east (former Kibungo province) and south-east (Bugesera and Mayaga) being particularly drought prone. A trend of increasing temperatures has been observed in Kigali, with significant hotter abnormalities since the late 1990 s (both of annual average maximum and minimum temperature). No country-wide data are currently available. Extreme rainfall events in the rainy season have lead to severe flooding in various areas in Rwanda, especially in northern Rwanda (incl. ex-provinces of Gisenyi, Ruhengeri and Byumba, and including Nyabihu district) and western and southern regions (e.g. ex provinces of Gikongoro and Butare) 9. Overall, the occurrence of extreme phenomena (drought and floods, the latter leading to severe soil erosion and even landslides) has increased. that converted 100 square kilometres to pasture and other 100 square kilometres to pine plantations in the early 1980s. A 30 km 2 zone was designated as a military zone in the North of the forest, leaving only 50 square kilometres of natural forest. During and following the war, the northern part of Gishwati was used to host camps for displaced people. By late 1997 the total number of families settled in Gishwati was estimated at 10,184. During 1997 and 1998, the forest was also used as a hide out by many of the Interahamwe militia. Consequently, a considerable number of military operations took place in the forest, which caused further degradation. The forest was converted to settlement, agricultural land as well as pasture. Within the remaining 700 ha of forest, there are only a few trees per hectare. Excerpts from REMA, undated. 7 PPG 4 report. 8 C. McSweeney, M. New and G. Lizcano, UNDP Climate Change Country Profiles Tanzania, The Tanzania profile covers the grid cells for Rwanda and Burundi. 9 NAPA, PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 9

10 Figure 3: Standardized abnormalities of pluviometry at Kigali ( ) Source: NAPA (2006). Projected future climate changes 11. GCM projections 10 of Rwanda s future climate predict overall hotter climatic conditions, both in terms of average day and night temperatures. Similarly, average annual rainfall is likely to increase, in particular episodes of intense rainfall (which often lead to flooding). Spatial patterns of projected change in mean annual and seasonal temperature for 10-year periods in the future under the SRES A2 scenario 11 (See Annex 8) indicate that mean annual temperatures will range between increases of 0.9 to 1.6 C by the 2030 s, 1.9 to 3.0 C by the 2060 s and 3.1 to 5.0 C by the 2060 s. In terms of projected change in monthly rainfall, increases of around 3 mm by the 2030 s, 2 mm by the 2060 s and 13 mm by the 2090 s are projected. Episodes of intense rainfall under similar scenarios are likely to increase by 4% by the 2060 s and of 6% by the 2090 s. 10 C. McSweeney, et al., All values are anomalies relative to the mean climate of PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 10

11 Figure 4: Variation of standardized abnormalities of absolute annual maximum temperature at Kigali (Period: ) Source NAPA (2006) Climate change impacts in Gishwati ecosystem 12. Western Rwanda, where the Gishwati ecosystem is situated, has been experiencing irregularity and unpredictability of rainfall, according to accounts of local farmers worsening over the past decade. For example, the longest and most severe rainfall shortage on record occurred between 1991 and 2000 and this decennial drought was followed by two years of unusually excessive rains. The resulting floods (soon after a period of droughts) have led to significant economic, environmental, and social damage (e.g. population displacement). The extreme floods in western Rwanda have lead to the death of dozens of people and have destroyed roads and other infrastructure, leaving many people homeless. Furthermore, the floods have resulted in a significant reduction in agricultural production, with consequences for food security. Autonomous adaptation is already ongoing, where people are floodproofing their homes by building stone walls, and road construction companies are investing in stronger canalization and run-off management. Additionally, established river channels are being strengthened and partially reinforced through cementation and local authorities are investing in drainage systems. In the Gishwati ecosystem, it has been observed that flood water accumulates in low lying valleys and forms ponds, which impede on settlements (e.g. flooding houses and living areas), pose a health threat (e.g. water born diseases; malaria risk) and reduce land productivity Root causes 13. Considering the project context set out in paragraphs 1 to 7 above, a number of key problems and root causes face the project area, making it extremely vulnerable to climate change risks and impacts. High population pressure in western Rwanda has led to the overutilization and degradation of the natural ecosystem. Climate change induced heavy rainfall is not absorbed by the natural vegetation and soils, and extreme run-off worsens the severity of floods; overall ecosystem resilience is considered low. Additionally, there are currently no EWS in place that would alert the local population and decision makers to potential disaster events, which leave the local population vulnerable to the impacts of floods, leading to the loss of lives, housing and other infrastructure, as well as harvests. 14. Overall, the adaptive capacities in western Rwanda are considered to be low for reasons linked to structural factors (such as high population pressure, high level of poverty among rural populations, weak mechanization and intensification of production modes, limited investment capacities), but also because of natural constraints (ground water constraints, variable climate) and management constraints (including poor management of water, soils and other natural resources, leading to natural resource degradation). Although the Government of Rwanda realizes that urgent actions need to be undertaken to adjust and counteract maladaptive practices (e.g. land degradation and unsustainable land uses and settlement plans), there are no national nor district level efforts that specifically address the climate change risks pertaining to western Rwanda. 15. There are a number of underlying factors or root causes that make the manifestations of climate change (particularly droughts and floods) in Rwanda particularly destructive. These include inter alia: High levels of poverty; High population density; Reliance on rain-fed and low input agriculture for millions of households; Reliance on biomass energy; Severe land and resource degradation. 16. Poverty levels: Rwanda is an emerging economy, which has moved from a post-conflict country to a developing country status. The annual economic growth is around 6.4%, and the country is usually acknowledged by development partners and investors as disciplined, pro-active and innovative, creating an enabling framework for economic growth. However, approximately 60% of the population are said to PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 11

12 live below the poverty line 12, and 42% of the poor are destitute. Poverty rates are particularly acute in the rural areas, where 90% of the overall population lives. 17. High population density: Overall, there is extreme pressure on the limited land and ecosystems, mainly due to extremely high human population density (over 230 people per km 2 ), a high population growth rate (at 2.9% p.a.), a quest for arable land because of a lack of alternatives to agriculture for income generation, and a high demand for energy, largely generated through biomass (see paragraph 18). In , 17% of rural households in Rwanda owned less than 0.25 ha and an accumulated total of 43% of households owned less than 0.5 ha. Seventy two percent (72%) of households owned less than 0.75 ha. In former Gisengi Province (in which Nyabihu district was situated under the former administrative entities), farm sizes are the smallest in the entire country, partially stemming from the fact that soils are considered to be highly fertile, but also due to the fact that population densities are recorded to be as high as 541 people per km 2. Environmental degradation e.g. through extreme deforestation and transformation of land, infringing on conservation areas, poor land management practices, disruption and destruction of critical ecosystem services, severe soil erosion, siltation of rivers, and so forth is a major threat to sustainable development in rural Rwanda. 18. Reliance on rain-fed and low input agriculture: Most of Rwanda s economy is based on rain-fed agriculture (99% of agriculture in Rwanda is rainfed) 14, with lesser contributions coming from the service and industrial sectors. Up to 87% of the rural population depends directly on agriculture for their livelihood, either through subsistence or employment. However, the agricultural sector is believed to be underperforming and unproductive. This is due to reasons such as low soil fertility in some areas, high population densities in fertile areas, limited access to farm implements such as fertilizers, pesticides, and even equipment, poor seeding materials, and poor land and resource management practices. 19. Reliance on biomass energy: Eighty-six percent (86%) of Rwanda s energy needs are currently met by wood-based biomass energy. As a result, severe biomass shortages are prevalent, mainly due to over-utilization and poor natural resource management practices in place. Hydro-electric power is being developed as an energy alternative. Climate change induced impacts on energy supply are expected in various ways, namely: (i) traditional wood-based energy resources will become scarcer and (ii) the hydro power potential may be negatively affected 15, aggravating the already severe problem of insufficient biomass for energy generation. 20. Severe land and resource degradation due to unsustainable use: Western Rwanda is characterized by extremely fertile soils and good agricultural productivity. Whilst this area (i.e. the Gishwati ecosystem) was dominated by natural forests before the 1994 Genocide, the significant number of refugees returning from the DR Congo after the war has led to almost total denudation of the hilly landscape, with few forest areas remaining. This area is intensely utilized for agricultural production. Unsustainable land use practices have led to severe land degradation, mainly manifested by soil erosion, but also by increased water run-off and disruption of critical ecosystem services, such as water retention in the watershed. Agricultural production is adversely affected and food security and livelihoods are impaired by the impacts of unsustainable land use practices. Such degraded ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change risks Long-term solution and barriers to achieving the solution 21. In light of the above root causes, the preferred response (normative situation) to managing the likely consequences of climate change in Gishwati ecosystem are described in the following, and barriers have been identified that need to be overcome to reach this normative situation. 12 Defined as living on less than 1 US$ per day. 13 Mpyisi, E. et al., Less than 0.2% of land are irrigated in Rwanda. WRI Earth Trends Country Profiles, Rwanda for Agriculture; 15 Although more run-off water may be available, the siltation rate may be high (see ACCESA website PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 12

13 1. Increased institutional capacity for climate change early warnings 22. In the preferred scenario, Rwanda s institutional capacity will be strengthened to allow a functional early warning system (EWS) to prepare people for extreme events such as floods and droughts, and to help planners make appropriate planning choices in pivotal sector, such as the health, infrastructure, agriculture sectors. Furthermore, the EWS would provide ongoing climate information that would inform local farmers about seasonal rainfall expected and other such meteorological and agrometeorological decision-support information. A multi-institutional approach to EWS in Rwanda would be established, and the Meteorological Services would be positioned to perform on a revised, modern and needs-based mandate that would focus on farmers and people-based EWS. The strengthened/newly established network of observatories for relevant information (especially climate and hydrological in the context of the Gishwati area) would generate the necessary input data for such a functional EWS. The national capacities to apply such data to climate modelling and the EWS would be of high calibre. Information flows would be efficient, and in the event of a major flood, early warning would reach the local communities within an appropriate time frame before disaster struck. Such a system would be piloted and developed for the selected Gishwati ecosystem pilot area, and at the same time strengthen the relevant national institutions. 2. Increased institutional and community capacity for responding to climate change risks through preventative planning 23. The preferred scenario foresees that effective approaches to disaster response planning would be developed and tested in Rwanda, i.e. in flood prone western/northern Rwanda. Such response planning would potentially include elements such as disaster preparedness (i.e. prohibit settlement in flood prone areas, install EWS, have an emergency management plan), flood risk reduction (i.e. through ecosystem rehabilitation e.g. reforestation, soil and water conservation), and climate change resilient land use planning (i.e. develop climate change risk responsive zoning. The plan would be developed in a participatory manner with the local population and relevant government and non-governmental service providers, and reflect the needs of the diverse stakeholders. Planning would be based on robust research information, and would integrate up-to-date knowledge about climate change risk prevention and adaptation. Planning and iterative implementation would be established as a process, leading to the testing, improvement and continuous updating of the plan. The plan would be widely known and all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of the plan. Community response actions would be tested and implemented throughout the intervention area. 3. Reduction of the adverse effects of floods and droughts through increased environmental resilience against climate shocks in the Nile-Congo crest watersheds (Nyabarongo and Sebeya rivers) and Gishwati ecosystem 24. The third proposed solution would see the rehabilitation of critical ecosystem services and building of ecosystem resilience throughout the Gishwati ecosystem, thereby buffering against climate change risks. A healthy watershed, with functioning water retention, nutrient cycling, soil renewal in place would be able to naturally cope better with the increasing climate shocks. The current levels of land degradation which exacerbate water runoff, high soil loss, flood clogging in valley areas and water course siltation levels, would be halted and reserved. The existing land and natural resources would be managed in a more sustainable manner, and local land management practices would be adapted to the changed climatic conditions and specific rehabilitation needs of the ecosystem. Despite high population pressures, the local population in Gishwati would be able to derive acceptable levels of livelihoods from the natural resources and alternative livelihood and income options would be explored. Participatory approaches such as community-based natural resource management would be applied. Overall, the vulnerability of the local population to extreme climate events would be reduced and adaptive capacities enhanced. 4. Increased knowledge of good practices to reduce vulnerability to climate change based on Gishwati pilot PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 13

14 25. In the fourth preferred scenario specific emphasis would be placed on communication, awareness raising and training on climate change risks and potential adaptation options. All project outputs would be linked to a Communication and Awareness Strategy and project outcomes would be widely disseminated and applied. Lessons learned from the LDCF pilot project would be made available for replication and upscaling in Rwanda and beyond. The current information and knowledge deficit would be overcome and a strong Rwandan information base on adaptation would be created. Barriers to solutions Capacity gaps in terms of effective risk assessment, preparedness and EWS 26. At the moment, very limited climate and climate risk information are available for Rwanda, and climate change-related matters are still poorly understood in the country. Whilst the Government understands that climate change is a major development issue concerning the country, the existing information base on actual observations of climate and climate risks is poor. During the 2007 floods events in western Rwanda, no early warning system was in place that would have alerted the population in the affected area to the flood threat. It is asserted that the death toll could have been significantly reduced if such a system had been in place. Overall, forecasting needs for agriculture or early warning of flood events or droughts and planning of emergency responses by all numerous sectors (e.g. food emergency supplies, health) are not well met. 27. Limited capacity exists in Rwanda in terms of climate and climate change research, and few skilled experts are available to fill the professional positions in the various government and academic institutions after the 1994 Genocide. Leadership and resource limitations are delaying the modernisation and reform of the National Meteorological Service, although plans are in place that would establish it as an independent service, outside of the Ministry of Transport. Financial resources for the envisaged reform are limited, and investments into infrastructure, training of staff and establishment of functional services including through strong communication mechanisms are not available. Capacity gaps in terms of climate risk specific planning and implementation 28. Rwanda has prepared its NAPA (2006), and has identified key adaptation needs at the local level. Rwanda is also part of UNDP s Africa Adaptation Programme (UNDP S AAP) 16 and has developed a proposal for establishing a national adaptation framework, which will be implemented over the coming two to three years. However, there are major gaps in addressing the issue at this moment at all levels, national, district and local. Climate change is still a relatively new topic, and although impacts are already strongly felt, the identification of adaptation options and the systematic planning for climate change risks is not taking place. None of the national and district level development plans currently incorporate climate change-specific considerations, and the understanding and skills to do so are lacking. Where first steps have been made i.e. in western Rwanda to respond to the 2007 flooding (e.g. initial land suitability study for the Bigogwe Sector in Nyabihu District), these plans are not necessarily made to reduce the risks of climate change, as the concept is not fully embraced and limited expertise exists in relation to the matter. Additionally, such plans are not easily acted upon by the responsible institutions (i.e. the District of Nyabihu) as so few funds are available to implement the recommendations. Capacity gaps to act at the community level 29. The high population pressure, extreme poverty levels and direct dependence on natural resources not only put enormous pressure onto the natural resources (see paragraphs 16 and 19), but also limit the capacity of local communities to act on climate change risks. Although autonomous adaptation is taking place in many communities 17 (see Annex 4c), this is ad hoc and may not reflect the 16 Rwanda developed this year a UNDP S AAP framework programme for adaptation, to which the LDCF project will be linked. See paragraph 63 for more details. 17 See PPG report 4. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 14

15 best available options. No climate change risk specific information, training or knowledge exchange is currently taking place; in fact no community-based specific adaptation projects are ongoing in Rwanda at this time, although projects such as a GEF SLM intervention inadvertently may have elements that address an adaptation deficit 18. Few participatory planning and project interventions 19 are implemented in Rwanda, although community structures are well established through the Government system. People get involved in obligatory community work, often in the form of work forces/labour colonies, however, such work would need to be directed to address the climate change threats that the country is facing. At this moment some of the development actions promoted e.g. in terms of improving agricultural productivity, might not be climate change-resilient and practices might lead to maladaptation. 30. Some existing project interventions aim to promote community-based natural resources management and sustainable land use practices, and do engage the local population in rehabilitation of ecosystems, train community members especially farmers in sustainable cultivation and land husbandry practices, promote a more diversified agricultural production, but such approaches are very localised and need to be up-scaled to increase the capacity at the community level. 31. Following the 2007 floods in Nyabihu District, a land suitability study 20 (see Annex 7) was prepared in 2008 identifying zones for land uses and specifically identified areas which would need to be rehabilitated from land degradation and deforestation to re-establish critical water-related ecosystem services in the area. Such rehabilitation is seen to protect the lower catchment areas from flooding. The study identifies recommendations for action, including changes in land use and even resettlement of people. A problem encountered in the implementation of the plan is that the community s capacity to react to the recommendations is underdeveloped. There are few alternatives that people have in terms of livelihood security, and investments into upgrading people s capacities are not easily available. Knowledge and information gaps, including difficulty of access 32. There are acute gaps in knowledge and information on adaptation options. There are no local experiences that have been systematically documented and assessed for their adaptive and risk preventative quality, and information from Rwanda is hard to come by. The Rwandan research capacity is low for several reasons, including the capacity impacts from the 1994 Genocide, slow embracing of new and modern research topics such as those revolving around climate change, and the limited resources that are currently invested into research. Inaccessibility of information is also a problem. Information infrastructure is improving, and the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDRPS) aims to equip all districts in Rwanda with high speed internet. Linking the many rural living people to such an information hub though remains a huge challenge, and currently limited systematic communication strategies are in place. During the 2007 floods, one of the major problems was to generate relevant early warning information at the right time. People were caught unaware of the floods as relevant information did not reach the right people at the needed time. 33. The project will address the following barriers that currently prevent the shift of the baseline situation to the preferred climate change/adaptation solution: 34. Barrier 1: Low capacity of stakeholders (especially Government) to deliver EWS Currently no agreed and fully needs-based EWS is in place, and not even conceptualised. Although a number of institutions and individuals have highlighted the need for EWS and the will to establish such, no harmonized approach to building a national EWS exists. The information base for building a functional EWS is almost non-existent. Only few climate stations exist (three synoptic stations and around 15 simple weather stations throughout the country), and no 18 GEF/SLM project document, See also paragraph See PPG 1 report for baseline activities in Nyabihu district. 20 This land suitability study is a key foundation for the implementation of the LDCF project. Various activities under outcomes 2 and 3 in particular will use this study as a venture point for operation and improve on it. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 15

16 integrated observatories exist that would generate data that would determine the climate risk impact. In Gishwati, for example, hydrological stations are needed to measure water run-off critical information to determine a flood risk. Staff in the Met Services and experts in other institutions are not specifically trained to address the new needs in terms of climate and climate change research, modelling, data processing, EWS, and very importantly, communication of decision-making support information to the end user. No information sharing and dissemination mechanisms for the EWS are in place. At this stage, even if the information was available, it would probably not be distributed to the end user in a timely manner, preventing response actions to be put in place (e.g. in the case of flooding evacuation of high risk areas). 35. Barrier 2: Low capacity to plan for climate risks and implement such plans at district and community level The concepts of climate change, risk and adaptation are still new to Rwanda having not yet found their way into district and local level planning processes. Existing plans do not incorporate measures that would climate change proof them. Limited knowledge about climate change risks and how to best address those limits the planned responses and response actions. Although some endogenous auto-adaptive practices are found in the Gishwati area, these are not tested for their adaptation value and/or improved. Even where good plans exist, implementation of the plans is slow and often not happening, mostly due to a lack of funding. Although the district administration is well staffed (see Annex 4.b; capacity needs assessment), at the sector level few competent extension officers are placed. Although staff capacity at district level may be strong, the support infrastructure and limited finances do limit the effectiveness of extension services. 36. Barrier 3: Limited investments into understanding and building ecosystem resilience Local farmers have limited resources and investment capacities that would enable them to spend on innovation and better production systems. The knowledge base that would clearly establish the link between climate change resilience and ecosystem health is not well known amongst local and district level decision makers. Best practices for land rehabilitation are not sufficiently known. Even where an initial land suitability study (Annex 9) was prepared there are very restricted resources and capacities to act on it. 37. Barrier 4: Lack of climate change specific communication, awareness and training No pilot projects on implementing adaptation measures on the community level are currently being implemented in Rwanda. Although climate change is becoming an increasingly important issue in Rwanda, and the Government has started various climate change initiatives and projects, no strategy on how to communicate to the various stakeholders exist. Budgets for communication, awareness and training activities are low or non-existent. Few communication experts are involved in the environmental sector. No dedicated mechanism for sharing lessons learned from related pilot projects and experiences exists. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 16

