Assessment of effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and its potential implication for sustainable development in Rwanda

Abstract

Environment and Climate Change have been selected as cross cutting issues for the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II), as Rwanda gears towards longer-term targets like the Vision 2020 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Although our country is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, including a high biological diversity the tendency has been towards over-exploitation and degradation due to high population growth. EIA is internationally recognized as a key tool to guide us on a path to sustainable development. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of EIA and its potential implication for sustainable development in Rwanda. This study was conducted in the CoK and focused on two important steps of EIA namely decision making for EIA certificates delivery and the implementation of Environmental Management Plan (EMP) of EIA reports recorded by REMA and RDB and show their consequential implications for sustainable development. Questionnaire (40 copies in total) and interview were administrated to EIA lead authority (REMA and RDB staff), EIA experts, developers, EIA researchers and local authorities in the CoK (at District and sector levels). Results from this study show that REMA and RBD face some challenges in decision making phase for the delivery of EIA certificates and in the follow up phase of EIA in Rwanda. ToR are not well developed sometimes due to lack of training, required skills and specific regulations to prepare the ToR for some new projects with advanced technologies, while developers do not comply with their EMP as planned in EIS. From all mentioned challenges, this study suggests to improve capacity building for EIA staff, developers and EIA experts and strengthen EMP monitoring and auditing for all running projects in order to allow EIA to produce intended results in promoting sustainable development.