This funding is specifically designed to empower organizations and institutions to embark on practical initiatives, projects, and programs that bolster community resilience against the adverse effects of climate change.
This remarkable opportunity has been made possible thanks to the support of the Adaptation Fund’s Rwanda Subnational Adaptation Fund Enhanced Direct Access Project, currently being executed by the Ministry of Environment (MINEMA) in partnership with the Rwanda Green Fund.
Projects eligible for funding range from Climate Smart Agriculture, Sustainable Land-Use Management, Integrated Water Resource Management to Small-Scale Irrigation.
It’s imperative that proposed projects demonstrate sustainability beyond the conclusion of the funding, provide an exceptional return on investment, reach a substantial number of beneficiaries, advocate for gender and social inclusivity, and align with the Rwanda Green Fund’s Environmental and Social Management Framework.
The application window is now open and will remain so until 5:00 PM on Friday, October 20, 2023.
Applications can be submitted at www.greenfund.rw while prospective applicants are encouraged to reach out to application@greenfund.rw for any inquiries or clarifications.
This relocation effort is a proactive response to the heavy rains and landslides that tragically took the lives of 135 Rwandans earlier this year in May. These disasters also resulted in the destruction of 5,963 houses and infrastructure, including roads.
Kigali City Mayor, Pudence Rubingisa emphasized that the relocation process has been ongoing but stressed the urgency of expediting the resettlement of residents from high-risk zones.
He also urged residents to adhere to recommended proactive measures, especially considering the current heavy rainfall predictions.
As of now, a total of 4,230 families have been relocated since April and May. Rubingisa disclosed that an additional 2,809 families, primarily from Gisozi and Gatsata in Gasabo District, require immediate relocation.
The press conference was held the day following a rain-related disaster in Gisozi, where a house collapsed, resulting in the tragic loss of four family members.
Additionally, the heavy rain caused the roofs of six houses to be blown away.
Efforts are ongoing to more residents within Kigali to prevent further loss of lives.
In the lawsuit, Turner alleges that Jonas has committed the grievous act of refusing to return their children to their homeland, England, amidst their divorce proceedings. The couple shares a 3-year-old daughter named Willa, and their second daughter, born in July 2022, remains unnamed to the public being mentioned as D in the documents.
According to media reports, this tumultuous situation unfolded following a meeting between the estranged couple, which was intended to discuss the terms of their separation. Turner claims that the children were supposed to be returned to her care on a specific date, but Jonas has allegedly withheld their passports and adamantly refused to send them back to England.
Jonas, on the other hand, disputes these allegations and asserts that a Florida court has issued an order preventing either parent from relocating their children. He cites this legal order as his reason for not complying with Turner’s request to allow the children to return to England.
The tangled web of their divorce proceedings began when Jonas initiated the process by filing for divorce in Miami-Dade County court on September 5. In his filing, he sought “shared parental responsibilities” for their two daughters, as well as the enforcement of their prenuptial agreement, which was established in April 2019.
Interestingly, Turner claims that she first learned about Jonas’ divorce filing through the media, while Jonas’ representatives maintain that she was aware of his intentions. A crucial point of contention centers on where the children have been residing. Jonas insists they have been living with him in various locations throughout the United States, including Miami, a claim Turner vehemently disputes.
Turner’s lawsuit paints a different picture, alleging that the children have been residing in England since April 10, 2023. According to her filing, she and Jonas had made the decision to make England their “forever home” during discussions in December 2022. This decision prompted them to sell their mansion in Miami and search for new residences in the idyllic English countryside.
Furthermore, Turner’s work commitments, including filming a new drama series, influenced their choice to settle in England.
As Jonas embarked on a world tour with the Jonas Brothers recently, it was agreed that their daughters, Willa and her younger sibling, would stay with him. This decision was influenced by Jonas having more daytime availability to care for the children, given Turner’s demanding filming schedule. However, Turner expressed some hesitation over this temporary arrangement.
The divorce proceedings took a sudden and unexpected turn on August 15, leading to their four-year marriage coming to an abrupt end. Shockingly, Turner claims that she first learned of Jonas’ divorce filing from the media on September 1, further adding to the complexity of their dispute.
In a dramatic legal twist, Turner’s recent petition was filed under The Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act.
These legal frameworks address situations where children are internationally abducted from one parent. Additionally, Turner has indicated her intention to file a case in England, citing Jonas’ custody arrangement as a breach of her rights under English law.
Jonas’ representatives, however, contest these claims, denouncing the use of the term “abduction.” They argue that the children were not abducted and have been in Joe’s care by mutual agreement for the past three months. They suggest that Sophie’s legal actions are aimed at shifting the divorce proceedings to the UK and permanently removing the children from the U.S.
