Paula Ingabire

Advancing Kinyarwanda AI through open-source innovation We are proud to see the release of a suite of open-source AI models, datasets, and code developed through the Tunga Agricultural Chatbot initiative in collaboration with Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, KiNLP, and the Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Resources. From high quality Kinyarwanda text-to-speech to foundational NLP models and information retrieval systems, these resources mark an important step toward building inclusive, locally relevant digital solutions. By making these tools openly accessible, this initiative contributes to strengthening Rwanda’s AI ecosystem enabling developers, researchers, and innovators to build solutions that are grounded in local language, context, and real-world needs. This is what meaningful digital transformation looks like: open, inclusive, and built for impact. #DigitalTransformation #AIforGood #OpenSource #KinyarwandaAI #GovTech #Rwanda @RwandaAgri @c4ir_rw

Yesterday, RDB DCEO @JulianaMuganza joined a panel on “Business Strategy: Upended” at the @wef Industry Strategy Meeting hosted at Siemens’ global headquarters in Munich. Muganza highlighted Rwanda’s journey to becoming one of the easiest places to do business, and the continued efforts required to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Many people miss opportunities they actually deserve just because they never heard about them. NOW: If you’re building a startup, looking for funding, or exploring partnerships, @InnovateRw platform is worth your attention. It’s designed to connect the ecosystem in one place: •Startups – showcase your work •Investors – discover new ventures •SMEs & Corporates – find innovation partners •Talent – access skills & job pathways 🔗 Explore & join the ecosystem today : innovaterwanda.rw @RwandaICT | @UNDP_Rwanda

So I just got back from registering for the new ID and wow, kudos to #NIDA for the work man... Everyone is using tablets, you get photographed with 4K AI Cam with a ring light, fingerprint scanner, digital signature and you're done in 15mins max if there's no lineup. Bravo 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

🇷🇼👏🏿💼Rwanda has solved one of the biggest problems early-stage entrepreneurs faced : Not knowing where to start or who to talk to. The Ministry of ICT & Innovation (@RwandaICT ) just launched Innovate Rwanda ( @InnovateRw) a national digital platform connecting startups, investors, incubators, and innovation support systems in one place. And honestly… this is something founders have needed for years. How it will help 👇 ✅ Find funding opportunities faster ✅ Discover incubators & innovation programs ✅ Identify investors by sector (FinTech, Energy, AgriTech, etc.) ✅ Understand who supports startups at each growth stage ✅ Reduce the “trial & error” founders usually go through Instead of guessing your way through the ecosystem, you now have a map. This is worth exploring: 👉 innovaterwanda.rw

The Government of Rwanda and @WorldBankGroup convened high-level consultations on the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 🗒️ 2026-2035 This strategic roadmap will align resources with our national priorities to advance inclusive & resilient growth. Key focus areas include: 🧑‍🌾 Human capital development 🌾 Modernizing agri-food systems 📈 Private sector competitiveness 💳 Improved access to finance 🌱 Climate-resilient infrastructure The consultations reaffirm the shared commitment to Rwanda’s long-term development and #Vision2050 ambitions. 🇷🇼 #Partnership #SustainableGrowth #Development

Yesterday we bade farewell to @UNRwanda's outgoing coordinator @ozonnia as he concludes his tour of duty in Rwanda. We thank him for his steadfast partnership, which has been instrumental in shaping Rwanda’s development journey, specifically his contributions to the implementation of NST1 and elaboration of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). 🇷🇼🇺🇳 Wishing him all the best in his future endeavors! #Rwanda #UN #Partnership

We’ve launched Innovate Rwanda, a national platform designed to connect startups, investors, talent, and ecosystem partners to strengthen Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem. Read more: minict.gov.rw/news-detail/go… @InnovateRw

Tomorrow for Car Free Day, join us as we celebrate Safer Internet Month by promoting online safety for children. Arrive early for a free T-shirt and join us for brief remarks on stage at the KCC roundabout. #ChildSafetyOnlineRW #TekanaOnline

At the International Digital Cooperation Forum (IDCF) 2026 in Kuwait, Minister of State @yves_Iradukunda participated in a high-level roundtable for the Digital for Sustainable Development (D4SD) Hub, a platform co-led by the Kingdom of Morocco and UNDP to bridge digital divides through South-South and triangular cooperation. The session covered leveraging artificial intelligence and data science as accelerators for the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on mobilizing partnerships and inclusive digital ecosystems to drive transformative innovation across DCO Member States. #IDCF #AI4DigitalProsperity

