Households in Musanze and Nyabihu Districts are beginning to experience the benefits of improved water access and land protection through the Volcanoes Community Resilience Project. 

As part of the initiative, 260 rainwater harvesting tanks have been installed across Musanze and Nyabihu Districts, providing families with a practical solution to recurring water challenges. For many, the tanks are already proving useful in meeting daily domestic needs. “Before, we struggled to fetch water every day, sometimes walking long distances,” says Musanabera Jacqueline, a resident of Nyange Sector,Musanze District. “Now, when the rains come, we collect and use the water for cooking, and cleaning. It has made our lives much easier.”

 Birikunzira Jean Pierre highlights another important change. “The tanks are not only giving us water for domestic use,” he explains, “they are also helping reduce soil erosion around our homes. When rainwater is captured and stored, it no longer runs wildly down the slopes, washing away soil and damaging our fields.” 

 Beyond individual households, the tanks are contributing to wider community resilience. By capturing and storing rainwater, they help protect farmland from erosion while also ensuring families have a reliable source of water during short dry spells.

The experience in Musanze and Nyabihu shows how localized interventions, such as rainwater harvesting, can strengthen resilience by improving water supply and safeguarding natural resources at the same.