As the legal battle unfolds, the public watches with bated breath, hoping for an amicable resolution that prioritizes the well-being of the children caught in the middle of this tumultuous divorce.
Discussions with Guterres revolved around productive cooperation with various UN agencies contributing to Rwanda’s progress. They also exchanged on the security situation in the region and on topics of continental and global impact.
Meanwhile, Kagame and Infantino discussed FIFA’s partnership with Rwanda in football development.
Infantino was in Rwanda early this year during the 73rd FIFA Congress at BK Arena in Kigali.
Among others, Kagame held talks with James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Technology and Society at Google for a conversation on furthering partnerships towards harnessing the power of technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, to accelerate economic growth.
Google entered agreements with Rwanda aimed at helping the country to accelerate digital transformation. This initiative is in line with Rwanda’s ambition to drive inclusive economic development leveraging technology.
The President also met with Under-Secretary-General United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, Achim Steine for a discussion on the status of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the UNDP-Rwanda partnership, including the agency’s role in the country’s development.
This concern came to light from 18th to 20th September, 2023, when members of the Rwanda Association of Professional Environmental Practitioners (RAPEP) received the first session of environmental protection training on Environmental and Social and Governance (ESG) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
The IFC, a firm dedicated to fostering business growth, recognizes the significance of addressing environmental concerns. The global community and organizations are increasingly united in their commitment to preventing human activities that exacerbate climate change and cause natural ecosystem degradation.
Leading institutions like the World Bank, in partnership with entities such as IFC, have pledged to prioritize sustainable practices when providing financial support to institutions worldwide. Under this framework, financial institutions will conduct thorough environmental and social analyses before granting loans. These assessments will gauge not only project feasibility but also their environmental impact and potential repercussions on local communities.
Moreover, given that both corporations and non-governmental organizations funnel their development assistance through the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), there is a growing consensus that this bank should serve as a role model.
BRD, since its cooperation with International Development entities, has been encouraged to demonstrate its project analysis techniques to ensure environmental and social integrity. In this pursuit, the adoption and effective implementation of a Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS) was achieved.
An ESMS empowers companies to conduct comprehensive environmental analyses for projects seeking loans and helps companies to integrate the rules and objectives promoting effective environmental and social management into core business operations, through a set of clearly defined, and repeatable processes.
In a forward-thinking move, even financial institutions seeking funding from BRD are now required to adopt and implement an ESMS, thereby extending the commitment to environmental and social protection across the financial sector.
Since the inception of this program in 2021, progress has been made, with seven banks, and 96 microfinance institutions having successfully adopted an ESMS into their operations. However, more efforts are needed to increase financial institutions ownership and full implementation of adopted Environmental and Social Management System.
BRD’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist, Kanangire Ruti Rubis, highlights a critical issue: the lack of qualified personnel to effectively operate adopted ESMSs.
“We’ve assisted in establishing ESMSs, but the system itself requires skilled users to maximize its potential for environmental and social protection initiatives. This is a pressing challenge. While the system exists, our banks lack the trained personnel to wield it effectively,” remarked Kanangire.
In response to this persistent issue, BRD is urging financial institutions to appoint dedicated staff responsible for environmental and social analysis and provide them with essential training. However, despite these efforts, productivity remains low, with an average compliance rate of less than 50%.
{{The way forward}}
Recognizing the urgency of this matter, in March 2023, the IFC forged agreements with several institutions, including the Rwanda Banking Association (RBA), the Rwanda Capital Market (CMA), and RAPEP. These agreements were made possible through generous funding from the Japanese Government, amounting to over Rwf400 million.
Beginning on September 18, 2023, IFC Rwanda and RAPEP jointly initiated specialized training for environmental experts. These experts will play a pivotal role in guiding financial institutions in the proper implementation of ESMS and associated environmental and social initiatives.
Rose Lumumba, Head of the Environmental Department at IFC Rwanda, emphasized the collaborative approach taken before signing these agreements.
She stated, “Climate change and Natural ecosystem protection is a global issue, and Rwanda has developed comprehensive plans to address it. Our collaboration with various companies aims to collectively combat this challenge.”
Richard Ngendahayo, Chairman of RAPEP, reiterated the importance of RAPEP building capacity of its experts, playing its role and concerted efforts in environmental and social preservation. “From project inception to completion, multiple agencies must unite to ensure proper environmental and social management. Our current focus is on fostering collaboration among various institutions to safeguard the environment comprehensively.”
Kanangire anticipates that following this training, banks will have two options for complying with key environmental and social requirements. They can either engage RAPEP members with expertise in environmental and social matters or hire permanent staffs with a professional background on Environmental and Social aspects to bridge the gap.
