Climatelinks Photo Gallery

This photo was taken in the Western Province of Rwanda, Rubavu District, on March 25, 2021, under the Sebeya Landscape Restoration Pilot Program. It shows the climate-smart agriculture practices of landscape restoration through radical terraces and agroforestry trees. Radical terraces are a climate adaptation strategy that deals with the adverse effects of climate change manifested by heavy rains and causing soil erosion. Additionally, radical terraces are known to reduce water velocity, increase soil infiltration, reduce nutrient depletion, and increase crop productivity. With increased productivity, the smallholder farmers get enough food and income, which helps them access other foods they do not produce. In this regard, the radical terraces allow the farmers to resist and adapt to climate change, generate income, and enhance food security. Agroforestry is very important as it contributes to climate change mitigation in three ways: sequestering carbon in biomass and soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and avoiding emissions through reduced fossil fuel-based energy usage on farms. Additionally, agroforestry provides shade for companion crops and farmers, protecting them against rising temperatures and the harmful effects of raging storms. Agroforestry trees were also found to diversify income by providing additional resources like fruits, timber, vegetables, and fodder in Rwanda.

This photo was taken in the Western Province of Rwanda, Rubavu District, under the Sebeya Landscape Restoration Pilot Program. It shows the climate-smart agriculture practices of landscape restoration through radical terraces and agroforestry trees. Radical terraces are a climate adaptation strategy that deals with the adverse effects of climate change manifested by heavy rains and causing soil erosion. Additionally, radical terraces are known to reduce water velocity, increase soil infiltration, reduce nutrient depletion, and increase crop productivity. With increased productivity, the smallholder farmers get enough food and income, which helps them access other foods they do not produce. In this regard, the radical terraces allow the farmers to resist and adapt to climate change, generate income, and enhance food security. Agroforestry is very important as it contributes to climate change mitigation in three ways: sequestering carbon in biomass and soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and avoiding emissions through reduced fossil fuel-based energy usage on farms. The agroforestry in this photo produces adaptation benefits for the local climate, such as reducing the impact of extreme weather events like drought, and heavy rain, improving soil and water availability, attracting pollinators, and improving biodiversity.

A farmer irrigates his plot of watermelons in Rwanda's district of Kayonza. This is one of the 20 environmentally-friendly solar-powered irrigation systems funded by USAID at the cost of $1,056,976 (RWF 1,094,415,255), to irrigate about 200 hectares utilised by over 1,200 farmers. The farmers can now increase the production of fruits and vegetables two-fold up from two planting seasons to all year round mainly around Rwanda's drought-prone districts of Bugesera, Ngoma, Kayonza and Gatsibo. The five-year Hinga Weze project closed in 2022 after supporting the sustainable intensification of Rwandan smallholder farming systems for 733,000 farmers, with emphasis on climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive approaches and social behaviour change to the production and consumption of five value chains including nutritious foods: high-iron beans, Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), Irish potato, maize, and horticulture. Hinga Weze also worked to increase the resilience of Rwanda’s agricultural and food systems to a changing climate.

A farmer irrigates his plot of watermelons in Rwanda's district of Kayonza. This is one of the 20 environmentally-friendly solar-powered irrigation systems funded by USAID at the cost of $1,056,976 (RWF 1,094,415,255), to irrigate about 200 hectares utilized by over 1,200 farmers. The farmers can now increase the production of fruits and vegetables two-fold, from two planting seasons to all year round mainly in Rwanda's drought-prone districts of Bugesera, Ngoma, Kayonza, and Gatsibo. The five-year Hinga Weze project closed in 2022 after supporting the sustainable intensification of Rwandan smallholder farming systems for 733,000 farmers, with emphasis on climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive approaches and social behavior change to the production and consumption of five value chains including nutritious foods: high-iron beans, Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), Irish potato, maize, and horticulture. Hinga Weze also worked to increase the resilience of Rwanda’s agricultural and food systems to a changing climate.

A farmer harvests french beans in Rwanda's district of Kayonza. This is one of the 20 environmentally-friendly solar-powered irrigation systems funded by USAID at the cost of $1,056,976 (RWF 1,094,415,255), to irrigate about 200 hectares utilized by over 1,200 farmers. The farmers can now increase the production of fruits and vegetables two-fold, from two planting seasons to all year round mainly in Rwanda's drought-prone districts of Bugesera, Ngoma, Kayonza, and Gatsibo. The five-year Hinga Weze project closed in 2022 after supporting the sustainable intensification of Rwandan smallholder farming systems for 733,000 farmers, with emphasis on climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive approaches and social behavior change to the production and consumption of five value chains including nutritious foods: high-iron beans, Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), Irish potato, maize, and horticulture. Hinga Weze also worked to increase the resilience of Rwanda’s agricultural and food systems to a changing climate.

A farmer irrigates his plot at Rukumberi solar-powered irrigation site constructed by Hinga Weze in Ngoma District. This is one of the 20 environmentally-friendly solar-powered irrigation systems funded by USAID to irrigate 202 hectares of land utilized by over 1,200 farmers. The farmers can now double their production of fruits and vegetables by shifting from producing in two seasons to all-year-round production. The USAID-funded irrigation sites were installed by the USAID Feed the Future Hinga Weze project, implemented by CNFA, in Rwanda's drought-prone districts of Bugesera, Ngoma, Kayonza, and Gatsibo. The five-year Hinga Weze activity closed in June 2022 after supporting over 733,000 farmers to increase their productivity of drought-resistant and nutritious crops, improving their incomes and nutritious food consumption.

fish farming in Rwanda is mostly done on small scale 

Rwanda is the smallest country located in the East African region. From May to July, Rwanda suffers from droughts, especially in its Eastern province. This photo was taken on the morning of July 2nd, 2022. It shows the rising sun. The prolonged drought in the area leads to a lack of water, a lack of biodiversity, the drying of grasses and shrubs, and wind erosion.