17 1.4. Stakeholder baseline analysis 38. The PPG phase conducted three site visits, and consultations and meetings with over 110 stakeholders (see Annex 4.d for stakeholder lists). Consultations took place at a national and at the Nyabihu district level. The following stakeholder consultations took place during the PPG phase: 39. National Inception workshop, 11 th and 12 th June 2009, Kigali. The PPG phase inception workshop at the national level took place together with the initial planning workshop for the Africa Adaptation Programme (UNDP s AAP). A dedicated session was set aside for the introduction of the LDCF project planning and stakeholder inputs and discussions on the PPG phase objectives, deliverables and timeline. 40. Nyabihu District site visit, 10 th June The PPG phase consultant team (national and international consultant), UNDP representatives and a member of the NGO umbrella organisation RENGOF visited Nyabihu District for a first field reconnaissance visit. The Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs of the District accompanied the team and initial meeting introducing the PPG phase and sharing information on the proposed project focal area took place. 41. Nyabihu District Council planning meeting, 6 July A detailed consultative and planning meeting for the PPG phase and the project design for the LDCF project were discussed at a meeting with the Nyabihu District Council on 6 July The PPG phase consultant team (national and international consultant), UNDP representatives were part of the meeting. 42. Consultative workshop 28 th July 2009, Nyabihu District. This workshop held in the Office of the Nyabithu Mayor aimed to assess the general situation of the district (e.g. regarding capacity needs) and obtaining general and detailed information about the situation on the ground. Specific objectives included: (i) to share the project background and information on reducing vulnerability to the climate change (drought, floods) in Nyabihu District, one of the Gishwati ecosystem, by establishing EWS and disaster preparedness and support to integrated watershed management; (ii) to discuss the Action Plan for the development of the full size project proposal document for GoR consideration and GEF approval; and (iii) to draw up a programme for the inception workshop on the adaptation to the effects of drought and climate change in targeted areas of Nyabihu District. 43. Field/Site Visit: 29 th July This included: (i) a consultation with the Executive Secretary of Bigogwe Sector and the Sector Council for sites selection; (ii) a consultation with the sector Committee in charge of Gishwati Land Use issues to discuss appropriate alternative land uses and adaptation measures and to document current coping adaptation; and (iii) a field/site visit to see local adaptation practices and to interview farmers in field. 44. District level planning workshop I, 30 th July The overall objective of the Inception Workshop was to bring together all key staff of Nyabihu District and other key stakeholders in the District and carry out capacity needs assessment at the district level. Specific objectives included (i) to appraise and share experiences with stakeholders on the importance of reducing vulnerability of climate change in this fragile ecosystem and the importance of the watershed management and suitable land use planning, (ii) to assess adaptation activities carried out by various stakeholders in the district, (iii) to agree on the key points of the project and their needs. 45. District level planning workshop II, 31 st July This workshop was organized to discuss and exchange with local communities of targeted sites on local and imported climate change adaptation practices that are useful and efficient at watershed level. To exchange on appropriate alternative land uses and possible relocation of vulnerable people living in fragile and inappropriate sites. The consultation also aimed at exchanging with local communities on SGP (Small Grant Program) and CC- DARE Projects. 46. Consultations for Early Warning Task Team (EWSTT), national level. For the purpose of setting up an EWS Task Team, several services dealing closely with weather and climate issues have been consulted: The National Meteorological Service which falls under the policy guidance of MININFRA (Ministry of Infrastructure); Agro-meteorology under RADA; MINAGRI/SNIAR (National System for PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 17

18 Information and Rapid Warning as regard to weather and climate); REMA; NLC, NAFA and MINECOFIN. During the consultation, capacity needs has been assessed and strategies to overcome issue regarding EWS discussed. 47. Table 1 sets out an overview of Ministries and Agencies that will be involved in the implementation of the LDCF project, as discussed during the PPG phase. Table 1. Ministries and Agencies involved in the project and their specific roles. Ministry/ Agencies Organizations Ministry of Natural Resources (MINIRENA) Role in Project Will serve as the Government Cooperating Agency. Will be directly responsible for government s participation in the project. Will be responsible for reviewing existing policies to ensure the incorporation of climate change considerations Will designate a representative for the project who will perform the role and functions of either the Executive or Senior Beneficiary on the project board. REMA Will serve as the Implementing Partner and will, therefore, be responsible for executing the project. Will chair the Project Technical Committee (PTC). Served as the resource institution for technical aspects related to environment management. Will appoint a National Project Coordinator (selection in conjunction with UNEP and UNDP) Will house the Project Management Unit Will coordinate the implementation of the project activities through its extension network. Will be responsible for M&E MINECOFIN/Department of Policy and Planning ISAR (Agricultural Research Institute) ISAE-BUSOGO (School of Agriculture and Animal Resources) ORINFOR (National Agency of Information) Local Radio (Musanze Radio) Ministry of Infrastructure (Water Department) Electrogaz Will be a member of the PTC.Will help REMA in planning process and District in DDP formulation Will facilitate the sharing of lessons and experiences at a national and local levels as resources permit. Will serve as a resource institution during the PPG for policy-related issues. Will serve as resource institution for M&E. Will be members of the PTC. Will be responsible for researching the feasibility of drought-resistant crops, horticulture and agro-forestry for livelihood diversification. Will provide field-level technical support to farmers in the project areas where necessary. Will conduct field-level adaptation research concerning crop diversification options. Will assist and facilitate the EWS monitoring Will be responsible for adaptive technologies demonstrations in AER I and II. Will provide training to project staff and farmers concerning the adoption of suitable drought-tolerant crop varieties that have been tested and proven suitable for the targeted areas Will be a member of the PTC. Will disseminate climate change information and weather forecasting. Serves as a channel for disseminating weather data from National Met Services to local farmers. Serves as a channel for disseminating information concerning improved climate resilient practices through radio and television programmes. Will be a member of the PTC. Provide technical assistance concerning water-related activities such as dam building. Will assist with the revision of water-related policies to ensure that they incorporate climate change considerations. Served as a resource institution for activities related to water resources. Responsible for collection of hydrological data at the pilot sites. National Meteorological Will be a member of the PTC. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 18

19 Service Served as a resource institution during the PPG for activities related to meteorology. Supervises and provides technical assistance on climate modelling and downscaling of climate information. Will be responsible for coordination and implementation of activities related to meteorological information production and dissemination. MININTER (DMU: Disaster Management Unit) Will be a member of the PTC. Served as a resource institution for activities related to the impacts of climatic hazards. Will be a recipient of project information and input from the project to incorporate climate change projections into disaster management plans, policies and projects. RADA Will be a member of the PTC. Will serve as a resource institution for activities related to land uses and soil and water conservation NAFA Will be a member of the PTC. Will serve as a resource institution for activities related to forestry/agro forestry NLC Will be a member of the PTC. Served as a resource institution for activities related to Land Use and Resettlement Planning. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office Local Communities/ CBOs/ NGOs Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion National Women Council Served a technical advisory role during the PIF and PPG processes. Provided technical support to the Project Manager during the site selection workshops and project preparation phase. Will provide support to the National Project Coordinator and the PS concerning the implementation of project components. Will be responsible for reporting project progress to GEF. Will participate in the PTC. Will be responsible for monitoring (technically and financially) the use of project funds. Will mobilize and coordinate support from international partners through a global network. Will facilitate the international dissemination of project knowledge and lessons. Was consulted during the PPG process. Will participate in the site selection at Community levels. Will participate in Land use and resettlement planning Members of the field mission teams. Will participate in the planning and implementation of the project interventions at the community-level. Will be a member of the PTC. Will serve as resource institution for promoting gender equality and women empowerment. Will serve as resource institution on gender-related issues during the project implementation. 48. The consultative process also led to the identification and confirmation of the selection of the project sites in Gishwati district. Selection criteria included that western Rwanda has been identified as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, highlighted by the impacts of the devastating floods in The Government (on the level of the Prime Minister) confirmed the area as a priority area for action through REMA. The overall focus on Nyabihu district was endorsed during the PPG inception meeting held in June Subsequently district and local level consultations took place identifying the project sites within Nyabihu district. An area encompassing three sectors (Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura) in Nyabihu district were identified for their severe degradation and run-off impacts that would potentially lead to more severe flooding in the future. Consultations with local governance structures confirmed the suitability of site selection and willingness to participate in the project. The overall project intervention area in the three sectors is about 8000 ha, with impacts throughout the district. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 19

20 2. Strategy 2.1. Project rationale and policy conformity Project rationale 49. Studies like Rwanda s First National Communication to the UNFCCC and NAPA have shown that Rwanda is vulnerable to current and expected climate changes. The Gisiwati ecosystem which is in the focus of the project is characterized by prolonged droughts as well as irregular and unpredictable rainfall associated with increased floods and landslides which have very negative impacts to the agriculture production and livelihood of local communities living in this region Whilst the need for early warning and disaster preparedness systems and other adaptation measures have been strongly called for since heavy flooding occurred in 2007, which took the lives of dozens of people in Nyabihu District in western Rwanda, the capacities to induce and strengthen adaptation at the decentralised government level are limited. Districts and local people have limited knowledge of climate change risks, adaptation needs and options. Additionally, individual, institutional and systemic capacities to act on such risks remain low. Although a great deal of local coping mechanisms already exists, more systematic risk and adaptive planning is not currently taking place and local communities are not yet fully engaged in desperately needed risk aversion and adaptation action. Further, critical research and information support from national institutions to lead an effective work in the districts, is currently non-functional. 50. A project, subject to the LDCF funding is designed to address the vulnerability of Gishwati ecosystem to current climate variability and future climate change risk. The proposed project aims at reducing the vulnerability of the Gishwati ecosystems and its associated Nile-Congo crest watersheds, and the people that derive their livelihoods from it, to increased floods and droughts due to climate change. 51. The project is addressing priorities that have been identified under the NAPA process through the following interventions / components: (i) Climate Risk Assessment and Forecasting; (ii) Climate Change Adaptation Planning and Response Strategies; (iii) Demonstration of Adaptation Practices and (iv) Knowledge Management, Public Awareness and Dissemination of Lessons. 52. More specifically, the interventions will consist of (i) strengthening national and district capacities to deliver a functional early warning and disaster preparedness system that would allow for early warning of vulnerable populations in the Gishwati ecosystem particularly but not only in terms of flooding and also support to develop agricultural planning at the household level (ii) building capacities for risk responsive planning at district and local levels, and support implementation of such plans; (iii). ecosystem rehabilitation as a critical part of the management of disaster risk, as well as the development of risk maps, land use and settlement plans, and the application of adaptive measures; and (iv) strengthening of the national information base on climate change and adaptation through dedicated communication, awareness and training activities and the documentation and sharing of lessons learned from the intervention is also expected. 53. The project interventions are expected to generate tangible poverty reduction benefits by addressing food security and livelihood related issues. The project will also have a considerable impact on health and environment. LDCF Conformity 54. The Republic of Rwanda ratified the UNFCCC on 18 August 1998 and is classified among the non-annex 1 parties. It also ratified the Kyoto Protocol on 29 December 2003, thus pledging political and practical commitment in the direction of sustainable development, while creating conditions to benefit from opportunities in this framework. Thus, following the example of Least Developed Country (LDC) Parties to this Convention, Rwanda has developed and submitted its NAPA (2006) and is entitled to benefit from the LDC Fund for the implementation of priority measures identified in its NAPA. Furthermore, Rwanda s NAPA top priorities comply with the LDCF eligibility criteria. 55. The LDCF project has been prepared fully in line with guidance provided by GEF and the LDCF Trust Fund. The project is follows the guidance from Programming Paper for Funding the Implementation PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 20

21 of NAPA s under the LDC Trust Fund (GEF/LDCF 2006). The project conforms to the three principles of the LDCF: a) Country-drivenness: the project is in line with the Vision 2020, Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy and various sectoral policies and strategies (land, environment, water, forestry, agriculture, etc.) as described in paragraphs 55 to 61 below. b) Implementing NAPA priorities: the Republic of Rwanda has finished its report on the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to climate change in conformity with the guidelines prepared by the Least Developed Countries Groups of Experts (LEG) and adopted by the November 2001 Assembly of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Decision 28/CP7). This project seeks to implement the priorities identified as urgent and immediate needs, especially priority 1 on Integrated Water Resource Management and priority 2 on Information systems for early warning and rapid intervention; and c) Supporting a learning-by-doing approach: the project will use the pilot projects to demonstrate better catchment management at the selected sites in Rwanda by altering/adapting the agricultural practice with a view to possible replication elsewhere in the country as well as informing national development plans and policies. This will include generating evidence on the cost-effectiveness of adaptation options to make the case for policy and budgetary adjustment. The project is designed to complement other ongoing and planned projects and programmes without duplicating them. Overall GEF Conformity 56. The project has been designed to meet overall GEF requirements in terms of design and implementation. For example: Sustainability: The project has been designed to have a sustainable impact, at community, district and at national level. See section 2.6 on Sustainability below (see paragraph 133 ff.) for more details; Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): The project is accompanied by an effective and resourced M&E framework, that will enable an ongoing adaptive management of the project, ensuring that lessons are learned, management decisions are taken based on relevant and up-to-date information, and regular progress reports are available for concerned parties; Replicability: The pilot approach to establishing a functional early warning and disaster preparedness system will generate approaches, tools and methods that can be addressed elsewhere in Rwanda and finally lead to the establishment of a fully functional national approach., i.e. through the UNDP S AAP. See section 2.7 on Replicability below (see paragraph 136 ff) for more details. Stakeholder involvement: The design of this project was effectively participatory. Moreover, the design of the project ensures the appropriate involvement of stakeholders in project implementation and monitoring Country ownership: country eligibility and country drivenness 57. This project fully reflects the priority measures identified by the Republic of Rwanda in the INC, completed in September 2005 and the NAPA, completed in May In particular, the project implements priorities 1 and 2 as identified in Rwanda s NAPA: Integrated Water Resource Management and Information systems for early warning and rapid intervention, respectively. 58. Rwanda has an impressive and practical development planning and governance framework in place and the project fits well within other national strategies. In addressing the challenges of economic development and poverty reduction, Rwanda has developed its national development vision (Vision 2020), Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy and various sectoral policies and strategies (land, environment, water, forestry, agriculture, etc) that have environment components well PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 21

22 mainstreamed, and are all subject to climate change risks. Vision 2020 represents an ambitious plan to raise the people of Rwanda out of poverty and transform the country into middle income economy. The protection and management of the environment is one of the pillars of Vision The Government of Rwanda envisages that by 2020, it would have built a nation in which pressures on natural resources, particularly land, water, biomass and biodiversity has been significantly reduced and the process of environmental degradation and pollution would have been reversed. Rwanda s National Vision 2020 specifically targets increase of protection against erosion rate from 20% to 80% in 2010 and 90% in The LDCF project will contribute to attaining critical goals set i.e. the Vision 2020 target 44 increase of protection against erosion rate from 20% to 80% in 2010 and 90% in 2020 and target 45 level of reforestation (ha), which are both part of the projects ecosystem resilience building component, in particular. The project contributes indirectly to a number of other human development indicators of the Vision, specifically in Nyabihu District. The project will also contribute to several MDG targets, associated with poverty reduction, health, disaster risk reduction and sustainable natural resources management, inter alia MDG 1 ( Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger ), MDGs 4 ( Reduce child mortality ), and 6 ( Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases ), and MDG 7 ( Ensure environmental sustainability ). 60. The various generations of Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) implement Vision Following up and improving on the PRSP I and PRSP II, the EDPRS is modern, forward looking, ambitious but attainable. Implementation of the EDPRS has a function based dimension via Sector Strategic Plans and Line Agency Strategies. Further, an area based dimension is introduced via District Development Plans (DDP) and Vision 2020 Umurenge. Both Sector Strategic Plans and District Development Plans have a five year time horizon. The District Development Plans draw from the EDPRS and the Sector Strategies in order to balance these national priorities with local needs identified at district level. In terms of governance, the EDPRS, the decentralisation policy and other policy guidance, focuses in particular on strengthening the district level to address the rural development challenge in Rwanda. Through the so-called Targeted Achievements and Accountability (Imihigo) Triangle, central government, its technical agencies and the district govern implementation of interventions, identified in local level coordination agreements (LCA). These agreements state the reciprocal obligations of all participants and responsible entities, establish timelines for delivery. LCAs aim to serve as tool for implementing Vision 2020 Umurenge on the local level. 61. In terms of sectoral policy, the national forestry policy has highlighted the reforestation of nonagricultural spaces as a priority, such as the part of the project area which is natural forest that needs to be rehabilitated after it has been converted into agricultural land. The national strategy and action plan to combat desertification (NAP) also identifies anti-erosion actions and integrated watershed management as priorities. This project will therefore also contribute to the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Rwanda. Synergies between Conventions are criteria promoted in the NAPA guidelines. 62. Overall, the project addresses priorities under UNDAF Result 4 Management of environment, natural resources and land is improved in a sustainable way and specific outputs under this UNDAF Results and Country Programme outputs. All of these outputs are jointly supported by UNEP and UNDP, amongst other agencies, and this project is another flagship case of achieving synergy effects by One UN. 63. In summary, the proposed project complies with national priorities, since it integrates the climate change adaptation dimension into the district level development framework of Rwanda, piloted in Nyabihu District. The project will benefit the 280,210 people living in the district with direct benefits accruing to affected households in the Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Districts. Overall, the population will become less vulnerable to the effects of climate change shocks e.g. flooding and drought, and thus livelihood security is improved. By enhancing overall ecosystem resilience production systems will be more sustainable and will be supporting livelihoods into the future. Households will additionally find immediate protection against disasters through improved disaster risk management and EWS. Poverty levels will thus be enhanced, and in the case of Nyabihu district mortality and poor health rates due to natural disasters will be reduced. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 22

