{"id":115281,"date":"2025-11-13T12:07:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T12:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/afdb-to-invest-over-rwf430bn-in-rwandas-agriculture"},"modified":"2025-11-13T12:32:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T12:32:31","slug":"afdb-to-invest-over-rwf430bn-in-rwandas-agriculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/afdb-to-invest-over-rwf430bn-in-rwandas-agriculture","title":{"rendered":"AfDB to invest over Rwf430bn in Rwanda\u2019s agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced plans to channel about $300 million (approx. Rwf432 billion) into Rwanda\u2019s agriculture next year to support the sector\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n

This comes as the bank\u2019s portfolio continues to drive progress in infrastructure, particularly energy, water, and transport, with a stronger focus now shifting toward agribusiness.<\/p>\n

The announcement was made in Kigali on Wednesday, November 12, during the opening of the 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) workshop, jointly convened by the Government of Rwanda and AfDB. The two-day workshop aims to enhance project delivery and deepen the impact of AfDB\u2019s portfolio in Rwanda.<\/p>\n

Portfolio with a transformative footprint<\/p>\n

According to Aissa Toure Sarr, AfDB\u2019s Country Manager in Rwanda, the bank currently supports 28 active projects, with infrastructure accounting for 85 per cent of the portfolio.<\/p>\n

Aissa Toure Sarr, AfDB\u2019s Country Manager in Rwanda, speaks during the opening of the 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) workshop, in Kigali on Wednesday, November 12. Courtesy<\/p>\n

Over the past 10 to 15 years, she said, AfDB\u2019s footprint in Rwanda has been predominantly in infrastructure development, particularly in water and sanitation, transport, and energy. The bank\u2019s portfolio in Rwanda stands at $2.5 billion, representing a substantial investment in capital-intensive sectors essential for sustainable growth.<\/p>\n

Sarr said that AfDB\u2019s investments have impacted Rwanda\u2019s socio-economic landscape. Water and sanitation account for 34 per cent of the portfolio, followed by energy (30 per cent) and transport (16 per cent), with the remaining share covering private sector and human capital development.<\/p>\n

\u201cRwanda is one of the countries that really leapfrogged in terms of access to energy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I joined the Bank less than five years ago, the access rate was around 60 per cent. We are now close to 85 per cent [thanks to collaboration with the government].\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that the impact of these projects extends beyond the sectors themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess to energy means schools and businesses can operate effectively; access to roads allows people to reach hospitals and agricultural sites. The impact goes beyond the sector in which we have invested,\u201d she argued.<\/p>\n

Agriculture and integrated investments<\/p>\n

As Rwanda targets universal access to electricity by 2029 and major energy projects near completion, Sarr said the proposed plan is to direct new AfDB investments mainly toward agriculture and agro-industrial value chains, emphasising an integrated development approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the next year, there is approximately $300 million in the pipeline for two projects. One in irrigation, as a second or third phase to a big irrigation project that we call Muvumba, that we have in Nyagatare,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have another big investment in agriculture. We’ll gradually [shift] to agriculture, agro-processing.<\/p>\n

\u201dAgain, don’t forget that it’s an integrated approach. So, that means we are not going to depart from the initial investment,\u201d Sarr said. She stressed bank\u2019s commitment to ensuring greater value for money from each dollar invested.<\/p>\n

Contribution to infrastructure and utilities<\/p>\n

Emmanuel Nuwamanya, acting Head of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Infrastructure, commended AfDB\u2019s contribution to Rwanda\u2019s development, particularly in supporting socio-economic transformation and improving citizen well-being.<\/p>\n

Nuwamanya highlighted progress made under the seven-year National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), which concluded in June 2024 and the subsequent five-year NST2, underscoring AfDB\u2019s critical role in energy, water, and transport.<\/p>\n

In the energy sector, he said AfDB had been instrumental in expanding electricity access. With the bank\u2019s support, we are on track to achieve universal access by 2029, he stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess to energy has already grown from 34 per cent to over 80 per cent of households, and more than 90 per cent of administrative cells are now connected to the grid,\u201d Nuwamanya said.<\/p>\n

The two-day workshop aims to enhance project delivery and deepen the impact of AfDB\u2019s portfolio in Rwanda.<\/p>\n

Turning to water and sanitation, he said AfDB\u2019s investments have transformed the sector that once relied almost entirely on domestic funding and lacked massive investments.<\/p>\n

Water production capacity has increased from 329,000 cubic meters per day [under NST1] to over 340,000 cubic metres currently, he said.<\/p>\n

He pointed out that AfDB-funded projects are expected to help the country double water production capacity to more than 600,000 cubic metres per day.<\/p>\n

In the transport sector, he cited major improvements in road infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at the paved road network, Rwanda had about 1,279 kilometres of roads in good condition in 2017. Today, that figure is nearly 1,800 kilometres, with AfDB-financed projects contributing significantly to this progress,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Rwanda\u2019s strong partnership with AfDB<\/p>\n

Rwanda\u2019s effective management of AfDB resources continues to attract the Bank\u2019s confidence, the officials said. While allocations for the 2026\u20132028 funding cycle will be confirmed later this year, Sarr said the country is expected to receive an average of $300 million, with potential access to an additional of at least $100\u2013150 million from AfDB\u2019s performance-based annual allocation window.<\/p>\n

Sustaining results through strong collaboration<\/p>\n

Gerald Mugabe, Director General for External Finance at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning lauded AfDB\u2019s consistent support and reaffirmed Rwanda\u2019s commitment to maximising the impact of projects funded by the bank.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe achieved success reinforces our mutual accountability and commitment to achieving the desired outcomes of bank-supported projects,\u201d Mugabe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, we are committed to tackling implementation bottlenecks and ensuring that every franc invested translates into measurable progress for Rwandan citizens,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Delegates poses for a group photo during the opening of the 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) workshop.<\/p>\n\r\n