Kigali is vulnerable to damage and fatalities due to floods and landslides, that are caused by heavy rainfall. The city initiated several projects and visions addressing both flood risk management and sustainable and green urban development. Nature Based Solutions (NBS) have the potential to contribute to flood risk management by complementing grey flood reduction measures, while also improving urban quality and strengthen livelihoods and resilience in urban neighbourhoods.

The NBS Kigali pre-feasibility study applies a comprehensive approach that identifies suitable typologies and locations for NBS that mitigate the impact of flooding in precarious urban neighbourhoods while creating multiple benefits for livelihoods.

With this NBS study, the World Bank is (co-) financed by the EU-funded ACP-EU Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Program, managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, is providing Technical Assistance to the Government of Rwanda. Next to exploring city-wide potentials for NBS, the study identifies NBS investments to be included under the upcoming RUDP-II project, which includes the rehabilitation of wetlands and urban upgrading.

Based on a multi-criteria assessment (MCA) and stakeholder preferences, preferred NBS measures are indicated for the locations: Nyabisindu, Mpazi, Nyagatovu (RUDP-II urban upgrading sites) the Central Business District, the Gikondo Wetland and Bufferzone (RUDP site), the Ngara agriculture area, and the Mount Kigali forest reserve and the Rebero Hills housing development area. This project provides insight into the feasibility and desirability of NBS and supports the government of Rwanda in applying NBS as well as promoting, managing, and enhancing the city’s green spaces.

Client: World Bank, The European Union (ACP-EU), City of Kigali, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Ministry of infrastructure (MININFRA), Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB)

In cooperation with: Ecorys, HKV, Royal HaskoningDHV, Sher Consultants, CGIS