LVEMP II RWANDA NEWSLETTER (Issue 009)

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LVEMP II News

Rwanda

Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (Phase II) Quarterly Online Newsletter

Lake Victoria Basin

Issue No 009 August-October 2016

Best environment-friendly industries recognised


LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

Editorial Dear Readers, We are happy to bring to you the 9th edition of LVEMPII Rwanda Newsletter. This is yet another issue of our quarterly Newsletter which brings you hands-on information about what we are doing for the protection of the Lake Victoria basin in Rwanda and the improvement of lives of communities who depend on the resources of the basin. Through our work, we target degraded hotspots in the basin and focus on priority areas for the benefit of communities, the country and region in general. So far we have reached over 84 per cent of our watershed management target and we are on track to beat the targets on livelihoods improvement within our areas of interventions. We are also working hard to control industrial pollution through the promotion of resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP) technologies. Working together with the Rwanda Resource Efficient & Cleaner Production Centre under the current Ministry of East African Community, Trade & Industry (MINEACOM), we train and introduce industrialists on the best options and technologies available- thus help them to reduce pollution but also to increase their productivity.

Content

EALA Legislators commend LVEMP II .....................

RECP: Rewarding excellence in resource efficiency & cleaner production ................. P7

Recently, we held the 2nd edition of RECP Awards to recognize the best performing industries. The exercise was a success. Through this newsletter, we bring you details of the Awards exercise and its rationale. This newsletter also looks at the achievements of the Project in other areas. Recently, we hosted a team of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) who were assessing the impact that the project is making for communities. The outcome of the visit was encouraging and we look forward to continue working to achieve even more. This wouldn’t have been possible except for the ultimate support from our esteemed partners and stakeholders, including communities who directly depend on the basin resources. Our appreciation goes to everyone who continues to support us in our efforts to protect the Lake Victoria Basin environment in Rwanda and in the quest to improve community livelihoods. More news is available on our website www.lvemp2.rema.gov.rw. Together let’s continue to build a sound environment for our communities to prosper. Enjoy the read.

Capacity building programme for LVEMP II beneficiaries reaches 9 Districts ...........................

Connect with Us www.lvemp2.rema.gov.rw

Annette Sylvie MUHAYIMANA Project Coordinator

Issue No 009 August-October 2016

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

Find us

Online

Visit www.lvemp2.rema.gov.rw to learn more about the work of Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project, Phase II in Rwanda

Our website is available both in Kinyarwanda and English to help reach our diverse audiences. It’s also available on mobile devices.

The online presence is a step further to raise awareness about our work, ensure timely dissemination of information and encourage interaction and participation with and between our stakeholders, partners and the general public. The platform is also a one-stop source of information about our work in Rwanda and a channel to document and disseminate our best practices

Through the webpage, you can read the latest news and access the recent videos and photos of our work in Rwanda. Don’t forget to give us feedback through our comments and contacts sections. Also download various documents related to our work; all that in a SIMPLE CLICK.

Issue No 009 August-October 2016

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

East African legislators commend LVEMP II Project The visiting legislators toured various investments including terraces, agro-forestry and tree nurseries, protection of Rweru Wetland and a number of Community Driven Development Sub-groups (CDDs) supported by LVEMP II in Rwanda

Hon. Oda Gasinzigwa (L), Hon. Straton Ndikuryayo (R) and LVEMP II Project Coordinator Annette Sylvie Muhayimana (C) during the visit in Nyanza District Issue No 009 August-October 2016

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

East African legislators tour LVEMP II Project activities

Hon. Pierre Celestin Rwigema (C) chats with the Mayor of Bugesera (L) during a visit to Nkanga Cassava Cooperative supportted by LVEMP II

Members of the East African Community Legislative Assembly (EALA) have commended the efforts made by the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project phase Two (LVEMP II) to protect the Lake Victoria Basin in Rwanda and improve the living conditions of communities in targeted areas. They made the comments during a two-day tour of LVEMP II activities in Nyanza, Ruhango and Bugesera Districts. The visit, which was conducted by members of EALA’s Public Accounts Committee, concluded on Wednesday October 26, 2016. Hon. Straton Ndikuryayo led the visiting team which also comprised Hon. Oda Gasinzigwa and Pierre Celestin Rwigema.

