Rwanda

Profitable Tourism Through Improved Biodiversity Conservation (R-EcoT)

Snapshot of Success Business Education CLUSA will build the capacity of communities to safeguard their valuable natural resources while improving their own livelihoods. One area is the honey production industry.

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Home to nearly 10 million people, Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa and its population is growing at a rate of 2.766% ('07 est.). This landlocked nation, lacking natural resources and with minimal industry in place, is struggling to attract investment and improve agricultural output. Years of ethnic conflict have left the country in a fragile state both politically and economically. Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in mainly subsistence agriculture. The country's GDP of $1.968 billion translates to per capita GDP of only $1,600 (2006 est.) The result is that an estimated 60% of the population lives below the poverty line 60% ('01 est.) Poverty is exacerbated by the relatively high prevalence of HIV/AIDS (5.1% '03 est.) which is impacting life expectancy and productivity and threatens to fray the social fabric of the country. The Rwandan government has identified tourism as a priority area for alleviating poverty. The nation already has a relatively established reputation and potential as a tourist destination with Volcanoes and Akagera National Parks. Volcanoes National Park located in northwest Rwanda is a haven for mountain gorillas and Akagera National Park in northeastern Rwanda boasts nearly 600 species of birds, at least 50 mammals and 900 species of plants including 60 internationally protected orchids. Nyungwe Forest National Park will be the focal point of the R-EcoT project. Located in southwestern Rwanda, Nyungwe is home to 13 species of primates and an estimated 280 bird species. CLUSA brings to the R-EcoT project over 20 years of experience (1971-1993) supporting the development of cooperatives and small rural enterprises in Rwanda.

Current Project
Profitable Tourism Through Improved Biodiversity Conservation - R-EcoT (September 2006-September 2010)

Funding
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Partners
CLUSA is a subcontractor to International Resources Group (IRG), the prime contract holder. Other implementing partners are Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Family Health International (FHI).

Goal
Jointly accelerate rural economic growth and improve biodiversity conversation in and around Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Objectives

(1) Expanded economic opportunities in rural areas through strategic partnership and increased incomes from both on-farm and off-farm employment.
(2) Increased use of community health services, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services.

CLUSA Strategies
CLUSA provides targeted short-term assistance for market analysis, business management and enterprise development and related training in support of the project's three components: ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and health. Applying its experience in value chain development, the organization is identifying potential markets and opportunities for the development of forest-based enterprises, including ways to strengthen the value chain for forest products, non-timber and other natural products as well as ecotourism products.

In addition, CLUSA is tasked to develop and implement training and capacity building activities for nascent enterprises and cooperatives in ecolodge communities. Training activities encompasses business/financial planning, hospitality services, enterprise and cooperative formation, and other relevant training on business management practices related to creating successful and sustainable small enterprises.

• Threats to biodiversity demonstrably mitigated over the life of the project.
• Benefits to local communities demonstrated in the form of income generated, park revenues shared, employment, diversification of income sources and/or increased access to community services including health and other relevant services.
• Number of visitors to and revenues generated from Nyungwe Forest National Park to increase.
• Increased number of women participating in rural enterprise development activities and in key positions in their communities.
• Increased awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention and transmission by beneficiaries in the districts neighboring Nyungwe National Park.