lvemp ii rwanda newsletter_1st edition

LVEMPRwanda NewsByte

1Issue No. 1: August - October 2013


Issue No. 1: August - October 2013

Dear readers,

I am delighted to introduce to you our first tri-monthly online Lake Victoria En-vironmental Management Project Phase two (LVE-MPII) - Rwanda news-byte. The Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) in Rwanda is described by the extent of Akagera river , because Akagera flows into Lake Victoria. The LVB in Rwan-da faces environmental challenges of degradation due human activities such as deforestation and poor land use. Economically, the catchment is faced by extremely poor farming methods , soil erosion,in-dustrial production meth-ods, as well as limitations caused by poor infrastruc-ture. It is of great value

Message from the Project

coordinator

Inside this Issue

to realize that the Basin is challenged by the need to embark on behavior change among Rwandans and East Africans at large in order to change the perception towards the activities of LVEMPII and Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC ) at the regional level.

LVEMP involvement in Environmental protection

I am pleased to affirm that despite the above men-tioned challenges, LVEMP is trying as much as possi-ble to address and reverse the environmental chal-lenges of the basin within Rwanda through regional and national interventions. In Rwanda, a recap of the

efforts so far implemented include watershed manage-ment,, promotion of cleaner production technologies catchment areas of the Ba-sin within the country.

With the involvement and participation of the com-munities where the project is being implemented, peo-ple are already receiving vast benefits ranging from employment, salaries, im-proved livelihoods through

the support of communi-ty driven Development sub-prpjects, all this is recounted in the following pages.

Let me thank all stakehold-ers supporting the project in efforts to protect the Environment of the LVB in Rwanda. LVEMPII will continue to update you on latest developments through the tri-monthly Newsbyte.

World Bank implementation support mission

Upcoming Events

An insight into Lake Rweru Rehabilitation Project

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2 3Issue No. 1: August - October 2013 Issue No. 1: August - October 2013

Jacaranda seedbed (left), Grevellia Robusta (right) (LVEMPII)

With the knowledge that unprotected lakes can get dry, The Lake Victoria Environmental Manage-ment Project (LVEMP) started with the project of protecting and sustaining Lake Rweru, a project that is worth Rwf 200.000 million.

For the implementation of Rweru-Akagera wetland rehabilitation sub project, a Memorandum of Under-standing was signed by both Bugesera and Ngoma Districts and the 50 % of the total budget was transferred to their accounts opened in National Bank of Rwanda

Lake Rweru project in-volves fighting soil erosion where water could erode land from the mountains into the lake. Water Hya-cinth has also been removed from the Lake, Digging trenches of about 65 km kilometers ( in Ngoma and Bugesera District) on the banks of this lake, planting

trees around the trenches and making terraces at about 140 hectares ( only in Ngoma District) on the mountains nearby to reduce soil erosion.

Modeste Bizimana (LVEMP Field Environmentalist) says they decided to put emphasis on Lake Rweru because there was misuse of the lake that can harm the lake.

In the past three months of op-erations of LVEMP II, residents say they have experienced positive change.

MUDASUBIRA Cyprian, represents chair of the commu-nity committee in the environ-mental conservation project on Lake Rweru says there were no interventions to prevent land eroding into the lake, Usu-ally land would be eroded into the swamp drying it up and into the lake killing off the fish and other aquatic creatures.

“The change is so evident



Water hyacinth removal from n Rweru wetland in Mugina village of Kintambwe cell (LVEMPII)

Major Field tours Jarama Sector residents committed to manage and ensure sustainabil-ity of the Progressive Terraces in their area.

In a study tour organized by LVEMP II in collaboration with Rwanda Environment Man-agement Authority (REMA), members from Jarama Sector in Ngoma Districts were recommended to borrow ideas and expertise from Kayonza residents of Kabare Sector where well managed progres-sive terraces have been dug in a bid to control soil erosion and increase soil fertility and yields in the area.

The study tour was conducted on the 20th of June 2013. The main objective of the study tour was to create awareness in implementation of integrated watershed management activ-ities such as on farm soil and water conservation programs on the hillsides such as terraces establishment. It also provided participants with an oppor-tunity to share experiences, empowering them to change their behavior and decision making in a collaborative way especially in radical terraces valorization.

