A new study of Rwanda’s programme of sharing tourism revenue from national parks with communities shows it has strengthened support for wildlife conservation but needs reforms to boost its impact.
Published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism, the first longitudinal analysis (2005-2020) of the Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme (TRSP) across the country’s three main national parks established that 84% of community respondents felt it has increased their support for conservation. So did the majority of local leaders (89%), and partner organizations such as NGOs (82%).
Similarly, the study found 80% of the community respondents across all the NPs were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the TRSP while 19% were ‘dissatisfied’. The satisfaction level was higher (89%) among members of cooperatives through which TRSP channels funding, compared to non-members (63%).
“The results show that the tourism revenue sharing programme has resulted in a positive linkage between the national parks and development,” concluded the researchers.
Community awareness of TRSP process
However, only fifty percent (50%) of the community respondents knew how TRSP projects were selected for funding. Also, only 45% said they were involved in the project selection process, with the percentage rising only marginally (47%) among members of cooperatives.
“The results highlight a general lack of awareness of how projects are selected and a perception that the community is not fully involved in the TRSP and that it is largely driven by the district offices,” noted the study.
The study conducted field interviews with 337 community members in the three national parks. It also engaged 20 local leaders involved in the implementation of the TRSP and 11 participants from government, NGOs, and private sector partners. It was commissioned by the Government of Rwanda and funded by the international Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)
Recommendations
Firstly, the study recommended a revision of the revenue allocation model and eligibility to reach the most vulnerable community members. It suggested that 70% of TRSP revenue goes to livelihood improvement projects, 25% to infrastructure, and 5% to an emergency fund. In the past 15 years, infrastructure took 80% while agriculture got 15%, with the rest going to equipment purchase (2%); Human-Wildlife Conflict (2%) and enterprise (1%).
It also urged expanding eligibility for funding beyond cooperatives to include individual groups, if projects benefit more than 10 households, as well as NGOs working with and selected by the communities.
Secondly, the study called for measures to enhance community awareness and involvement in the TRSP processes, including the identification and selection of potential projects. Stakeholders indicated that the District Offices ultimately decide which projects are selected, not the communities.
Thirdly, TRSP funding should be transferred directly to the implementing organizations rather than via local governments to eliminate delays in project execution.
Fourthly, capacity building should be embedded into the entire TRSP process from supporting communities in the application process to project implementation and monitoring.
Fifthly, the study recommended stronger monitoring and evaluation of the programme to support adaptive management, and guide other PA revenue-sharing programmes in Africa and around the world.
The Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme (TRSP)
Rwanda introduced a tourism revenue-sharing policy in 2005 to ensure that local communities receive benefits from protected area tourism and to nurture support for wildlife conservation and protected areas.
Since its inception, the TRSP has invested RWF 5.8 billion (US$ 5.6 million) in projects. It currently targets 1.4 million people living around the country’s four national parks, including Gishwati-Mukura NP, the country’s newest park.