23 2.2. Design principles and strategic considerations 64. A stocktaking exercise conducted during the PPG phase has identified the relevant GEF and non- GEF interventions to the LDCF project. The LDCF project will link up with ongoing project interventions in Rwanda. Of particular importance are the following related projects: 65. Planning for UNDP S AAP 21 commenced in parallel with the LDCF PPG phase. During planning opportunities were explored to ensure that outcomes from the LDCF project would fit into the national adaptation strategy of Rwanda, which is outlined in the framework of the AAP project document, and which will be implemented and further developed over the coming two to three years. Output 1 under the AAP Dynamic, long-term planning mechanisms to cope with the inherent uncertainties of climate change introduced specifies an Activity Result EWS and responsive risk management in place. The LDCF project will make a direct contribution to this. Through other outputs and activity results the AAP will create an overall supporting environment for the LDCF project and will create opportunity for the upscaling of adaptation approaches and lessons learnt. Co-financing is provided through the AAP project as well. 66. A three years GEF/SLM MSP, namely Building Capacity For Sustainable Land Use And Management In Rwanda is under implementation since 2007, and focuses its interventions in four districts in western Rwanda (Nyabihu, Ngororero, Musanze and Burera). The first outcome of the project is the analysis and preparation of an acceptable set of intervention techniques, which are turned into field training modules, for new extension agents, with-in participatory demonstration training programmes. The second outcome addresses the institutional need for Government to monitor Land Degradation and device best practices from the set of SLM initiatives in country. Third and fourth outcomes address broader picture of the National Action Plan (NAP) and developing a country framework for SLM through TerrAfrica. Lessons learnt and best practices from the GEF/SLM project will be integrated especially into activities under outcome 3 of the LDCF project. Linkages with the GEF/SLM project were established during the PPG phase, and will be furthered during the LDCF project implementation. 67. The UNDP Decentralization and Environment Management Project (DEMP) Phase II ( ) follows on a first project phase which run from DEMP II, a five years intervention seeks primarily to build on the successes of the first project phase. It focuses on three key areas: 1) Capacity development of MINIRENA and REMA to undertake environmental policy coordination and monitoring and of the Districts to be able to integrate environment with development through the district planning, budgeting process and project implementation; 2) Districts to undertake collaborative planning and management of environment and natural resources of Lake Kivu, associated river basins, islands, marginal and fragile ecosystems, and associated investments including into community-based natural resources management (CBNRM); and 3) implement viable environmental practices as well as promote sustainable livelihoods using decentralization as a delivery mechanism. DEMP I and II focus in districts adjacent to Nyabihu, however, Nyabihu itself has not been a primary focus of the projects interventions in the past. The LDCF project will make use of relevant tools and experiences stemming from the DEMP project, especially, but not only for outcome The Nile Transboundary Environmental Action Project (NTEAP) is a regional GEF/International Waters project, encompassing eleven states (Burundi, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Arab States) and various implementation agencies i.e. UNDP and the World Bank. The objective of the project is to protect critical Nile Basin ecosystems from transboundary threats through the provision of a strategic environmental framework and the engagement of stakeholders according to the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The project will improve understanding of the relationship between water resources development and the environment in the Basin, and will provide a forum to discuss development paths for the Nile with a wide range of stakeholders. Lessons learnt from the project especially in view of basin and catchment management and 21 Rwanda is one of 21 countries in Africa that are part of the by the Government of Japan s financed Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP) of UNDP. The programme assists countries in developing national country approaches to adaptation over a two to three years time period, supporting analytical studies (e.g. risk assessments of different climate change risk vulnerable sectors, economic cost analyses) as well as the testing of appropriate adaptation approaches and measures relating to various sectors and climate change themes. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 23

24 IWRM approaches will be considered in the LDCF project. Relevant contacts have been made in the PPG phase. 69. The Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF) in Rwanda is an Umbrella organization of 30 civil society organizations (local and international organizations) dealing with water, environment and development and is associated with the NTEAP, has been identified as a beneficiary under the CC-DARE initiative, a joint UNEP and UNDP pilot project for sub-saharan Africa piloting adaptation action, funded by the Danish Government. A second by CC DARE approved concept was prepared with inputs from the PPG phase for this LDCF project, and involves the NGO umbrella organization RENGOF as a project beneficiary. The project will support especially outcome 3 of the LDCF project through co-financing targeted activities related to the resettlement of local people from the Bigogwe sector, as one measure to increase ecosystem resilience to climate change risks in this highly vulnerable area. 70. A SGP/GEF intervention supporting a local NGO called Partners in Agriculture and Environment (PIAAE) was developed leveraging additional/co-financing support for the LDCF implementation in Bigogwe sector. The project was approved in October 2009 and will run up to February The "Integrating Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change into Sustainable Development Policy Planning and Implementation in Eastern and Southern Africa" (ACCESA) is a regional adaptation pilot project of GEF/UNEP with Rwanda as one of the participating countries. The project is providing support for community-level actions that enhance resilience to climate change in the short- and long-term. It is also supporting the development of strategic approaches for integrating adaptation to climate change into policy- and decision-making at the national and sub-national level. Execution of this project is being led by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the African Centre for Technology Studies ACTS). The Rwandan pilot focuses on Reducing the Vulnerability of Rwanda's Energy Sector to the Impacts of Climate Change. Hydropower plays a critical role in meeting Rwanda's electricity needs. Generation of this energy, though, is being compromised by degradation of local watersheds and poor maintenance and operation of hydropower facilities. Climate change is expected to exacerbate this situation. Working in the Northern Province, the team is helping local communities to improve their agricultural practices and access to energy; building capacity to integrate climate change considerations into the management and operation of the two hydropower facilities; and promoting changes in national energy, land, agriculture and environment policies that will reduce vulnerability to climate change over the long-term. The Kigali Institute for Science and Technology (KIST) is leading implementation of these activities. Although hydropower and energy are not directly addressed in the LDCF project, it is anticipated that there are lessons learnt relating to siltation and run-off that will be of use. Further the project component focusing on community-level actions that enhance resilience to climate change is of relevance. 72. An economic cost analysis of climate change impacts and different adaptation scenarios is currently underway at the national level, led by IIED and the Stockholm Institute in collaboration with REMA and MINECOFIN. Work is currently ongoing, and may inform especially the budgeting elements under outcome 2 of the LDCF project. 73. In terms of institutional CCA capacities, there is currently a Climate Change and International Obligations Unit is being established (ongoing July 2009) within REMA. The Unit will be responsible for the implementation of the UNFCCC in the country context, negotiates in international fora, and coordinates the National Climate Change Committee. Rwanda s NAPA was prepared under coordination of REMA, and is hailed as one of the best from Africa; processes such as the Second National Communication (SNC) are currently under preparation. The LDFC project will be situated within this specific Unit. 74. UNDP and UNEP do have significant experience in the implementation of relevant environmental management and especially GEF projects in Rwanda. There are numerous advantages taking a joint implementation approach by UNEP and UNDP for this LDCF project. UNEP will be responsible for project outcomes 1, 2 and 4, which have strong technical and normative elements, whilst UNDP will focus on outcome 3 with hand-on community-based actions and capacity building in Nyabihu District as a focus. Benefiting from the specific expertise of these two UN organizations under the ONE UN model will be an added advantage to the project performance. Project preparation has already been harmonized between the two organizations during the PPG phase. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 24

25 UNDAF Thematic Group 4 Environment outputs Output 1.1: Policies, regulations, guidelines and standards for environment protection developed and implemented at central and decentralized levels; Output 1.2: Information management system for natural resources developed and operational; Output 1.3: Capacity for coordination of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources in environment management and ecosystem conservation strengthened; Output 1.4: Institutional Capacity of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Ministry of Natural Resources and local Governments to monitor the quality of natural environment strengthened; Output 1.5: strategies and action plans for rehabilitation of critical ecosystem developed, operationalized and made available to local Governments; Output 1.6: Capacity of communities and local Governments for ecosystem and land conservation and rehabilitation strengthened; Output 1.7: Innovative practices for environmental friendly income generation activities adapted to the local context and available to local Governments; Output 1.8: National forestry, water resources and land use master plans for effective agriculture and industrial growth developed and implemented Project Objective, Outcomes and Outputs/activities 75. The project objective and outcomes are aligned with the UNDP Thematic Areas (TA) TA4 on Disaster Risk Management and TA6 on Natural Resources Management. 76. The overall Goal of the project is to contribute to Climate Change Risk and Flood Disaster Preparedness in Rwanda. The Project Objective is to reduce the vulnerability of the Gishwati ecosystems and its associated Nile-Congo crest watersheds, and the people that derive their livelihoods from it, to increased floods and droughts due to climate change. 77. The interventions in this project are divided along four components, as described in the following. 78. COMPONENT 1 22 : CLIMATE RISK ASSESSMENT AND FORECASTING 79. Outcome 1: Early Warning System for climate change risks in Gishwati Ecosystem developed. 80. Baseline: Currently, no climate risk or climate change early warning systems exist in Rwanda. This is a key reason why the local population and decision makers were caught unprepared during severe flooding in the Nyabihu district in Although after the Genocide in 1994 some of the previously existing meteorological and hydrological stations have been rehabilitated, the data collection system is poorly developed and does suffice to service the local level early warning information needs. The SNIAR (System National d Information et d Alert Rapid) of MINAGRI does aim to set up early warning systems for farmers, especially to alert them to apply adaptive farming practices in line with the seasonal weather forecasts, and linkages are sought for. Although the SNIAR project does have some interventions in Nyabihu district, these currently are scattered and not well integrated into an overall alert system for the district. 81. Adaptation Alternative: An integrated EWS model (see details in Annex 4.a) is developed and implemented in the Gishwati ecosystem, alerting decision-makers and the local population to extreme weather events that would lead to flooding or drought. The EWS would additionally provide ongoing upto-date climate risk and weather information to small-scale farmers and government planners. The EW and CC risk assessment capacities of relevant national level partners i.e. the Rwanda Meteorological Services (RMS) currently situated in the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Lands, Environment, 22 UNEP is the lead agency for the implementation of this component. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 25

26 Forestry, Water and Mines currently hosting the national Hydrological Services, and other potential stakeholders, will be enhanced at an individual, institutional and systemic level. At the national level, the capacity to analyse and process integrated forecast information will be strengthened through training, investments into equipment including computer soft- and hardware, and very importantly through improving the system of data relation back to the end user. A pilot area specific approach to distributing EW information will be developed. Overall this outcome will establish a climate change EWS that is useful to local communities in Gishwati ecosystem. Lessons learned from the pilot will feed directly into the UNDP S AAP, which contains a EWS component in its design, for replication of the LDCF pilot elsewhere in the country. 82. The data observation network will be enhanced by establishing new and/or rehabilitating previously functional data collection points in the Gishwati ecosystem. Community members will be trained to service such stations, read data and transmit the information. 83. A multi-stakeholder planning and implementation process will be facilitated through the Technical Task Team established during the PPG phase. The multi-stakeholder process will ensure that weather and climate data are integrated with hydrological, agro-meteorological and other sectoral information into a comprehensive integrated risk system. 84. The Government of Rwanda and the Great Ape Trust of Iowa/Gishwati Area Conservation Programme will commit co-financing to support establishment the observatories needed for improved data gathering and communication channels. 85. Co-financing amounts for Outcome 1: Cash: US$ 100,000 In-kind: US$ 800,000 LDCF Project Grant Requested: US$ 660, The indicative activities under the component 1 are envisaged as follows: 87. Output 1.1: Functional early warning system which allows for climate change predictions tested. Activity 1.1.1: Assess EWS needs and capacities at Nyabihu District and community levels targeting Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Sectors, as well as at national service provider level. Activity 1.1.2: Develop and implement EWS strategy for Nyabihu District in the Gishwati ecosystem, targeting Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Sectors; link to UNDP S AAP activities. Activity 1.1.3: Set up and operationalise an observatory network for agro-and hydrometeorological forecasting in Nyabihu District of Gishwati ecosystem and relevant areas in the Nile-Congo watershed. Activity 1.1.4: Establish targeted communication and outreach mechanism that pilots community application of EWS information in Nyabihu District of Gishwati ecosystem; feed lessons learned into UNDP S AAP and up-scale. Activity 1.1.5: Develop and implement capacity building plan for district and national level experts; link to UNDP S AAP activities. 88. Output 1.2: Gishwati integrated hydro-meteorological logical model system established, integrating climate change risk assessment and socio-economic parameters. Activity 1.2.1: Develop and test model concept for Nyabihu District of Gishwati ecosystem (including socio-political, economic and eco-system considerations). Activity 1.2.2: Provide training on climate change risk assessment (i.e. linked to UNDP S AAP) for district and national level experts. Activity 1.2.3: Carry out Gishwati risk assessments and apply in Gishwati model; develop simple decision-making support tool. Activity 1.2.4: Train district level decision-makers in tool application and maintenance. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 26

27 Activity 1.2.5: Up-scale lessons learned through UNDP S AAP. 89. Output 1.3: Data coordination network is established through inter-agency coordination mechanism for EWS. Activity 1.3.1: Formalise and operationalise work of EWS Task Team(s) (improve on mechanism established during LDCF PPG phase) with national and Nyabihu district level representation. Activity 1.3.2: Establish/rehabilitated data observatories in target area. Activity 1.3.3: Implement capacity support activities for meteorology, agro- and hydrometeorology services and other relevant partners for (i) data management and analysis, (ii) communication, outreach, service provision and dissemination and (iii) network coordination and management (including financing). Activity 1.3.4: Develop strategy to empower farmers to monitor rainfall and to foster drought preparedness COMPONENT 2 24 : CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING AND RESPONSE STRATEGIES. 91. Outcome 2: Climate change risks incorporated into Nyabihu district development planning. 92. Baseline: No specific risk management planning is currently taking place on the district level in Rwanda. Other existing development plans, such as the five-year District Development Plans (DDP), which implement the EDPRS and ultimately Vision 2030, currently do not specifically address climate change risks. The Local Coordination Agreements (LCA) that direct district level coordination of central government, its technical agencies and the district seldom include climate change responses. Often the necessary background information for preventative planning is absent. The Nyabihu District, for example, had responded to the 2007 flooding disaster in the area by commissioning a land use suitability study that would guide preventative planning. The study identified areas in the Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Sectors (Gishwati ecosystem) that should not be inhabited at all and should be targeted for ecosystem rehabilitation. It was asserted that the flood events were aggravated by the land degradation observed in the neighbouring hill areas. Other areas of the complex were identified for limited and rehabilitative agriculture (where some agricultural production could take place hand-in hand with ecosystem rehabilitation activities), and for settlement and agricultural use. The land suitability study is a useful baseline and venture point for this project. However, difficulties have been experienced in the implementation of the recommendation of the study, as it involves the resettlement of people living in high risk areas. The Government is prepared to do what needs to be done to avert future loss of lives during catastrophic climate events, however, currently the capacities to develop the best responses to the posed climate change risks are limited. Linkages to the ongoing UNDP supported Decentralization and Environment Management Project (DEMP) Phase II (July July 2013) will be established. Currently, the DEMP is not active in Nyabihu District. 93. Adaptation Alternative: In the alternative, a climate change disaster risk response component will integrated into the DDP for Nyabihu District. Potentially, if required, a specific Disaster Risk Response Plan will be developed, or alternatively climate change risks and response planning will be incorporated into existing plans and strategies. The risk response plan will use the information from the EWS established under outcome Additionally, the response plan will be based on the scientific findings and recommendations of the land suitability study which will in turn inform the development of a Land Use Master Plan for the District and specific realisation of climate change-resilient land use plans for the Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Sectors (Gishwati ecosystem). Planning will take place in a participatory and multi-stakeholder 23 EW information will be processed also to inform farmers about expected droughts. This specific project will focus on the EW information provision side only, as RADA is implementing additional activities that focus on building drought preparedness. 24 UNEP is the lead agency for the implementation of this component. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 27

28 approach that includes end user representation. The main elements of the plan will include (i) disaster preparedness (i.e. prohibit settlement in flood prone areas, install EWS, have an emergency management plan), (ii) flood risk reduction (i.e. through ecosystem rehabilitation), and (iii) climate change resilient land use planning (i.e. develop climate change risk responsive zoning, integrating work under outcome 1 and 3 into long-term planning). Emphasis will be placed on the inclusion of the local level population in the planning process and the implementation of the developed planning instruments (i.e. land use master plan, DDP or specific Disaster Risk Response Plan), as they are the most vulnerable to the climate change risks in the area. 95. The outcome will ensure that district level planning will include responses to the climate change risk posed in the area, including land use planning instruments. It will strengthen inter alia the community and institutional capacities for climate risk responsive planning through research, participative planning and training support. Specific demonstrations that show disaster risk responses at the community level e.g. through flood-proofing housing infrastructure and moving out of high risk flood areas will be supported by the project. 96. The Government of Rwanda and the Great Ape Trust of Iowa/Gishwati Area Conservation Programme will commit co-financing to support the activities related to the local level planning, feeding into the district and Land Use Master Plan. 97. Co-financing amounts for Outcome 2: Cash: US$ 80,000 In-kind: US$ 400,000 LDCF Project Grant Requested: US$ 330, The indicative activities under component 2 are envisaged as follows: 99. Output 2.1: Climate change sensitive disaster management plans are prepared for Nyabihu District in Gishwati ecosystem and the capacity to implement them is developed. Activity 2.1.1: Assist Nyabihu District to develop District Development Plans (DDPs) that are climate change proof based on the new Land Use Master plan of the Gishwati area. Activity 2.1.2: Develop method for integrating CC risk, adaptation planning and mainstreaming CCA in existing plans/strategies and/or establish new instrument(s) if needed (e.g. in land use and settlement planning guidance and regulations for flood plains). Activity 2.1.3: Pilot application and implementation of local level responses i.e. relating to flood early warning in particularly vulnerable communities in river valleys. Activity 2.1.4: Communicate and disseminate response plans and hold targeted training events for vulnerable communities on adaptation responses. Activity 2.1.5: Promote disaster preparedness community projects e.g. on flood proofing housing and infrastructure; moving out of high flood risk areas Output 2.2: Climate resilient Gishwati Land Use Master Plan adopted, implemented and regularly updated. Activity 2.2.1: Conduct a land suitability study and develop comprehensive and appropriate land use plans for Gishwati pilot areas including human settlement plans with targeted local population in Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura sectors. Activity 2.2.2: Establish and operationalise a multi-stakeholder participatory planning process. Activity 2.2.3: Based on land suitability plan and consultations develop a climate resilient Land Use Plan for Gishwati. Activity 2.2.4: Support land and environment institutions to fully implement policies and laws at the targeted area. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 28

