On Wednesday, 16 July 2025, Green City Kigali (GCK) and the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the beginning of a transformative partnership to restore urban ecosystems, promote sustainable livelihoods, and foster environmental education in Kinyinya, Kigali.
The signing ceremony brought together some of key stakeholders and partners of the Green City Kigali initiative including government, civil society, and the private sector to witness this important step toward building a greener and sustainable Kinyinya.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to building communities where people and nature thrive together,” said Basil Kalimba, CEO of Green City Kigali Company.
“By working with ARCOS, we are not only restoring ecosystems, but also creating opportunities for communities, especially youth and vulnerable groups, to support their sustainable livelihoods.”
“This partnership exemplifies how collaboration between public, private actors and civil society members can unlock innovation, scale impact, and build climate-resilient cities,” said Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa, CEO & Founder, ARCOS.
“We will work hand in hand with Green City Kigali to mobilize support, open new doors of opportunities, and attract the investment needed to implement impactful initiatives that will benefit both people and nature.”
One of the key components of the collaboration is restoring the former Deutsche Welle forest site in Kinyinya into an ecologically healthy ecosystem. Additional areas of collaboration include:
- Ecosystem Restoration & Urban Greening: Rehabilitating degraded areas, eradicating invasive species, reintroducing native flora, and promoting community-led tree planting.
- Community Education & Training: Establishing a living learning laboratory to engage students, youth, and the public in hands-on environmental education.
- Sustainable Livelihoods: Supporting green jobs, climate-smart agriculture, green enterprises, and financial inclusion for local communities.
- Technical Assistance: Providing expert input for environmental assessments, green infrastructure design, and investment planning.
ARCOS has been implementing the SUNCASA project to restore critical upstream micro-catchments in the lower Nyabarongo River watershed, aiming to reduce flood risk, landslides, and soil erosion. Through nature-based solutions, and in close collaboration with the City of Kigali and other local and international partners, the project contributes to building more resilient cities.
While ARCOS has made a significant impact in Rwanda’s environmental sector, mainly in rural areas, it now seeks to expand this impact into urban settings. By joining forces with an innovative initiative like Green City Kigali, ARCOS aims to build on its experience and scale nature-based solutions that support sustainable and climate-smart urban development.