Speaking to residents who par-ticipated in the study tour in Kabare sector in Kayonza, the

Coordinator for LVEMP Mrs. MUHAYIMANA Annette Sylvie encouraged Ngoma residents to borrow a experi-ence from their colleagues in Kayonza Districts on how the terraces in their area would be managed and maintained..

The farmers in Kayonza District recounted their story of how they first rejected the proposal of making terraces but after various sensitization meetings, they agreed to start the implementation.

One of the farmers testified that before terraces, she pro-duced 50 kilograms of beans in her farm and after using terraces she now produces almost one ton of beans. “Terraces have also created for us employment of at least Rwf100, 000 per month.”

In his concluding remarks, Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic Affairs of Kayonza District, Mr. SIKUBWABO Benois highlighted the benefits of the terraces to the District and residents in general and also called upon residents of Ngoma to offer commitment and support if the implemen-tation process of the progres-sive terraces in their sector is to be a success.

The National Coordinator for LVEMPII alongside the Vice Mayor in charge of Economic

development for Kayonza district speaking to residents of

kabare sector.

Ngoma residents committed to manage and conserve the environment in the most sustainable manner

World Bank implementation support mission

In a two-day training on modalities of implemen-tation of LVEMPII (Lake Victoria Environment Man-agement Project phase II) sub-projects organized by REMA through LVEMPII on 7th and 8th of May 2013, the residents in Ngoma District pledged to put for-ward concerted efforts in achieving what they have been trained in, through managing and conserving the environment in the most sustainable manner.

The training was specifi-cally aimed at enlightening the residents in Ngoma and Bugesera Districts specifi-cally in Jarama sector and Rweru Sector respectively on the Environmental Organic Law, Finance and

Procurement procedures at the community level and to promote Cooperation between the communities, District authorities and LVEMP towards achieving sustainable environmental conservation outcomes. Mr. NTAGANDA Ve-nuste, director of Legal Affairs Unit at Rwanda Environment Management Authority emphasized that the cornerstone for all en-vironmental Conservation activities cannot be attained without proper under-standing of the law. He also reminded the residents that their respect for the environmental law would be a stepping stone for the success of the project activities. .

Kick off meeting between the World Bank Team and REMA/LVEMP in Kigali

The mission took place from 19th to 20th March 2013. In the mission, particular attention was given to initiating lakeshore restoration activities, and ensuring that any as-sociated social impacts are handled in a manner consistent with Bank policy. The mission also aimed to complete discussions on TORs for a series of technical studies related to land management, sanitation system design and monitoring. The WB team visited Ngoma District to

see the LVEMPII progress such as implementation of Rweru-Akagera wetland complex sub-project. They also visited other projects in Rwanda such as Decentralised Environment Management project (DEMP) and Land Husbandry, water harvest-ing and hillside irrigation project (LWH).

The WB was satisfied by the achievements made by DEMP and wanted this to be replicated or

scaled up by LVEMPII.

The WB was also happy with the progress so far made by LVEMPII despite a few challenges met such as delays of providing no objection. The WB Social development expert was impressed by the way LVEMPII has collected Socio economic data and she said that this will help the project in evaluating its impact. She also recommended that the project should recruit a consultant to train the facilitation team and District project coordination team for CDD sub-projects development. The Task Team Leader informed REMA au-thorities that WB is looking at how they will come up with one bigger consultancy to provide capacity building for communities, identify the area prone for erosion, floods, and develop pollution control plans and also development of strategic plan for wetland conservation.

Workshop on Integrated Water Resource Management System

LVEMPII also organised a workshop for the consultants (DHI and BRLI) who are developing a study on Water Resources Information System (WRIS) and Water Resources Management Plan for the LVB on 6th February 2013. The objective of the workshop was for the consultants to present the inception reports to Rwanda’s stakeholders and get comments and inputs from Rwanda’s stakeholders as well as re-ceive other relevant data and information that are required to complete the studies

One of the consultants giving an overview of the study to the water subsector stakeholders during the workshop in Kigali

Development of more co-management sub-projects in 7 Districts

The sub-projects will be implemented in seven districts, namely Karongi, Nya-magabe, Huye, Muhanga, Kamonyi, Rulindo and Gakenke and so far interns who are based at the district level have been trained on how the sub-projects will be managed and implemented and how areas of intervention will be identified and managed. Field visits were organised thus to identify the sites and collect required data to design sub-projects.

