Women at the Heart of TREPA’s Land Restoration in Rwanda’s Eastern Province – International Union for Conservation of Nature

Report on the Transforming Eastern Province Through Adaptation (TREPA) Project and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

The Green Climate Fund-funded project, Transforming Eastern Province Through Adaptation (TREPA), is implementing a gender-responsive framework to empower women in leadership roles for landscape restoration. This initiative directly addresses multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by integrating gender equality with climate action and sustainable land management. The project operates across several districts, including Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza, Rwamagana, Kirehe, Ngoma, and Bugesera, tackling issues of soil degradation, erratic rainfall, and pressure on natural resources.

2.0 Advancing SDG 5: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

TREPA’s core strategy is centered on achieving SDG 5 by ensuring women are not only beneficiaries but also key agents of change. The project actively promotes gender mainstreaming in all its activities.

• Leadership and Decision-Making: Women are intentionally included in leadership positions within landscape committees, farmer field schools, and community resource management structures. This empowerment allows them to influence restoration priorities and governance. Jolly Mukangarambe from Nyagatare stated, “TREPA taught us that our voice counts. I now lead in our village in restoring the land.”
• Skills Development: The project provides technical training in nursery management, agroforestry, and soil conservation, building women’s capacity and confidence. Nyirasikubwabo Donathalie from Nyagatare noted, “I used to think forests and land were only for men to manage, but TREPA showed me we women can do it too.”
• Shifting Social Norms: By placing women at the forefront of restoration, TREPA is redefining traditional gender roles and demonstrating that inclusive projects are more sustainable and effective.

3.0 Contribution to Environmental SDGs: Climate Action (SDG 13) and Life on Land (SDG 15)

The project’s activities have generated significant environmental impacts, directly contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through women-led initiatives.

1. Landscape Restoration: Women-led cooperatives manage nurseries that produce seedlings for reforesting hillsides, riverbanks, and community woodlots. This combats land degradation and desertification.
2. Sustainable Agriculture: Over 100 small-scale farmers, guided by leaders like Nyirabakwiye Denise, have adopted sustainable land restoration methods, including agroforestry and improved soil management.
3. Enhanced Ecosystem Resilience: The restoration of vegetation has led to stabilized hillsides, reduced soil erosion, improved water retention, and increased crop yields, building community resilience to climate change.

4.0 Fostering Socio-Economic Development (SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 7, SDG 8)

TREPA’s environmental work is intrinsically linked to socio-economic advancement, addressing several interconnected SDGs.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Women’s cooperatives have created a restoration-based economy. Women now earn income from seedling sales, land preparation services, and restoration contracts, enabling them to pay for school fees and other household needs.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): The planting of fruit trees, such as avocados, has improved household nutrition and food security while providing an additional source of income through sales to the Rwanda National Agricultural Export Board (NAEB).
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The provision of improved cooking stoves has reduced the time women and children spend collecting firewood. Cyiza Angelique, a farmer, confirmed, “The time we spent collecting firewood is now spent on other productive activities.”

5.0 Conclusion: An Integrated Model for Sustainable Development through Partnerships (SDG 17)

The TREPA project exemplifies an effective, integrated approach to sustainable development. It demonstrates that empowering women (SDG 5) is a powerful catalyst for achieving climate resilience (SDG 13), restoring ecosystems (SDG 15), and fostering economic prosperity (SDG 1, SDG 8). The success of this six-year initiative is underpinned by strong partnerships, aligning with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The project is jointly executed by IUCN in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA), CIFOR-ICRAF, Cordaid, and World Vision. This collaborative model proves that gender-responsive climate action can generate profound and lasting ecological and social regeneration.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   The article is fundamentally centered on empowering women. It repeatedly highlights how the TREPA project is “actively empowering women to take leadership roles,” employs a “gender-responsive approach,” and ensures women are intentionally included in “decision-making, leadership, and technical activities.” The personal stories of Denise, Jolly, and Donathalie exemplify women moving into leadership positions, gaining respect, and redefining social norms, which is the core of SDG 5.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   The primary activity of the TREPA project is environmental restoration. The article details efforts in “restoring degraded landscapes,” adopting “sustainable land restoration methods,” and using practices like “nursery preparation, fruit tree planting, soil management,” and “agroforestry.” The visible impact, such as “Hillsides once ravaged by erosion are stabilising,” directly addresses the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   The project is explicitly framed as a climate initiative, funded by the “Green Climate Fund” and named “Transforming Eastern Province Through Adaptation (TREPA).” It aims to build community resilience to climate impacts like “erratic rainfall.” The conclusion states that the project is creating a “new model of inclusive, gender-responsive climate action” and making communities “more resilient,” which aligns with the urgent need to combat climate change and its impacts.

