Rwanda: Nearly 550 Households Around Volcanoes National Park to Get Business Support

What the report says

A new five-year programme is intended to support 547 households affected by the planned expansion of Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda, according to The New Times via AllAfrica. The project is linked to plans for resettlement in the Smart Green Village in Musanze District and is designed to help families build businesses and connect to markets as they adjust to the change.

The initiative is being carried out by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP), a pan-African consulting and investment firm. The partnership was signed in Kigali on November 2. The organisations said they want to widen economic opportunities for communities living near protected areas by offering business development support, access to finance and stronger links to value chains.

The report says Rwanda Development Board plans to expand the park by about 3,740 hectares, with the goal of creating more habitat for mountain gorillas and other wildlife. AWF said conservation and local livelihoods need to advance together, while ESP said communities should benefit economically from natural resources they help protect.

Beyond Rwanda, the partnership is also expected to support work in Uganda's Kidepo Valley Conservation Landscape. The report says the broader programme could later reach more than 3,500 households and focuses on areas such as horticulture, cotton and shea production.