Driving Green Growth Through Conservation

**Rwanda Advances Green Growth Strategy Through Conservation Initiatives**

As Rwanda hosts its 21st Kwita Izina ceremony, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts to integrate wildlife conservation with economic development in the Volcanoes National Park landscape.

Since 2018, the AWF has partnered with the Rwanda Development Board and local communities to implement the Volcanoes National Park Conservation and Development Master Plan. This strategy aims to balance the protection of the mountain gorilla population with the economic needs of local residents.

**Economic Development and Enterprise Support**
A central component of this initiative is the RWF 70 million Conservation-Compatible Enterprise Development Fund, which provides financing to small businesses in the region, with a specific focus on women and young entrepreneurs. To date, RWF 21.14 million has been distributed to 32 businesses operating in the agriculture, retail, and livestock sectors.

The AWF is collaborating with Inkomoko, a local business incubator, to provide entrepreneurs with training in business planning, market access, and investment readiness.

**Agricultural Innovation**
In Musanze, the Volcanoes Community Association Horticulture Hub has introduced climate-smart farming techniques, including the use of greenhouses, nurseries, and specialized packaging facilities. These efforts have enabled local farmers to produce high-value crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet peppers.

According to project reports, the hub’s first harvest generated RWF 5.5 million. Twenty percent of the profits from these operations are being reinvested into community development projects.

**Future Objectives**
The AWF has outlined several targets to be achieved by 2030 as part of its broader Conservation Investment Blueprint. These goals include:

* Providing sustainable livelihoods for 500 households.
* Mobilizing RWF 14.69 billion for conservation and community development.
* Increasing average household income by 30 percent.
* Expanding access to finance, skills, and markets for women and young entrepreneurs.

The AWF stated that these initiatives are intended to demonstrate that conservation can serve as a driver for national development, job creation, and sustainable investment.

Article and image source: allafrica.com