Rwanda, often called the “land of a thousand hills,” is making waves in the world of technological innovation. Under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, the country has embarked on an extraordinary journey of digitalisation, aiming to harness cutting-edge technologies for economic growth and sustainable development. This blog explores Rwanda’s rise to what is fast becoming East Africa’s digital prodigy.

A model for digital transformation

Rwanda’s path to digital transformation is often compared to Singapore’s remarkable journey from an emerging economy to one of the most digitally and technologically advanced nations in the world. This achievement is the result of Rwanda’s unwavering commitment to promoting ICT and digital solutions to achieve its national goals.

Recently we had the privilege of speaking with Esther Kunda, Rwanda’s Director General for Innovation and Emerging Technologies. Kunda attributed Rwanda’s success to a continuous willingness to learn and adapt in the fast-moving tech industry. The country has embraced new technologies and tools through strategic partnerships to improve the lives of its citizens, inspiring other African nations to follow suit.

Vision for a bright future

Rwanda’s blueprint for transformation is the SMART Rwanda Masterplan (SRMP), focusing on ICT capability and capacity, governance and management, and secured and shared infrastructure. This plan is backed by Rwanda’s Vision 2050, which pledges long-term investments in enhancing human capabilities, innovation, and technological capabilities for its citizens. Importantly, these commitments emphasise youth and women empowerment in ICT to bridge the digital divide. As Kunda explained:

“Government as a whole are required to be gender-responsive in all initiatives to understand how we are addressing gender stereotypes to make sure that we are cultivating an environment conducive to both youth and women thriving in the tech and ICT space.”

Last year, Rwanda hosted the 2022 ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference, engaging over 2,000 delegates from 153 countries and hosting a first-of-its-kind Youth Summit to nurture the next generation of digital leaders. The country also partnered with the World Economic Forum to host a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, highlighting its dedication to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

E-government services for all

Rwanda’s government-to-citizen portal, Irembo, exemplifies the power of collaboration and collective vision. Launched in 2014, Irembo provides access to over 80 government services, from birth, death, and marriage certificates to land titles and vaccination records.

Access to all citizens is key. The portal is accessible via USSD, as well as through Irembo kiosks that not only help citizens access necessary services but also create income-generation opportunities for entrepreneurs.

During our discussion with Esther Kunda, she highlighted that while there is a drive to bring the unconnected into the digital world, safeguarding citizens is a top priority:

“Two years ago, data privacy and protection laws were passed and is a testament to our commitment to safeguarding digital privacy in the digital era… It is important that the unconnected are coming into an ecosystem that caters to cybersecurity, privacy, and protection.”

Leveraging the power of ICT across all sectors

Rwanda is committed to leveraging the power of ICT across all sectors. As President Paul Kagame stated:

“Investment in ICTs is essential in taking any country to the next level of productivity and efficiency. Investing in ICTs is not at the expense of other sectors, investing in ICTs results in benefits for every sector and the earlier you start the better.”

Healthcare and education are examples of sectors that have seen significant positive impacts from government-funded technological innovations.

An AI-powered chatbot in healthcare enables easier access to medical consultations, with Rwandans having access to thousands of appointments per day at the tap of a button via their mobile device.  This initiative, the Rwandan Artificial Intelligence Triage Pilot, in partnership with Babylon Health, exemplifies responsible AI use and its positive effects on healthcare for both urban and rural citizens.

In education, the “One Laptop per Child (OLPC)” project, launched in 2008, has revolutionised education and transformed students' technical skills. By 2020, over 270,000 laptops had been distributed, and this number is likely to be significantly greater today. Additionally, a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda offers degree-level courses in IT and electrical and computer engineering, ensuring the next generation is well-equipped to further Rwanda’s technical prowess.

Learning from Rwanda’s journey

Rwanda’s rapid digital transformation, driven by an enabling policy environment and a focus on sustainable economic and social development, serves as an inspiration to other nations. Often, complex environments in Africa are cited as barriers to progress, but Rwanda’s success proves otherwise.

This month, civil servants from Ghana, Senegal and Malawi will convene in Kigali for a masterclass where they will engage with and learn from Rwanda’s leaders and tech sector experts. The masterclass is a component of TBI’s DigSMART pilot programme, which has been developed and delivered with the support of Panoply Digital to upskill civil servants to become digital transformation leaders.

In the spirit of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,” Rwanda is demonstrating that digital transformation is a journey best travelled in partnership and with a focus on the well-being of its people. We look forward to sharing more about the country’s journey and the experience of those who will learn from this journey in the upcoming masterclass.