29 101. COMPONENT 3 25 : REDUCTION IN THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF FLOODS AND DROUGHTS THROUGH INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE AGAINST CLIMATE SHOCKS IN THE NILE-CONGO CREST WATERSHEDS (NYABARONGO AND SEBEYA RIVERS) AND GISHWATI ECOSYSTEM Outcome 3: The adverse effects of floods and droughts reduced in the Nile-Congo crest watersheds (Nyabarongo and Sebeya rivers) and Gishwati ecosystem Baseline: The Government of Rwanda recognises that part of the climate change risk posed to the Nile-Congo Watersheds and especially the Gishwati ecosystem are exacerbated by land degradation and unsustainable natural resource management practices. As stated in the 2009 Environment Outlook and State of the Environment Report (REMA, 2009) it is a key goal of the Government to enhance ecosystem resilience including to climate shocks throughout the country For the focal area of the LDCF project, which is known to be the most severely affected area in terms of land degradation in Rwanda, the application of integrated water and land management practices and soil and water conservation have been identified as key responses, in addition to land rehabilitation actions. An already ongoing GEF SLM support project focuses on land rehabilitation in four districts in western Rwanda, with pilots in Jenda sector in Nyabihu. Activities such as re-afforestation with indigenous tree species, digging of soil ditches and water retention barriers, planting of grass strips between fields to promote water conservation, inter-cropping systems including locally used fruit trees, soil stabilisation etc. are being promoted. In terms of water management additionally rain water harvesting methods are being applied (e.g. ridging, contouring, terracing), as well as local water management plans and awareness activities are being implemented. The GEF-Nile Basin Management programme at REMA has tested some practical and locally adapted methods, which, however currently are not applied rigorously in a climate change risk management approach and not in the LDCF project target area A major Afforestation Support Project (PAREF) is funded by the Government of Belgium and the Netherlands. A part of the 13 Million Euro interventions focuses on the Gishwati Ecosystem and cofinancing is being arranged. Additionally the Gishwati Area Conservation Programme funded by the Great Ape Trust of Iowa Earth Park invests 1,700,000 US$ during the period in ecosystem restoration in the larger Gishwati Ecosystem area. Neither of the projects makes a clear adaptation and climate change risk reduction linkage at this moment Overall, some auto-adaptation is found in the area, but only limited activities that would promote ecosystem resilience in the up-hill and valley areas of the focal area are ongoing. The land suitability study commissioned by the Nyabihu District has identified areas that should be set aside exclusively for rehabilitation action, but no follow-up on the recommendations has taken place to date, mainly due to a lack of financial resources, but also as the resettlement of numerous farmers from the protected zone has been recommended Adaptation Alternative: This outcome promotes local level adaptation action in the Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Sectors of Nyabihu District in the Gishwati ecosystem, a site in the Nile-Congo Crest Watershed that is vulnerable to climate change, and representative of other similarly vulnerable areas. Overall, this outcome contributes to implementation of on the ground actions to increase ecosystem resilience against climate shocks and to assist the district in the implementation of the recommendations of the improved land suitability study e.g. through the development of a Land Use Master Plan and climate-resilient land use plans, building on outcome 2 of the LDCF project. It will strengthen the community and district level capacities to act against the climate risk and foster climate change resilience of the ecosystem in Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Sectors of Nyabihu District The recommended resettlement of local people will be revisited during the early project implementation phase, and alternatives and solutions will be sought through community-based participatory planning processes. As the recommended resettlement is directly linked to the climate change risk observed in the area, it is important that the LDCF supports the district in finding a suitable solution with the local stakeholders. The resettlement might lead to a loss of livelihoods of the people 25 UNDP is the lead agency for the implementation of this component. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 29

30 from that area. Consequently, alternative livelihood options for these farmers need to be explored and realized. Two specific community support projects situated in the Nyabihu District and directly contributing to outcome 3 of the LDCF project have been recently secured with two local NGOs PIAAE and RENGOF (see paragraphs 67 and 68) with funding from the SGP and CC-DARE projects respectively. These funds will be used to strengthen and further support community projects under this outcome. It is an explicit project strategy to promote additional projects and funds to be invested under the LDCF project framework into community action in this area, to leverage significant community-based adaptation successes Large scale afforestation investments currently underway will be designed and implemented in a manner that they address and incorporate climate change risk considerations, and contribute to the longterm adaptative capacity and reducing the risks in the Nyabihu district. Baseline activities outlined above (PAREF and Gishwati Area Conservation Programme) will be associated with the LDCF project and the investments will be climate change proofed. Locally adapted, indigenous and non-invasive tree species will, for example, be promoted for afforestation activities, and all such investments made by the two programme will be in line with the Land Use Master Plan and the improved Land Use Suitability study being part of this LDCF project. Investments serve as co-financing. UNDP is providing additional cofinancing in cash Land rehabilitation and improved land use practices will be implemented (i.e. uphill land and forest rehabilitation contributing to the conservation of water flows and controlling erosion; downhill/valley rehabilitation and improvement for agricultural production). An area of 8000 ha will be targeted in the three selected sectors, namely Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura. Practices will include the use of better adapted cultivars, the planting of trees and implementation of well regulated grazing regimes. Specific soil and water rehabilitation measures partially tested elsewhere in the area will be applied. Farmers action research (FAR) 26 approaches will be applied, contributing to training and demonstration effects Co-financing amounts for Outcome 3: Cash: US$ 400,000 In-kind: US$ 7,300,000 LDCF Project Grant Requested: US$ 1,815, The indicative outputs under the component 3 are envisaged as follows: 113. Output 3.1: Land use management practices in Gishwati pilot areas are adjusted for anticipated climate change risks. Activity 3.1.1: Develop criteria for the selection of suitable areas in Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura sectors of Nyabihu district for project demonstration/implementation. Activity 3.1.2: Identify and implement adaptation techniques that are climate change-proof in targeted areas of Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Sectors. Activity 3.1.3: Develop farmers action research and land management programme (i.e. uphill land and forest rehabilitation contributing to the conservation of water flows and controlling erosion; downhill/valley rehabilitation and improvement for agricultural production). 26 Action research involves utilizing a systematic cyclical method of planning, taking action, observing, evaluating (including self-evaluation) and critical reflecting prior to planning the next cycle. It is a collaborative method to test new ideas and implement action for change. It involves direct participation of local level natural resource users and managers (such as farmers) in a dynamic research process, while monitoring and evaluating the effects of the intervention actions with the aim of improving them. It can be understood as a learning and management process. Testing new adaptation measures with local farmers will be set up at a demonstration level, and if positive effects are observed self-replication is expected. There is ample of literature and existing case studies that demonstrate the usefulness of the approach to community-based natural resources management. For example see Pound, B., S. Snapp, C. McDougall, and A. Braun (eds.) Managing Natural Resources for Sustainable Livelihoods: Uniting Science and Participation. Ottawa: Earthscan/IDRC. 260pp. ISBN PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 30

31 Activity 3.1.4: Support implementation of community CC adaptation measures/on-site demonstrations of climate proofing of integrated watershed management practices in Gishwati. Activity 3.1.5: Promote and support research base and improve information base and knowledge sharing as regard to land, water conservation techniques and CCA benefits Output 3.2: Resettlement from priority watershed conservation areas advanced. Activity 3.2.1: Revisit resettlement proposals made in Land Suitability Study with the affected communities and develop alternatives, if appropriate. Activity 3.2.2: Implement resettlement activities 27. Activity 3.2.3: Develop alternative livelihood options for resettled farmers Output 3.3: Capacity development program for communities and Gishwati-based practitioners formulated and implemented. Activity 3.3.1: Develop and implement community and Gishwati-based practitioners capacity support programme. Activity 3.3.2: Establish and implement M&E component that tracks capacity building impacts. Activity 3.4.3: Train decision makers, planners and field actors operating in Gishwati pilot area in CCA strategies related to water management and agricultural practices that are climate change proof COMPONENT 28 4: INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD PRACTICES TO REDUCE VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE BASED ON GISHWATI PILOT Outcome 4: Knowledge of good practices to reduce vulnerability to climate change based on Gishwati pilot improved Baseline: In the baseline climate change risk are addressed in Gishwati and other areas of Rwanda. Although individual climate change and adaptation initiatives may be implemented, few practical local level experiences in addressing the risk are systematically documented, communicated and upscaled to other sites. The overall responsive reaction to CC remains low. The UNDP S AAP is currently the largest CCA investment in Rwanda. However, it is designed as higher tier national adaptation response. It urgently would need the input from a practical on-the ground project such as this NAPA follow-up project, to develop needs based responses. Overall, communication and accessibility of information is currently poor especially in Rwanda s rural areas. At this moment no communication, awareness, and training initiatives following up on the NAPA-identified key adaptation and climate change risk priorities exist Adaptation Alternative: This outcome will ensure firstly that all project outputs and activities are being communicated in the most efficient and systematic manner throughout the project to all intended target groups. Secondly, it will document and communicate the lessons learned from the first NAPA follow-up project in Rwanda, informing stakeholders at all levels about climate change risk management and adaptation options as tested in the Gishwati ecosystem, and the costs and benefits of implementing such measures. Links to the UNEP Global Adaptation Network and the UNDP Adaptation Learning Mechanism (ALM) will facilitate the communication of the lessons learned to the global climate change adaptation community and especially countries in the region struggling with similar climate change challenges. Thirdly, it will integrate designate training activities within Rwanda that will lead to the absorption of the lessons learned. Cash co-financing from the Government of Rwanda will support the establishment of a communication mechanism. 27 The sensitivity of resettlement actions is recognized. However, to achieve ecosystem rehabilitation for the reduction of future climate change risks resettlement may be an inevitable need. The LDCF project will assist the Nyabihu District Council to engage in the best possible process to address the climate change risk and livelihood needs. 28 UNEP is the lead agency for this component. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 31

32 120. Co-financing amounts for Outcome 4: Cash: US$ 100,000 In-kind: US$ - LDCF Project Grant Requested: US$ 285, The indicative activities under this component are envisaged as follows: 122. Output 4.1: Communication and Awareness strategy in place. Activity 4.1.1: Develop a network of institutions (Government, NGOs, CBOs) active in soil and water conservation and sustainable land management sectors to collate experiences for systematic collection on documentation of appropriate soil protection techniques. Activity 4.1.2: Establish and operationalise a platform to serve as a national and local learning mechanism. Activity 4.1.3: Develop communication and awareness raising strategy for targeted stakeholders and end users. Activity 4.1.4: Establish a community-based communication and information sharing tool (community media: radio and news paper) for climate and hazards prediction Output 4.2: Training plan developed and implemented for relevant stakeholders for uptake of lessons learned and engagement in the various project components. Activity 4.2.1: Undertake stakeholder specific training needs assessment. Activity 4.2.2: Develop and implement capacity building plan and strategy for stakeholders, as well as end users in project pilot areas Output 4.3: Lessons learned for policy makers and communities developed and disseminated throughout the project. Activity 4.3.1: Prepare and disseminate policy relevant briefing materials (based on integrated risk assessments, system model and disaster response planning from Gishwati pilot area, as well as capacity needs assessment). Activity 4.3.2: Regularly update content on the UNEP Global Adaptation Network and the UNDP Adaptation Learning Mechanism (ALM) Key indicators, risks and assumptions 125. The proposed project indicator framework follows the UNDP M&E Framework for Adaptation and includes modified indicators proposed for TA 4 and 6. Objective level indicators and outcome level indicators are specified in the Project Results Framework in Section 3 below, and are summarized as: 126. Project Objective: To reduce the vulnerability of the Gishwati ecosystems and its associated Nile-Congo crest watersheds, and the people that derive their livelihoods from it, to increased floods and droughts due to climate change. Indicator 1: Number of ha of land rehabilitated Indicator 2: Relevant plans and policies to address CC adaptation measures Indicator 3: Percentage change in vulnerability of local community to climate risks via perception-based survey (VRA) Outcome 1 : Early Warning System for climate change risks in Gishwati Ecosystem developed. Indicator 1: EWS that is useful to communities developed and forecasts disseminated to communities PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 32

33 Outcome 2: Climate change risk incorporated into Nyabihu district development planning Indicator 1: Within 48 hours of emergency warning district and local response plans are set into motion as a result of the disaster risk response plans in place. Indicator 2: Number of development planning and land use plans incorporating climate change risks into their design Outcome 3: Reduction in the adverse effects of floods and droughts through increased environmental resilience against climate shocks in the Nile-Congo crest watersheds (Nyabarongo and Sebeya rivers) and Gishwati ecosystem Indicator 1: Percentage change in vulnerability of local community to climate risks via perception-based survey (VRA) Outcome 4: Increased knowledge of good practices to reduce vulnerability to climate change based on Gishwati pilot Indicator 1: Number of lessons learned codified as relating to all three project outcomes 127. The project design further foresees the development of more specific M&E tools, especially also at the local implementation level. Participatory local level M&E can be a powerful management and communication tool, especially tracking and demonstrating project results in village level interventions. A more detailed M&E project framework will be developed during the project inception phase An overall project M&E plan has been devised and is included in the respective section of the project document below. It foresees the regular progress reporting, a well as audits, a mid-term evaluation and an end of project evaluation Assumptions underlying the project design include that: 1. the pilot district and communities in the selected three Sectors (Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura)and other partners are willing to participate in the project and take responsibility for implementation; 2. the effectiveness of the resettlement and the availability of capacity to address this issues during the project duration; 3. the already enormous population pressure experienced in the Nyabihu District is not further exploding, thus adding external pressures onto the ecosystem which it will be unable to cope with; 4. up-scaling and replication of cost-effective adaptation measures will be driven by Government; additionally association of the LDCF project under the UNDP S AAP national adaptation approach proposal will lead to such replication; 5. through the project sufficient adaptation capacities will be build to ensure sustainability of project activities beyond the projects time horizon A complete Risk Log is included in Annex 1 of the project document. Most risks are organisational in nature, and mainly relate to currently relatively low institutional and individual capacities of the public service structure in terms of adaptation, which were documented in the Barrier section of this project document. In summary the following eight key risks were identified: 1. Insufficient qualified human resources (Organisational) 2. Adaptation technologies costs and maintenance (Financial) 3. Appropriation of adaptive technologies by communities (Organisational) 4. Cultural and social resistance (Organisational) 5. Delays in funding disbursement and administrative slowness (Financial) PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 33

34 6. Occurance of Natural Disasters: storms, flooding, earthquakes (Environmental) 7. Low Institutional/ Execution Capacity (Organisational) 8. Implementation arrangements dependent on institutional capacities (Organisational) 131. Mitigation measures for each risk are specified in the Risk Log (Annex 1), and have been systematically addressed in the project design Cost-effectiveness 132. Co-financing has been arranged through a number of ongoing project interventions in Rwanda, which are directly linked to the intended LDCF project outcomes, and which would gain value through the association with this climate change adaptation initiative. Notably co-financing through UNDP s AAP project ensures that the LDCF project outcomes are directly linked to the national adaptation framework and that lessons learnt are integrated into it. A major investment into afforestation by the Governments of Belgium and the Netherlands in western Rwanda will be geared to link up with this important LDCF project addressing immediate and urgent needs in Gishwati Ecosystem An additional cost-effectiveness and sustainability approach build into the project design is that the LDCF project encourages NGOs and other partners to associate with the various project outcomes and especially the on-the-ground action under outcome 3. Where additional funds for i.e. for community projects can be leveraged, these are being supported by the LDCF project. During the project preparation phase alone, two NGOs, the umbrella organisation RENGOF and PIAAE secured funds for targeted community-based adaptation interventions in the LDCF project area The Government of Rwanda is providing co-financing through its ongoing government investments in the Nyabihu district, investments into environmental governance and management through its environmental institutions such as REMA, and the Meteorological Services, amongst other. The LDCF project will finance additional activities that add the climate change additionality, thus building a costeffective case for climate change proofing government activities Sustainability 135. The project addresses key national development priorities highlighted in the EPRSP and Vision 2020, the UNDAF as well as climate change related priorities identified and specified through the participatory and bottom-up NAPA process. The project has strong government support as well as buy-in at the District level. Consequently, a high commitment to carry out project activities and to internalise them in long-term Government actions and budgets is given by Government As the project interventions at the local level are needs driven, a high level of sustainability and absorption of adaptive capacity in medium and long term is also foreseen. Additionally, it is understood that the sustainability of the successful adaptation interventions is going to depend on them generating monetary benefits (the incentive to keep them going) which will depend on continued access to technical advice and agricultural inputs. It is asserted that through the project implemented adaptation measures will generate immediate local level benefits that reduce the current costs induced by disaster. Improved ecosystem services will contribute to sustainability of production systems in the area, which are currently declining. Once initial adaptation bottlenecks in the Nyabihu District Council and other institutions (e.g. those involved on regional and national level in the EWS) are addressed, their maintenance will not be too costly and can be integrated in the DDPs and associated budgets The project is designed with a strong capacity building focus as well as broad stakeholder participation and consultation, so that the project activities can be continued beyond the period of LDCF support. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 34

35 2.7. Replicability 138. The pilot approach to establishing a functional early warning and disaster preparedness system will generate approaches, tools and methods that can be used elsewhere in Rwanda and finally lead to the establishment of a fully functional national approach. The project will contribute to the national adaptation planning process developed with support of the Africa Adaptation Programme in Rwanda, which will seek to scale up successful adaptation responses By making the explicit link to the UNEP Global Adaptation Network and the UNDP Adaptation Learning Mechanism (ALM), international networks of practitioners and web-based platforms for sharing lessons learned and best practices, the Rwanda project will make specific contributions to the Global Network and the ALM and also benefit from its resources. 2.8 Stakeholder involvement plan Outcomes Outputs Lead institution & role Stakeholders & roles Outcome 1: Early Warning Systems for climate change risks in Gishwati Ecosystem developed. Outcome 2: Climate change risk incorporated into Nyabihu district development planning. Outcome 3: Reduction in the adverse effects of floods and droughts through increased environmental resilience against climate shocks in the Nile-Congo crest watersheds (Nyabarongo and Sebeya rivers) and Gishwati ecosystem Outcome 4: Increased knowledge of good Output 1.1: Functional early warning system which allows for climate change predictions tested in Nyabihu District of Gishwati ecosystem Output 1.2: Gishwati hydrometeorological model system established, integrating climate change risk assessment and socio-economic parameters such as impacts on livelihoods and economic activities; model linked to UNDP S AAP. Output 1.3: Data coordination network is established through inter-agency coordination mechanism for EWS, including especially agro- and hydrometeorological information Output 2.1: Disaster response plans are prepared for Nyabihu Disterict in Gishwati ecosystem and capacity to implement them is developed Output 2.2: Climate resilient Gishwati Land Use Master Plan adopted, implemented and regularly updated Output 3.1: Land use management practices in Gishwati pilot areas are adjusted for anticipated climate change risks Output 3.2: Capacity development program for communities and Gishwati-based practitioners formulated and implemented Output 4.1: Communication and Awareness strategy in place, guaranteeing the documentation REMA for coordination, capacity building and awareness. UNEP for implementation of this output. REMA for coordination, training and up-scaling lessons learned. UNEP for implementation of this output. REMA for EWS coordination. UNEP for implementation of this output. REMA for coordination and Capacity support UNEP for implementation of this output. MINIRENA for coordination. UNEP for implementation of this output. MINAGR/RADA for monitoring of land use management practices. UNDP for implementation of this output. REMA for coordination and capacity support. UNDP for implementation of this output. REMA for networking coordination. UNEP for implementation of this National Meteorological Service for EWS needs assessment, strategy development and operationalisation Agro-meteorological service for development and testing model concept and tools for targeted areas National meteorological service for data capture and maintenance Agro-meteorological service for agrohydro meteorological information and dissemination Nyabihu District for plans development through DDP and implementation DMU for disaster response plans MINALOC/DCDP/CDF to promote disaster preparedness community projects NLC, REMA, NUR/GIS, RADA for conceptualisation, studies and implementation SLM project, NGOs, CBOs for collaboration and assistance ISAR for action research program development NGOs (RENGOF, PIAAE), CBOs to develop adaptive practices in targeted areas NGOs and CBOs for training and dissemination of lessons learned National Meteorological Service for development of communication and awareness raising strategy PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 35

36 practices to reduce vulnerability to climate change based on Gishwati pilot and dissemination of lessons learned for policy makers and for decision makers at all levels, including for communities throughout the project. Output 4.2: Training plan developed and implemented for relevant stakeholders for uptake of lessons learned and engagement in the various project components. Output 4.3: Development and dissemination of lessons learned for policy makers and communities throughout the project output. REMA for training planning And capacity needs assessment. UNEP for implementation of this output. REMA to disseminate lessons learned to policy makers NGOs involved for awareness and dissemination of information Nyabihu District to implement training plan Nyabihu District to disseminate lesson learned to communities PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 36

