Evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment effectiveness in Rwanda

Abstract

EIA is widespread as an instrument to manage the environment and a debate to which extent it achieves its goals or purpose has been created. This was measured in terms of EIA effectiveness. This Thesis seeks to assess the current status of EIA effectiveness in Rwanda, identify people's perception and providing the recommendations to improve EIA practice effectiveness in Rwanda. Policy review, desk research methods and quantitative survey were used to study EIA process and to assess EIA practice. The views of certified EIA practitioners (80) in Rwanda and other considered groups from different competent institutions which include REMA, RDB, academia, NGOs and EIA developers (Project owners) were examined closely. Only 46.3% of the targeted groups responded the questionnaires. Data were captured and analyzed in the Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The policy review showed that the EIA in Rwanda started in 2005 and like in many other developing countries the EIA implantation is still a challenge and there is a perception for the project owners that EIA is costly especially for mitigation measures. The main strength was seen in policy and legal framework, and the weakness was found to be the lack of monitoring, insufficient public participation and lack of professionalism for EIA practitioners. To contribute to a more sustainable development plan some recommendations were made, which include enforcement of the follow-up and monitoring, training for EIA practioners, increase of ownership among the EIA experts, and the improvement of collaboration and interaction between competent institution, EIA experts and project owners.