Rwanda Integrated Water Security Program (RIWSP) Watershed Selection Criteria Document

The program's primary goal is to positively impact human health, food security, and resiliency to climate change for vulnerable populations in targeted catchments. To achieve this, RIWSP will increase sustainable and resilient access to water and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) related infrastructure and services, strengthen governance of water-related resources, and improve technical practices to optimize the use and resiliency of available water resources. The program's conceptual approach involves a coordinated set of simultaneous and sequential activities at multiple spatial scales, particularly at the community and central government levels. At the community level, RIWSP aims to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable rural populations through practical and innovative technical activities, while building capacities at the local level to ensure long-term benefits. At the district and national levels, the program will contribute to institutional strengthening through capacity building of human resources and support to the development and implementation of national policies and strategies related to water, food security, and climate change. The selection of target watersheds is a critical initial activity of the program. The sub-basins of Akanyaru and Akagera have been identified as the target areas, and up to two watersheds will be selected in each sub-basin. The selection process will be based on a set of criteria, including minimum requirements, integrated impact, potential for successful implementation, and sources of information. The criteria will be applied through a comprehensive framework that incorporates various concepts specifically applicable to the case of RIWSP. The program will implement activities related to Multiple Use Water Services (MUS), sanitation marketing and product/supply chain development, on-farm water use efficiency schemes, community climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and climate resilient water management. In the health sector, RIWSP will focus on scaling up community hygiene behavior change and integrating improved WASH into facility-based care. Lessons learned during these ground-level interventions will be used to influence existing policy and institutional frameworks and create better enabling conditions for the replication of ground-level interventions in other parts of the country. The program's approach is rooted in an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) framework, which involves a coordinated set of activities at multiple spatial scales. RIWSP will engage stakeholders at multiple levels, build capacity, and transfer knowledge to ensure the long-term benefits of the program. A significant proportion of the program's effort will be invested in effectively implementing and integrating a wide range of low-cost and innovative technologies for water supply, sanitation, and agriculture. The selection of target watersheds will be based on a comprehensive framework that incorporates various concepts specifically applicable to the case of RIWSP. The framework will include a set of criteria, such as minimum requirements, integrated impact, potential for successful implementation, and sources of information. The criteria will be applied through a multi-objective performance assessment, which will take into account the integrated impact of the program and the potential for successful implementation. The program will use a range of tools and techniques to assess the performance of the target watersheds, including the use of rating scales and areal computation. The results of the assessment will be used to identify the most suitable watersheds for the program, based on a range of factors, including the potential for successful implementation, the integrated impact of the program, and the availability of resources. The program's approach is designed to be replicable and scalable, with the aim of creating an enabling environment for long-term improvements in water and sanitation service delivery and capacity to adapt to climate changes. RIWSP will provide support and guidance to the Rwandan Government in the adoption and implementation of "adaptive" Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approaches, with the aim of creating better enabling conditions for the replication of ground-level interventions in other parts of the country.