9th September 2022: Water scarcity is currently affecting 8 districts of Eastern and Amayaga region in Southern provinces. They are namely Kayonza, Ngoma, Kirehe, Bugesera, Gisagara, Nyanza, Ruhango, and Kamonyi.

In line with the sustainable management of groundwater resources to address water scarcity, the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) and UNICEF Rwanda conducted a study aimed at conducting groundwater mapping in concerned districts.

This is under the framework of the project titled 'Consultancy to Provide Technical Services for Groundwater Mapping in Rwanda.’

In this regard, a two-day validation workshop for the study has been held in Kigali, from 8th to 8th September 2022, convening different water stakeholders.

Dr. Emmanuel Rukundo, RWB Director General, has emphasized the importance of stakeholders’ engagement as a success factor.

 “We look forward to stronger cooperation and active participation of all partners for a successful implementation of this study, which will lead, among others, to identify some specific implementations of groundwater exploitation in Rwanda.”

“We thank UNICEF Rwanda for the groundwater governance support to increase the scope of current groundwater information in terms of data availability, area covered, as well as metering and monitoring on production boreholes,” he said.

He further accentuated that these initiatives are in line with the country’s vision towards water resources management, which is centered on valuing water, and the International Water Day 2022 theme "Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible.

Julianna Lindsey, UNICEF Rwanda Representative, has also remarked that they will partner with RWB on resource mobilization for strengthening sustainable groundwater management and continue efforts to generate evidence of the climate change impacts and water scarcity on children.