Study and support for beekeeping, ecotourism and native plants Rwanda
AGRICULTURE 
ENVIRONMENT 
FORESTRY
Services: Technical and economic advice, Diagnostics and feasibility studies
Countries: Rwanda
Dates of intervention: 2024/02 - 2024/08
Amount executed: 128 829 €
Total amount of the service: 128 829 €
Main backer: Belgian development agency - Client
Other backers: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Main beneficiary: Belgian development agency
Support provider: SalvaTerra
Experts: Anis CHAKIB, David COMBAZ, Sophia LYAMOURI
Certificate of satisfactory executionRW ENABEL études CdV Rapport d'avancement 1RW ENABEL études CdV Rapport final
Context of the service
The Eastern Province of Rwanda covers 9,813 km² and is home to various ecosystems, including the ones of the Akagera National Park.
With 3 million inhabitants, this Province faces major socio-economic challenges: in 2017, a third of the population lived in poverty, 15% of whom were in extreme poverty. Dependence on agriculture (70%) and climate change exacerbate land degradation.
Faced with these challenges, national strategies such as Vision 2050 and the Green Growth Strategy (GGCRS) aim for carbon neutrality and sustainable development.
The COMBIO project, funded by the Swedish Development Agency (SIDA) and implemented by ENABEL, aims to restore biodiversity and improve livelihoods in the Eastern Province through 14 Community Biodiversity Sanctuaries (CBS).
SalvaTerra was commissioned to analyze three value chains (beekeeping, ecotourism and indigenous tree seeds) and develop business plans, to foster community empowerment, gender equality and youth engagement.
Services provided
SalvaTerra has supported the COMBIO project to ensure the sustainable autonomy of Community Biodiversity Sanctuaries (CBS) by developing viable value chains, including beekeeping, ecotourism, and native tree seeds.
In Phase 1, an in-depth SWOT analysis of the 12 CBSs was conducted, followed by recommendations. In Phase 2, business plans and roadmaps tailored to the 6 prioritized CBSs were developed, through participatory workshops and interviews with local and national stakeholders.
This work included the assessment of markets, operational challenges (access to water, organization, etc.) and economic opportunities to maximize community revenues.
In this way, SalvaTerra has contributed to community empowerment, gender equality and youth engagement, while integrating biodiversity monitoring mechanisms. These efforts are ultimately aimed at strengthening the economic and ecological resilience of CBSs in the long term.
Summary of the service
Study and support for beekeeping, ecotourism and native plants, contributing to the COMBIO project's efforts to promote the autonomy of Community Biodiversity Sanctuaries (CBS): SWOT analysis of the 12 CBS; Development of business plans and roadmaps for 6 prioritized CBSs, through workshops and interviews; Recommendations for community empowerment, gender equality and biodiversity monitoring mechanisms.