ARDE/KUBAHO and Water 4 Virungas Partner to Improve Water Access and Resolve Conflicts in the Greater Virunga Region

Kigali, Rwanda – February 14, 2020: ARDE/KUBAHO, represented by its President Murenzi Paul, and Water 4 Virungas, represented by Project Coordinator Gertjan Leereveld, have signed an agreement to collaborate on a vital water resource management project. Funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Rwanda, this initiative is being implemented in the Virungas buffer zone by a consortium led by MDF Global, an internationally recognized consulting firm in the field of international development cooperation.

The Water 4 Virungas (W4V) program focuses on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) across the Greater Virunga landscape, addressing the critical issues of water scarcity and related conflicts. By increasing access to clean water and improving watershed management at local, regional, and transboundary levels, the project aims to contribute to conflict mitigation and enhance regional security.

W4V promotes collective action at multiple levels to improve security, health, and productivity at the household level. The program’s integrated approach brings people together to address water challenges within communities and across borders, thereby fostering peace and transforming conflicts through improved water service delivery and resource management.

The joint project between ARDE/KUBAHO and W4V specifically targets the transformation of conflicts in the buffer zone through the construction of 221 rainwater harvesting tanks (RWHTs). The initiative, which runs from February to December 2020, will ensure cost-effective, high-quality construction while adhering to the standards set in the tender documents. ARDE/KUBAHO will take the lead in implementing the project, which will be executed in four sectors across two districts: Bugeshi sector in Rubavu district, and Kabatwa, Jenda, and Mukamira sectors in Nyabihu district.

“ARDE/KUBAHO’s team will be on the ground to ensure that construction activities are carried out using quality materials and in full compliance with the standards outlined in the tender document,” said Leereveld.

This collaboration highlights the importance of sustainable water management in conflict-prone areas, and the positive impact that projects like this can have on community health, security, and development across the region.

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