Inclusive landscape management plan for the transformation of the agrifood system in Rubyiro Sub Catchment, Rwanda

Abstract

Inclusive landscape management (ILM) is a holistic approach to managing landscapes that considers the needs of all stakeholders, including local communities and people with disabilities. This Inclusive Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) seeks to provide a framework for the sustainable management and development of landscapes in the Rubyiro sub-catchment of Rwanda. The ILMP is designed to address the increasing pressure on landscapes in Rwanda from deforestation, land degradation, poor water management, unsustainable mining and climate change. The ILMP emphasizes the integration of social and ecological systems, local participation and sustainable resource use and management within landscapes. It is a response to ‘top-down’ approaches to sustainable development, in which power and decision-making are in the hands of external development professionals. Instead, the ILMP is based on shared ownership of decision-making and the full participation of all stakeholders.

This ILMP is the result of joint efforts between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), RWB, Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts in consultation with local stakeholders within Rubyiro sub-catchment in Rusizi catchment. The ILMP was developed through a participatory process that involved stakeholders from all sectors, including government, civil society, and the private sector. The process began with creating a narrative on the village level in Inteko y’abaturage (village meeting ) that served as a broad objective for promoting inclusive landscape management in the Rubyiro sub-catchment. The research team from Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) then worked with local stakeholders to assess the current state of the landscape and identify key challenges and opportunities. Based on the assessment, the research team and stakeholders co-developed a set of management strategies and interventions designed to address the key challenges and achieve the desired outcomes. The ILMP was designed with a shared vision for the landscape: “A well-managed Rubyiro sub-catchment to support prosperous, inclusive, and resilient communities, with economic actors safeguarding and being accountable for the health of ecosystems.” Based on the vision and identified challenges, stakeholders proposed various response strategies that included increased irrigation efficiency through adaptive and inclusive management; mechanisms to reduce postharvest losses; mechanisms for managing mining and forestry; Enhanced gender and youth involvement in decision-making; Improved income and livelihood diversification opportunities; Improved adoption of sustainable land/forest/water management practices; Increased food safety through reduced contamination from pesticides and the strengthening of local/traditional institutions for natural resources management.

The ILMP also includes a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress and ensure the interventions have the desired impact. It is critical to note that the ILMP is a living document that should be updated regularly to reflect changes in the landscape and the needs of the stakeholders. Hopefully, the ILMP will serve as a blueprint for sustainable and inclusive landscape management in the Rubyiro Sub-catchment and beyond. Throughout the whole engagement, it has been suggested to innovate on the approaches and technologies used, especially looking at increasing the momentum for erosion control and the sustainability of government investment in erosion control. The participants also discussed two other important knowledge products: understanding the ecological and economic niches of the savannah grass (Umukenke) and explore the income-generating activities of coffee, cassava leaves, fruit trees, and bamboo with gully reclamation as a niche.