The City of Kigali's Bwiza Riverside Homes project earns international acclaim for its sustainable housing initiatives.
The City of Kigali has received global recognition for its efforts in promoting green affordable housing, awarded by the Global Partnership for Local Investment, an initiative of the World Economic Forum in collaboration with UN-Habitat, the United Nations program focused on human settlements and sustainable urban development.
The award was announced during the Urban Transformation Summit held on October 21 in San Francisco, USA. The Bwiza Riverside Homes project, developed by ADHI Corp, was specifically cited for its innovative approach to sustainable housing.
To qualify for this prestigious award, nominated projects must demonstrate a robust model of collaboration between public and private entities, showcasing shared risks and benefits, tangible outcomes, and the potential for replication in other urban contexts.
Hassan Adan Hassan, CEO of ADHI Africa Holding Ltd, expressed that the acknowledgment of Kigali and the Bwiza Riverside Homes project is a significant honor for both Rwanda and ADHI Africa Holding Ltd. He emphasized that this recognition highlights Rwanda’s leadership in delivering inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable housing solutions that align with the country’s national development goals and climate commitments.
Significance of the Recognition
According to Hassan, this recognition reinforces ADHI’s mission to revolutionize living conditions by building sustainable and inclusive communities powered by innovation and technology. For Rwanda, it validates a successful public-private partnership model that demonstrates how collaboration can effectively deliver affordable, low-carbon housing at scale while advancing the country’s climate agenda.
The Bwiza Riverside Homes development spans 30 hectares and is being implemented in five phases. The first phase has already delivered 247 completed homes, with 62 percent classified as affordable units. The selling price of these homes falls within the threshold set by the Rwandan government, which is up to Rwf40 million.
Under Rwanda’s affordable housing policy, homes should cost no more than Rwf40 million to Rwf50 million, with repayment structured over a period of 15 to 20 years. The second phase, currently under development, aims to deliver an additional 440 homes, with the overall project targeting approximately 2,270 units upon completion.
This phased implementation approach ensures steady progress, efficient cash flow, and continuous feedback integration from residents to enhance design and livability, according to Hassan.
Innovative Building Techniques
Each home at Bwiza Riverside is constructed using light-gauge steel framing technology and energy-efficient materials, certified under the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) EDGE Advanced Green Building Standard. EDGE is an initiative that empowers emerging markets to scale up efficient buildings in a fast, easy, and affordable manner.
The main objective of EDGE green building certification is to provide a measurable and credible solution to demonstrate the business case for building green and to unlock financial investment. Hassan noted that the certification confirms that the project achieves energy savings of 40 to 70 percent, water savings of 21 to 35 percent, and embodied energy in materials savings of 57 to 66 percent.
Key green features of the project include sponge-city infrastructure that absorbs rainwater, regulates runoff, and reduces flooding risk. Additionally, permeable pavements and wetland restoration efforts promote ecological balance, biodiversity, and groundwater recharge.
The project also incorporates geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) retaining walls, which replace traditional concrete or stone walls. These innovative structures utilize reinforced engineered soil with a vegetated surface, reducing cement use, lowering embodied carbon, improving drainage, and evolving into living green walls that enhance both stability and aesthetics.
This recognition of Kigali’s commitment to green affordable housing not only showcases the city’s innovative approaches but also sets a benchmark for other urban areas in Africa and beyond to follow.
For more information, visit the original article on The New Times.
Key Points
- Kigali awarded for green affordable housing by Global Partnership for Local Investment.
- Bwiza Riverside Homes project recognized for its sustainable housing initiatives.
- Public-private partnership model validated for delivering affordable, low-carbon housing.
- Project aims for approximately 2,270 units with innovative building techniques.
- EDGE certification confirms significant energy and water savings.
Sources: Why Kigali got global award for green affordable housing
