Kigali, 28 November 2019: The Government of Rwanda (GoR), under its Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy EDPRS (II), has pioneered a vision of a Green City Concept. A 620-hectare site has been selected in Kinyinya, Gasabo District, Kigali City.                              

The project aims to showcase the viability of green cities in Rwanda and elements that could be replicated in the development of secondary cities across the country with green technologies and innovations for green and climate resilient urbanization.

The $4-5billion development project will accommodate 30,000 housing units to benefit around 150,000 people and create at least 16,000 jobs to Rwandan community.                       

The green park project has two phases; the first phase which is “Cactus Green Park “is a housing development with multiple green aspects. It will be a pilot that will scale up other green building and green urban planning projects. The project is expected to surface the construction of 410 houses that will be built by a local contractor; Horizon Construction Ltd on 13 ha. The phase two of the project will be setting up “Green affordable houses under the contact with Rwanda Social Security Board(RSSB) on 125 ha. This will be followed by construction of commercial and office buildings attracting Innovative Green Businesses.

This development will capture the key ‘Pillars of Green Urbanism’ as defined by Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)’s National Roadmap for Green City Development policy. The project will champion the creation of an effective green urban center; ‘a city’ with green housing, infrastructure, mixed use, amenity, workplaces and industry.

The green city will sit on 620 hectares in Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo district in the city of Kigali. The facility will have a system that prevents environmental degradation and air pollution.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Green Fund, Herbert Ruzibiza, the project will demonstrate the viability of green cities in Rwanda, and relevant for replicability for the development of Green Secondary Cities at the national level.  This innovative project “will integrate green building and design, efficient and renewable energy, recycling and inclusive living, homegrown solutions and local construction materials”, the CEO notes.

The Rwanda Green Fund, FONERWA, has been supported by the German Cooperation through KfW to implement this project. The goal is to develop a sustainable, lively, affordable and inclusive green urban neighborhood in Kigali. The project results from combined efforts by several institutions supporting green growth in Rwanda including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda Environment Management Authority, City of Kigali, and the Rwanda Social Security Board among many others.