It has been 30 years since the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) began working with Rwanda on various development projects. The partnership started with the Government of National Unity in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, at a time when the country faced immense social and economic challenges.
Over the years, UNDP has worked with Rwanda in areas such as poverty reduction, environmental protection through the construction of eco-friendly housing, access to quality justice, the promotion of democracy, and strengthening good governance.
During the celebration held on November 13, 2025, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, acknowledged UNDP’s contribution to Rwanda’s development. He said the two sides have strengthened public financial management, governance reforms, gender equality, inclusive development and alignment of major national projects with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Murangwa noted that future collaboration will focus on aligning public financing with sustainable development, meeting Rwanda’s climate goals, strengthening research and innovation, and promoting inclusive governance.
UNDP’s Resident Representative in Rwanda, Dr. Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, described the partnership as a journey defined by resilience. She highlighted how Rwanda has moved from rebuilding to innovating, from healing to progressing, and how UNDP has witnessed the country’s determination and strong leadership.
Over the past three decades, UNDP has contributed significantly to the justice sector, including the Gacaca courts system, which resolved more than 1.9 million cases in ten years. It also supported the development of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System used by law enforcement, prosecution, courts and correctional services. This system enabled courts to continue functioning during the Covid-19 pandemic through virtual hearings under the E-Court model.
Rwanda and UNDP introduced Alternative Dispute Resolution and plea-bargaining mechanisms, which have helped reduce case backlogs. Between October 2022 and March 2025, more than 19,500 criminal cases were resolved through plea-bargaining, while over 3,000 cases in 2024/2025 were settled through mediation.
UNDP has also supported environmental protection initiatives, including the construction of more than 130 modern green villages. It played a key role in Rwanda’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38 percent—equivalent to 4.6 million tonnes. It also contributed to the establishment of the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) in 2012, which has mobilized more than 350 million dollars, financed 114 investment projects and created over 180,000 jobs.
One of the major environmental projects supported by UNDP is the six-year Green Amayaga initiative launched in 2020, covering Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyanza and Gisagara districts. The project seeks to restore 263,000 hectares of degraded land, create 150,000 jobs, and distribute clean cookstoves to 60,000 households.
UNDP has also championed technology, youth empowerment and innovation, supporting programmes such as Youth Connekt—which has created 30,000 jobs and expanded to over 30 countries. In 2023, UNDP and Rwanda launched AGUKA, a four-year programme that will support 5,320 youth projects, create more than 100,000 jobs and cost about 8 billion Rwandan francs.
Its support extends to education and research, including the establishment of the former Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (now the College of Science and Technology). During the Covid-19 pandemic, UNDP supported the development of robots used in hospitals to reduce infections.
Initiatives such as Hanga Pitch Fest, Unipod at the University of Rwanda, the National AI Institute and the Timbuktoo innovation fund have all benefited from UNDP partnerships.
UNDP has also invested in strengthening Rwanda’s media sector, training more than 850 journalists and supporting 64 media outlets to improve access to reliable information for citizens.