37 3. Project Results Framework This project will contribute to achieving the following Country Programme Outcome as defined in CPAP or CPD: Outcome 1. An enabling policy framework to support an effective system for environment management and ecosystem conservation established Outcome 2. Capacity at national, district and community levels to restore and protect ecosystems of national and global importance against potential degradation strengthened Outcome 3. Economic productivity enhanced using natural resources in an environmentally friendly way Country Programme Outcome Indicators: Outcome 1: Indicators : # (out of 7) key sectors with operationalized environment laws, policies and strategies (0-2007); % environment management technical staff positions filled at all levels Outcome 2: Indicator : % of Nyungwe & Volcanoes forests, Rugezi, Kamiranzovu and Kagera complex wetlands restored and rehabilitated Outcome 3: Indicators : Fuel wood consumption reduced to 90% (96% ); % alternative energy sources used Primary applicable Key Environment and Sustainable Development Key Result Area (same as that on the cover page, circle one): 1. Mainstreaming environment and energy OR 2. Catalyzing environmental finance OR 3. Promote climate change adaptation OR 4. Expanding access to environmental and energy services for the poor. Applicable SOF (e..g GEF) Strategic Objective and Program: Applicable SOF (e.g. GEF) Expected Outcomes: Applicable SOF (e.g.gef) Outcome Indicators: Project Objective 29 To reduce the vulnerability of the Gishwati ecosystems and its associated Nile-Congo crest watersheds, and the people that derive their livelihoods from it, to increased floods and droughts due to climate change. Indicator Baseline Targets 1. Number of ha of land rehabilitated 2. Relevant plans and policies to address CC adaptation measures 3. Percentage change in vulnerability of local community to climate risks via perception-based survey (VRA) Outcome EWS that is useful to communities 1. Number of ha of land degraded as per Sector to be determined during inception phase 2. No policies which integrate CCA measures in place. 3. Need to undertake VRA at project onset End of Project 1. 60% of degraded land rehabilitated in each sector 2. Relevant plans and polices have been modified to fully integrate climate change adaptation measures. 3. At mid-term 35% increase of VRA score; at end-of-project 70% of VRA score No EWS in place 1. 50% of community members in Nyabihu District receive useful Source of verification 1. Land degradation map, i.e. existing Bigogwe land suitability study/map 2. M&E shows improvement in livelihood resilience and institutional capacity from baseline; lessonslearned have been codified, disseminated, and integrating into relevant national policies 3. Survey/VRA Risks and Assumptions Government and partners are committed to adaptation and climate risk action Capacities for project implementation are build in systematic manner Population pressure is managed in a efficient way and will not counter act on project successes 1. QBS Capacity support to relevant institutions involved in EWS builds strong 29 Objective (Atlas output) monitored quarterly ERBM and annually in APR/PIR 30 All outcomes monitored annually in the APR/PIR. It is highly recommended not to have more than 4 outcomes. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 37

38 Early Warning Systems for climate change risk in Gishwati Ecosystem developed developed and forecasts disseminated to communities EWS information 2. Narrative description of quality of EWS rates the system as satisfactory (rated by end-users) 2. QBS institutional and individual engagement in the LDCF project intervention EWS is sensitive to local needs and integrates/responds such needs into its design Sufficient investments into setting up of functional data system solicited Outcome 2 Climate change risk incorporated into Nyabihu district development planning 1. Within 48 hours of emergency warning district and local response plans are set into motion as a result of the disaster risk response plans in place. 2. Number of development planning and land use plans incorporating climate change risks into their design 1. No disaster response plans in place 2. Currently climate change risk is not explicitly integrated into DDPs and land use plans 1. (i) Each affected/ vulnerable community in Nyabihu District has a functional disaster risk response plan in place; (ii) all alerted communities set response plan into motion 2. By the end of project - The DDP of Nyabihu District integrates climate change risk into its design - A climate resilient Land Use Master Plan is in place - Lower tier land use plans include climate change risk 1. APR; issue a disaster warning for selected communities and assess response quality through QBS; 2. APRs; Assessment of targeted policy instruments Government is committed to integrate climate change risk and adaptation needs in development planning Planning will be conducted in participatory manner to ensure that adaptation measures are appropriated by community Outcome 3 Reduction in the adverse effects of floods and droughts through increased environmental resilience against climate shocks in the Nile-Congo crest watersheds (Nyabarongo and Sebeya rivers) and Gishwati ecosystem 1. Percentage change in vulnerability of local community to climate risks via perception-based survey (VRA) 1. Need to undertake VRA at project onset 1. At mid-term 35% increase of VRA score; at end-of-project 70% of VRA score 1. Survey/VRA Participatory planning and decision making ensures that Government and communities and other critical stakeholders reduce and manage potentially emerging conflicts NGOs and other organisations get involved in project implementation, supporting existing extension services and strengthening the overall available institutional capacities for adaptation action Investments into community adaptation projects through additional funds (cofinancing) leveraged Population pressure halted to ensure that ecosystem rehabilitation efforts are not nullified Outcome 4 Increased knowledge of good practices to reduce vulnerability to 1. Number of lessons learned codified as relating to all three project outcomes 1. No lessons learned codified 1. At least 10 lessons learned per outcome containing critical lessons learned and good adaptation practices from the project site are 1. APR Communication instruments are culturally and socially sensitive and help overcome potential communication barriers and resistance to adaptation PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 38

39 climate change based on Gishwati pilot codified measures PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 39

40 4. Total budget and workplan Award ID: Award Title: Business Unit: Project Title: PIMS no Implementing Partner (Executing Agency) must be created before submission for SOF approval and entered in the submission documents Project ID(s): must be created before submission for SOF approval and entered in the submission documents. RWANDA - Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change by Establishing Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support for Integrated Watershed Management in Flood Prone Areas must be created before submission for SOF approval and entered in the submission documents RWANDA - Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change by Establishing Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support for Integrated Watershed Management in Flood Prone Areas REMA Details below need to be entered prior to DOA issuance. (Adjust according to SOF requirements) SOF (e.g. GEF) Outcome/Atlas Activity Responsible Party/ Implementing Agent Fund ID Donor Name Atlas Budgetary Account Code ATLAS Budget Description Amount Year 1 (USD) Amount Year 2 (USD) Amount Year 3 (USD) Amount Year 4 (USD) Total (USD) See Budget Note: OUTCOME 1: Early Warning Systems for climate change risk in Gishwati Ecosystem developed REMA (62160) GEF (LDCF) sub-total GEF Total Outcome 1 OUTCOME 2: Climate change risk incorporated into Nyabihu district development planning REMA (62160) GEF (LDCF) sub-total GEF Total Outcome 2 OUTCOME 3: Reduction in the adverse effects of floods and droughts through REMA (62160) GEF (LDCF) International Consultants 70,500 65,000 65,000 65, , Local Consultants 20,000 25,000 25,000 22,500 92,500 O Contractual services 50,000 50,000 30,000 10, ,000 P Travel 22,500 22,500 22,500 22,500 90,000 Q N PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 40

41 increased environmental resilience against climate shocks in the Nile-Congo crest watersheds (Nyabarongo and Sebeya rivers) and Gishwati ecosystem Equipment and Furniture 100,000 80,000 20,000 20, ,000 Materials and Goods 210, , , , , Supplies 25,000 25,000 25,000 20,000 95,000 T Professional services 12,000 15,000 12,500 12,500 52,000 U Miscellaneous Expenses 40,000 40,000 40,000 40, ,000 V sub-total GEF 550, , , ,500 1,815,000 Total Outcome 3 550, , , ,500 1,815,000 R S OUTCOME 4: Increased knowledge of good practices to reduce vulnerability to climate change based on Gishwati pilot REMA (62160) GEF (LDCF) sub-total GEF Total Outcome 4 MID-TERM AND FINAL EVALUATIONS REMA (62160 GEF (LDCF) sub-total GEF Total Outcome Travel 10,000 10,000 10,000 9,000 39,000 AA PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT REMA (62160) GEF (LDCF) Equipment and Furniture 83,000 8,000 4,000 2,000 97, Office supplies 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 40,000 AC sub-total GEF 103,000 28,000 24,000 20, ,000 AB Total Management 103,000 28,000 24,000 20, ,000 PROJECT TOTAL UNDP 653, , , ,500 1,991,000 Summary Funds: 31 of Amount Year 1 Amount Year 2 Amount Year 3 Amount Year 4 Total $ GEF UNEP $469,500 $445,500 $286,500 $293,500 $1,495,000 GEF UNDP $653,000 $560,500 $414,000 $363,500 $1,991,000 GEF $ 1,122,500 $ 1,006,000 $ 700,500 $ 657,000 $ 3,486,000 UNDP Track (cash) $ 150,000 $ 150,000 $ 150,000 $ 150,000 $ 600,000 Government of Rwanda (cash & in-kind) $ 2,980,000 $ 2,500,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 1,500,000 $ 8,980, Summary table should include all financing of all kinds: GEF financing, cofinancing, cash, in-kind, etc... PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 41

42 TOTAL $4,252,500 $3,656,000 $2,850,500 $2,307,000 $13,066,000 Budget Note N O P Q R S T U V AA AB AC Description of cost item Salary for team leader UNDP (technical expert) US$ $ 7500 p.a. (27% share) for four years; additional at least three expert consultancies: Farmers Action Research (FAR) expert (US$ 600 x 40 Days); Training consultants (local farmers and extension services) (US$ 600 x 122 Days), M&E Expert (incl. community-based participatory M&E) (US$ 600 x 240 Days (approx. 3 months p.a.)) Salary contribution Project Manager; additional at least six expert consultancies: Local level adaptation plans (US$ 200 x 40 Days); Farmers Action Research (FAR) (US$ 200 x 40 Days); Resettlement review (US$ 200 x 40 Days); Livelihood options (US$ 200 x 40 Days); Capacity Building Plan (US$ 200 x 25 Days); Trainings (local farmers and extension services) (US$ 200 x 127 Days) NGO or specialists to facilitate community work programmes (e.g. setting up new housing; alternative livelihoods programme incl. community investments); work will take place with at least 10 villages/settlements in 3 sectors of Nyabihu (Bigogwe, Karago, Rambura); food for work approaches may be implemented, using local manpower for physical rehabilitation/construction work; food and or cash contributions to local salaries will be paid; trainers to implement the training component will be covered from this budget line (workshop expenses are budgeted for under professional services below). Travel to Nyabihu and within district by project team and consultants; transportation by project partners on site; transportation support to extension services and community members; DSA; at least 7 consultancies will draw their travel expenses from this budget line; project management staff will have at least 12 four day trips included under the budget; travel of government staff will be supported where necessary; contractual services may qualify for travel expenses under this item, depending on the proposals to be solicited esp. for community outreach work. Equipment for rehabilitation activities (hand tools; green house materials for nurseries etc.); rehabilitation activities in the three sectors of Nyabihu (Bigogwe, Karago, Rambura) will take place over an area of approximately 8,000 ha. Relevant hand tools (e.g. picks, shovels, trenching utensils) will be needed to equip the local project participants and work force; earth moving equipment may need to be hired for certain activities. Stabilisation materials, implements, tree seedlings and seeds etc.; seeding material and local nurseries may need to be established to provide sufficient appropriate planting material for rehabilitation; inputs such as rocks may be needed for terracing; in certain areas soil and water stabilisation may require concrete stabilization. Various supplies for community projects e.g. stationery, communication support; existing or newly established community structures will need simple supplies to actively participate in the project; provision of cell phones or cello phone charges, office supplies, access to fax machines may be supported from this budget line. It is realised that communication is a key to the success to the project. At this stage community offices in the three sectors and within in the Nyabihu district would require such support. Training workshops and events; each year at least 6 major training events/workshops (about one week long) at a cost of US$ 2,000 are being planned under this budget line, for local participants from the three sectors and Nyabihu district. Each training should be attended by up to 20 participants from the local community. Transportation, food and potential site visits are to be covered from this budget line. Trainers are being covered under budget line contractual services above. Miscellaneous; unforeseen expenses National and international travel related to management; pays for travel to project sites for management non-technical work; transportation within Kigali, participation in meetings, incl. international; senior project staff is encouraged to participate in international technical conferences related to climate change adaptation work relevant to the LDCF project Project vehicles (2; one in Nyabihu one Kigali); office furniture and equipment will be purchased for the project team; maintenance costs are inclusive of the budget Phone bills, office sundries (incl. regional); office supplies and consumables will be covered from this budget line for both, a Nyabihu district office and a Kigali office most probably situated in REMA; The entire project team incl. the Project Manager, M&E and CB expert, Finance and Admin and Procurement officer will be hosted in such an office. PIMS 4109 Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support Rwanda Page 42

43 5. Management Arrangements 140. The project will be implemented by the UNEP and UNDP under National Execution (NEX) Modality and Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) procedures. The project is a four years intervention expected to run from 01 January 2010 to December The Executing Agency in Rwanda is REMA. The project will be executed in close collaboration with MINIRENA and the Nyabihu District Council, responsible for the local level interventions of the project. More detailed indications of the implementation arrangements for the project are included in Section The Project Board, composed of the Senior Beneficiary (MINECOFIN), REMA and UNDP/UNEP is responsible for making management decisions for a project in particular when guidance is required by the Project Manager. The project manager will serve as Secretary to the Project Board. The Project Board plays a critical role in project monitoring and evaluations by quality assuring these processes and products, and using evaluations for performance improvement, accountability and learning. It ensures that required resources are committed and arbitrates on any conflicts within the project or negotiates a solution to any problems with external bodies. In addition, it approves the appointment and responsibilities of the National Project Coordinator and any delegation of its Project Assurance responsibilities. The Project Board will consider and approve the Annual Work Plans and also approve any essential deviations from the original plans, if deemed necessary In order to ensure UNEP s and UNDP s (under Rwanda One UN program) ultimate accountability for the project results, Project Board decisions will be made in accordance to standards that shall ensure management for development results, best value money, fairness, integrity, transparency and effective international competition. In case consensus cannot be reached within the Board, the final decision shall rest with the UNEP/UNDP Task Manager(s) The Project Assurance role supports the Project Board Executive by carrying out objective and independent project oversight and monitoring functions, and will be held by a UNEP/UNDP staff member. Project Organisation Structure Project Board Senior Beneficiary: MINECOFIN Executive: REMA Senior Supplier: UNEP/UNDP Project Assurance UNEP/UNDP Project Manager (PM) at REMA Project Technical Committee EWS Task Team Other Task Teams Project Support CTA M&E and CB Specialist Finance and Admin Officer Nyabihu District Technical Coordinating Committee 43

44 144. The project will be guided in its technical work by a multi-stakeholder Project Technical Committee (PTC), chaired by REMA (or a designate). The composition of the PTC will be inclusive of public and private sector representatives, representatives of research institutions, University, NGOs (i.e. through the NGO umbrella organisation RENGOF) and civil society, as well as interested and collaborating donors; where appropriate members of the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) will be part of the PTC. As the management of the project is overall overseen by the Project Board, the functions of the PTC will be mainly technical. However, the PTC may recommend management decisions to the Board A specific Task Team (TTT) on EWS (component 1) will be continued from the PPG phase. It will report to the PTC. Other task teams my be established as the need arises The Project Manager (PM) has the authority to run the project on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Implementing Partners within the constraints laid down by the Board. The Project Manager s prime responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost. He/she is supported by the Project Support staff, who provides project administration, management and technical support to the NPC required by the needs of the individual project or NPC. The Rwanda project foresees the hiring of several national and international consultants. Draft TORs for key project staff are included in Annex A Nyabihu District level Technical Coordination Committee will coordinate the district level planning, implementation and M&E of the sector/local level activities. The Committee is chaired Mayor of the District (or his delegate). Technical Ministry extension services, various departments of the District Council, NGOs and CBOs, representatives of the three pilot Sectors (Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura) will be part of the committee, and the NPC or a designated support staff. The committee reports to the PM. 6. Monitoring Framework and Evaluation 148. The project will be monitored through the following M& E activities. The M& E budget is provided in the table below. UNEP will be the lead on all M&E with input provided by UNDP so that there is one harmonized M&E report. Project start: 149. A Project Inception Workshop will be held within the first 2 months of project start with those with assigned roles in the project organization structure, relevant UNDP and UNEP oversight staff and where appropriate/feasible regional technical policy and programme advisors as well as other stakeholders. The Inception Workshop is crucial to building ownership for the project results and to plan the first year annual work plan The Inception Workshop should address a number of key issues including: a) Assist all partners to fully understand and take ownership of the project. Detail the roles, support services and complementary responsibilities of UNEP, UNDP CO and RCU staff vis à vis the project team. Discuss the roles, functions, and responsibilities within the project's decision-making structures, including reporting and communication lines, and conflict resolution mechanisms. The Terms of Reference for project staff will be discussed again as needed. b) Based on the project results framework and the relevant SOF (e.g. GEF) Tracking Tool if appropriate, finalize the first annual work plan. Review and agree on the indicators, targets and their means of verification, and recheck assumptions and risks. c) Provide a detailed overview of reporting, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) requirements. The Monitoring and Evaluation work plan and budget should be agreed and scheduled. d) Discuss financial reporting procedures and obligations, and arrangements for annual audit. e) Plan and schedule Project Board meetings. Roles and responsibilities of all project organisation structures should be clarified and meetings planned. The first Project Board meeting should be held within the first 12 months following the inception workshop. 44

45 151. An Inception Workshop report is a key reference document and must be prepared and shared with participants to formalize various agreements and plans decided during the meeting Quarterly: Progress made shall be monitored in the UNDP Enhanced Results Based Managment Platform as well as UNEP systems for respective components supported by each agency. Based on the initial risk analysis submitted, the risk log shall be regularly updated in ATLAS for UNDP and similar systems for UNE. Risks become critical when the impact and probability are high. Note that for UNDP GEF projects, all financial risks associated with financial instruments such as revolving funds, microfinance schemes, or capitalization of ESCOs are automatically classified as critical on the basis of their innovative nature (high impact and uncertainty due to no previous experience justifies classification as critical). Based on the information recorded in Atlas, a Project Progress Reports (PPR) can be generated in the Executive Snapshot. Other ATLAS logs can be used to monitor issues, lessons learned etc... The use of these functions is a key indicator in the UNDP Executive Balanced Scorecard Annually: Annual Project Review/Project Implementation Reports (APR/PIR): This key report is prepared to monitor progress made since project start and in particular for the previous reporting period (30 June to 1 July). The APR/PIR combines both UNEP, UNDP and SOF (e.g. GEF) reporting requirements.. UNEP will lead on the PIR with input provided by UNDP The APR/PIR includes, but is not limited to, reporting on the following: Progress made toward project objective and project outcomes - each with indicators, baseline data and end-of-project targets (cumulative) Project outputs delivered per project outcome (annual). Lesson learned/good practice. AWP and other expenditure reports Risk and adaptive management ATLAS QPR Portfolio level indicators (i.e. GEF focal area tracking tools) are used by most focal areas on an annual basis as well. Periodic Monitoring through site visits: 155. Relevant staff from UNEP and UNDP will conduct visits to project sites based on the agreed schedule in the project's Inception Report/Annual Work Plan to assess first hand project progress. Other members of the Project Board may also join these visits. A Field Visit Report/BTOR will be prepared by the UNEP, with input from UNDP CO and RCU and will be circulated no less than one month after the visit to the project team and Project Board members. Mid-term of project cycle: 156. The project will undergo an independent Mid-Term Evaluation at the mid-point of project implementation (insert date). The Mid-Term Evaluation will determine progress being made toward the achievement of outcomes and will identify course correction if needed. It will focus on the effectiveness, efficiency and timeliness of project implementation; will highlight issues requiring decisions and actions; and will present initial lessons 45

