Construction of Smart Green Village launched in northern Rwanda

The project would deliver modern homes, essential social services, and sustainable livelihood opportunities to 547 households, supporting community development alongside the expansion of Volcanoes National Park.

The project worth over $49 million will combine improved housing and social infrastructure with climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, community services and tourism-based economic opportunities.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held alongside the presentation of Tourism Revenue Sharing Program allocations to districts neighbouring Volcanoes National Park, bringing together two initiatives that demonstrate Rwanda’s community-centred approach to conservation and tourism.

The activities form part of celebrations leading up to the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony, due on Sep.4 under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future.”

Dominique Habimana, Minister of Local Government, said the development of communities must go hand in hand with protecting the environment.

“This project reflects Rwanda’s commitment to putting citizens at the centre of development while creating communities with better infrastructure, services, livelihoods, cleanliness and security.

The homes and infrastructure being built here belong to the communities. I encourage residents to take ownership of them, participate in their development and protect them so that this village remains clean, safe, sustainable and a place where families can thrive.”

Jean-Guy Afrika, the chief executive of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), said the Smart Green Village represents shared vision that conservation and community development must go hand in hand.

“It will provide families with better housing, modern infrastructure, essential services and economic opportunities, while promoting sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and environmental protection,” he said.

For the past 20 years, communities living around Rwanda’s national parks have benefited from tourism revenue sharing.

The program has supported nearly 1,300 projects with more than Rwf 23 billion, strengthening education, healthcare, water access and livelihoods while making communities true partners in conservation, according to RDB.

Supporting the expansion of Volcanoes National Park

The Smart Green Village is a key component of the Volcanoes Community Resilience Project, supporting Rwanda’s long-term plan to expand Volcanoes National Park by approximately 3,740 hectares and establish approximately 6,620 hectares of buffer zones.

The wider program aims to improve livelihoods for more than 17,000 people, representing approximately 3,400 households.

The first implementation phase covers approximately 450 hectares and affects 547 households currently living within the pilot expansion area.

Over the past 20 years, the programme has invested more than RWF 23 billion in nearly 1,300 community projects, supporting education, healthcare, water access, livelihoods, and other community priorities.