Rwanda Young Water Professional

Happy International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025! This year’s theme, “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” underscores the urgent need to address the escalating costs of disasters by shifting from reactive responses to proactive investments in disaster risk reduction. We’re excited to share that our article “Nature-based flood adaptation in Kigali’s Mpazi sub-catchment” has been published on United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) PreventionWeb. The piece highlights how Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) can play a critical role in reducing disaster risks while strengthening community resilience and providing long-term benefits for both people and ecosystems. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dPvQv4FP

Together with WRI and other #SUNCASA Kigali partners, we organized a two-day review of SUNCASA Reforestation & Afforestation Sites across Gasabo, Kicukiro, and Nyarugenge districts. During the sessions, we shared updates on planned activities, highlighted progress made so far, and engaged stakeholders in meaningful discussions on key implementation challenges and practical solutions. The site visits offered valuable on-the-ground insights and helped align priorities ahead of the upcoming planting season. WRI Africa International Institute for Sustainable Development City of Kigali Avega Agahozo ARCOS Network RWANDA FORESTRY AUTHORITY (RFA) Gasabo District Kicukiro District Ir. MARC MANYIFIKA (MSc) Japheth Habinshuti N Ministry of Environment

Yesterday, we celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of our RYWP Summer School Program! 🎓 This two-month intensive program was designed to empower fresh graduates and final-year students with practical skills in water and environmental engineering through real-case projects. Fellows combined technical training, mentorship, and independent research to develop solutions for pressing sector challenges, while also building valuable professional networks. The program was truly all about hands-on learning, real-world experience, and exposure to updated modern tools used in water and environmental engineering. Beyond the technical knowledge, fellows gained invaluable mentorship and guidance from professionals across RYWP’s hubs. We were thrilled to see our fellows confidently present their work in front of experts from the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), WaterAid Rwanda, WASAC Group , and the University of Rwanda. The presence of sector experts highlighted the program’s value as a bridge between academia and the professional world. A special thanks to the Country Director of WaterAid Rwanda Vestine MUKESHIMANA for gracing the occasion, your presence sent a powerful message of encouragement and support to our young professionals. 👏 Congratulations to all the fellows, the future of Rwanda’s water sector looks bright in your hands!

Thank you to the Nature-Based Solutions platform for featuring our work on “Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for Flood Adaptation in Mpazi Sub-Catchment, Kigali”. Start your week with this must-read article for anyone interested in Urban Nature-Based Solutions for climate adaptation, and discover how these interventions can be mainstreamed into Kigali’s Master Plan to enhance long-term flood resilience. UNESCO Rwanda National Commission (CNRU) - City of Kigali - Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB)

Today, our own Rita NISHIMWE joined the Policy Dialogue at the African Youth Pathways to Resilience inception workshop, organized by Partnership for African Social & Governance Research (PASGR) in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation. She highlighted the barriers youth face in policy engagement, including limited access, limited representation, and lack of feedback, and proposed solutions such as institutionalized youth platforms, decentralized consultations, stronger policy literacy, and inclusive representation. Her message was clear: youth must be seen and heard not only as beneficiaries but also as partners in shaping Rwanda’s future.

Rwanda Young Water Professional is currently attending a 2-day training organized by IISD and WRI for the #SUNCASA project, engaging Kigali partners, government institutions, infrastructure designers, project planners, policymakers, public budget holders, city-level officials, and other stakeholders. The training focused on Integrated Economic Valuations for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), aiming to enhance understanding of the value of NbS for urban climate adaptation and equip participants to advocate for further investments in nature-based solutions, supporting sustainable and climate-resilient cities.

Yesterday was so amazing! Our #RYWPConnect2025 was nothing short of great vibes, inspiring moments, and beautiful people. You just had to be there! We were honored to be joined by some of our founding members and partners creating a meaningful exchange between different generations of RYWP. Stories were shared, lessons were passed on, and ideas for the future took shape through rich dialogue. Together, we celebrated the progress RYWP has made over the years, showcased hub achievements, welcomed new members, and strengthened the ties that unite us. It was more than a gathering. It was a reminder of who we are, how far we’ve come, and the exciting journey that lies ahead.