Rwanda is a landlocked, tropical highland country in East Africa. The country is exposed to the impacts of climate change, experiencing increasing rainfall extremes, with shorter and more intense rainy seasons(Rwanda Climate Change Portal).

Rwanda’s Climate Action Plan, reflected in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), outlines the country’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. The country aims to cut emissions by 16% below business-as-usual levels by 2030 through domestic efforts, with a further 22% reduction dependent on international support, for a total target of 4.6 million tCO₂e. Mitigation measures focus on agriculture, energy, waste, and industry, with agriculture expected to deliver nearly half of the planned emissions reductions. Adaptation priorities include climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable land and forest management, water security, disaster risk monitoring, climate-smart mining, public health, and green buildings. Overall, Rwanda seeks to build a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy and achieve a clean, healthy, and climate-resilient nation by 2050. (Rwanda Updated NDC May 2020).

CARE has worked in Rwanda since 1984, and it currently implements humanitarian and development programs in 17 districts, focusing on improving the lives of vulnerable communities, especially women and girls. Under its 2021-2025 program strategy, CARE aims to support 1.5 million disadvantaged women and girls aged 10 to 59 to transition out of poverty and thrive in a sustainable private sector-led economy with equal rights and dignified living conditions. Since the 1994 genocide, CARE has provided emergency relief and long-term recovery support, including food, shelter, water, health, education, livelihoods, and refugee assistance, while working with government and civil society partners to advance women’s empowerment, good governance, and community resilience.