NGORORERO – On Tuesday 10th December 2019 at Rujyojyo Cell, Ndaro Sector there was held an official launch of the “Upper Nyabarongo Catchment Ecosystem Rehabilitation Project" as part of the “Ecobrigade Programme”. This event was officiated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Hon. BAMPORIKI Edouard. This project is being implemented in three districts namely Karongi, Muhanga and Ngororero.

The overall objective of the launched project is to sustainably protect the natural resources of the Upper River Nyabarongo water catchment areas. This will include reducing soil erosion, increasing soil productivity and maintaining the gains through youth employment on environmental management and diversified livelihoods beyond agriculture to reduce the vulnerability of the youth to climate change. The projected is funded by the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) and the Government of Rwanda (GoR) which injected in 862,000,000 FRW and 1,500,000,000 FRW respectively for a three year period of implementation.

To efficiently and effectively implement this project, there was established a Project steering Committee composed of the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), National Youth Council (NYC), Ministry of Youth and Culture (MYCULTURE), MINADEF/Reserve Force, Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Rwanda environment Management Authority (REMA), Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), and the Districts of Karongi, Muhanga and Ngororero.

Speaking on behalf of the Director General of LODA, Mr. NGENDAHIMANA Pascal, Division Manager of Local Economic Development, outlined the genesis, feasibility, funding and implementation of the project. He reiterated the GoR’s commitment to the protection of environment and green economy at center of its national priorities as provided in both Vision 2020 and National Strategy for Transformation. He thanked all partners and stakeholders who contribute to the successful implementation of this project.

In his ad hoc message to Rujyojyo residents, Hon. BAMPORIKI stated that “The project is really beneficial especially to the youth who got an opportunity to earn 1,200 Frw on a daily basis while they were not even getting 500 Frw; but most importantly they are getting accustomed to making savings for preparing a bright future. Although the project is not much remunerating, the most important benefit is that they hold on working habits and the saving culture instilled into them and which shall prevail into the youth even after the project closure instead of being delinquent”.

Commenting on this project, Mr. NDAYAMBAJE Godefroid, Mayor of Ngororero District said that “This project has come to address mainly two issues: youth unemployment and fertile soil erosion of upper catchment of River Nyabarongo.  As of now we have about 500 young people who are employed in this project; we ipso facto believe this makes positive impacts on their family livelihoods […]. That said however, to sustainably uphold the utmost objectives of this project, we shall make more efforts in fighting illegal mining as well in our District, and thus enforce the GoR’s mining policy by only permitting legally recognized mining companies”. 

Currently at Rujyojyo site, Ndaro Sector this project has so far generated jobs for 725 people of whom 550 are young. As per the design, 3,000 people from all the three Districts are expected to be employed. They shall deal with radical terraces (512 Ha), Progressive terraces (400 Ha) and Buffer zone protection (Bamboo planting) (332 Ha). Further, a portion of 300 young people shall benefit from training in “Financial Literacy, Saving and Environmental Issues”.

Testimonies recorded from young workers of this project prove that that the project is very beneficial in that it enables them to regularly earn some money and make savings. They however wish the project to last for long and be extended to other Sectors as well. On this point, the Minister of State pledged that the Ministry of Youth and Culture shall finance all the best project proposals they shall make based on their savings as own contribution.