While addressing the RYVCP district coordinators on Thursday, September 21, at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru, IGP Namuhoranye urged them to have an effective orientation in the implementation of the national security and development programmes.
“Have an effective strategy in your volunteerism work. Be proud to contribute to the security of your country without involving in crime but as the front face of crime prevention,” IGP Namuhoranye said.
He added: “It is not about the big number of youth volunteers but the impact of your actions in preventing and responding to disasters, anti-crime awareness and having a collective understanding and implementation of the national security and development agenda as a result-oriented group.”
He also hinted on effective planning, innovation, coordination, collaboration with grassroots leaders and other entities, and communication to unlock challenges affecting communities.
Formed in 2013, Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing with about 1.5 million members across the country, who engage in community development activities, including construction and renovation of houses for the disadvantaged families, roads, organic gardens, planting trees and supporting other human security activities.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, as Rwanda is the current Commonwealth Chair-in-Office.
In her report to ministers, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, underscored the unique nature of the challenges facing the world today.
She acknowledged the profound economic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the growing pressure on democratic processes and the escalating impacts of climate change.
Scotland emphasised that these crises are interconnected, amplifying social, political, and economic inequalities.
In her opening remarks, Scotland said: “I stress the importance of multilateralism in addressing these global challenges, even as it appears to be under strain. The reality of the world today is that it is more connected, more complex and yet more challenged than ever before.
We must work together or we suffer in isolation. The Commonwealth’s distinctive advantage in this regard, through its diverse membership, spanning Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, and North America offers a unique platform to defend shared values and advance common interests.”
Ministers heard from Hon Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Tourism, of Samoa about preparations for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), taking place in Samoa in 2024.
She also announced the theme of CHOGM 2024 as “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth”.
Ministers also heard a report on the Commonwealth Secretariat’s work and progress on implementing mandates from CHOGM2022. Ministers also received a report on the outcomes of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) which was held on Monday 18 September 2023 and on the resulting decision to partially suspend Gabon.
Among others, ministers requested the Secretary-General to persist with her Good Offices engagement to help the country return to democracy as soon as possible.
They also noted specific challenges in the territories of some member countries, namely Bangladesh, Belize, Cyprus and Guyana. The CFAMM 2023 serves as a vital platform for member states to reaffirm their commitment to the Commonwealth’s shared values and chart a path forward to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
The event was held on 20th September 2023 at Bria, Sector East, Haute-Kotto Province, Central African Republic.
The ceremony was presided over by MINUSCA Force Commander, Lt Gen Humphrey Nyone who congratulated Rwandan peacekeepers for the good work done.
The senior contingent commander, Col Dr. Osee Robert Karangwa appreciated the good cooperation of the local leadership, the MINUSCA leadership and friendly forces.
The ceremony was attended by Head Office Bria, Mr Dieng Bara with other Sector officials, local leadership and other MINUSCA contingents.
Rwanda and CAR maintain robust bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in matters of security.
Rwanda has played a crucial role in stabilizing the Central African nation, with its forces serving as one of the largest contributors to MINUSCA since 2014.
Kazungu who appeared before court on Thursday 21st September 2023, for bail or remand hearing without defence lawyer demanded judges to proceed with the hearing ‘in camera’ citing reason of having committed serious crimes which he didn’t want to be aired in the media.
“I have committed serious crimes that I plan to confess but would not like to be announced through the media nor be a leading guidance to my fellow criminals on the way to do it.
Reasons being, I request to be tried in camera is that I myself accepted the alleged crimes and intend to share the whole truth.”
When asked to comment on the request, the prosecution rejected it citing lack of convincing reasons.
The judge ruled that the hearing be held in public. Kazungu is facing charges including manslaughter, rape,use of threats , hiding of human body and mutilation.
He is also being charged with armed robbery, forgery, and cyber crimes.
During preliminary investigation, it was established that Kazungu kept 12 bodies of the victims in a pit and the remaining two are still under investigation to know their whereabouts.
On the other hand, during the interrogation, Kazungu admitted to have killed 14 individuals including 13 women and 1 man.
The prosecution has accused Kazungu of having brought 14 individuals he killed from different places including Remera, Kimironk,Kabuga, Masaka and Rusororo to his residence in Busanza, a suburb in Kanombe Sector of Kicukiro District where he allegedly killed them.
They claimed that after luring victims to his residence, he would immobilize them, tie their hands and feet, use threatening words and then torture them with objects such hammer, a pair of scissors and a pen.
The prosecution showed that prior to killing these people, Kazungu had extorted money and valuables from them, and he had also forced them to provide their bank account numbers to transfer money to his accounts and phones.
It was also determined that a few of the victims that Kazungu killed were forced to write papers that they had sold their houses and land plots to him before being killed and dumped in a pit in his kitchen.