46 learned about project design, implementation and management. Findings of this review will be incorporated as recommendations for enhanced implementation during the final half of the project s term. The organization, terms of reference and timing of the mid-term evaluation will be decided after consultation between the parties to the project document. The Terms of Reference for this Mid-term evaluation will be prepared by UNEP, with input from the UNDP CO based on guidance from the Regional Coordinating Unit and UNDP-EEG. The management response and the evaluation will be uploaded to UNEP and UNDP corporate systems, in particular the UNDP Evaluation Office Evaluation Resource Center (ERC) The relevant SOF (GEF) Focal Area Tracking Tools will also be completed during the mid-term evaluation cycle. End of Project: 158. An independent Final Evaluation will take place three months prior to the final Project Board meeting and will be undertaken in accordance with UNEP, UNDP and SOF (e.g. GEF) guidance. The final evaluation will focus on the delivery of the project s results as initially planned (and as corrected after the mid-term evaluation, if any such correction took place). The final evaluation will look at impact and sustainability of results, including the contribution to capacity development and the achievement of global environmental benefits/goals. The Terms of Reference for this evaluation will be prepared by UNEP with input from the UNDP CO based on guidance from the Regional Coordinating Unit and UNDP-EEG The Terminal Evaluation should also provide recommendations for follow-up activities and requires a management response which should be uploaded to PIMS and to the UNDP Evaluation Office Evaluation Resource Center (ERC) The relevant SOF (e.g GEF) Focal Area Tracking Tools will also be completed during the final evaluation During the last three months, the project team will prepare the Project Terminal Report. This comprehensive report will summarize the results achieved (objectives, outcomes, outputs), lessons learned, problems met and areas where results may not have been achieved. It will also lay out recommendations for any further steps that may need to be taken to ensure sustainability and replicability of the project s results. Learning and knowledge sharing: 162. Results from the project will be disseminated within and beyond the project intervention zone through existing information sharing networks and forums The project will identify and participate, as relevant and appropriate, in scientific, policy-based and/or any other networks, which may be of benefit to project implementation though lessons learned. The project will identify, analyze, and share lessons learned that might be beneficial in the design and implementation of similar future projects Finally, there will be a two-way flow of information between this project and other projects of a similar focus. M& E workplan and budget Type of M&E activity Inception and Report Workshop Measurement of Means of Verification of project results. Responsible Parties Project Manager UNEP, UNDP, UNDP CO UNEP and UNDP RTA/Project Manager will oversee the hiring of specific studies and institutions, and Budget US$ Excluding project team staff time Indicative cost: 10,000 To be finalized in Inception Phase and Workshop. Time frame Within first two months of project start up Start, mid and end of project (during evaluation cycle) and 46

47 Type of M&E activity Measurement of Means of Verification for Project Progress on output and implementation Responsible Parties delegate responsibilities to relevant team members. Oversight by Project Manager Project team Budget US$ Excluding project team staff time To be determined as part of the Annual Work Plan's preparation. Time frame annually when required. ARR/PIR Project manager and team None Annually UNEP UNDP (UNDP CO, RTA, EEG) Periodic status/ progress reports Project manager and team None Quarterly Mid-term Evaluation Project manager and team UNEP UNDP (UNDP CO, UNDP RCU) External Consultants (i.e. evaluation team) Final Evaluation Project manager and team, UNEP UNDP (UNDP CO, UNDP RCU) External Consultants (i.e. evaluation team) Project Terminal Report Project manager and team UNEP UNDP Local consultant Audit UNEP UNDP (UNDPO CO) Project manager and team Visits to field sites UNEP UNDP (UNDP CO, UNDP RCU (as appropriate)) Government representatives TOTAL indicative COST Excluding project team staff time and UNEP/UNDP staff and travel expenses Indicative cost: 25,000 Indicative cost : 25,000 0 Indicative cost per year: 3,000 For GEF supported projects, paid from IA fees and operational budget US$ 63,000 Annually prior to ARR/PIR and to the definition of annual work plans At the mid-point of project implementation. At least three months before the end of project implementation At least three months before the end of the project Yearly Yearly 47

48 7. Legal Context 165. This Project Document shall be the instrument referred to as such in Article I of the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement between the Government of Rwanda and the United Nations Development Programme, signed by the parties on February 2 nd, The host country implementing agency shall, for the purpose of the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement, refer to the government co-operating agency described in that Agreement UNDP /RWANDA is playing a key role on overall donor government coordination through its Aid Harmonization Coordination Unit and its lead role in the Development Partners Coordination Group (DPCG). At the national scale, UNDP draws its interventions from the UNDAF (UN Development Assistance Framework) and the UNDP Common Cooperation Framework (CCF). Both documents support and feed into the EDPRS, which is the guiding development strategy at country level. The CCF specifically includes environment as a cross-cutting issue: 167. The UNDP Country Director in Kigali is authorized to effect in writing the following types of revision to this Project Document, and is assured that the other signatories to the Project Document have no objection to the proposed changes: a) Revision of, or addition to, any of the annexes to the Project Document; b) Revisions which do not involve significant changes in the immediate objectives, outputs or activities of the project, but are caused by the rearrangement of the inputs already agreed to or by cost increases due to inflation; c) Mandatory annual revisions which re-phase the delivery of agreed project inputs or increased expert or other costs due to inflation or take into account agency expenditure flexibility; and d) Inclusion of additional annexes and attachments only as set out here in this Project Document 168. The implementing partner shall a) put in place an appropriate security plan and maintain the security plan, taking into account the security situation in the country where the project is being carried; b) assume all risks and liabilities related to the implementing partner s security, and the full implementation of the security plan UNDP reserves the right to verify whether such a plan is in place, and to suggest modifications to the plan when necessary. Failure to maintain and implement an appropriate security plan as required hereunder shall be deemed a breach of this agreement The implementing partner agrees to undertake all reasonable efforts to ensure that none of the UNDP funds received pursuant to the Project Document are used to provide support to individuals or entities associated with terrorism and that the recipients of any amounts provided by UNDP hereunder do not appear on the list maintained by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999). The list can be accessed via This provision must be included in all sub-contracts or sub-agreements entered into under this Project Document. 48

49 SIGNATURE PAGE Country: UNDAF Outcome (s)/indicator (s): Link to UNDAF Outcome. If no UNDAF leave blank. CPAP Outcome (s)/indicator (s): CPAP Output (s)/indicator (s): Executing Entity/Implementing Partner Implementing entity/responsible Partner Programme Period: Atlas Award ID: Project ID: PIMS # Start date: End Date Management Arrangements PAC Meeting Date Total resources required Total allocated resources: Regular Other: o GEF o Government o In-kind o Other In-kind contributions Agreed by (Government): NAME SIGNATURE Date/Month/Year Agreed by (Executing Entity/Implementing Partner): NAME SIGNATURE Date/Month/Year Agreed by (UNDP): NAME SIGNATURE Date/Month/Year 49

50 8. Annexes Annex 1: Risk Analysis Project Title: Award ID: Date: # Description Date Identified Type Impact & Probability (1-5) Countermeasures / Mngt response Owner Submitted, updated by Last Update Status 1 Insufficient qualified human resources September 2009 Organizational P = 4 I = 5 Strong capacity support approach incorporated in project design. Specific training opportunities e.g. for technical staff concerned with the establishment of the EWS, trainings fro district staff on various CC risk and adaptation issues; dedicated capacity building programme at community level. PPG report undertook initial training needs assessment. 2 Adaptation technologies costs and maintenance September 2009 Financial P = 2 I = 4 The project will assess the costeffectiveness of the piloted interventions. Interventions will be designed with appropriate costrecovery financing plan. 3 Appropriation of adaptive technologies by communities September 2009 Organizational P = 3 I = 4 Locally derived adaptation measures and those successfully piloted in other areas of Rwanda are preferred. Participative planning, awareness raising and training will promote appropriation of new technologies. Demonstrations will be set up to see and believe. 4 Cultural and social resistance September 2009 Organizational P = 3 I = 4 The project was prepared in a participatory manner and implementation will involve a wide variety of stakeholder. Stakeholders will be involved in decision-making on what to pilot, and the support needed. Especially the introduction of land rehabilitation measures that might 50

51 reduce the current usage pressure and may even require resettlement is controversial and the District is currently struggling to implement such recommendations. The project design aims to identify less drastic alternatives where possible, or/and implement support actions for resettled farmers and community members where possible. 5 Delays in funding disbursement and administrative slowness 6 Occurance of Natural Disasters: storms, flooding, earthquakes 7 Low Institutional/ Execution Capacity 8 Implementation arrangements dependent on institutional capacities 9 Increasing population pressure and associate worsening land degradation September 2009 September 2009 September 2009 September 2009 September 2009 Financial P = 2 I = 5 Environmental P = 3 I = 5 Organizational P = 4 I = 4 Organizational P = 4 I = 4 Environmental P = 4 I = 5 Due to the financial management systems in place for both implementing agencies the effect of delays will be minimized. The project as per design provides pertinent assistance during natural disasters (e.g. floods, droughts). A capacity support approach has been developed, which aims to build the capacities of the Government and public service to deal with climate change risk and adaptation. A project implementation design with two strong support institutions (UNEP and UNDP) and strong staffing has been developed. Capacity building support for district and national institutions is strongly included. It is important to ensure that the increasing population pressure will be curbed. The LDCF project aims to develop appropriate planning and ecosystem rehabilitation action, but the Government must realise that this area is highly overpopulated. 51

52 Types of Risks Environmental Financial Organizational Political Operational Regulatory Strategic Other Natural Disasters: Institutional Corruption New unexpected Partnerships failing to Other risks that do storms, flooding, earthquakes Arrangements regulations, policies deliver not fit in an of the other categories EXTERNAL economic factors: interest rates, exchange rate fluctuation, inflation Pollution incidents INTERNAL: Social and Cultural Co-financing difficulties Security/Safety Economic Use of financing mechanisms Institutional/ Execution Capacity Implementation arrangements Government Commitment Political Will Country Office Political Capacity (specific Instability elements limiting CO capacity) Governance Change in Government Funding (Financial Resources) Reserve Adequacy Culture, Code of Conduct and Ethics Currency Accountability and Compensation Receivables Accounting/Financi al Reporting Budget Allocation and Management Cash Management/Reco nciliation Pricing/Cost Recovery Succession Planning and Talent Management Human resources Processes and Procedures Complex Design (size: larger/multicountry project; technical complexity; innovativeness, multiple funding sources) Project Management Human Error/Incompetenc e Infrastructure Failure Safety being compromised Armed Conflict Poor monitoring and Instability and evaluation Adverse Public Delivery opinion/media intervention Programme Management Process Efficiency Internal Controls Internal and External Fraud Compliance and Legal Procurement Technology Physical Assets Critical policies or legislation fails to pass or progress in the legislative process Strategic Vision, Planning and Communication Leadership and Management Programme Alignment Competition Stakeholder Relations Reputation UN Coordination UN Reform Might refer to socioeconomic factors such as: population pressures; encroachment illegal invasions; poaching/illegal hunting or fishing Poor response to gender equity efforts 52

53 Annex 2: Agreements Any additional agreements, such as cost sharing agreements, project cooperation agreements signed with NGOs 32 (where the NGO is designated as the executing entity, letters of financial commitments, GEF OFP letter, GEF PIFs and other templates for all project types) should be attached. 32 For GEF projects, the agreement with any NGO pre-selected to be the main contractor should include the rationale for having pre-selected that NGO. 53

54 Annex 3: References ACCESA, (accessed 13 October 2009) Barongo, A., Kayiranga, D., Mpambara, A., Mukashema, A., Munyarugerero, T., Ntawumenya, D., Twagirayezu, E., Rwagashayija, T., Serushago, B., Rwayitare, E., Land suitability assessment for Gishwati area. GEF/SLM project document, Building capacity for sustainable land management in Rwanda. GEF/UNDP MSP, MINIRENA Kigali, Rwanda Government of Rwanda, Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy MINECOFIN, Kigali, Rwanda Government of Rwanda, Rwanda Vision MINECOFIN, Kigali, Rwanda McSweeney, C., New, M. and Lizcano, G., UNDP Climate Change Country Profiles Tanzania, The Tanzania profile covers the grid cells for Rwanda and Burundi. MINIRENA, Initial Communication under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Government of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda Mpyisi, E., M. Weber, E. Shingiro and S. Loveridge (2003), Changes in Allocation of Land Holdings, Production and Farm Size in the Rwandan Smallholder Sector Over the Period 1984/1990 to 2002, Agricultural Policy Synthesis Number 6E, Ministry of Agriculture and Michigan state University Food Security Research Project. NAPA, National Adaptation Programme of Action, Government of Rwanda. Accessible at (Correct Reference would be under Government of Rwanda, 2006; as NAPA was used throughout the document the reference is here retained as such). Nile Transboundary Environmental Action Project (NTEAP), via (accessed 14 October 2009) Pound, B., S. Snapp, C. McDougall, and A. Braun (eds.) Managing Natural Resources for Sustainable Livelihoods: Uniting Science and Participation. Ottawa: Earthscan/IDRC. 260pp. ISBN REMA, undated. Economic Analysis of Natural Resources Management in Rwanda; (accessed 13 October 2009) UNDP/DEMP II project document, Decentralisation and environment management project. Kigali, Rwanda UNEP/UNDP CC Dare Project, (accessed 14 October 2009) WRI Earth Trends Country Profiles, Rwanda for Agriculture; (accessed 13 October 2009) 54

55 PPG phase reports PPG 1 report, Baseline activities in Gishwati. Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), Kigali, Rwanda PPG 2 report, Capacity Needs Assessment. Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), Kigali, Rwanda PPG 3 report, Concept on Early Warning System. Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), Kigali, Rwanda PPG 4 report, Local Adaptation Techniques. Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), Kigali, Rwanda PPG 5 report, Review of potential adaptation measures from elsewhere in Rwanda and the sub-region. Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), Kigali, Rwanda 55

56 Annex 4: Key assessment reports a. Early Warning Concept (EWS) Concept Note b. Capacity needs assessment c. Existing coping mechanisms and adaptation measures (I & II) d. Stakeholder consultations a. Early Warning Systems (EWS) concept note Based on meetings and individual consultations during the PPG phase (PPG 3 report), the following concept points for the EWS component of the project were developed. The issue: The newly posed climate change risks in Rwanda can lead to devastating situations extreme floods in the western hilly areas of Rwanda have caused the death of people, devastated homes and other infrastructure, as well as destroyed the seasonal harvests leading to food insecurity in the area. If Rwanda had a functional Early Warning System (EWS) in place, such serious impacts could be prevented. However, currently the capacity for setting up such a EWS is limited. The scientific capacity to set up the best possible integrated system, which would serve various needs, e.g. including also the provision of agro-meteorological information for farmers, is low. Financial resources to set up a meaningful and robust data observatory system (e.g. rain gauges, climatic and hydrological stations and weirs) are limited. Data collection and transmission systems are absent, as well as the capacity at the national level to process and interpret the data is currently not sufficient. A major failure is that the feedback loop of information to the end user is sub-optimal, with the needed information not reaching the end user or not being unequivocally interpretable. What will be done: A EWS will be designed that addresses the key needs of the local population in Nyabihu district. First and foremost the EWS will serve the flood early warning, to avoid future catastrophic events such as during flooding in 2007, which led to the loss of dozens of people. The EWS will be developed in an integrated manner, meaning that the set-up will serve various EW purposes. In EWS it is usually critical to set up the basic data collection and scientific foundations, and to develop functional communication lines all relevant to EWS of different kinds. So even if the EWS for Nyabihu serves primarily the announcement of floods, the system may also provide general agrometeorological information that is useful to farmers (e.g. on seasonal rainfall, drought prediction, flood predictions) but also for other people (e.g. on with the climate associated health risks). A multi-disciplinary EWS Technical Task Team will be operationalised to coordinate and harmonize needs and inputs from a diversity of relevant institutions and experts, pertaining to the design and implementation of the system. The Task Team will be convened by the Meteorological Services of Rwanda. Data observatories will be set up in the selected pilot district in Nyabihu, with a focus on the Bigogwe, Karago and Rambura Sectors in the Gishwati ecosystem. Local level data collection mechanism will be established with community members and relevant extension personnel situated in the district. Data transfers to the Meteorological Services based in Kigali will be set up. The Meteorological Services, together with relevant members of the EWS Technical Task Team, are responsible for the processing of the data and they identify the key information/messages that will be released to the end user levels. Training of technical staff in the processing of the data will take place, and relevant infrastructure and hard and software investments will be made. As it is so important to focus on the information dissemination and communication aspects of the EWS, a special emphasis is placed on developing relevant communication activities. Examples from countries 56

57 such as Mozambique, provide strong lessons learned on how EWS make use of community radio to efficiently disseminate urgent EW information to the majority of the population. The for Rwanda most appropriate communication ways will be identified through a dedicated information and communication needs assessment during the early project phase. Lessons learned from the project will feed into the development of a national EWS design, which will be implemented in the longer-term. The strategic option for improving use of weather and climate data to reduce climate vulnerability shall be synthesized as follow: REGIONAL LEVEL NATIONAL LEVEL LOCAL LEVEL Develop service provider portfolio and capacity for region Improve models and predictions e.g. through improved national observatories Expand international linkages esp. with the Climate Change community of practitioners Establish and maintain improved and integrated environmental observatories (incl. for climate). Integrate tracking data from local level into EWS, thus expand observatory tiers Develop an end user focus. Establish multi-directional communication channels; Develop relevant expertise Increase human resource and financing capacities e.g. through meeting user needs; Include strong Climate Change Adaptation focus Integration of existing and scientifically validated traditional /local EWS information Empowered resource managers track resources incl. rainfall and Climate Change Adaptation Practices Information can be fed into national system observatories 57

