A few years ago, the Amayaga region in Rwanda’s Southern Province told a difficult story. Fertile soils had been washed away, forests stripped, and communities left vulnerable to the harsh realities of climate change. Families struggled to grow enough food, women bore the brunt of long hours searching for firewood, and youth lacked sustainable livelihood opportunities.

But Amayaga’s story began to change.

Through a bold partnership led by the Government of Rwanda, implemented by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) with support from UNDP Rwanda, and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the first Green Amayaga project turned hope into action. More than 35,500 hectares of land were restored through sustainable land management, agroforestry, and riverbank protection. Over 1,400 hectares of forest plantations were established, while 405 hectares of hilltop forests were brought back to life with indigenous trees. Over 224,877 households with improved cookstoves to reduce biomass consumption. Through these interventions, the project cut or avoided nearly 626,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions,  the equivalent of removing over 130,000 cars from the road for a year.

Beyond landscapes, the project touched lives. It directly improved the wellbeing of more than 414,000 people, most of them being women, through clean cooking technologies, livestock distribution, tree nurseries, and fruit farming. Over 6,500 people were trained in climate-smart agriculture and tree husbandry, and district capacity to implement restoration policies grew to 61%. Farmers saw their soils revive. Women launched savings groups and small businesses linked to agroforestry. Families who received cows, goats, or pigs found new security in food and income.

“The Green Amayaga journey has taught us valuable lessons,” said Juliet Kabera, Director General of REMA. “As we expand into six districts from 2026-2030, our priority is to build resilience by restoring ecosystems, empowering communities, and ensuring that mistakes of the past become stepping stones for better results.”

That expansion was confirmed when leaders came together to review a project, and endorse a new chapter. At the Local Project Appraisal Committee, six districts, Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyanza, Gisagara, Huye, and Muhanga, stood side by side to rally behind the next phase of Green Amayaga. Known formally as the LDCF IV Project, this new phase expands the initiative across the entire Amayaga landscape. Supported by the Global Environment Facility, it promises even bigger impact: scaling climate-smart farming, expanding irrigation systems, empowering women and youth-led enterprises, and strengthening local governance so resilience is embedded in everyday planning.

“This project reflects Rwanda’s vision for a climate-resilient future,” said Fatmata Sesay, Resident Representative of UNDP Rwanda. “With over $66 million in co-financing from national partners and the private sector, it demonstrates strong ownership and confidence in building sustainable livelihoods, especially for women and vulnerable groups.”

The Green Amayaga project is more than an environmental success; it is a model of how ecosystems and people’s lives are interconnected. Restoring degraded land has meant healthier soils that increase agricultural productivity, forests that provide both biodiversity and income, cleaner energy solutions that save women’s time and health, and youth empowered with new skills and opportunities.

As Rwanda pursues its Vision 2050, projects like Green Amayaga offer proof that sustainable development is possible when communities, governments, and partners align. The journey ahead will bring its share of challenges, but applying the lessons of the past will be vital to building lasting resilience.  The story of Amayaga shows us that resilience is not abstract, it is lived. It is a farmer whose harvest survives a drought, a woman who builds a business from tree seedlings, and a child who breathes cleaner air because her family no longer burns firewood.

Restoring ecosystems is restoring lives. In Amayaga, success is now being scaled to transform even more communities.