Rwanda has launched a climate-resilient road construction model aimed at transforming how transport infrastructure is designed and built to withstand climate-related shocks.

The pilot was unveiled on Friday, June 26, along the National Road 16 (NR16) corridor linking Muhanga in Southern Province with Ngororero and Mukamira in Western Province.

The intervention targets four highly vulnerable sections in Ngororero and Nyabihu districts, where roads have repeatedly been damaged by landslides, flooding, erosion and heavy rainfall.

Officials say the approach shifts focus from reactive repairs to climate-informed planning that anticipates risks before failure occurs.

Implemented by the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) with support from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), the pilot began in 2022 and has rehabilitated infrastructure worth Rwf2.43 billion. It also produced technical tools and standards expected to guide future road construction.

A nationwide assessment of the road network informed the project, focusing on why key corridors repeatedly fail under extreme weather.

Engineer Jean Damascene Gatabazi, who led implementation, said the process began by identifying high-risk areas and root causes of damage.

"We started by assessing where the highest risks are and why roads keep failing under heavy rainfall conditions,” he said.

The study found that erosion, landslides and flooding, intensified by shifting rainfall patterns, were the main drivers of infrastructure failure.

"That analysis allowed us to move from simply rebuilding damaged roads to designing solutions that prevent failure in the first place,” Gatabazi said.

The pilot combined drainage engineering, slope stabilisation, embankment protection and bioengineering tailored to Rwanda’s steep terrain.

Engineering solutions in high-risk terrain

One of the most affected sites was Rambura Sector in Nyabihu District, where stormwater had carved a six-metre gully beside the road, repeatedly causing collapses.

Engineers installed underground drainage systems to redirect runoff, reinforced outlets, stabilised slopes and used bioengineering techniques such as vegetation cover to reduce erosion. A bridge was also constructed, restoring connectivity between villages previously cut off during heavy rains.

Gatabazi said the works reflect a shift in infrastructure thinking.

"We realised that drainage systems and slope protection are not secondary works. They are as important as the road itself,” he said. "If they are ignored, roads will continue to fail regardless of how strong the pavement is.”

He added that nature-based solutions are both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, especially in fragile landscapes.

The NR16 corridor was selected after vulnerability mapping ranked it among Rwanda’s most climate-exposed paved roads.

"The intention was to test solutions under the most challenging conditions so that what works here can be applied elsewhere,” Gatabazi said.

Shaping national infrastructure standards for resilience

The Ministry of Infrastructure says the pilot is already influencing how future roads will be planned and maintained.

Theogene Dusabumuremyi, Acting Director General in charge of Transport, said climate change has become a defining challenge for infrastructure development.

"Flooding, landslides and erosion are no longer isolated incidents. They are recurring challenges that directly affect connectivity and livelihoods,” he said.

He added that extreme rainfall has previously caused major infrastructure damage, requiring a shift in design philosophy.

Dusabumuremyi said the project’s value lies in the technical knowledge generated.

"The solutions demonstrated here, including the improved drainage, slope stabilisation, erosion control and bioengineering are practical tools that can now be replicated across the country,” he said.

François Mivugo Gihoza, the SPIU Coordinator at RTDA, said climate change is already causing significant losses in the transport sector, with extreme weather increasingly disrupting infrastructure and livelihoods.

He said the project demonstrates a shift from repairing damage to building resilience from the design stage.

Siv Ahlberg, the Program Manager at Nordic Development Fund, said Rwanda’s strong institutional coordination and implementation capacity made the project effective.

"It is very easy to finance and support a project like this in Rwanda because you can clearly see the work being done and the impact being achieved,” she said.

She described the RTDA partnership as a model of effective collaboration between financing and technical execution.

"This is a strong partnership. We provide support, but the implementation capacity here is equally strong. That makes a real difference in delivering results,” she said.

She added that lessons from NR16 are relevant beyond Rwanda, especially for countries facing similar risks in mountainous and high-rainfall regions.

Community impact

Residents say the upgraded road has improved safety and mobility.

Valerie Uwimana, a resident of Gasiza village in Rambura sector, said the road had long been dangerous due to repeated collapses and erosion, including incidents where vehicles fell into deep gullies.

She said earlier repairs repeatedly failed, but the new works have improved stability and safety.

"The road used to collapse every rainy season,” she said. "This time, it was rebuilt in a stronger way, and we feel much safer using it.”

She added that the new bridge has eased movement between villages.

"We no longer take long detours to reach nearby communities,” she said, adding that "children go to school more safely, and movement has become much easier.”

Sylvain Niyigaba, speaking on behalf of Ngororero District, said the Western Province remains highly vulnerable to landslides and heavy rainfall that frequently damage infrastructure.

He said the project provides practical solutions suited to the region’s difficult terrain while strengthening local capacity to manage climate risks.