58 b. Capacity needs assessment Consultations were conducted with community members and organisations and individuals at the district level in Nyabihu. Based on various meeting events and individual interviews a capacity needs assessment report (PPG 2 report) was prepared. Key points are summarised in the following. Local level Common constraints to the success of conservation efforts: a) Lack of needs assessments: Farmers needs are often not taken sufficiently into account; emphasis is simply on conserving the environment b) Lack of community ownership and participatory decision making. Solutions are imposed on farmers instead of giving them the opportunity to guide investments. c) Poor technical expertise in designing terraces. The poor application of scientific procedures result in poor terrace engineering, poor choice of crop and tree species to grow on terraces, as well as poor crop and tree management. d) Promoting soil conservation for its own sake rather than tying it to income generating enterprises. Farmers will invest land and labour in soil conservation and maintain the terraces only if they see concrete benefits in doing so. The benefits that they value are likely to be in products they can use for their families or sell at the market in the short term rather than the difficult to observe, long-term benefits of soil conservation. e) Lack of a collective action approach, that is, too much focus on individual farm plots rather than a landscape initiative. Community and landscape approaches are needed as conserving soil on individual farms when neighbours do not practice conservation is likely to be futile Capacity needs at institutional level: The Nyabihu District Council Strengths: The institution knows well its mission and mandates; organizational structure in place allows the smooth running of the institution; district has developed a district development plan (DDP) which is a guiding tool for programmes implementation as well as a tool for monitoring and evaluation; the district signs annually a performance contract with the President of the Republic and the performance evaluation is also done each year; financial resources are managed effectively and allocated appropriately to enable effective operation; a service of internal audit is in place to manage effectively the fund available; a service of information communication and technology is in place and the district is well connected to the internet, this allowing the smooth running of the institution; infrastructure such as buildings and offices are sufficient and other available equipment like computers are sufficient enough to allow the overall management effectiveness. Weaknesses: Personnel is not sufficiently skilled to be able to carry out their duties efficiently. With regards to climate change adaptation, all staff in charge of environment, land and forestry are not sufficiently aware of the matter. The district has a two year capacity building plan but it needs to be reviewed to encompasse all aspect of sustainable development including climate change adaptation. The sector offices are not equiped at all and they lack electricity; this render communication and management quite difficult at this level of local administration. All other institutions involved in district development are not well aware and informed about climate change adaptation which is a new concept for many, being at more addressed at a national level than at local level, including in or with communities. 58

59 Capacity needs at individual level: Stakeholders Existing 1. Government ministries and public agencies MINAGRI/ Staff have animal husbandry skills and RARDA adequate qualifications in animal health skills. Areas of specialization include rangeland management and artificial insemination, land degradation, soil fertility, tilling practices and irrigation management. MINAGRI-RADA MININFRA- METEOROLOGY MININFRA-WATER AND SANITATION MINIRENA/NAFA Staff have skills and qualifications in agriculture, crop science and farming systems. Areas of specialization include land management, land degradation, soil fertility, tilling practices and irrigation management. Staff have knowledge and skills in climatology and meteorology. Staff have knowledge and skills In water supply and Community Based Management. Also sustainable use of water and Integrated Water management and training in EIAs. Staff have knowledge and skills forestry management MINITERE-REMA Staff have skills in Environmental management for agricultural production, environment and ecosystem conservation and protection, environment policy, laws and regulations, EIAs Staff are aware of UNCCD and CBD. Knowledge includes mgt & cons of forestry, wildlife. Have knowledge in all Conventions. MINITERE-NLC 2. Local Authorities District Sectors Staff have knowledge and skills in land use planning, land management and land administration, land policy, laws and regulations Has sufficient staff in all Units Has Development Committee which deals with environmental issues. Has Development Committee which deals with environmental issues Capacities Needed Information from different sectors and training Qualified researchers and more sociologists and agroeconomists to be able to deal with communities Participatory Rural Appraisal and Poverty Assessment skills Trainings in rural development and engineering Extension officers with forestry background Strengthened knowledge and skills on issues related to meteorology and early warning system Understanding of international conventions Participatory Rural Appraisal and Poverty Assessment skills Need more trainings to enhance knowledge in meteorology and Early Warning System Skills and extension training in EIAs and water supply. Enhanced knowledge in meteorology and Early warning system Participatory Rural Appraisal and Poverty Assessment skills Trainings to acquire skills in natural resources and forestry management. Enhance knowledge in ecosystem rehabilitation Understand links between environment and energy, between farming systems and biodiversity, desertification and climate change Training to empower farmers to be more self-reliant. Community mobilization and education skills e.g. skills to convince people not to cut trees Participatory Rural Appraisal and Poverty Assessment skills Trainings in CCA and Ecosystem Rehabilitation Management skills. Managerial skills; Knowledge in land information system and land database management systems Training for staff in environment and rural development Background for land use zoning and planning for new settlements Knowledgeable, experienced and skilled people on committees Need staff with more hands-on skills in environmental management Training for staff in environment and rural development Background for land use zoning and planning for new settlements. Knowledgeable, experienced and skilled people on committees Need staff with more hands-on skills in environmental 59

60 3. Farmers Commercial farmers attitudes Individual farmers Some have knowledge on market issues. Some have traditional ways of perception of weather prevention and early warning system. Some have received training on issues of land degradation. 4. Non governmental organizations All Experienced members with varied backgrounds, provide training to others 5. Private sector organizations management Training from Extension officers in water and soil protection and conservation Trainings in farming systems and land husbandry Information and awareness in CCA Information and knowledge on environmental issues All Qualified staff which good background Enhance knowledge in environmental issues and CCA more specifically 6. Community Based Organisations All Trained in environment protection practices and farming systems Information and training in this field; members lack confidence to deal with these issues due to lack of information. Training in CCA Capacity needs at systemic level: A few points from the consultations with different organisations emerge on the systemic level: Although the policy, legal and regulatory framework in place, there is a lack of enforcement and weakness in coordination of implementation. The management accountability framework does exist; institutional responsibilities are clearly defined and institutions are publicly held accountable to the Ministry of Local Administration (MINALOC) and the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). The economic framework is effective and efficient with markets being organized mainly through different agricultural CBOs. While human resource at district level may be sufficient (although inexperienced), there are huge gaps at sector level, with many positions remaining unfilled. While there are enough organizations and NGOs working with the district, the private sector is not effectively seen on the ground and there is lack of coordination among different stakeholders. The relationship with various institutions being public or private, including NGOs is quite well developed, but weaknesses are observed at an activity coordination level. 60

61 c. Existing coping mechanisms and adaptation measures (I & II) Two PPG reports were prepared (i) focusing on documenting locally observed autogenous adaptation measures (PPG report 4), and (ii) reviewing potential adaptation measures implemented elsewhere in Rwanda and the sub-region (PPG report 5). Overall quite a number of activities have been documented and will be considered especially when implementing outcome 3 of the LDCF project. The following key measures have been documented in Gishwati: Picture 1: Farmers making ridges in Bigogwe sector (July, 2009) Picture 2: Ridges in Bigogwe sector (July, 2009) Picture 3: Progressive terrassing with use of shrubs on contours on hillsides (Bigogwe, July, 2009) Picture 4: Growing trees in assocoation with Kikuyu grasses for soil stabilisation (Nyabihu, July, 2009) Picture 5: Peas in association with Kikuyu grasses (Nyabihu District,2009) 61

62 Picture 6: Toilet built in such a way to avoid any flood Picture 7: A wall made with volcanic stones to protect damages (Nyabihu, July, 2009 ) houses and road against floods (Nyabihu, July, 2009) Picture 8: Re-enforcing water channela in Nyabihu District (July, 2009) 62

63 Stakeholder consultations List of stakeholders consulted during the PPG phase of the project (inception workshop and field visit) Name Institution People consulted during LDCF PPG phase inception, 11 & 12 June 2009, Laico Hotel, Kigali TWIZERIMANA Alexis RADA BANAMWANA Marchall GATL/GACP RURANGWA Eugène National Consultant MUGIRANEZA Ngirumpatse Viator ELECTROGAZ NGENDAHAYO Richard UNEP BAZIMAZIKI Frederic NAFA HABIMANA Nausicaa UNDP BAKORA David K. NLC GAPUSI R. Jean ISAR KARAKE Peter DMC TWIZEYE Alice MINICOM GAKUMBA John NBDF/RWANDA BAGABO George RWASEF NKUSI Jonhson RENGOF SVETLANA Tom-Laeva MOH NTAHOMPAGAZE Jean Baptiste VI-LIFE GRANDJEAN Martin FAO RUNYAMBO Irakiza ACNR NDAYISABA Alexis JICA BUSOKEYE M. Laetitia REMA SEMAFARA J.N MININFRA BAZATOHA Adolphe Parliament RURANGWA Raphael RADA/SLM USENGUMUREMYI Maximilieu MINECOFIN BROOKE Roy UNEP RUHIRA Jean Pierre WHO KANYAMIBWA Patrick ARECO RWANDANZIZA NDIRIKIYE Benoit CCOAIB SEBASHONGORE Dieudonné KIST HABINEZA Frank RWASEF GEORGE RWASEF RUZIGANA Silas MININFRA TOSHIKAZU Mito UNDP MUSEMAKWERI John UNDP MWUMVANEZA Valens World Bank GATESI Julienne UNDP SHALABY Hany AFDB BRAGANTE Daya UNECA BAHORANA Augustine RDO 63

64 ZEIDLER Juliane International Consultant People consulted during Nyabihu District Council meeting, 06 July 2009 NDAGIJIMANA Jean Damascene Mayor District Nyabihu KOBUKEYE Frank Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic Affairs MUKAMUNANA Eugenie Vice mayor in Charge of Social Affairs RUTAGANIRA K. Wilson Director of Planning MUSABYIMANA Onesphore Director of Human Resource MUKESHIMANA Isaac Director of Finance TOSHIKAZU Mito UNDP ZEIDLER Juliane International Consultant RURANGWA Eugène National Consultant NKUSI Jonhson RENGOF People consulted during the Pre-Inception Workshop on 28 th July 2009 NDAGIJIMANA Jean Damascene Mayor District Nyabihu KOBUKEYE Frank Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic Affairs MUKAMUNANA Eugenie Vice mayor in Charge of Social Affairs RUTAGANIRA K. Wilson Director of Planning MUSABYIMANA Onesphore Director of Human Resource MUKESHIMANA Isaac Director of Finance NDIKUBWIMANA Pascal In Charge of ICT RUDASESWA Eugene Director of Good Governance NDAYAMBAJE William District Land Officer DUSENGE Pierre Director of Health NTIZONKERA David Director of Education People consulted during the Field Visit on 29 th July 2009 RURANGWA Felicien Executive Secretary of Bigogwe Sector HAKIZIMANA Innocent Agriculture Officer/ Bigogwe Sector MINANI Assistant Inspector of Police/ Post Kora Army Commander Bigogwe Camp MBONEZA Zephanie Farmer/Kijote Cell NGABOYIMANZI Ezira Farmer/Muhe Cell KABIRIRA Pierre Farmer/Arusha Cell KABAHIZI Bosco Farmer/Rega Cell People consulted during the PPG Inception Workshop on 30 th July 2009 KOBUKEYE Frank Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic Affairs MUKAMUNANA Eugenie Vice mayor in Charge of Social Affairs RUTAGANIRA K. Wilson Director of Planning MUSABYIMANA Onesphore Director of Human Resource MUKESHIMANA Isaac Director of Finance NDIKUBWIMANA Pascal In Charge of ICT RUDASESWA Eugene Director of Good Governance NDAYAMBAJE William District Land Officer 64

65 DUSENGE Pierre NTIZONKERA David NYIRIMANZI Jean Pierre NYIRANDUHUKE Angele RURANGWA Felicien GASHUGI Theoneste MUNYAMBARAZI Selemani MUHIRWA Robert UWIHANGANYE Emmanuel GAHUTU TEBUKA Jean Paul KAREHE Bienfait KANAMUGIRE Noel TWAGIRAYEZU Alphonse NKUBITO Fulgence NIYIBIZI Louis Director of Health Director of Education Officer/ Planning and Economic Development/Agriculture Officer/Planning and Economic Planning/Planification Executive Secretary/ Bigogwe Sector Executive Secretary/Jenda Sector Executive Secretary/Jomba Sector Executive Secretary/ Rurembo Sector Executive Secretary/ Shyira Sector Executive Secretary/ Karago Sector Executive Secretary/ Kabatwa Sector Executive Secretary/ Mukamira Sector Executive Secretary/ Muringa Sector Executive Secretary/ Rambura Sector Executive Secretary/ Rugera Sector People consulted during the PPG Inception Workshop on 31 th July 2009 RURANGWA Felicien Executive Secretary/ Bigogwe Sector NKUBITO Fulgence Executive Secretary/ Rambura Sector GAHUTU TEBUKA Jean Paul Executive Secretary/ Karago Sector KANAMUGIRE Noel Executive Secretary/ Mukamira Sector GASHUGI Theoneste Executive Secretary/Jenda Sector HAKIZIMANA Innocent Agriculture Officer/ Bigogwe Sector BIZIMANA Francois Farmer Musha cell TEGERI Gad Farmer Arusha Cell MBONEZA Zephanie Farmer/Kijote Cell NGABOYIMANZI Ezira Farmer/Muhe Cell KABIRIRA Pierre Farmer/Arusha Cell KABAHIZI Bosco Farmer/Rega Cell KAGOFERO Donath Farmer Mushe Cell MUNYANTORE Janvier Farmer Mushe Cell NGORORANO Faustin Farmer Mushe Cell BISENGA Innocent FarmerArusha Cell KARAME Enock Farmer Arusha Cell NSENGIYUMVA Mpatswe Farmer Arusha Cell NYIRAKABONEYE Alivera Farmer Arusha Cell BUKURU Jean Pierre Farmer Kijote Cell GASHEGU Justin Farmer Kijote Cell GAPIRA Paul Farmer Kijote Cell MASENGESHO Esdras Farmer Rega Cell NYIRAMUTARUTWA Immaculee Farmer Rega Cell People consulted for EWSTT NTAGANDA SEMAFARA John MUSONI Didas UWIZEYIMANA Jean Baptiste Director/ National Meteorological Service Officer/National Meteorological Service Officer/Agro-Meteorological service/rada 65

66 KAYITARE Laurent RURANGWA Raphael BUSOKEYE Laetitia SAGASHYA Didier Giscard BAKORA David NGABONZIZA Prime RWIRIRIZA Athanase SNIAR (EWS project for Agricultural production/minagri) Coordinator SLM/RADA PA to the DG/ REMA DDG/NLC Land use planner/nlc Director land husbandry/rada Forestry Officer/NAFA 66

67 Annex 5: Terms of Reference a. Project Manager b. M&E and CB Specialist c. Finance and Admin Officer a. Project Manager Plan the activities of the project and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria; Mobilize goods and services to initiative activities, including drafting TORs and work specifications; Monitor events as determined in the Project Monitoring Schedule Plan, and update the plan as required; Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNEP and UNDP; Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports; Responsible for preparing and submitting financial reports to UNEP and UNDP on a quarterly basis; Manage and monitor the project risks initially identified, submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risks Log; Be responsible for managing issues and requests for change by maintaining an Issues Log; Prepare the Project Progress Report (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, expenditures) and submit the report to the Project Board and Project Assurance; Prepare the Annual Review Report, and submit the report to the Project Board and the Outcome Board; Annual Performance Report (APR)/Project Implementation Review (PIR) Prepare the AWP for the following year, as well as Quarterly Plans if required; Update the Atlas Project Management module if external access is made available. c. M&E and Capacity Building Expert (one full time position or two part time positions) Provide technical expertise and guidance to all project components, and support the PM in the coordination of the implementation of planned activities under the LDCF project as stipulated in the project document/work plan; Specifically responsible for the technical input into the development of a M&E framework and its implementation and follow-up with all relevant stakeholders at national, district and community level; Be responsible for capacity building work components under all project outcomes; Ensure that technical contracts meet the highest standards; provide input into development of Terms of Reference for sub-contracts, assist with selection process, recommend best candidates and approaches, provide technical peer function to sub-contractors; provide training and backstopping were necessary; Provide technical inputs into the work of the Steering Committee, the Technical Support Mechanism, the Nyabihu District and other relevant institutions implicated in the project management and implementation arrangements; Give input into the development of technical training packages for all target groups and provide peer review function; in certain cases carry out selected training events; Serve in a mentoring and back stopping function to project staff, as relevant; Undertake regular reporting in line with project management guidelines. d. Finance and Admin Manager Set up and maintain project files; Collect project related information data; Update plans; Administer Project Board, SC and other relevant meetings; Administer project revision control; Establish document control procedures; Compile, copy and distribute all project reports; Responsible for the financial management tasks under the responsibility of the Project Manager; 67

68 Provide support in the use of Atlas for monitoring and reporting; Review technical reports; Monitor technical activities carried out by responsible parties; 68

69 Annex 6: Capacity Assessment Capacity Assessment for Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) Project Title Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change by Establishing Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness Systems and Support for Integrated Watershed Management in Flood Prone Areas Name of the Institution Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) Date of assessment 07 September 2009 INDICATOR AREAS FOR ASSESSMENT APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS/TOOLS PART I REFERENCES AND PRELIMINARY CHECKS 1.1 History and Compliance with International Resolutions/Standards History The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) was created in REMA is under the policy supervision of the Ministry of Natural Resources United Nations Security Council 1267 Is the institution listed in any reference list? N/A Certification Is the institution already certified through international standards? N/A The Organic Law establishing REMA, Environment Policy (2004) and Law (2005), Annual Reports, The state of environment documents (June, 2009) (see the MINIRENA and REMA annual reports available upon request). Website: United Nations Security Council 1267 Committee s list of terrorists and terrorist financiers N/A ISO, Project Management standard, other standards PART II. ASSESSING NATIONAL INSTITUTION CAPACITY FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT 2.1 Managerial Capacity Ability to plan, monitor and coordinate activities Planning, Monitoring Does the institution produce clear, & Evaluation internally consistent proposals and intervention frameworks, including detailed work plans? Yes. REMA has its five years Strategic Plan aligned on Rwanda Vision 2020, MGDs and EDPRS ( ) and compiles annual work plans and MTEF. Does the institution hold regular programme or project review meetings? Yes. There are regular meetings at ministerial level as well as at REMA managerial level to review activities and strategic meetings once a month, quarterly, half yearly and annually. REMA N/A Well-designed project and programme documents Action Plans/Work plans Log frame or equivalent All REMA reports Project reports Evaluation reports Indicators available in project plans Lessons-Learned reports Project reports Evaluation reports Indicators available in project plans Lessons-Learned reports COMMENTS This is a government Agency and therefore this is not applicable. N/A as a Government Agency 69

70 2.1.2 Reporting and performance track record 2.2 Technical Capacity produces regular quarterly, half yearly and annually reports which are submitted to MINIRENA and Prime Minister s Office. Are there measurable outputs/deliverables in the defined project plans? REMA sets clearly defined indicators and targets in its annual plans and MTEF. Was the institution previously exposed to UNDP RBM approach/methodology or equivalent in other donor agencies? N/A Does the institution monitor progress against well defined indicator and targets, and evaluate its programme/project achievements? The Ministry of Natural Resources sets clearly defined indicators and targets every year. Does the institution report to its stakeholders on a regular basis? Yes, through its quarter half year and annual mandatory progress reports which are submitted to MINIRENA and Prime Minister s Office and made available to the wide public through the web Specialization Does the institution have the technical skills required? REMA has combined specialised staff members supported by consultants but still lacks specialised and skilled staff in the new Unit of CC and International Obligations. Does the institution have the knowledge needed? REMA is the authority mandated by the Government of Rwanda to oversee the management of environment, sustainable use and protection of the natural resources in Rwanda. It is supported by specialised international organizations like UNDP, UNEP and GEF as well as international experts in Environment and Natural Resources Management Projects reports Evaluation reports Reports to donors and other stakeholders REMA has been a recipient of donors funding since its inception in 2005 and has a track record of complying with specific donor reporting requirements. Reporting system Through REMA and MINIRENA websites Publications on activities, specific issues, analytical articles, various studies and policies available Reports from participation in international, regional, national or local meetings and conferences Tools and methodologies used (policies, laws, strategic actions...) Evaluations and assessments Media programmes Workshops, conferences and meetings reports Various Projects Documents N/A 70