Issue No 009 August-October 2016

During their visit, the visiting MPs toured various investments including terraces, agro-forestry and tree nurseries, protection of Rweru Wetland and a number of Community Driven Development Sub-groups (CDDs*) supported by LVEMP II. They also met with local leaders and communities to discuss the general implementation of the project and their role in the Project’s activities. After the tour, the MPs said they were impressed by the achievements so far realised, expressed their appreciation of the investments made and encouraged the project team to continue in the same direction.

Under CDDs, LVEMP II supports environment-friendly proj­ects that transform the livelihoods of community while reducing pressure on the Lake Victoria Basin environment. Community-Driven Development Sub-projects (CDDs) operate on the principles of transparency, par­ticipation, local empowerment, demand-responsiveness, greater downward accountability, and en­hanced local capacity.

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

PICTORIAL: EALA MPs visit

The visiting legislators meet & chats with LVEMP II beneficiaries in Nyanza District, Southern Province

From Left to Right: Hon. Oda GASINZIGWA, Hon. Pierre Celestin RWIGEMA and Hon. Stroton NDIKURYAYO who led the visiting delegation

Among the investments visited included terraces and tree nurseries established to promote agro-forestry

LEFT: The visiting legislators chat with Nyanza District Executive Secretary after a courtesy visit at the District HQs; RIGHT: The MPs visit Batima Goat cooperative Issue No 009 August-October 2016

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

RECP Awards:

Lake Victoria Basin Industries urged to go green

Min. Francois KANIMBA awards Bralirwa, which emerged the overall winner in this year’s RECP Awards

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

RECP Awards: Lake Victoria Basin Industries urged to go green

GROUP PHOTO: Winners pose for a group photo with Guests at the RECP Awards Ceremony

Industries located within the Lake Victoria Basin in Rwanda have been encouraged to adopt Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) practices as a way of limiting pollution and protecting the environment. The call was made on Friday, 16 September 2016, during a ceremony to award the most environmental-friendly companies among those located in the Lake Victoria Basin in Rwanda. “The RECP program is a precautionary environmental strategy that addresses the low productivity and high pollution intensity of indusIssue No 009 August-October 2016

tries”, observed Francois Kanimba, the Minister of East African Community, Trade and Industry. The Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Eng. Coletha U. Ruhamya, encouraged industries and institutions to adopt clean technologies . “By promotion of clean technologies, we aim at bringing down the cost of pollution of industries” Eng. Ruhamya said. “I wish to congratulate all industries that have implemented Resource Efficient&Cleaner Production pro-

gramme and I also encourage other industries to adopt clean technologies so that we save Lake Victoria, a lake which supports one third of the East African Community population,” she noted. RECP Awards recognise the best performers in resource efficiency and cleaner production technologies among industries located in the Lake Victoria Basin in Rwanda. It is the 2nd time that the Awards Ceremony is held in Rwanda. The inaugural awards were held in April 2015 and at the time, seven industries were awarded.

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

RECP Awards: THE WINNERS At this year’s RECP Awards, industries were recognised for their efforts in promoting clean technologies and using resources efficiently.Industries were awarded in the categories of water use, waste management, waste water management and energy use. Here is the full list of all winners:

INDUSTRIES

AWARDS

1. WATER USE MANAGEMENT AWARD

BRALIRWA

1st

SORWATHE

2nd (1st Runner up)

EAGI

3rd (2nd runner up

2. ENERGY USE MANAGEMENT AWARD

KINAZI CASSAVA

1st

SORWATHE

2nd

MATA TEA COMPANY

3rd

3. WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT AWARD

BRALIRWA

1st

INYANGE INDUSTRIES

2nd

SULFO INDUSTRIES

3rd

4.MATERIAL AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AWARD

BRALIRWA

1st

KINAZI CASSAVA

2nd

UTEXRWA

3rd

5.OVERALL BEST PERFORMERS INRECP AWARD

BRALIRWA MATA TEA COMPANY UTEXRWA

1st 2nd 3rd

6. RECP AWARD PER SECTOR

Issue No 009 August-October 2016

TEA SECTOR

Trophy for recognition

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

Beneficiries from Rulindo & Gakenke Districts, Northern Province, during one of the training

