Rwanda Second Multilevel Governance Dialogue - Local Government Consultation on NDC 3.0 Development

The second multilevel governance dialogue in Rwanda will bring together key stakeholders to advance Rwanda’s climate action agenda. Organized in collaboration with the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), this workshop aims to strengthen local government involvement in the formulation and implementation of Rwanda’s third-generation Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) for the 2025-2030 period.

Rwanda has been a pioneer in multilevel governance for climate action, joining 72 countries in the pledge to the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership for Climate Action (CHAMP) to enhance collaboration between national and subnational actors at COP28. Recognizing the vital role of local governments in climate adaptation and mitigation, the workshop will provide a platform for district and City of Kigali officials to deepen their understanding of the Paris Agreement, Rwanda’s climate commitments, and to review and validate previously identified district and city of Kigali interventions contributing to the NDC 3.0 development process, thus supporting one of the priority areas of CHAMP.

With 80 participants expected, including mayors, district environmental officers, and representatives from ministries, and development partners, the workshop will feature interactive presentations, panel discussions, group work, and plenary discussions. Day 1 will focus on  technical dialogue for district environmental officers, while Day 2 will be a high-level dialogue for mayors, senior national government officials and development partners. A key deliverable will be a roadmap outlining the role of local governments in achieving Rwanda’s NDC3.0 objectives.

As the UrbanShift partner spearheading multilevel dialogues to stimulate dialogue and enhance multilevel governance coordination to tackle climate change, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is partnering with REMA and RALGA to help districts to articulate their priorities for NDC 3.0, and to actively engage on these with national government, development partners, and other stakeholders. Building on its vast work of advancing climate action through multilevel governance engagements, ICLEI will bring to the fore the importance of multilevel partnerships and the role of local governments in realising NDC 3.0.  The workshop will also build on the Second Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP II) objectives and the outcomes of UrbanShift support in Rwanda. This includes the first Rwanda UrbanShift multilevel governance dialogue of 2023 themed “New-Age Infrastructure to Build Flood Resilience and Enhance Biodiversity in Rwandan Cities”,  which sought national-local coordination around the common goal of developing with climate-resilient and biodiversity-sensitive infrastructure solutions. 

Both the UrbanShift project and CHAMP through its NDC process seek to uphold multilevel governance as an effective means of implementing local climate action. As Rwanda strives for climate neutrality by 2050, this workshop will play a crucial role in ensuring that local governments are actively engaged in shaping and implementing climate policies. By fostering a stronger partnership between national and local actors, it will contribute to a more inclusive, ambitious, and effective climate action framework for the country.