“Learning from experiences of communities in adaptation and mitigation of climate change in Rwanda”

Research conducted by ACORD Rwanda in 2013
This baseline study is part of a new programme on Climate Change Adaptation and mitigation as called «Strengthening the resilience and adaptation of vulnerable small scale farmers (SSF) to the effects of Climate Change on their Sustainable Livelihoods». The aim of the programme is to strengthen the resilience of poor small scale farmers to the effects of climate change on their sustainable livelihoods by improving their knowledge, know-how and capacity to prevent and resist the effects of floods, droughts, cyclone, erosion, land and other natural resources degradation and climate change. It is aimed also at promoting strategic interventions that sustain the productivity and livelihood improvement for thousands of Climate change vulnerable people of the country.

This study provides following:

• An update on the implementation of the NAPA in regard to the initiatives involving the small holders (what are the current initiatives/ projects reaching the rural areas);
• A description of the manifestations of climate change in the lives of smallholders (impacts and effects);
• A description of the current responses, experiences and practices related to climate change adaptation and mitigation at household, community and institutional levels ;
• A description of the most innovative and pertinent experience or practice that can be extended to others;
• A set of visual facts of CCAM in the communities;

The study identified adaptation and mitigation best practice done by Government, Districts, Projects, NGO etc.. including:

1. Piloted integrated settlement in Umudugudu modality with self generated food, energy and water should be considered for all needy communities;
2. Water from roof tops are retained in water harvesting tanks and contribute to domestic use and domestic irrigation (Akarima k’igikoni) instead of being a problem of erosion, neighbours infrastructure destruction ;
3. Water from the hills are retained in water reservoirs and contribute to small scalle irrigation and reduces the problem of erosion and landslide
4. Agroforestry contributes to soil protection from erosion and to enhance soil fertility ; in addition agroforestry trees are used for different purposes to respond to the population needs and increase the resilience;
5. Organized habitat (Umudugudu) helps population for economical land use, for sharing good practices and for development access. This increases their resilience to climate change ;
6. Biogaz contribute to energy access, reduction burned biomass, reduction of greenhouse gases in atmosphere, reduction of time used for fire wood feching and therefore contibute mainly on GHG mitigation but also to resilience to climate change by availing low cost energy and incrasing time for other busness mainly availing time for children to learn ;
7. Solar lamps contribute to enhance funds used for purchassig petroleum products, reduces GHG emission and inrease time for childred to repeat school lesson and therefore contribute to adaptation and mitigation ;
8. Introduction of innovative off farm income generating activities;
9. Intensive practical training and follow up of rural communities in farming techniques and in off farming activities;
10. Innovative seeds and grain storage at household level