Kigali Shares Lessons on Flood Risk Reduction and Gender Equality With Other Sub-Saharan African Cities

From February 10 to 12, experts in NbS, climate change adaptation, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), water systems, and data management drawn from governments and civil society organizations in Kigali, Johannesburg, and Dire Dawa will come together for the SUNCASA project’s peer learning event. The event will take place at the Mille Collines Hotel and will be opened by the Mayor of Kigali, Samuel Dusengiyumva, on February 10 at 9 am.

Experts will review the first year of the SUNCASA’s project’s activities, which included tree planting, invasive species removal, watershed restoration, and community workshops to set out strategies grounded on the lessons learned across the three cities.

"At the heart of this event is the opportunity to come together and learn from one another what works, what doesn't, for whom, and why. It's a chance to exchange, engage and reflect on the SUNCASA story so far across three very unique, dynamic African cityscapes,” explains Samantha Boardley, IISD’s climate adaptation specialist and one of the event’s lead facilitators. “It is an occasion so few projects or stakeholders make the time for, but one that offers so much not only to the project but to our broader understanding of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation."

The first year of SUNCASA in Kigali achieved significant results. Fruit trees and shrubs were planted in 820 hectares and urban green areas were expanded with 56,000 new trees. Other NbS actions, such as reforestation and afforestation, will kick off in March 2025.

In Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, implementing partners planted more than 313,000 seedlings in 2024, established new forests on 60 hectares, revitalized 131 hectares with 142,600 fruit trees, and created 14 hectares of buffer zones along the Dechatu River.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, the tree-planting activities started in December 2024, with more than 6,300 seedlings planted to expand urban areas and create buffer zones to protect the Jukskei River. Additionally, alien invasive species were removed from 2 hectares, and another hectare was strategically rehabilitated by planting indigenous species. In one of the crucial project sites, Alexandra Township, local communities are manufacturing litter traps from waste collected in the river, which will contribute to reducing watercourse pollution.

Launched in 2024, SUNCASA is a 3-year project developed and implemented in close collaboration with local organizations. Delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), with funds from the Government of Canada, SUNCASA seeks to enhance resilience, gender equality, social inclusion, and biodiversity protection in urban communities in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa. The project aims to benefit 2.2 million people living in climate-vulnerable areas.

SUNCASA PEER LEARNING EVENT

Where: Mille Collines Hotel, 2 KN 6 Ave, Kigali

Available Interviews: 

• Lord Samuel Dusengiyumva, Mayor of Kigali
• Janina Schnick, Lead, SUNCASA Project
• Marc Manyifika, Country Lead for Urban Water Resilience, WRI Africa
• Project scientists and community leads are available for interview. (Please request in advance to confirm availability.)

QUOTES

“Climate change is a reality. As a matter of fact, this year alone (2024), in the month of September, Kigali recorded its highest urban heat in history. And if you look at the amount of rain we are having, we have to do something. And I have to say that it can only be done in a coordinated manner. SUNCASA project is an initiative that symbolizes not only progress but a shared vision for our city and our continent. Kigali has long been a city that embraces bold ideas and transforms them into tangible results.”

Lord Samuel Dusengiyumva, Mayor of Kigali

“SUNCASA partners have made incredible progress on our NbS targets during the first year of project implementation, and we are excited to bring them together in Kigali to exchange achievements, challenges, and learnings. This will allow them to optimize their approaches and interventions in the three SUNCASA cities and maximize the project's impact. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in Year 2 of SUNCASA!”

Janina Schnick, Lead, SUNCASA, IISD

“The peer learning event is SUNCASA’s first milestone—after a year of implementation, it’s bringing together partners from all three cities to exchange lessons, share valuable tools, and inspire new approaches for advancing nature-based solutions and gender equality and social inclusion. From the ARCOS Network showcasing their approach to community engagement, Haramaya University spotlighting their research on soil moisture and GenderCC sharing their expertise in integrating gender & social inclusion, participants will have the chance to learn, collaborate, and spark new and innovative pathways for building more inclusive and resilient cities.”

Marc Manyifika, Urban Resilience Lead, World Resources Institute - Africa

SUNCASA IN NUMBERS

• 2.2 million people benefited from the NbS actions.
• CAD 29 million will be invested in NbS actions in the three cities.
• reforestation: 640 ha will be recovered with the planting of 1.4 million trees.
• afforestation: More than 1.5 million trees will be planted in 867 ha of degraded land.
• agroforestry: Over 500,000 fruit trees will be planted in an 885-ha area.
• 1,143 ha of buffer zones will be established to protect the riverbanks.
• 469 ha will be revitalized by removing alien invasive species and debris.
• Public green spaces will be expanded with the planting of 150,000 trees.
• Around 22,000 people from vulnerable communities will directly benefit from capacity-building and implementation activities.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Cesar Henrique Arrais

Senior Communications Officer, IISD

chenriquearrais@iisd.ca

Eden Takele

Engagement & Communications Specialist, WRI Africa

eden.takele@wri.org