The Call for Proposals is opened to organizations (international and national Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations), and to consortiums formed by private companies and at least one Civil Society Organization (CSO). This Call for Proposals aims to identify the UFI Operator to implement the Urban Fabric Initiative (UFI) in Kigali, Rwanda in close coordination with the City of Kigali and AFD.
UFIs are small-scale public space upgrading and community infrastructure projects co-designed and co-produced by residents and urban stakeholders, in the framework of urban projects funded by AFD. To date, AFD has funded UFIs in Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Madagascar, all of which are part of a specific network (the “UFI Network”).
The UFI targeted through this Call is the first initiative of this kind in Rwanda, designed in the framework of the Kigali Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (KISUP). It will be implemented in close collaboration with local authorities (the City of Kigali and the community representatives). If successful, the approach may be replicated to other settlements in Kigali.
About the KISUP:
The objective of the project is to improve the living conditions of the population of the three informal settlements of Kagugu, Rwezamenyo and Nyakanbanda, while reducing the displacement of low-income households.
The specific objectives of the project are:
- Improve access to basic infrastructure and social services for all residents of Kagugu, Rwezamenyo and Nyakanbanda.
- Strengthen the capacities of local stakeholders (including the City of Kigali), to integrate climate change resilience, co-design with residents, and nature-based solutions (NbS) in the implementation of the project.
- Test the development of decent and affordable rental housing solutions for low-income households to limit the risks of gentrification.
Planed over a period of 5 years, the project is structured into 4 components:
- Component 1: Implementation of settlements improvement plan.
- Component 1.1: building/rehabilitation of resilient, inclusive and safe infrastructure.
- Component 1.2: the creation/rehabilitation of socio-collective facilities (including public spaces).
- Component 1.3: co-construction of micro projects through the Urban Fabric Initiatives.
- Component 2: Transformation of public action through capacity building focused on change.
- Component 3: Pilot housing projects tested in the settlements.
- Component 4: Project management structured by the single project implementation unit (SPIU).
Purpose of the KISUP UFI:
The UFI, which is the subject of this call for proposal, aims at promoting participatory approach through the implementation of socio-economic facilities and public spaces of KISUP, to achieve quick wins and improve ownership and sustainability of the overall project.
Geographical areas:
The UFI shall implement activities and/or micro projects in the three neighborhoods of Kagugu, Rwezamenyo and Nyakanbanda benefiting from the KISUP activities.
The UFI is required to implement some of the public facilities identified by the City of Kigali in the KISUP upgrading report. The selection of facilities is left to the candidate, but it must be consistent with the available budget and expected impacts.
Sectors of activity concerned:
UFIs combine temporary urbanism and placemaking approaches with a focus on public space upgrading (testing street furniture, greening…), improved walkability (testing pedestrian traffic on a crossroads, materializing public transport stops) or community infrastructure (library, sport fields, community center as part of administrative buildings, etc.). In the long term, UFIs are intended to shift the methods employed in urban projects towards more participation, agility, improved governance with civil society and a better integration of residents’ needs, particularly regarding the functional programming and design of the facilities to be delivered.
Examples of micro-projects and urban upgrading initiatives that could emerge from the UFI:
- Development of spaces dedicated to future sports facilities and organization of sports events;
- Building of Community Hall integrating bio-climatic standards;
- Facilitation of cultural and artistic events in the public space and in the spaces dedicated to the future cultural facilities;
- Development of (multipurpose) public or green spaces (prefiguration of the sports trail with the residents, temporary development of a recreational garden with recycled materials, spaces mixing economic and recreational uses);
- Installation of permanent, temporary or mobile equipment and facilities (a kiosk or food stall for example);
- Citizen digital communication tools for the management of the neighborhood;
- Waste management and recycling facilities.
Available budget:
AFD has an estimated budget of EUR 1 000 000 for the UFI. Co-financing upto 10% is largely encouraged to improve project ownership.
Project duration:
The UFI shall be implemented in a maximum period of 36 months.
Eligible proposals proponents:
This Call is open to organizations (international and national Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations), and to consortiums formed by private companies and at least one organization. To be eligible, organizations or the consortium leader will have to ensure that the annual budget of the submitted project should not represent more than 70% of their annual resources over the last 3 certified financial years.
