Kigali’s Green City project lands RWF 38 billion to go greener

The Green Climate Fund (GCF), the world’s biggest climate fund, has approved a $28 million grant (around RWF 38 billion) for Rwanda’s groundbreaking Green City Kigali project. This fund will kickstart a green transformation in Kigali’s Kinyinya suburb on 600 hectares of land, making it a shining light for eco-friendly urban development in Africa.

Unveiled during the GCF’s 40th Board Meeting in South Korea, the project is a key step in Kigali’s journey to a sustainable future. With nearly 77.3% of Kigali’s residents living in unplanned settlements and facing climate-related risks like floods and landslides, the city urgently needs sustainable upgrades. The Green City Kigali project, led by the Rwanda Green Fund, focuses on building climate-resilient, low-emission infrastructure to address these challenges.

“This project highlights our strong partnerships as we face climate change,” said Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Valentine Uwamariya. “It’s about protecting our people, our economy, and building a city where Rwandans can thrive.”

The GCF grant will help build resilient infrastructure to manage stormwater, secure water resources, promote renewable energy, and improve waste management in Ngaruyinka Village. It will also establish a new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) center to support green job skills, training professionals in sustainable construction and city development. The initiative could inspire similar projects worldwide, as GCF’s Chief Investment Officer, Henry Gonzalez, noted.

Over the next five years, Kigali will become a model for sustainable, climate-smart urban living. The project’s first phase, beginning in 2025, will include 2,000 eco-friendly housing units across 16 hectares, with 40% dedicated to affordable housing. Using locally sourced materials, these homes will feature passive designs that maximize natural ventilation, shading, and energy efficiency, aligning with EDGE green building standards to cut energy use by 40%. When completed by 2030, the full 600-hectare project will include over 30,000 housing units, schools, and community parks.

The City of Kigali has also planned a ‘Forest Eco-Park’ at the former Deutsche Welle Radio site in Kinyinya, adding more green spaces for recreation and health. As Rwanda Green Fund CEO Teddy Mugabo put it, this project is not just a milestone for Kigali but a model for resilient, sustainable cities in Africa and beyond.