Minister in charge of environment Board of Directors Director General Office

Department of Corporate Services

Environmental regulation and pollution control department

Research, environmental planning and development department

Environmental education and mainstreaming department

Climate change and

international obligations department

Source: EDPRS 2008-2012 Figure 1: Structure for environmental management in Rwanda Environmental management at sub-national level

The decentralization policy has been in force in Rwanda since 2001. It provides a clear delineation of responsibilities. The central government is responsible for environmental policy, standards, regulations, technical guidance, monitoring and evaluation. The country’s four provinces and the capital of Ki- gali are responsible for coordinating activities within their ju- risdictions. The 30 district level governments are responsible for leading implementation of governmental activities at local level. These activities include the mandate for environmental management, including environmental information at that level. The provincial, district or town committees are respon- sible for environmental protection. Each district has an officer in charge of environmental management. Below the districts there are three further levels of administration: sectors (Imi- renge), cells (Akagari) and villages (Imidugudu) (GOR 2007).

16 Data infrastructure

The institutional and policy framework informs the structure for environmental data management, data flow and reporting.

The Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) is the key national development plan with priorities that are set for a five year period. The Strategy also reflects some of the long-term objectives of the Rwanda Vision 2020. Vision 2020 is a development strategy which seeks to funda- mentally transform Rwanda into a middle-income country by the year 2020. Implementation of the EDPRS is carried out at different levels through the Sector Strategic Plans and Line Agency Strategies and lower down through the District Devel- opment Plans and Vision 2020 Umurenge. Even though each level has a different planning tool, there are links between the different levels of the administrative hierarchy. To enhance