From green cities to carbon markets: GGGI’s decade of supporting Rwanda’s transition to a green economy

When the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) signed its Host Country Agreement (HCA) with Rwanda in 2016, it put a formal stamp on a partnership that had started three years earlier with the ascension of Rwanda into the intergovernmental organisation dedicated to accelerating the shift to a green economy. A decade later, that partnership has evolved into a wide-ranging green-growth agenda, from reshaping green cities and catalysing a circular economy to mobilising green investments for flagship restoration projects and unlocking climate finance and carbon-market opportunities. In an exclusive interview with The New Times, Caroline Raes, GGGI's Africa Deputy Regional Director for Quality of Delivery and Rwanda Country Representative, reflected on the partnership's evolution and the priorities shaping its next phase as the organisation prepares to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the HCA on September 2, 2026. From urban planning to green growth Rwanda joined GGGI in 2013, becoming its second member country in Africa. Before establishing a permanent presence in the country in 2016, GGGI worked with Rwanda from its regional office in Ethiopia. Establishing our office in Rwanda laid the foundation for our partnership and enabled us to significantly scale our support, working hand-in-hand with our government partners, through our embedded teams. This is why this 10-year milestone is so important to us, Caroline said. One of GGGI’s earliest priorities was green cities, as Rwanda sought to manage rapid growth in Kigali while developing secondary cities as economic poles of economic development. When we talked about greening cities at the time, many people associated it with tree planning and beautification. But it's more than that. At its core, it is about putting in place the infrastructure needed for cities to grow sustainably, while making better use of scarce resources, such as land, reducing climate risks, and creating economic opportunities., she said. This led GGGI to support the development of the National Roadmap for Green Secondary City Development in 2016, and the revision of the master plans for Kigali and the six secondary cities, with stronger provisions for protecting environmentally sensitive and high-risk areas, appropriate urban densification, climate-resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions in 2020. Strengthening national and local institution capacity was also a priority to effectively translate those plans into tangible action on the ground. This is why GGGI embedded experts in secondary cities and key ministries, to mainstream climate action into day-to-day city planning and management. The partnership later expanded into waste management and circular economy, sustainable mobility, green buildings and nature-based solutions. Our work is demand driven. We align where government needs support, and this is how our portfolio has gradually expanded to other sectors, beyond green cities, Caroline said. Turning plans into investment GGGI subsequently moved beyond policy and planning to help Rwanda mobilize finance and implement green projects. It worked with the Rwanda Green Fund, formerly known as FONERWA, supporting its institutional development, and contributing to Rwanda securing its first Green Climate Fund project accessed through the Ministry of Environment’s direct access accreditation —a $32.8 million initiative to strengthen climate resilience in the Green Gicumbi landscape. Implemented entirely by the Government of Rwanda, the Green Gicumbi Project focused on strengthening climate resilience and improving livelihoods in Gicumbi District. It delivered investments in climate-resilient agriculture, land and water management, and ecosystem restoration, while supporting vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change. It also strengthened local capacity to plan and implement climate-resilient development interventions, providing a model for scaling locally led climate adaptation in Rwanda. We were architect partners for the fund. We supported its institutional strengthening and its early mandate, Caroline said. “We are particularly proud of our collaboration with the Fund. Since those early days, the Fund has mobilized more than USD300 million and has become a leading example in Africa, with many countries looking to learn from and replicate its success”. The institute says it has helped mobilize close to $60 million in green investment for Rwanda and supported about 18 green-growth policies over the past decade. “A key mandate of GGGI is to unlock sustainable finance and green investments for our member countries. For every 1 USD invested in GGGI, we aim to mobilize USD15 dollars, a target that we have largely achieved globally” added Caroline. When we talk about green investments, this is financing that goes directly to project owners, whether public or private. For example, the Green Gicumbi project was directly implemented by Rwanda Green Fund, and we were not involved in its delivery. If we unlock the finance for our partners to deliver transformational green projects on their own, and that's success for us as well. further explained Caroline Turning Investments into Climate Action While GGGI is best known for supporting policy and investment mobilization, it is increasingly involved in deploying green technologies and solutions in areas where it has specialized expertise. The transformation of Nduba landfill is among GGGI's flagship interventions, illustrating the organization’s evolution from a technical adviser and investment catalyst to a partner that also supports the delivery of practical, on-the-ground climate solutions. Working with the Rwandan Ministry of Environment and with funding from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through its Ministry of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, GGGI introduced several first-of-their kind waste management solutions for measuring, sorting and recovering value from waste at Nduba, Kigali’s main landfill. For the first time, Nduba had a weighbridge to accurately measure the waste coming into the landfill. ‘That may sound like basic equipment but it is absolutely critical. You cannot management what you do not measure, and without reliable data, it is difficult to plan for future expansion, design investment-ready projects, or mobilize financing, Caroline said. The project also established a Biowaste Treatment Facility which treats 5 tons of organic waste per day and converts it into organic fertilizers and a 100-ton Waste Sorting and Separation Facility capable of handling 100 tons of recyclables per day, improving waste management efficiency. Through the various infrastructure installed, the project has created about 67 green jobs and helped reduce 600 tCO2eq of GHG emissions. To advance investments in the waste sector, it also developed a pre-feasibility study for a proposed 400-tonne capacity Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant. “The Mechanical Biological Treatment Facility which we are working on with the Ministry of Infrastructure is the real game changer. Complementing ongoing works for an engineered sanitary landfill, it will not only be able to treat a significant proportion of the waste currently arriving at Nduba but will generate various materials such as Refuse Derived Fuel which can be used to green cement production, generate and export electricity to the grid, all while reducing 64,000 tCO2e per year and creating 316 jobs”. “The goal is to create a circular economy in which waste is no longer discarded, but reduced and if generated, acquires a second life,” she said. Waste is actually the third-largest emitting sector for Rwanda, which is why it is so crucial to scale up waste reduction and valorization solutions. The pilot project implemented with our partners from Luxembourg and Rwanda demonstrated that there are tried and tested solutions, and now we need to look at scaling them. GGGI is now looking at expanding the Nduba model within Kigali and to secondary cities while mobilizing financing for the proposed MBT plant. Ensuring no one is left behind the green transition GGGI also emphasized its commitment to advancing inclusive climate action. In collaboration with the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), it has also supported the IWACU Gender Equality and Social Inclusion tool, an AI-powered platform developed to help track how climate interventions affect women, youth and persons with disabilities. The tool was developed to support Rwanda's NDC 3.0 process, —the country's latest climate commitments to reduce emissions and strengthen climate resilience under the Paris Agreement. The tool is designed to support the government with assessing, prioritizing, and simulating the impacts of climate action on diverse social groups, especially women, youth, people living with disabilities and vulnerable groups at large. Powered by AI and advanced analytics, it supports informed decision making anchored on disaggregated data and inclusive indicators Rwanda is already recognized as both a leader on climate action and gender equality and social inclusion” Caroline said. “With this tool, Rwanda can now demonstrate how its climate investments impact different segments of society”. The next phase Looking ahead, GGGI's priorities are clear: scaling green investment by building a stronger pipeline of bankable climate and nature projects, and leveraging its expertise in sustainable finance, including carbon finance and thematic bonds; expanding proven solutions in areas such as waste valorization, urban ecosystem restoration, and green buildings across Rwanda; and ensuring the green economy becomes a driver of competitiveness, investment, and job creation, particularly for Rwanda’s youth, not only among those most affected by climate change but also key agents of change in driving a more sustainable future.

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From green cities to carbon markets: GGGI’s decade of supporting Rwanda’s transition to a green economy