An insight into Lake Rweru Rehabilitation Project

and anyone who knew what was happening can tell. Soil erosion and the stones that would dry up the swamps and reduce the fish are no longer there. Fish is now available and if terraces are made on the mountains, everything will be well” says Mudasubira.

Several study tours have been organized for the elected community Committees to im-plement the activities of reha-bilitation of Rweru –Akagera wetland complex from Ngoma and Bugesera Districts. These study tours have been orga-nized in a bid to witness the achievements of other com-munities’ communities where Lakeshores rehabilitation took place ( Rwamagana District) as well as the establishment of radical terraces ( Kayonza District) This would in turn equip them with knowledge and skills for watershed man-agement techniques.

So far, 163 hectares of the buffer zone have been demar-cated and 17,232 m3 of water hyacinth were removed for the Rweru Lake in both Districts

Recounting the progress towards the project beneficiaries So far, 66 people (local leaders and community representa-tives) have been trained and 45 people (local leaders and community representatives) have participated in the vari-ous study tours organized by LVEMPII. Majorly the capacity building activities focuses only in the Districts of Bugesera and Ngoma where the project started implementing wa-tershed management related activities.

In addition to that, the names and identification of benefi-ciaries who used to cultivate in the buffer zone of Rweru

lakeshore and wetland and have been recorded and the measurements for their land have been also recorded and validated thus to be considered in the Com-munity Driven Devel-opment sub-projects. So far, the project has 1878 beneficiaries to which 35% are female and 65 % are male.


4 Issue No. 1: August - October 2013

Upcoming EventsNational Project Coordination Team

LVEMP PICTORIAL

Currently our major focus is on launching LVEMP at national level. The project launch is proposed to take place in October in Ngoma district, Eastern province. The launch will involve both public campaign and awareness raising among residents of Ngoma and the Eastern province at large and it would be followed by a series of field tours among the activities so far imple-mented by LVEMP Rwanda.

The project launch will involve a spectrum of stake-holders ranging from grassroots levels in Rwanda up to regional officials. This would also act as a platform for promoting a corporate image and activities of LVEMP and the LVBC Nationally and regionally.

There are a series of National Technical advisory Com-mittee workshops that are expected in the next two to three months, the objectives of the workshop will in-volve validating several project documents and studies.

LVEMP is also organising for the 3rd National Policy Steering Committee meeting in December 2013 in order to evaluate whether the resolutions that were made in the previous NPSC meeting were appropriately imple-mented.

We are also expecting to embark on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Training which shall involve fa-cilitating Trainers of Trainees to carry out sensitization exercises among residents of our areas of operations especially in Jarama sector Ngoma District. This will be carried out between September and November 2013 and it help beneficiaries in growing pest free crops hence increasing the yields and improving their liveli-hood.

The two new vehicles the project has procured to ease movement to and from the field

Residents from both Bugesera and Ngoma districts gathered at Lake Rweru in one of the field studies organised by LVEMPII

The chairperson of the LVEMP -NPSC giving opening remarks during the previous NPSC meeting.

Community committee members during a training session organised by LVEMP on Environmental management and Cooperatives.

For further information, please contact:

The Project CoordinatorLake Victoria Environmental Management Project

P.O. Box, 7436, KigaliRwanda

Tel: +250 785 196896Email: [email protected] Web: www.rema.gov.rw

Mrs. MUHAYIMANA Annette Sylvie, National Project

Coordinator LVEMPII Rwanda

Mr. BIZIMANA Modest, Field Environmentalist

Mr. KARANGWA William, Communication Officer.

Mr. BYARUHANGA Denis, Project Accountant

Mrs. Vivine AMARIZA Community Development Officer

Mr. BAYINGANA Vincent, M&E Officer


Mrs. MUKARUTWAZA Dinah, Administrative &

supporting Staff.

Mr. UKURIKIYEYEZU Medard, Administrative &

supporting Staff.

lvemp ii rwanda newsletter_1st edition

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