Capacity building programme continues for LVEMP II Beneficiaries LVEMP II continues its outreach and capacity building programme targeting Community Driven Development Subprojects. So far, CDDs members from 9 Districts have been trained. The training focus on the work of LVEMP II and the role of communities in its implementation, environment protection, cooperative management, cooperative and environment laws, among others. This flagship programme is proving to be a platform to create awareness on the project interventions, improve the management of CDDs and strengthen the relationships between the Project and its stakeholders. Issue No 009 August-October 2016

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

World Bamboo Day: LVEMP II promotes bamboo culture

Bamboo, here in a nursery in the northern District of Rulindo, ready for plantation

On the occasion of the World Bamboo Day today, Rwandans were encouraged to embrace the culture of bamboo as a way of safeguarding the environment and improving socio-economic lives. World Bamboo Day was officially established on September 18, 2009 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok. Since then, people and businesses from around the world use this day to raise awareness on the benefits of bamboo and to promote its use in everyday products. LVEMP II promotes the plant through its interventions. The Project plants bamboo mainly to protect riverbanks, with expectations that they will serve both environmental and economic Issue No 009 August-October 2016

purposes once grown up. Bamboo is a valuable resource with vital ecological, commercial and socio-economic importance. It is widely used to control erosion, as paper and rayon manufacture, construction, architecture, engineering, handicraft, food and medicine across the world. The plant is also credited with abilities to sequester 30 per cent more carbon than other tree species and releases 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees. In Rwanda, it is estimated that bamboo plantations cover 4,381 ha, corresponding to 1.82% of the total national forest cover.

“

By embracing bamboo culture we would be heavily contributing to the protection of our natural resources and our environment and of course we would be setting ground for a strong bamboo industry with a high economic potential.

�

Eng. Coletha U. Ruhamya Director General of REMA

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

LVEMP II Result Indicators (As of October 2016) INDICATOR

TARGET

PROGRESS

Number of hectares under sustainable land management practices in the targeted subcatchments

5000 Ha

4241.7 Ha (Equivalent to 84% of the project target) were rehabilitated and are under sustainable sustainable management including land on protected riverbanks and buffer zones, established radical and progressive terraces, water hyacianth removed from Lake Rweru and agro-forestry. However disasters, including floods and landslides, which affected parts of the country between April-June destroyed the project activities on 181.15 ha. Efforts are being made to replace them

4000

The number of direct project beneficiaries is 7327, exceeding the original target of 4,000. 36.9% of them are women

Target industries in the LVB adopting Cleaner Production Technologies

8

The target for 8 industries to adopt cleaner production techniques has already been exceeded. Currently, 25 Industries have adopted resource efficiency and cleaner production practices. 12 industries were awarded during the 2nd edition of RECP Awards

Number of hectares of degraded wetlands restored and/or rehabilitated by communities in targeted sub-catchments

200 Ha

244 ha (122% of the target) of degraded wetlands have been restored and rehabilitated by communities in Rweru subcatchments. They include 144 ha rehabilitated on Rweru Wetland and water Hyacinth removal on Lake Rweru completed on 100 ha

Percent of community natural resource management subprojects whose implementation is rated satisfactory or better in the targeted sub-catchments

60%

23 Community Driven Development Subprojects (CDDs) are under implementation while another 23 are starting with their activities. 8 other CDDs are being initiated after being approved by the NTAC & NPSC Committees

Direct Project Beneficiaries

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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter

This newsletter is a quarterly publication of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project Phase Two (LVEMP II), Rwanda Chapter. In Rwanda, the Project is implemented by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)

Connect with Us www.lvemp2.rema.gov.rw @LVEMP2_Rwanda LVEMP2Rwanda LVEMP II Rwanda LVEMP II Rwanda

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