Development cooperation with Rwanda Digitalisation

    Rwanda is a pioneer in digital technologies in Africa. The country is making large amounts of funding available for digital transformation. Rwanda has made considerable progress in just a few years. In 2020, as much as 40 per cent of administrative services were available in digital form. The government’s goal is to provide all public services online by 2035 at the latest.

    In many other areas, too, such as the environmental field or the health sector, Rwanda has also achieved great progress with the help of digital technologies. Drugs, for instance, and vaccines are being delivered nationwide by drones.



    Centre for Digital Transformation

    Interior view of the "Digital Transformation Center Kigali" (still from a virtual tour)

    Interior view of the “Digital Transformation Center Kigali” (still from a virtual tour)

    In 2019, the BMZ’s largest Centre for Digital Transformation (External link) was opened in Kigali. The digiCenter is to develop digital solutions for sustainable development in the country and serve as a bridge between German and European companies and research institutions and companies in Rwanda.

    It cooperates closely with the Rwandan ministry responsible for digital technologies and serves as a hub for many of the BMZ’s bilateral and regional digital projects. Important milestones from the work of the digiCenter are the development of innovative solutions for agricultural irrigation and measures to optimise local public transport.

    With German support, Rwanda has already made enormous progress on employing artificial intelligence, using digital technologies in urban development and administration (Smart Cities), achieving digital inclusion of disadvantaged groups and promoting the private sector.

    As at: 05/01/2023