During the opening session of Day 2 at the @dcorg 5th General Assembly in Kuwait, Minister of State @yves_Iradukunda highlighted the tangible impact of DCO initiatives on Rwanda’s tech ecosystem. He noted that programs like STRIDE have enabled startups to leverage direct engagement with the international private sector at events like LEAP to gain global market access, new funding, and technical expertise. Looking ahead, Rwanda is making digital growth inclusive by expanding this innovation support into secondary cities to ensure that these opportunities reach beyond the capital. By focusing on social inclusion and environmental responsibility, Rwanda is working to make technology resilient, equitable, and sustainable for the future. #DCOGeneralAssembly #AI4DigitalProsperity

The message from our Founder and Executive Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa, speaking at the World Economic Forum yesterday, was clear: AI diffusion is not a technology problem, it is an investment and infrastructure problem. AI will not magically close inequality gaps unless we do the hard work first: power, connectivity, data infrastructure and skills. Without that foundation, AI risks simply hard-coding old failures into new systems. During the panel, he highlighted several key points: • Africa doesn’t need frontier models - it needs relevant applications that solve real problems in education, health, agriculture and smallholder livelihoods. • If serious capital does not flow into infrastructure, it will come from elsewhere - and we should not pretend to be surprised when it does. • Skills matter at every level, but especially those that create jobs and agency for young people, not just AI “usage”. • AI is powerful, but not a silver bullet - execution depends on trust, long-term investment and realism. At Cassava Technologies, this is the work we are committed to. Investing in the infrastructure, execution and skills needed to ensure AI delivers meaningful impact, not theoretical promise. The opportunity is enormous. But turning AI investment into impact means meeting people where they are, not where the technology is. 🎥 Watch the full panel discussion here: linkedin.com/events/7419452… #AI #DigitalInfrastructure #AIForGood #Africa #InclusiveGrowth #DigitalTransformation #WEF

At a high-level Davos dinner focused on how Africa can reposition itself within shifting global trade and value chains, alongside @wto Director-General @NOIweala and other global leaders, RDB CEO, @afrika_jean emphasized: “Trade agreements matter greatly, but institutions and public administration capacity matter just as much. Agreements establish the legal and regulatory framework. They help level the playing field and widen the field of opportunities. But the countries that succeed are those with the institutional capability to understand regional and global production and trade patterns, identify niche opportunities, and consistently design and implement targeted policies and incentives—across infrastructure, the private sector, and human capital—that anchor them in global value chains. For Africa, capturing a larger share of global trade is ultimately an institutional challenge as much as it is a strategic opportunity.”

In Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Minister @onduhungirehe met with @ignaziocassis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. They exchanged views on the strong bilateral relations between Rwanda and Switzerland, and shared updates on issues of common interest, including the security situation in the region.

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, RDB CEO @afrika_jean held discussions with Cherie Blair and Adam Anthony, focusing on shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration across multiple sectors. @CherieBlairKC @A_SmithAnthony #WEF2026

Day 2 in Davos at the World Economic Forum, Minister @onduhungirehe participated in a session titled “Next-Generation Trade Facilitation”, where he shared insights on Rwanda’s efforts to ease trade in the digital age @RwandaTrade.

Earlier today, the National Bank of Rwanda, in partnership with @AFRwanda, @RwandaAgri, @RwandaICT, and other key partners, held the inaugural Digital Agriculture Lending Infrastructure Steering Committee meeting. Discussions focused on the Digital Lending Platform pilot which aims to transform agricultural and rural lending by establishing a shared digital platform that enhances credit access, reduces costs, and improves lending decisions through better data and infrastructure. #BNREngage #KnowYourCentralBank

This afternoon in Kigali, President Kagame met with Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba Group, and Jerry Yang, Co-Founder of Yahoo, to discuss partnerships in entrepreneurship and innovation. Jack Ma and Jerry Yang are in Kigali for Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), Alibaba’s flagship initiative supporting African entrepreneurs and job creation. The 7th edition Grand Finale, taking place today, brings together Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs, with the Top 10 finalists pitching their ventures for a share of USD 1.5 million in grant funding.

Minister of State @yves_Iradukunda also visited the exhibition at the 4th African Startup Conference, meeting African entrepreneurs developing solutions across diverse sectors. The visit highlighted the strength and creativity of Africa’s innovation community, with startups designing technologies that improve service delivery, strengthen value chains, and address emerging socioeconomic challenges.

Deadline is today👇👇