Modeste BIZIMANA | 23/12/2022
The Eastern Province, due
to its specific climate (characterized by frequent and prolonged rainfall
deficits and droughts), high dependence on subsistence rain fed agriculture,
lower forest cover, is among the country province with the largest challenge of degradation
that need to be addressed. This was
disclosed during the official TREPA Technical Kick Off convened on 02, December
2022 at NTENDE Hotel in Gatsibo District. TREPA (Transforming Eastern Province
through Adaptation) project, a Green Climatic funded project, aims at restoring
around 60,000 ha of drought degraded landscapes into climate resilient
ecosystems through reforestation, agroforestry, restoration of pasturelands and
soil erosion control measures in seven districts of the eastern province such
as Rwamagana, Nyagatare, Kirehe, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Ngoma and Bugesera
Districts.
The workshop was an occasion for TREPA project implementing partners such as MoE, IUCN, ENABEL, RAF, World
Vision, ICRAF, Cordaid and Eastern Province and District Officials to share and discuss on TREPA project intended
activities and deliberate on implementation plan, approaches and collaboration framework
to use towards successful implementation of the project.
In her welcome remarks, the
Eastern Province Executive Secretary, Dr. Jeanne NYIRAHABIMANA shared with the
workshop audience the EP particularity and need for restoration, noting that EP is among the granary of the country that sustain
the life of the country population. “We are very proud to welcome to TREPA
project and its team in the Eastern Province and given the current status of Eastern
province’s land that need to be restored, our people are ready to work with the
project in reversing land degradation and build climate resilient ecosystems” she
said.
In
his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment,
Mr. Patrick Karera recalls for concerted efforts and investment to support the
Government willing to address development challenges owing to climate change
through mobilization of investment and projects that impact on the community
wellbeing and environment protection. He noted that EP is among the country
parts that need more attention in regard to increasing drought, land
degradation, poor soil productivity, increasing vulnerability to climate change
and consequent poverty of its people, and that TREPA project is coming as a
solution to these challenges that EP population in particular and Rwandans in
general are requested to own and get benefit from it. During
the workshop, project team and District Officials discussed on the use of
community approach in TREPA project implementation, like a good way of involving
the community in the project implementation. Chief Of Party (COP) of TREPA project,
Mr. HABIMANA Olivier noted that Community approach is highly recommended to be
used in TREPA Project as it will ensure increased ownership of project
activities and improved technical and financial capacity to them.Already proposed TREPA project Hubs by Project Management Unit (PMU) such as Ngoma
TREPA Hub, Gatsibo TREPA Hub, and Rwamagana TREPA Hub were officially validated
with project beneficiaries and their urgent equipping and operationalization by
all concerned TREPA project implementing entities and service providers was
recommended by the workshop.
Drafting a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to be signed between implementing entities and Districts was
urged by the workshop and District legal adviser was requested to be part of
MoU drafting and validation.
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Rwanda RWA19010