Scaling Green Infrastructure for a Resilient Rwanda

Across African cities and globally, nature-based solutions (NBS) and green-gray infrastructure (GGI) interventions are changing the landscape of climate resilience. When done right, these projects can protect people from climate shocks, enhance biodiversity, and improve socio-economic and health outcomes. According to a WRI 2025 report, new NBS projects in sub-Saharan Africa have increased by an average of 15% annually from 2012-2021. Now, the question is how to sustain this momentum and ensure that NBS is integrated into long-term climate resilience planning.

Under its Green-Gray Infrastructure Accelerator, WRI is bringing a cross-sectoral approach to NBS integration and fostering peer learning exchanges across African cities. In Rwanda, WRI has convened cross-sectoral stakeholders to implement ambitious NBS projects for urban resilience at the city scale – restoring or planting 2,407 hectares and over 100,000 trees over two years. At the same time, building on a national push for climate resilience and green growth, these partnerships have worked to integrate NBS into emerging climate and urbanization plans at city and national scales.