The disappearance of Rwanda’ forests and attendant change in climatic conditions
prompted the government to explore clean energy alternatives such as biogas. Unlike at any
other time in Rwanda’s history, more and more Rwandans in rural areas are becoming owners of
cattle because of Government of Rwanda’s agricultural direct assistance and poverty reduction
programme known as Girinka. This paper focuses on the various strategies employed by the
government of Rwanda in achieving increased biogas use among the rural poor Girinka
beneficiaries who use cow dung for their domestic biogas plants. Conditions necessary for
successful implementation of clean energy pro-poor reforms in rural communities are explored.