Local government authorities through the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) are being consulted in a process to update climate action pledges, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Rwanda plans to submit its revised climate pledges to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by 2025.

According to the NDC implementation framework, so far financing has been secured to cover most implementation costs for the 2020–2025 period, with the total secured finance amounting to $4.5 billion to implement NDCs interventions since 2021.

Rwanda’s NDC tracking indicators show that the country is estimated to be on track to achieve its NDC target by 2030.

For instance, renewable energy now contributes 51% in the energy mix, including solar and hydropower; forest coverage has reached 30.4%, contributing to the improved air quality and the carbon sequestration.

As part of greening the transport sector, as of March 2024, Rwanda had 9,093 electric and hybrid vehicles.

The agriculture sector has also registered significant milestone such as the increase of areas under irrigation to around 71,500 hectares.

De-risking for climate resilience has also led to insurance of 33,269 hectares of crops and 330,768 livestock.

Looking ahead, the overall financing gap is estimated at $6.5 billion for the entire 2020–2030 period.

NDCs, established under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, embody efforts by each country to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. However, the current NDCs fall well short of what’s needed to avert increasingly dangerous climate impacts and hold global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.

RALGA has been contributing to the NDCs process and international negotiations, such as the Conferences of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, advocating for an increased role and share of local governments in the climate action agenda.

From March 11 to March 12, 2025, the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), the Ministry of Environment, REMA, and partners hosted a two-day consultative workshop with local government stakeholders to gather input to prepare the third generation of Rwanda's Climate Action Plan (NDC 3.0) for the period 2025–2030.

This input will be taken into account when finalising the country's third climate action plan. The goal is to ensure that local governments' perspectives and efforts are included in the national plan, making it comprehensive and inclusive.

Rwanda’s NDC 3.0 aims to strengthen climate action by integrating climate priorities into national development plans, enhancing resilience, securing climate financing, and aligning with the Paris Agreement to support the country’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

The workshop enhanced local government authorities’ understanding of the NDCs and facilitated the review and validation of previously identified Districts and City of Kigali interventions contributing to NDC 3.0. It also focused on discussing financing modalities. Participants shared ideas on adaptation and mitigation and their role in implementing the updated Climate Action Plan.

District and City of Kigali officials were equipped with relevant knowledge about the components of the Paris Agreement on climate change, subsequent country commitments under the NDCs, and the methodology for developing NDC 3.0.

Dominique Habimana, RALGA Secretary General, said that the association is committed to supporting the districts and the City of Kigali in developing and implementing ambitious climate projects, and continuing the necessary advocacy work for effective climate-friendly policies.

"The role of local governments is essential to achieving Rwanda's climate goals. Local governments are important actors in the fight against climate change. It is essential that they are empowered to lead this transformation by actively participating in policy discussions and receiving the necessary resources to implement effective actions,” he said.

He noted that by working at the local level, there is a need to tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of local communities, ensuring that climate actions are practical, inclusive, and effective.

"It is important that we transfer the needed skills and resources to the implementation levels. Yes, climate finance must be brought to the local level. As RALGA, we are happy that some local governments have started to benefit from it. However, more is yet to be done to reach the necessary climate financing levels,” he said.

Rwanda has established the Rwanda Green Fund, which finances green projects. According to Emilie Uwase, Climate Finance Analyst at Rwanda Green Fund, public institutions and local government institutions that design bankable green projects can benefit from the fund.

"To maximise the impact of green projects, we prioritise capacity-building, ensuring stakeholders have the knowledge and skills needed for effective implementation,” she said.

Beatrice Cyiza, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, said that local governments should understand the climate action plans and actively participate in their preparation to effectively mobilise climate finance.

In a panel discussion that focused on the role of RALGA members in realising Rwanda's third generation of climate action plans (NDCs), Faustin Munyazikwiye, the Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), made the case for awareness, capacity-building, mainstreaming, ownership, and reporting in the implementation of the climate action plan.

Considering districts' needs in NDCs

Munyazikwiye highlighted some of the priorities in Rwanda’s NDCs, which require coordination and ownership in the implementation.

"The needs of every district should be considered in the updated climate action plan. Eastern Province districts and parts of Southern Province are prone to drought and need solar-powered irrigation. Western and Northern provinces face floods and landslides. They need soil erosion control interventions such as reforestation and agroforestry to boost resilience. The country also needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, agriculture, and industries,” he noted.

Védaste Nshimiyimana, Executive Secretary of the Southern Province, said that some districts in Southern Province are prone to drought, making it necessary to prioritise them in NDC preparation and implementation.

"The Districts of Ruhango and Nyanza usually face drought, which can be accelerated by climate change. Irrigation should be prioritised in the next five years,” he noted.

Climatic hazards are increasingly affecting various parts of the globe, including Rwanda, which is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its population's reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

The impact of climate-induced disasters on critical socio-economic development infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, power lines, water supply networks, and schools, is also significant.

In Rwanda, according to the recent Country Climate and Development Report, climate change costs 5 to 7% of Rwanda’s GDP annually. The problem of extreme weather conditions may persist, as it is expected that rainfall variability will increase by 5 to 10% until 2030.

Engaging citizens in NDCs implementation

Local government authorities emphasised that engaging citizens and showing them how they will benefit from the NDCs implementation is paramount.

"Achieving NDC 3.0 targets requires meaningful community engagement at every step of the journey,” said Ruhango District Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development, Jean Marie Rusilibana.

According to Jean Rubangutsangabo, the Director General of Urban Development in the City of Kigali, the climate action plan’s implementation should also be considered when implementing Kigali’s master plan.

"We follow the master plan to guide land use, engage communities in sustainable building, and promote eco-friendly transport, including bicycle lanes and public transit, to reduce emissions,” he said.

Aimé François Niyonsenga, the Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development in Gakenke District, called for preparing simplified language to raise citizens' awareness about NDCs and fight climate change.

Officials highlighted the importance of ownership and coordination in implementing climate resilience and mitigation projects.