Rwanda has trailed the rest of Africa in AI infrastructure and digital innovation, as it launches a national Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) strategy to strengthen data sharing across institutions, improve public service delivery, and accelerate its artificial intelligence ambitions.
The strategy was unveiled during DPI Day in Kigali, organised by the Rwanda Information Society Authority in partnership with Access to Finance Rwanda and the Ministry of ICT and Innovation. The event also marked progress since the Rwanda Centre of Digital Public Infrastructure was established in 2025.
Digital public infrastructure refers to compatible, foundational systems-such as digital identity platforms, payment systems, and data exchange layers-that function as public goods, enabling governments and businesses to build and scale digital services efficiently.
Speaking at the event, Rwanda Information Society Authority CEO Antoine Sebera said the strategy is designed to address fragmentation across the country’s digital connectivity, where many platforms have been developed in isolation.
“Digital public infrastructure creates the shared foundation that allows services across government to work seamlessly,” Sebera said. “It is the equivalent of roads and electricity for the digital economy, enabling faster innovation, inclusion, and service delivery nationwide.”
He added that stronger interoperability will be critical to Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional AI hub, as it will enable artificial intelligence systems to access larger volumes of reliable, high-quality data across sectors.
Jean Bosco Iyacu, CEO of Access to Finance Rwanda, said the success of DPI will depend on broader participation beyond government.
“We are building reusable digital systems where innovators can create new solutions on top of existing infrastructure,” he said, highlighting the potential to expand financial inclusion among underserved communities, small businesses, and rural populations.
Sharon Umunyana, director of the Rwanda Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure, identified key milestones, including the planned rollout of a national digital identity system by June 2026 and the interoperable payment platform e-Kash.
“Technology is the easier part,” she said. “The real challenge is building coordinated digital foundations that drive innovation, inclusivity, and economic growth while avoiding institutional silos.”
Yves Iradukunda, state minister at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, emphasised that collaboration among government, regulators, private-sector actors, and development partners will be essential to implementation.
Meanwhile, Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Rwanda, stressed the need for inclusive safeguards.
“Digital public infrastructure is not an end in itself-it is a foundation for Rwanda’s digital economy and future AI adoption,” she said, noting the importance of ensuring women, rural communities, and marginalised groups are not excluded.
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The event also featured technical training on DPI architecture, standardised payments, and data exchange frameworks, with participants receiving certification as part of a growing pool of practitioners supporting national rollout.
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