The prosecution told the court that during interrogation, Kazungu said he did not recall the names of all the people he killed apart from 4 identified as Eliane, Mbabazi, Clementine, Francoise and Eric Turatsinze who he started using as his identity after killing him.
This man confessed on raping only one woman who later escaped and was rescued by the neighbours. The woman in question testified to the persecution that she was indeed raped.
He had tricked her on a phone call pretending to be someone she already knew. After being lured into his house, he started threatening her with death.
The court was informed that other individuals apprehended with Kazungu included a woman known as ‘Code20’ and another known as ‘Code33,’ both of whom revealed that Kazungu had forced them to withdraw money.
When asked the reasons behind his merciless killing and burying them, Kazungu claimed they had transmitted HIV intentionally.
Considering the charges, the prosecution requested a 30-day remand for Kazungu, as it was deemed necessary to protect society from his criminal activities.
When asked his thoughts on the prosecution’s request for the remand, Kazungu told the court that ‘the guard is yours to keep or have it pass through your fingers’.
Climate justice requires that climate action is consistent with existing human rights agreements, obligations, standards and principles. Those who have contributed the least to climate change unjustly and disproportionately suffer its harms. They must be meaningful participants in and primary beneficiaries of climate action, and they must have access to effective remedies.
At the half-time point of the 2030 Agenda, the science is clear – the planet is far off track from meeting its climate goals. This undermines global efforts to tackle hunger, poverty and ill-health, improve access to clean water and energy and many other aspects of sustainable development, according to a new multi-agency report coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Only 15% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track, says the United in Science report, which makes a systematic examination of the impact of climate change and extreme weather on the goals.
It illustrates how weather, climate and water-related sciences can advance aims such as food and water security, clean energy, better health, sustainable oceans and resilient cities.
As per Fifth Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change is caused by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gasses. Among other impacts, climate change negatively affects people’s rights to health, housing, water and food.
These negative impacts will increase exponentially according to the degree of climate change that ultimately takes place and will disproportionately affect individuals, groups and peoples in vulnerable situations including, women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples, minorities, migrants, rural workers, persons with disabilities and the poor.
Therefore, states are urged to act to limit anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gasses (e.g. mitigate climate change), including through regulatory measures, in order to prevent to the greatest extent possible the current and future negative human rights impacts of climate change.
{{States obligation on climate change }}
To mitigate climate change and to prevent its negative human rights impact; states have an obligation to respect, protect, fulfill and promote all human rights for all persons without discrimination. Failure to take affirmative measures to prevent human rights harms caused by climate change, including foreseeable long-term harms, breaches this obligation.
States must build adaptive capacities in vulnerable communities, including by recognizing the manner in which factors such as discrimination, and disparities in education and health affect climate vulnerability, and by devoting adequate resources to the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights of all persons, particularly those facing the greatest risks.
To ensure that all persons have the necessary capacity to adapt to climate change; states must ensure that appropriate adaptation measures are taken to protect and fulfill the rights of all persons, particularly those most endangered by the negative impacts of climate change such as those living in vulnerable areas (e.g. small islands, riparian and low-lying coastal zones, arid regions, and the poles).
{{International cooperation:}} The UN Charter, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and other human rights instruments impose upon States the duty to cooperate to ensure the realization of all human rights. Climate change is a human rights threat with causes and consequences that cross borders; thus, it requires a global response, underpinned by international solidarity. States should share resources, knowledge and technology in order to address climate change.
International assistance for climate change mitigation and adaptation should be additional to existing ODA commitments. Pursuant to relevant human rights principles, climate assistance should be adequate, effective and transparent, it should be administered through participatory, accountable and nondiscriminatory processes, and it should be targeted toward persons, groups, and peoples most in need. States should engage in cooperative efforts to respond to climate-related displacement and migration and to address climate-related conflicts and security risks.
{{Ensuring equity in climate action:}} The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and ‘The Future We Want’ all call for the right to development, which is articulated in the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, to be fulfilled so as to meet equitably the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change calls for states to protect future generations and to take action on climate change ‘on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’.
While climate change affects people everywhere, those who have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. the poor, children, and future generations) are those most affected.
Equity in climate action requires that efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change should benefit people in developing countries, indigenous peoples, people in vulnerable situations, and future generations.
According to the Rwanda Meteorology Agency Report, Rwanda has decided to pursue a green growth approach to development. The availability of regional and local scale climate change scenarios is critical for assessing climate change impacts and vulnerability in various socio-economic sectors and developing appropriate adaptation strategies.
Therefore, there is a need for standardized climate projections for Rwanda specific to its different agro-ecological zones and biophysical conditions or for guidance on which external climate information sources to use and how to use them.
