Flood risk management in Rwanda: A review of basic conditions and recommendations for an enhanced institutional framework

Abstract

Rwanda faces substantial and growing challenges from flood impacts in both rural and urban areas. This review examines riverine flood events and flood risk management (FRM) in Rwanda, identifying key drivers, institutional developments and persistent gaps. Frequent flooding, which has affected more than 2 million people, is primarily driven by steep topography and intense rainfall, compounded by rapid urbanisation, deforestation and unregulated mining activities. Based on a systematic review of 19 stakeholder reports and 41 peer-reviewed research articles, the study highlights critical shortcomings in current FRM practices, including fragmented data management, the absence of dedicated FRM legislation and limited technical capacity at sub-national levels. Although existing interventions increasingly incorporate nature-based solutions such as terracing and reforestation, their effectiveness is often constrained by governance structures that follow administrative rather than hydrological boundaries. To support Rwanda’s Vision 2050, the review advocates a shift from reactive disaster response towards proactive, catchment-based flood governance. Contribution: Key recommendations include the establishment of technically specialised catchment-level institutions, the deployment of automated telemetry-enabled hydro-meteorological monitoring systems and the expansion of integrated green-grey infrastructure. Collectively, these measures aim to establish a robust, multi-level FRM framework capable of reducing vulnerability under escalating climate risks.