August 21, 2024: The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), in collaboration with the World Bank Group’s 2030 Water Resources Group (2030WRG), hosted a three-day learning session on Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) from August 21 to August 23, 2024.

The event also saw active participation from various private sector, public institutions, and NGOs stakeholders.

In his opening remarks, Bernard Musana Segatagara, Head of the Knowledge and Forecasting Hub Department at RWB, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of PES in the context of ongoing water resource management initiatives. He highlighted the close linkage between PES and the recently completed National Strategy for Water Resource Management (NST1), as well as the forthcoming NST2.

“The NST1 was designed to develop projects that manage water flows from the volcanic regions and other rivers, aiming to mitigate related disasters and improve water resource management. This initiative has been furthered by the signing of the Volcanic Catchment Resilience Project (VCRP),” Segatagara stated.

David Gachui Wanyoike, Regional Coordinator for 2030WRG, expressed his appreciation for the attendees and provided an overview of the risks and opportunities facing companies in the sector. “Companies are exposed to significant risks, but there are also substantial opportunities. Our efforts are focused on bridging the demand-supply gap by unlocking the potential of the private sector,” Wanyoike remarked.

During the subsequent two days of the learning session, participants conducted site visits to the Giciye and Rwaza hydropower plants. These visits allowed attendees to identify and discuss various challenges, including erosion, landslides, and sedimentation, which impact water resource management and hydropower operations.

The three-day session served as a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders in advancing sustainable water resource management through PES mechanisms.