Green growth institute backs Rwanda green economy agenda

The government has signed an agreement with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) under which the latter will support the country’s efforts to build a green and sustainable economy.

Monday, December 07, 2015
Minister Biruta shakes hands with De Boer after signing the Green Fund deal in Paris. (Courtesy)

The government has signed an agreement with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) under which the latter will support the country’s efforts to build a green and sustainable economy. 

The signing took place last week at the international conference on climate change in Paris, France.

The partnership with GGGI will contribute toward Rwanda’s development and improve the livelihoods of citizens by fostering sustainable economic growth.

It will also boost cooperation through technical support and capacity building so that Rwanda is better able to conserve its natural environment and build climate resilience.

As part of the collaboration, the GGGI will assist Rwanda to establish a new technical advisory facility.

The facility will support Rwanda’s Green Fund (FONERWA) to design world-class climate resilience projects and enhance the fund’s capacity to mobilise more resources.

The institute will also assist the Green Fund to address cross-sector green growth and climate resilience priorities to meet Rwanda’s sustainable development needs.

Valuable support for Green Fund

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Paris, France, the Minister for Natural Resources, Vicent Biruta, appreciated the work GGGI is already doing to help grow Rwanda’s economy and build sustainable livelihoods, saying he was looking forward to seeing the results of the partnership.

"The partnership between GGGI and the Government of Rwanda we are signing today will support our Green Fund to access the financing and expertise it needs to be a key player in Rwanda’s transformation to a developed, climate-resilient and low carbon economy by 2050,” Minister Biruta said.

"In formalising our collaboration with GGGI, we will see more technical support and more capacity building for a stronger Green Fund. This will bring climate change and the environment even closer to the centre of policy development and implementation in Rwanda. I look forward to the benefits this partnership will bring for the people of Rwanda and for the conservation of our natural environment.”

The Global Green Growth Institute is an international organisation that was established in 2012 to reduce poverty, improve economic growth and sustain the environment in developing countries.

It also shares knowledge about green economic development and how countries can redesign their planning to foster a green economy.

The event was attended by the Director-General of GGGI, Yvo de Boer, Assistant Director-General and head of green growth planning and implementation Per Bertilsson, and the Assistant Director-General and head of Knowledge Solutions Division, Mahua Acharya.

Rwanda was represented by Biruta; Dr Rose Mukankomeje, the director-general of the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority; and Alex Mulisa, the coordinator of Rwanda’s Green Fund.

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