71 2.2.2 Ability to monitor the technical aspects of the project. Does the institution keep informed about the latest techniques/ competencies/policies/trends in its area of expertise? Yes. REMA is responsible for policy implementation and law enforcement as well as awareness. In this regard, it keeps the public informed about all aspect related to environmental management and natural resources protection. Does the institution have the skills and competencies that complement those of UNDP? REMA has been collaborating well with the UNDP and UNEP on a number of projects funded by them and GEF as well Does the institution have access to relevant information/resources and experience? REMA has built its own environmental data system and has access to all other data available related to the environment and natural resources in the country and has built up a portfolio of its cadre of expertise in the sector. The Unit of ICT and the Unit of Research, Environmental Planning and Development have been created to take charge of this responsibility. Does the institution have useful contacts and networks? Yes, REMA has worked with a number of stakeholders including donors, Non-governmental organization, community-based support organizations, multilateral organizations, etc. it has a good track record of networking. Does the institution know how to get baseline data, develop indicators? Yes, Does it apply effective approaches to reach its targets (i.e participatory methods)? Yes, REMA is experienced in community consultations, especially through its Community Based natural resource Evaluations and Assessments Methodologies/training materials Use of toolkits, indicators and benchmarks/capacity-development tools Databases REMA organizational Chart and job profile 71

72 2.2.3 Human Resources management programme. Does the institution staff possess adequate expertise and experience? REMA has well experienced and qualified staff but in few number that hampering the smooth functioning of the Institution. REMA still lack sufficient qualified staff to fulfill its obligations. It mainly takes advantages of a pool of projects experts and consultants working on a number of donor funded projects. Does the institution use local capacities (financial/human/other resources)? Yes, REMA also makes use of local consultants for specialized services. What is the institution capacity to coordinate between its main office and decentralized entities/branches (if relevant)? There are professionals in charge of environment and environment committees at District level. Has staff been trained on project management methodology? Yes, several trainings are offered to staff members. Profile of staff, including expertise and professional experience Staff turnover Chart of assignments of roles and functions Reports on technical experience from national or international agencies for operations and capacitybuilding A framework for appropriate coordination still needs to be properly developed PART III. ASSESSING NATIONAL INSTITUTION CAPACITY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 3.1 Administrative capacity Ability to provide adequate logistical support and infrastructure Ability to manage and maintain infrastructure and equipment Does the institution possess logistical infrastructure and equipment? Yes. Can the institution manage and maintain equipment? Yes. Adequate logistical infrastructure: office facilities and space, basic equipment, utilities Office, regional and HQ. Computer capability and documentation Ability to procure goods services and works on a transparent and competitive basis. Does the institution have the ability to procure goods, services and works on a transparent and competitive basis? Yes. REMA has a procurement service that follows the procurement law. Does the institution have standard Standard contracts Procurement law. Minutes and Examples of how procurement is done Written procedures for identifying the appropriate vendor, obtaining the best 72

73 contracts or access to legal counsel to ensure that contracts meet performance standards, protect UNDP and the institution s interests and are enforceable? Yes, REMA receives its legal advice from the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General. Does the institution have the authority to enter into contracts? price, and issuing commitments Standard contracts Ability to recruit and manage the best-qualified personnel on a transparent and competitive basis. Yes, it is created through the Law establishing Public Agencies thus has legal mandates for particular contracts. Others are signed by MINIRENA or MINECOFIN Is the institution able to staff the project and enter into contract with personnel? Yes, it is created through the law establishing Public Agencies and thus has legal mandates. Does the institution use written job descriptions for consultants or experts? Yes. 3.2 Financial Capacity Ability to ensure appropriate management of funds Financial management and funding resources Is there a regular budget cycle? Yes, Starting July 01 and end June 31 since this fiscal year 2009 to abide with the EAC fiscal year rules. Does the institution produce programme and project budgets? Yes What is the maximum amount of money the institution has managed? N/A Does the institution ensure physical security of advances, cash and records? This exercise is done in collaboration of MINECOFIN through an appropriate software Does the institution disburse funds in a timely and effective manner? This exercise is done in collaboration of MINECOFIN through an appropriate software Standard contracts Job descriptions Models of TORs Operating budgets and financial reports List of core and non-core donors and years of funding Written procedures ensuring clear records for payable, receivables, stock and inventory Reporting system that tracks all commitments and expenditures against budgets by line The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) reports N/A 73

74 Accounting System Knowledge of UNDP financial system Does the institution have procedures on authority, responsibility, monitoring and accountability of handling funds? Yes Does the institution have a record of financial stability and reliability? N/A Does the institution keep good, accurate and informative accounts? Yes, REMA is regularly audited by the Office of Auditor General as any other Government Ministry, and scrutinized by the Parliamentary Committee on Public Account. Does the institution have the ability to ensure proper financial recording and reporting? Yes, see the above. REMA has a Unit in charge of Financial Administration. Does the institution have staff familiar with Atlas through External Access? Yes, see the explanation provided in the preceding section. A bank account or bank statements Audited financial statements Good, accurate and informative accounting system Written procedures for processing payments to control the risks through segregation of duties, and transaction recording and reporting Where necessary administration of project finance is outsourced through contract. External access provided N/A 74

75 Annex 7: Gishwati Land Suitability Study and Associated Project Approach Concepts (A) LAND SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT OF THE GISHWATI ECOSYSTEM (2008) A Summary BACKGROUND Gishwati natural forest has been exploited since 1980s. Over the years, people living in surrounding villages have often encroached upon and grazed their cattle. According to Plumtre et al, 2001, about 200 km 2 were converted into pasture and pine plantation. From 1986, eastern central Gishwati was already converted to pine and pasture. After 1988, the pasture land was extended to south west, about 50 km 2 of natural forest remained in south and 30km 2 already assigned to military zone in the northern part. During that time, PENAPE project for potatoes and GBK project for livestock were already installed in central eastern part, which was followed by ISAR in 2000 for livestock and crops production mostly dominated by Irish potatoes. After the 1994 genocide, the Government settled some part of the population, coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the highlands, especially in Arusha, where almost 3000 hectares were given for settlement. Currently, the natural forest remains on 7 km 2. As a consequence of the destruction of the Gishwati Forest for agriculture and settlement, there have been persistent problems of landslides and floods in the area, from as far back as In 2007 landslides and floods occurred in February and September leading to loss of human lives and leaving others homeless in Nyabihu and Rubavu Districts, in the Western Province. Like in Gishwati, soil degradation following the conversion of natural forest to agriculture without use of appropriate soil and water conservation has been well documented not only in Rwanda but in other tropical regions. This quick assessment undertaken on the Gishwati ecosystem is done in order to provide guidance on the best proposal for a suitable land use according to the nature of soil and slopes, taking into account livelihoods of people living in the Gishwati ecosystem. METHODOLOGY OF THE QUICK ASSESSMENT The assessment focused on the Northern part of Gishwati ecosystem which is the most affected by erosion and floods problem and was based on the analysis of the slope classes; soil type and soil cover maps. This assessment will be completed by a comprehensive hydrological and ecological study on the area. According to the Master Plan for Marshland and Watershed Management and Soil Conservation (Minagri/Hydroplan/SHER, 2002), rainfall, slope and soil characteristics are the common factors determining the risk of erosion. Taking into account the erosion factors, the assessment was based on the soil and topography of the area. A combination of the slope class and the soil type maps of the Northern Gishwati area was made to classify the area for different land uses, according to their erosion and degradation risks. An analysis of the current the land cover was also made to complete the analysis. According to soil conservation standards, the slopes are divided into classes as follow % : no risk of erosion % : low risk of erosion % : soils requiring the use of soil conservation techniques %: soil requiring heavy mechanical soil conservation techniques - > 55 %: soil not suitable for agriculture. RESULTS OF THE QUICK ASSESSMENT 75

76 1. Land use and slope class maps The analysis of the land cover map shows that most of the area is occupied by mixed crops, with a small part of the area occupied by degraded natural forest and pine forest, mainly on very steep zones in Muhe, Nyakiliba and Bigogwe. The analysis of the slope classes map shows that 1393 hectares over 6581 hectares are in the class of slope above 55%, which is not suitable for neither agricultural nor any human activity. The most part of the area is between 25 and 55 % of slope (3567 hectares) which can be used for agriculture with appropriate conservation techniques. The table below shows a combination of land cover and the slope classes maps. It shows that mixed crops and settlement are found even in areas not suitable for cultivation such as areas of slopes above 55%. Table 1: Land cover on different slopes Slope class Risk level of erosion Total area Land Cover 0-2 % No risk 230 hectares Mixed crops 2-6 % No to low risk 519 hectares Mixed crops 6-25 % Moderate 872 hectares Mixed crops, grass % Moderate to high risk 3567 hectares Mixed crops, grass > 55 % Very high risk 1393 hectares Mixed crops, Grass, pine, degraded natural forest Total area 6581 hectares 2. Soil type and slope class map areas Even if the land cover and slope are the major factors of erosion, the type of soil also has a great role in the erosion. It is in this regard we analyzed the soil type of the areas to identify areas with high risk of erosion in accordance to the type of the soil. As the deforestation of the area is quite recent, it is assumed that this ecosystem is composed with a fragile soil highly erodible, which rendered necessary to take the soil factor into consideration in the analysis. Mukashema, 2007, identified that degradation following deforestation was lower in soils containing allophonic minerals from volcanic eruption (Andepts: Andaquepts and Eutrandepts), than in soils derived from acidic material (Tropohumults). This is due to the fact that allophanes have a stabilizing influence on a large part of the organic matter (Parfitt et all, 1997, quoted by Mukashema, 2007). The soil map shows that the predominant soil type is the Udic Eutrandept characterized by a silicate soil with on the top volcanic soil. In Karago and a small part of Bigogwe Sectors, the predominant soil is the Andic Eutropept, which is rich in organic matters. The soil type map shows that Eutrandept is mainly found in Bigogwe and Nyakiba Sectors, while Tropohumult is in Kanzenze, Nyakiliba, Kanama and Rambura Sectors. The combination of slope classes and soil maps gives different zones according to their risk to erosion. This combination map is given in annex VII and in the table 2 below. 76

77 Table 2: Soil / Slope combination map (Priority conservation zones) Priority zone Total area Risk of erosion low 113 hectares No risk moderate 1427 hectares No to low risk high 2197 hectares Moderate to high risk very high 2844hectares Very high risk Total area 6581 hectares DISCUSSION According to the risk of the erosion given by the analysis of the maps, different land uses are proposed for the different zones as shown in the table below. Table 3: Proposed land use PRIORITY ZONE TOTAL AREA PROPOSED LAND USES Low slope and risk 113 hectares No special measures for Agriculture Moderate slope and risk 1427 hectares No special measures for Agriculture High slope and risk 2197 hectares Anti erosive measures (progressive terracing), agro-forestry, pasture Very high slop and risk 2844 hectares Conservation, Forest and /or fruits trees plantation Total 6581 hectares Given the nature of the soil, which is for the entire ecosystem, a forestry soil, very fragile and highly prone to erosion, it is recommended that agriculture requiring land tilling be limited to flat areas, not exceeding 25% of slope. For the other slopes, it is necessary to find crops that not require land tilling. However, even of if land tilling can be tolerated on 6-25 % slopes, it is necessary that the agriculture practice in the region allow for crop rotation, which is not the case currently. It is highly recommendable that RADA and MINAGRI propose crops and agricultural practices compatible with the area. In case of conversion of a degraded natural forest into forest plantation, the choice of species planted is important for soil quality conservation. It is assumed that if Acacia was planted instead of pine, the soil degradation in Gishwati could have been less alarming. It is therefore necessary that the National Forestry Authority provides adequate trees species to be planted in the areas proposed for forest. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS - This first assessment based on analysis of maps shows that according to the risk of erosion, 2844 hectares which correspond to +/- 43 % of the entire region need to be used only for forest plantation and /or fruit tree plantation. We recommend that among those 2844 hectares, 1393 hectares will be reserved for forest and no other activities will be allowed, while 1451 remaining hectares will be used for fruit trees plantation. If those measures are taken and forest species that allow soil conservation are planted in the area, the problem of erosion can be solved in a sustainable manner. 77

78 - Given the nature of soil, which is by nature prone to erosion, it is recommended that a buffer zone be left on the banks of rivers and ravines in the entire ecosystem and planted with grass and trees for their protection. This will also slow down the rain water from the hills. - This first assessment was based on GIS maps and as for any GIS work; there is a need to confirm the GIS data by a field visit. There is also a need to have an on field demarcation of the different areas. - The report need to be completed by an assessment of the settlement in the area and determination of land suitable for settlement. This activity will propose measures, if any of improvement on settlement. This can be done as part of ongoing projects programmed such as the land use master plan, land registration and plots consolidation program for agriculture intensification and will require the use of satellite photographs of the areas. As it is shown on the slope maps, the area most affected by floods, is the area with a slope of 0-6 %, which can be cultivated without problems. It is advisable that the population in those areas be resettled and their land used for agriculture. - With regards to resettlement the team proposes that the proposal of using 300 hectares which were given to SOPYRWA for resettlement be reviewed, as the number of people to be resettled is no longer as high as expected before. - In order to implement the proposed recommendations, the following tasks distribution is proposed according to the mandates and missions of different institutions: Activities Maps validation, field demarcation and satellites photographs Population: Census for population to be resettled Settlement: (in Imidugudu) Agriculture: Suitable crops, appropriate agriculture practice and soil conservation techniques, intensification and market for agriculture products Animal husbandry: Intensification, market for animal products Forests: Forest species, forests management, market for forest products Land consolidation Land registration Off-farm activities promotion Water management including hydrological studies Responsible MINIRENA MINALOC MINALOC, MININFRA MINAGRI, MINALOC, MINICOM MINAGRI, MINALOC, MINICOM MINIRENA, MINALOC, MINICOM MINALOC MINIRENA MINICOM MINIRENA, MINALOC, MININFRA TECHNICAL TEAM MEMBERS WHO WORKED ON THE STUDY Barongo Angélique (RARDA) Kayiranga Didace (ISAR) Mpambara Aimée (REMA) Mukashema Adrie (NUR-GIS Center) Munyarugerero Théophile (MININFRA) Ntawumenya Daniel (MINAGRI) 78

79 Twagirayezu Emmanuel (MINAGRI) Rwagashayija Thimothé (OGMR) Serushago Boniface (NLC) Rwayitare Esdras (NLC) B. Proposals for follow-up on Land Suitability Study Recommendations (Nyabihu District Council) In 2008 the Nyabihu District Council commissioned a Land Suitability Study for the Gishwati area, which would assist the local government structure in reacting towards the increasing climate change risks and impacts in the area by better managing the local natural resources, building adaptive capacities and directing suitable land uses in the area. Based on the land suitability assessment, project approaches to be incorporated into the LDCF project design were discussed at the District level. Gishwati catchment traditionally was covered by native forests, but over the past decades was heavily transformed due to intense population pressures in western Rwanda. Overall population in this area has been reported to have increased 200 fold, mainly due to migration in the conflict zone bordering the DR Congo. Land degradation esp. through deforestation, but also through the application of unsustainable land management practices has made the slopes of the catchment prone to erosion. During extraordinary flood events over the past years, which are worsening with increasing the impacts of climate change in western Rwanda, numerous human lives have been lost. Additionally infrastructure and agricultural land were damaged, leaving many people homeless. Figure 1: Gishwati land use zone map. Red areas depict high risk zones, from which 300 households have been temporarily displaced. The project seeks to identify and provide alternatives to these displaced people to engage in sustainable livelihood activities in future. 79

80 The Local Authority, with expert support, has developed a land use and zonation plan (see Figure 1), which identifies high risk areas in the Gishwati catchment, which should be rehabilitated to increase ecosystem services that would help prevent catastrophic flooding events in the future. 300 families have been moved from this area temporarily, for potential long-term resettlement. At this moment these families have no access to the land they normally use for subsistence agriculture, and their livelihood base has been taken from them. What is the land suitability project goal? The overall goal is for the 300 for resettlement identified families to be able to develop skills and knowledge to utilize the high risk zone in a more sustainable manner and assist the Local Authority with ecological restoration of the area. Further land use options shall be explored that would help achieve the conservation goal, but also allow these people to continue having a livelihood foundation. Alternative livelihood options shall also be explored. One option would be to help the community group to start up local sustainable vegetable production and improve the profitability and sustainability of farming as practiced by smallholder producers by introducing soil improvement techniques such as composting and green manure, conservation tillage, and drip irrigation from flood water dams on a one to two hectare plot to start with. The community shall receive support to organize itself and engage in participatory planning and testing livelihood options. The project is intended to generate immediate positive effects within the community of 300 resettled households, and to prepare them for longterm engagement in a climate change adaptation activity resulting from the NAPA, which will be implemented in It is clear that the immediate needs of the people are so pressing, that extra efforts have to be made to prevent future environmental and social disaster What is the proposed objective? The objective is for the community members to venture into sustainable local natural resources management, contributing to conservation as well as food security through improved land uses, reforestation and conservation, soil management, and overall skills development. The capacity of 300 households, extremely vulnerable due to the loss of their livelihood base through environmental disasters, will be strengthened. What would be the envisaged outcomes/changes from the intervention? The 300 households will be supported in establishing a community-based organization that can facilitate their livelihood improvement in the future and promotes joint and integrated planning And existing land use zonation plan will be improved to identify options for the resettlement people to continue with livelihood activities in the area A conservation workforce will provide services to the district that lead to the rehabilitation of the high risk zones; on a food-for-work basis or similar, members of the 300 resettled households will be key beneficiaries from the project At the same time their work will contribute to establishing ecosystem rehabilitation activities in the Gishwati catchment, e.g. through the planting of indigenous trees; high risk areas in the catchment will be rehabilitated as matter of priority A local level food support project through the establishment of a local vegetable garden will support food security amongst the resettled community What activities could be done in order to achieve the objective? Community mobilization and formation of task team This activity has already been initiated through consultations facilitated by the Local Authority through the Office of the Mayor. 80

81 Alternative land use assessment A study, including through participation of the resettled land uses, will identify a suite of land uses that could be potentially be promoted in the high risk area, whilst at the same time introducing ecosystem rehabilitation activities. Testing of alternatives Identified and by the local land users preferred alternative land uses will be piloted. Ecosystem rehabilitation Working for Food! Implement ecosystem rehabilitation activities e.g. planting of indigenous trees in high risk zone. Trainings and mentorship Theoretical training and mentoring on new and improved land uses and management practices e.g. on composting, green manure and crop rotation; earth worm farming, soil management and basic vegetable production; natural pest control; conservation tillage; identified adaptation measures; savings and entrepreneurship. What concrete outputs would result from these activities? Expected outputs: The community group members having acquired skills in ecosystem rehabilitation; applying suitable adaptation measures; sustainable soil improvement, crop rotation, conservation tillage, vegetable production, drip irrigation, entrepreneurship; The community group will be organized as a community-based organization and will be better prepared to plan and negotiate future developments; Increased food security amongst 300 particularly vulnerable households through Food for Work programme, vegetable garden, new land use and livelihood opportunities incl. in high risk zone (their traditional land area); Improved knowledge on land use alternatives in the high risk zones, guiding further policy development in Nyabihu District. 81

82 Annex 8: Climate change projections Spatial data for 2030s, 2050s and 2090, based on a SRES A2 scenario (a. temperature, b. precipitation, c. % change of heavy rainfall events) Note: Rwanda is situated in the top left corner the projections have been prepared for Tanzania. McSweeney et al.,

83 83

84 84