The Government of Rwanda launched its first environment focused fund, a Fund for Environment and Climate Change (FONERWA). The ceremony was held at Serena Hotel on the 9th of October and officially led by Prime Minister of Rwanda, Mr Anastase Murekezi.

FONERWA is a ground breaking initiative aiming to be a driving force of green growth in Rwanda for the next 50 years, while serving as a benchmark for Africa and the rest of the world in addressing climate change issues.

FONERWA supports different projects that focus on different aspects of the environment, amongst others there is land management and environmental rehabilitation, water resources, clean energy, e-waste management, green villages, meteorological services, and others. These are all aimed at enhancing the Rwandan green economy through investment and employment creation.The strategy is to provide unheralded technical and financial support to the best public and private projects that align with Rwanda’s commitment to a green economy. .

From the panel discussions that were held at the launch, it was made clear the linkage between economy and environment. “Climate change is not going to go away and it will get worse” Sara Lowe from Department of International Development (DFID)) explaining how these climate changes we see today can even effect the outcome of Rwanda’s GDP. The possibilities that is seen with FONERWA is the effect it can also have on the economy. Benjamin Manzi Director of Investment at Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) states that the aim with FONERWA is to sustain an economy that is environmentally friendly and he described this as a process that must be followed in detail and carried out with care to reach the best results in Rwanda and also to be a role model for future environmentally friendly economies within Africa. “Sustainability is not only the structures but also finances  to back structures” Mr Manzi noted.

The One UN Family has been a part of the establishment of FONERWA right from the beginning. UNDP and UNEP through their poverty and environment initiative (known as PEI), supported the establishment of FONERWA. One UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Lamin Manneh stated that with FONERWA Rwanda became one of the very few countries across the developing world that developed their own national climate change and environment fund. Mr Manneh said that One UN Rwanda strongly believes that FONERWA will grow to be the primary mechanism through which the country will access international and regional extra-budgetary financial support to address climate change and environmental issues that the country is faced with.

The Prime Minister of Rwanda Anastase Murekezi, who officially launched FONERWA stressed on the imperative role of FONERWA in a country like Rwanda to promote green and inclusive economy, to support initiatives that aim at protecting the environment.  The Premier said that the government of Rwanda will continue to support FONERWA in mobilising and leading resources to achieve its objectives.

“It is still critical to promote private sector leadership for national green economic growth in Rwanda. In order to effectively address climate change, it requires many things: national approved vehicle to mobilise funds for programs and to manage and monitor results: this is FONERWA.” said the Premier.             

The One UN Rwanda is supporting both financially and technically the project “Capacity Building Support National Environment and Climate Fund (FONERWA)” over a period of 5 years within the context of support programme, UNDAP.