Residents in Karongi and Rutsiro districts say the Congo Nile Divide (CND) Project has transformed their livelihoods by boosting agricultural productivity and creating new job opportunities. 

Spanning 444,600 hectares, the CND project is a strategic initiative to mitigate climate change through extensive land and forest restoration across the region.

Beyond environmental restoration, local testimonies highlight how the project has significantly upgraded economic well-being through sustainable land management and direct job creation.

Leopold Ishyaka, a resident of Rutsiro District, noted that soil stabilization has immediately translated into food security. "Before the project, our biggest challenge was severe erosion sweeping away the topsoil," Ishyaka shared. "On land where I previously harvested just 70 kilograms, I am now getting 100 kilograms. Since this is only our first season and the soil is still recovering, it is clear our yields will easily double in the future."

Similarly, Nyirabukara Nyirakama emphasized how modern terracing directly prevents crop loss. "Before these terraces were built, our crops and soil were regularly washed away. My seasonal harvest has now climbed from a mere 100 kilograms to 200 kilograms," she stated.

This agricultural shift is equally visible in Karongi District, where resident Theogene Basangira reported a massive leap in productivity. "After the terraces were constructed, our efficiency tripled. Previously, planting one ton of seed would only yield about three tons of harvest. On the newly terraced land, that same one ton of seed now yields five tons," Basangira explained.

In addition to transforming farming landscapes, the CND project serves as a crucial engine for employment. For many residents, the regular wages earned from terracing works have been converted into long-term assets and small-business capital. Local workers Diane Niyodusenga and Theogene Nzarerwanima both utilized their earnings to invest in livestock, purchasing cows to secure a sustainable income source for their families.

For Emmanuel Bazirake, a resident of Karongi District, the financial breakthrough provided a pathway to home improvement and entrepreneurship. "The wages I earned from the terracing work allowed me to pipe clean water directly into my compound," Bazirake proudly stated. "It also provided the exact capital I needed to open a small boutique shop, which I now successfully run alongside my project duties."

To date, the CND project has developed 367 hectares of radical terraces, surpassing its initial target of 330 hectares, and completed 250 hectares of progressive terraces. Furthermore, the initiative has introduced 113.4 hectares of agroforestry and created 4,878 green jobs, reinforcing local economic resilience.