Grace Ashiru
Rwanda has secured approval for an additional €17 million loan, equivalent to approximately $19 million, from the World Bank to strengthen its digital infrastructure, cybersecurity systems and electronic government services.
The financing, provided through the World Bank’s International Development Association, will support the ongoing Rwanda Digital Acceleration Project (RDAP).
The investment is expected to address existing financing gaps while extending the project’s implementation deadline to June 2028.
Launched in 2021, the initiative initially received $200 million in financing, jointly provided by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
The project focuses on improving broadband connectivity, expanding access to digital public services and strengthening Rwanda’s technology and innovation ecosystem.
According to the Rwanda Information Society Authority, 258 digital public services had been introduced or improved under the programme by December 2025.
A significant portion of the additional investment will support the development of Rwanda’s national digital identity infrastructure, which is intended to simplify identification and improve access to public and private-sector services.
The National Identification Agency reported that approximately 13.7 million people had completed biometric registration as of October 4, 2026.
Implementation of the digital identity system was reportedly 76% complete, while efforts to digitise civil registration and vital statistics had reached 89%.
The government is also developing a centralised Data Hub to improve information sharing across public institutions, although procurement challenges have affected implementation.
Cybersecurity represents another major component of the financing, with planned improvements to national systems responsible for protecting digital infrastructure and responding to cyber threats.
Institutions expected to benefit include the National Cyber Security Authority and the Rwanda Computer Security Incident Response Team.
Despite progress in digital transformation, Rwanda continues to face challenges involving internet accessibility, smartphone ownership and digital literacy.
The additional financing is expected to support efforts to overcome these barriers while improving the security and efficiency of digital public services.
The investment also highlights Rwanda’s continued efforts to establish a stronger digital economy, potentially creating opportunities for businesses specialising in identity verification, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure.
