The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced plans to inject over $400 million into key Rwandan development projects over the next five years.
This was revealed by Aïssa Toure Sarr, the AfDB Country Manager in Rwanda, during a two-day Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) meeting that began on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The meeting brought together AfDB officials and Rwandan government representatives to assess the progress of AfDB-funded projects and evaluate the implementation of the Country Portfolio Improvement Plan (CPIP) for 2024.
The review also served as a platform to identify challenges hindering project implementation and to agree on new strategies for 2026 aimed at improving performance, efficiency, and citizens’ well-being.
While officially opening the meeting, Toure Sarr emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving AfDB’s goals in Rwanda.
“Engaging with different institutions gives us the opportunity to reflect and act together, helping us identify progress, address challenges, and ensure AfDB-funded projects bring tangible benefits to the people of Rwanda. Our shared goal is to enhance efficiency, strengthen implementation capacity, and accelerate transformative change aligned with Rwanda’s Vision 2050,” she said.
Gerald Mugabe, Director of the Financial Sector Development Unit at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving project performance and ensuring timely execution.
“The Government of Rwanda is committed to maintaining strong collaboration with AfDB. The progress we’ve made reflects our dedication to accountability and achieving shared project objectives. We continue to remove all barriers to implementation and ensure that every dollar spent delivers measurable impact for Rwandan citizens,” he stated.
As of 2025, AfDB has been partnering with the Rwandan government on 28 projects across key sectors such as water supply, electricity access, transport, agriculture, human capital development, and international cooperation. These projects, initiated over the past 10–15 years, represent an investment of approximately $2.5 billion.
Of this investment, 34% has gone into expanding access to clean water, 30% into electricity, 16% into transportation, and the remaining portion into trade facilitation and human capacity development.
According to Toure Sarr, Rwanda’s efficient use of funds has strengthened the partnership, positioning the country as a top performer among AfDB’s member states.
“For the coming 5–10 years, Rwanda’s financing envelope will depend on allocations from multilateral development banks, estimated between $300 million and $400 million every three years. Additionally, Rwanda’s domestic economic performance could attract $100–150 million annually by 2026, thanks to its strong credit standing,” she explained.
The impact of these projects has already been felt across the country — expanding access to clean water, electricity, and improved infrastructure, though coverage has not yet reached full capacity.
Emmanuel Nuwamanya, Acting Director of Planning at the Ministry of Infrastructure, noted that Rwanda has made remarkable progress in infrastructure development.
“In terms of electricity access, we have moved from 34% coverage during NST1 to over 80% today, and we aim to achieve 100% by the end of NST2. Rural electrification is progressing steadily, now at about 90%. We have also significantly expanded both national and feeder road networks,” he said.
Findings from the 2025 review are expected to guide further alignment between AfDB-supported projects and Rwanda’s Country Strategy Paper (CSP) to ensure sustainable and inclusive development outcomes.
