The Integrated Development Program (IDP) model green model village project was introduced by the Government of Rwanda in 2009 to improve rural settlements. The program intended to rationalize land use and regroup the human settlements in rural areas on serviced sites equipped with the basic infrastructure and community amenities and contribute to their resilience to climate change impacts. The study is assessing the contribution of the IDP model green village to the livelihoods of people and Ruhondo Lake ecosystem conservation. The data were collected through focus-group discussions, questionnaires, and direct field observation. A total number of 62 participants (one representing each household) were surveyed using a structured survey questionnaire, however, only 58 responded to the questionnaire. The agroforestry species that are dominating Gakoro IDP model green village were Grevillea robusta (36.1%), Citrus sinensis (23.8%), and Persea americana (19.2%). Fruit trees (23.8%), food crops (43%), livestock (31%), and fishing (14%) activities in Lake Ruhondo are the major sources of income that improved people’s livelihood in the village. Both the Gakoro IDP model green village and the Lake Ruhondo ecosystem have been conserved through a multi-sectoral collaboration of the village population, local government, REMA, and NGOs, therefore each sector has the task to protect, conserve, manage, and harmonize the ecosystem through its daily activities.

Keywords: Agroforestry practice, Climate change mitigation, and adaptive capacity