AfDB and Rwanda Review $2.6B Portfolio, Set New Action Plan to Boost Development Impact

The CPPR is an annual joint exercise aimed at identifying bottlenecks, improving project implementation, and ensuring that Bank-financed investments continue to deliver tangible, transformative results for Rwanda’s citizens.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Government of Rwanda have successfully concluded the 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR), a comprehensive assessment designed to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and strategic alignment of AfDB-funded projects across the country. The two-day workshop, held from 12–13 November 2025 at the Ubumwe Hotel in Kigali, brought together more than 50 participants representing key ministries, implementing agencies, and AfDB task teams.

The CPPR is an annual joint exercise aimed at identifying bottlenecks, improving project implementation, and ensuring that Bank-financed investments continue to deliver tangible, transformative results for Rwanda’s citizens.

---

A Focus on Implementation, Efficiency, and Alignment with Vision 2050

Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), project implementation units (PIUs), and Bank teams working in critical sectors such as:

• Transport

• Energy

• Water and sanitation

• Agriculture

• Information and communication technology

• Social development

• Governance

The workshop featured sector-by-sector performance presentations, enabling PIUs and executing agencies to highlight progress, ongoing challenges, and proposed solutions. Discussions centered on issues such as procurement delays, budget execution, safeguard compliance, and capacity constraints.

“It enables us to take stock of progress, address challenges, and ensure that AfDB-financed projects deliver tangible results for the people of Rwanda,” said Aissa Toure Sarr, AfDB Country Manager for Rwanda. “Our shared objective is to improve efficiency, strengthen implementation capacity, and accelerate transformative impact in line with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the Bank’s priorities.”

---

Reviewing Progress Since 2024 and Strengthening Project Delivery

This year’s CPPR also reviewed progress made against the 2024 Country Portfolio Improvement Plan (CPIP). According to workshop findings, Rwanda and the Bank have achieved notable improvements in:

• Capacity building through regular training for PIU staff

• Project readiness with compensation funds included under AfDB loans to avoid start-up delays

• Performance monitoring using a newly established Joint Technical Committee

• Environmental and social safeguards, supported by targeted training and compliance follow-up

• Coordination and communication between Bank teams and implementing agencies

These enhancements have contributed to smoother implementation, reduced delays, and strengthened accountability across the portfolio.

---

Outcomes: New Improvement Plan and 2026 Action Framework

The CPPR concluded with the adoption of a 2025 Country Portfolio Improvement Plan and a detailed 2026 Action Plan, outlining commitments by both the AfDB and the Government of Rwanda to:

• Streamline procurement and financial management

• Accelerate disbursements and project execution

• Reinforce capacity within project teams

• Strengthen monitoring mechanisms and safeguard compliance

• Enhance communication between agencies and Bank task teams

• Better align AfDB operations with Rwanda’s evolving development priorities

These actions aim to optimize the impact of AfDB-supported investments and help the country advance toward its national goals under Vision 2050, particularly in infrastructure development, human capital advancement, and regional integration.

---

Government Applauds Collaboration and Shared Accountability

Speaking on behalf of the Government of Rwanda, Gerald Mugabe, Director General for External Finance at MINECOFIN, praised the strong partnership between Rwanda and the Bank.

“The CPPR provides a vital opportunity to ensure our joint projects remain responsive to Rwanda’s development priorities,” Mugabe said. “Through continuous dialogue, capacity building, and policy alignment, we are strengthening delivery systems and ensuring that AfDB-supported investments translate into measurable outcomes for citizens.”

---

AfDB’s $2.6 Billion Portfolio: A Catalyst for Rwanda’s Transformation

As of 2025, AfDB’s active portfolio in Rwanda comprises 28 operations valued at approximately $2.6 billion. Of these:

• 26 projects (98%) are public sector operations

• 2 projects (2%) involve private sector support

The portfolio spans a wide range of strategic sectors, including:

• Energy access and power generation

• Water and sanitation service expansion

• Transport connectivity and regional integration

• Agricultural productivity and food security

• Skills development for youth employment

• Governance and public financial management

These investments are central to Rwanda's efforts to develop modern infrastructure, strengthen economic resilience, and improve the quality of life for its population.

---

Looking Ahead

The outcomes of the 2025 CPPR will guide strategic adjustments across the Bank’s Rwandan portfolio, helping ensure that AfDB-supported initiatives remain efficient, sustainable, and closely aligned with national priorities. The review also reinforces the longstanding partnership between the Bank and Rwanda, built on shared accountability, transparency, and commitment to development impact.

With a clearly defined 2026 Action Plan and renewed emphasis on capacity, efficiency, and performance, Rwanda and the African Development Bank are poised to deliver even stronger results in the years ahead.