Building in Rwanda? Discover which Projects and Works now require an Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) under the New Ministerial Order (August 2025)
If you’re planning to build, invest, or develop infrastructure in Rwanda, there’s a new legal requirement you need to know about. In August 2025, the Government of Rwanda issued Ministerial Order No. 003/MoE/25, which officially defines the types of works, activities, and projects that must undergo an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) before implementation.
What changed in August 2025?
The new ministerial order doesn’t just focus on environmental impacts anymore, it now includes social safeguards too. That means developers must consider not only the project’s effect on nature but also how it affects communities, workers, and public safety.
This order is a major step forward in ensuring that development is not only environmentally sound but also socially responsible.
Projects and Works that require a Full ESIA
According to Annex 1 of the Ministerial Order, the following must undergo a full ESIA:
(a) Buildings classified as residential, commercial, administrative or institutional, sports facilities, social, cultural, and assembly and religious buildings, educational buildings, or other publicly accessible facilities fulfilling at least one of the following:
- (i) Having capacity to host more than 500 persons;
- (ii) Having a total floor area exceeding 1,500 m²;
- (iii) Residential building of G+4 and above;
- (iv) Non-residential buildings of G+3 and above.
(b) Industries
(c) Health facilities
(d) Buildings with activities which can cause hazards
(e) Warehouses for storage of hazardous materials and perishables
(f) Warehouses and storage facilities of perishable agricultural commodities occupying an area of a half of a hectare and above
(g) Places where persons are detained for corrective reasons or because of their mental condition
(h) Places of non-industrial commercial activities where such activities or commercial products may cause fire, combustion with extreme rapidity, give rise to poisonous fumes or cause explosions
(i) Garages for vehicle repair and maintenance
(j) Warehouses with a floor area exceeding 1,500 m² and plot size exceeding 1,000 m²
(k) Hotels
(l) Construction and repair of international, national, District roads and bridges
(m) Construction of hydroelectric dams, hydro-electric power plants and electrical lines of high and medium voltage
(n) Construction of petroleum and gas related facilities
(o) Extraction of natural resources
(p) Construction of terminal ports, airports and railways
(q) Agricultural activities which use chemical fertilizers or pesticides in a wetland
(r) Large scale agricultural activities which use chemical fertilizers or pesticides outdoor
(s) Works in areas designated as national parks or in their buffer zones
(t) Works related to mining
(u) Commercial small-scale and industrial quarries
(v) Construction of artificial lakes
(w) Construction of water storage dams
(x) Works or activities for marshlands reclamation
(y) Construction of slaughter houses
(z) Projects related to waste management
(aa) Integrated craft production centres
Projects and Works that require a Partial ESIA
As per Annex 2, the following are subject to partial ESIA:
(a) Towers and antennas
(b) All types of buildings, fulfilling at least one of the following conditions:
- (i) having a capacity to host more than 200 persons but not exceeding 500 persons;
- (ii) having a total floor area from 1,000 m² to 1,500 m²;
- (iii) to be residential building of G+2 and G+3;
- (iv) other non-residential buildings of G+2;
(c) Vehicle washing stations
(d) Construction of coffee washing stations
(e) Construction of electric vehicles recharging stations
Note: the Authority or authorised organ may request the developer to conduct a full environmental and social impact assessment for a project listed in Annex 2 whenever suspected to have a negative and irreversible impact on society and environment.
Who can prepare the ESIA?
Only licensed professionals are allowed to prepare ESIA reports.
- Full ESIA → Must be done by a licensed firm
- Partial ESIA → Can be done by a licensed firm or individual
These professionals are registered with RAPEP (Rwanda Association of Professional Environmental Practitioners) and will conduct field visits, stakeholder consultations, and risk assessments before writing the report.
To browse our directory of registered practitioners, view their company profiles, and contact them directly, please click here.
What’s in the Report?
The Ministerial Order also defines the structure of the ESIA report.
Chapters of a Full ESIA Report
(As defined in Ministerial Order No. 003/MoE/25 – August 19, 2025)
Executive Summary
Chapter One: Introduction
- Background of the project
- Purpose
- Methodology
- Structure of the report
Chapter Two: Project Description
Chapter Three: Baseline Environmental and Social Conditions
Chapter Four: Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework Relating to the Project
Chapter Five: Public and Stakeholder Consultations
Chapter Six: Potential Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
Chapter Seven: Mitigation Measures of the Impacts of the Project
Chapter Eight: Environmental and Social Management Plan
Chapter Nine: Land Acquisition and Resettlement
Chapter Ten: Environmental and Social Technical Specifications
Chapter Eleven: Grievance Redress Mechanism
Chapter Twelve: Conclusions and Recommendations
Chapter Thirteen: Annexes
Chapters of a Partial ESIA Report
(As defined in Ministerial Order No. 003/MoE/25 – August 19, 2025)
Chapter One: Project Description
Chapter Two: Environmental and Social Issues Identified
Chapter Three: Environmental and Social Management Plan
Legal Restrictions You Should Know
Ministerial Order states that
- No project listed in Annex 1 or 2 can proceed without an ESIA approval certificate.
- No government body may issue a license or permit for such projects without proof of ESIA approval.
- Projects not listed in Annex 1 or 2 are not subject to ESIA. However, if a project not listed is found to have irreversible environmental or social impacts, the Authority may still require an ESIA.
Why This Matters
Failing to meet ESIA requirements can lead to delays, penalties, or even project suspension. Getting it right from the start protects your investment, builds community trust, and aligns your work with Rwanda’s vision for sustainable development.
For full legal details and technical definitions, refer to the attached Ministerial Order:
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