4. SDG 1: No Poverty

   The economic empowerment of women is a significant outcome discussed in the article. It states that women “generated additional income” and achieved “new financial independence,” allowing them to “contribute to household needs, pay school fees… and diversify livelihoods.” This direct contribution to household financial stability is a key aspect of poverty reduction.

5. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   The article connects land restoration directly to improved food security and nutrition. By “planting avocados, women in Denise’s cooperative have improved nutrition for their families.” Furthermore, the restoration efforts lead to soil healing and improved water retention, resulting in better “crop yields,” which contributes to ending hunger and achieving food security.

6. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The project creates a “restoration economy” by providing new economic opportunities. The article mentions that “women now earn a steady income from seedling sales, land preparation services, and restoration contracts.” This creation of sustainable, productive employment for women contributes directly to inclusive economic growth.

7. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   A specific co-benefit mentioned is the “Access to improved cooking stoves,” which has “reduced the time women and children spend collecting fuel.” This addresses the need for cleaner, more efficient energy solutions at the household level, freeing up time for more productive activities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life.

  The article provides direct evidence for this target. It states, “TREPA’s gender-responsive practices extend beyond economic participation. Women step into leadership roles within landscape committees, farmer field schools, and community resource management structures.” Jolly Mukangarambe’s testimony, “I now lead in our village in restoring the land,” confirms this achievement.

• Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

  The project’s core mission is land restoration. The text describes how “Hillsides once ravaged by erosion are stabilising under agroforestry” and “Degraded hills are healing as vegetation retains soil.” This directly aligns with the goal of restoring degraded land.

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

  The project is designed to help communities adapt to climate challenges like “declining soil fertility, erratic rainfall, and mounting pressure on natural resources.” The conclusion explicitly states that through women’s leadership, “communities are becoming more resilient,” which is the central aim of this target.

• Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources…

  The article highlights that women’s cooperatives have become the “cornerstone of TREPA’s restoration economy.” Women gain “new financial independence” through income from seedling sales and restoration contracts, giving them greater control over economic resources.

• Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production…

  The project promotes “sustainable land restoration methods” like agroforestry and improved soil management. The article notes that as a result, “crop yields improve,” and the planting of fruit trees “enhance[s] nutrition,” contributing to resilient and sustainable food systems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of farmers adopting sustainable practices:

  The article explicitly states that Denise has helped “more than 100 small-scale farmers adopt sustainable land restoration methods.” This is a direct quantitative indicator of the project’s reach and impact.

• Increased income and economic diversification:

  This is an implied indicator. The article mentions women “generated additional income,” “earn a steady income from seedling sales,” and can now “pay school fees” and “diversify livelihoods.” These outcomes can be measured to track economic empowerment.

• Women in leadership positions:

  While not providing a specific number, the article strongly implies this can be measured. It notes that women “step into leadership roles within landscape committees” and “facilitate learning sessions.” The number of women holding such positions would be a key indicator of progress towards Target 5.5.

• Improved nutrition and food security:

  The article points to improved nutrition through the planting of fruit trees like avocados and improved crop yields. This can be measured through household dietary diversity scores or crop production data.

• Time saved from collecting fuel:

  The quote from Cyiza Angelique, “The time we spent collecting firewood is now spent on other productive activities,” points to a measurable indicator. The reduction in time spent on this chore can be quantified to show the impact of improved cooking stoves.

• Area of land restored:

  This is an implied environmental indicator. Phrases like “Hillsides once ravaged by erosion are stabilising” and “Degraded hills are healing” suggest that the area of land under restoration or showing improved health is a key metric for the project’s success.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: iucn.org