Solid waste management is still one of Rwanda's most challenging environmental issues. Dumping sites are mostly found near markets, while domestic waste is often thrown into farms to become fertilizer. This photo shows a dumping site near Mahoko Market, Rubavu District, Mudende sector in the Western province of Rwanda.

Water in Rwanda has become a serious issue due to unplanned settlement structures and a lack of water treatment plants. Most Rwandans use and drink stagnant water from rivers, lakes, and dams. This water is generally salty. This photo was taken in the Kanzenze sector, Rubavu District, in the western part of Rwanda.

Away from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and its three satellite cities of Rwamagana, Bugesera, and Muhanga, Musanze is one of eight secondary cities home to numerous green spaces and infrastructure. It is also home to the largest part of the Volcanoes National Park, and the forest is thick due to heavy rainfall.



The city is full of greenery, as seen from the streets and road junctions. It is also concerned with generating green energy. This photo was taken at the Fatima Hotel in the Muzane district.

Ampersand is Africa’s first and leading integrated electric motorcycle and transport energy solution. They build affordable electric vehicles and charging systems for millions of motorcycle taxi (moto) drivers in East Africa. In May 2022, Ampersand showed Power Africa around Kigali eMoto-style and explained eMobility challenges and opportunities and how electric vehicles can solve multiple problems on energy systems while creating economic opportunity on the continent. This cleantech transport solution is climate-smart tech for Africa being designed and developed right here. It unlocks the productive use of energy and economic opportunity by moving people around cost-effectively and efficiently while doing less harm to the planet.

Western parts of Rwanda has very steep hill sides prone to soil erosion and severe soil degradation. Climate Change is expected to result in increase in extreme events is likely to affect the heavily populated, denuded, steep hillsides much more than other areas. A Feed the Future project called Hinga Weze is promoting radical terracing and planting Agroforestry trees to were planted to provide wood for fuel and fodder for livestock/social protection while avoiding deforestation and improving food security. This has multiple additional benefits, namely reduced soil erosion and increased resilience to heavy rains through improved slope stability; water management and nutrient recycling which improve agricultural production and carbon sequestration.

This picture was taken by Victor Mugarura September 9, 2019, in Ngoma District in Eastern Rwanda. It features one the beneficiaries of Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze Activity, a five-year $32.6 million USAID-funded project (2017-2022) that aims to sustainably increase smallholder farmers’ income, improve the nutritional status of women and children, and increase the resilience of Rwanda’s agricultural and food systems to a changing climate. Hinga Weze works to empower over 530,000 smallholder farmers across 10 districts.

This woman is pictured near a water reservoir constructed as a partnership with Rwanda Agriculture and Livestock Board (RAB) to set up several solar-powered irrigation schemes to irrigate 300 Hectares in 4 districts. The solar scheme is made up of a water source, a solar plates and generator and a 500 cubic metre reservoir. Like all selected scheme points, the pictured reservoir is part of a complete solar-powered scheme located in Rukumberi Sector, a semi-arid area in Ngoma District in Eastern Rwanda where her cooperative will now be able to grow vegetables all-year-round mainly watermelon, tomatoes and green pepper.

This picture was taken by Victor Mugarura September 9, 2019, in Ngoma District in Eastern Rwanda. It features one the beneficiaries of Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze Activity, a five-year $32.6 million USAID-funded project (2017-2022) that aims to sustainably increase smallholder farmers’ income, improve the nutritional status of women and children, and increase the resilience of Rwanda’s agricultural and food systems to a changing climate. Hinga Weze works to empower over 530,000 smallholder farmers across 10 districts.

This man is pictured tending to his tomato garden irrigated using a solar-powered scheme constructed as a partnership with Rwanda Agriculture and Livestock Board (RAB) and Ngoma District. This is part of a project to set up several solar-powered irrigation schemes to irrigate 300 Hectares in 4 districts. The solar scheme is made up of a water source, a solar plates and generator and a 500 cubic metre reservoir. The pictured sprinklers and solar panels are part of a complete solar-powered scheme located in Rukumberi Sector, a semi-arid area in Ngoma District in Eastern Rwanda where his cooperative will now be able to grow vegetables all-year-round mainly watermelon, tomatoes and green pepper.

This picture was taken behalf of Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Weze by Herve Irankunda, February 2, 2019, in Ngororero District in Southwestern Rwanda. It features a woman on a terraced hillside constructed by Hinga Weze, a five-year $32.6 million USAID-funded project (2017-2022) that aims to sustainably increase smallholder farmers’ income, improve the nutritional status of women and children, and increase the resilience of Rwanda’s agricultural and food systems to a changing climate. Hinga Weze works to empower over 530,000 smallholder farmers across 10 districts.

This woman is pictured tending to her Irish potato plot where she was mobilized together with fellow cooperative members to construct the terraces in order to curb soil erosion and floods that were washing away top fertile soils hence reduce productivity around this hilly parts of Rwanda. The farmers, including women, are now able to double their produce from the same plot of land and are gaining more income. Working with districts, Hinga Weze plans to construct about 2,000 of progressive and radical terraces.