Eastern Africa
Rwanda
Buildings
Green City Kigali, Rwanda
- The US$1.5 billion Green City Kigali (GCK) development project in Rwanda's capital city entails the development of a sustainable city across a 600-hectare site in the Kinyinya Hill area of Kigali’s Gasabo district
- Nearly 77.3% of Kigali’s population resides in unplanned settlements, making the city highly vulnerable to climate-related risks such as floods and landslides. The GCK scheme, implemented by the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA), addresses these challenges by focusing on the upgrade of informal settlements with innovative, sustainable and climate-resilient solutions
- There are six villages covered in the GCK masterplan for Kinyinya, which was released in early September. The villages are Ngaruyinka, Rusenyi, Birembo, Taba, Binunga and Gasharu, and all of them are spread across the Murama and Gasharu cells in Kinyinya Sector, with a total population of 125,400 residents
- The GCK masterplan has been developed with the purpose of delivering a bespoke urban development model underpinned by four foundations – affordable and socially equitable development; climate change adaptation and mitigation; resource efficiency; and culturally sensitive urban development
- A first-stage project will be implemented by the Green City Kigali Company on a 16-hectare site and will comprise a mixed-use neighbourhood integrating between 1,700 and 2,000 affordable houses, as well as shops, public spaces and efficient public transport
- The remaining area will include essential infrastructure such as roads, a network of blue-green corridors linking the hill to the wetlands, business centres, schools, hospitals and other vital facilities that will improve the lives of the Kinyinya community without requiring relocation
- Construction developments will be required to comply with the regulations of the masterplan to achieve a sustainable and climate-resilient city
- According to the masterplan, the overall GCK development will include 16 residential neighbourhoods with up to 30,000 housing units, of which 40% will be affordable. About 55% of the area will be dedicated to public spaces, including the 70-hectare Kinyinya Forest Eco Park
- In addition, 75% of the development’s power is to be generated internally and buildings will be constructed to require 40% less energy to run and use 20% less water. Buildings are also targeted to be constructed using local low-carbon and natural materials
- There will be 35 sites dedicated to education and training, with special focus on the manufacture of sustainable materials. Public facilities such as schools and health centres will be integrated into each neighbourhood. The development is also envisaged to be a smart city that facilitates knowledge and data sharing
- The GCK mobility network will include non-motorised transport lanes, bike stations and a bus rapid transit (BRT) system that will connect Kinyinya with the wider city. About 38% of trips are expected to be made on foot or bike and 40% by bus
- A total of 50,000 jobs are expected to be generated by the development
- A pilot phase of the project, set to launch over the next few years, will see the construction of around 2,000 homes on a 16-hectare site. The construction phase of the initial scheme could be completed by 2030
