Kigali is bringing nearly 500 hectares of urban wetlands back to life—the largest city-wide urban wetland rehabilitation in Africa and one of the largest in the world. This “living infrastructure” has new spaces for tourism, education and recreation, improves water quality and biodiversity, and enhances the usability of adjacent land while bolstering the city’s frontline defense against floods.
Through RUDPII, 220,500 people in flood-prone neighborhoods will directly benefit from reduced flooding and a healthier environment. That’s roughly a sixth of Kigali’s population gaining safety and quality-of-life improvements.
Five Wetland Ecosystem Parks will draw over 1.5 million annual visits by 2036, create 7,500 jobs (nearly half filled by women), and result in $45-90 million in avoided flood damages, linking recreation, research, and nature-based tourism to community benefits.